Getting older comes with good things — and bad. Of course, we get smarter as we age. We get a little more clout. We even get more comfortable in our skin, which is always good. But one area aging can wreak havoc on is our skin and hair. So when it comes to beauty, we’ve got our jobs cut out. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to either prevent signs of aging or improve them if they’ve already appeared.
Top five anti-aging beauty secrets!
1. Make sunscreen your new best friend.
This anti-aging beauty secret help protect your skin. Skin protection shouldn’t just happen when you’re at the beach. Instead, it should happen every day. Yes, it would be best to protect your skin daily against the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. UV rays cause up to 90% of premature skin aging. This famous photo of a truck driver is a great reminder of just how much harm the sun rays can do to your skin:
What’s with the left side of his face? 28 years of sun exposure through the side window of his vehicle, that’s what it is.
Daily moisturizers and lotions are the easiest way to protect your skin from UV rays. Use it every day, and be protected! Instead of applying sunscreen over your regular daily moisturizers and lotions, consider purchasing a moisturizer or lotion that already has an SPF.
2. Ditch the soda, and drink water instead.
Staying hydrated is an excellent way to ward off fine lines and wrinkles for as long as possible. The sugar in the soda not only puts you at an increased risk for diabetes and obesity, but it’s also not good for your skin.
That’s because once you digest sugar, it permanently attaches to your skin’s collagen, which makes younger skin plump and smooth. This anti-aging beauty secret process is called glycation and can cause and worsen serious skin problems like rosacea and acne.
3. Find a way to manage stress.
Stress is what’s known as the silent killer. It can contribute to heart problems and is widely associated with diabetes, insomnia, and digestive disorders.
Stress is also bad for your looks — mostly because it causes more cortisol to be released in your body. Cortisol is a stress hormone (the main stress hormone) that can immediately cause breakouts. Moreover, stress is related to under-eye bags and puffiness, hives and rashes, and rosacea.
4. Eat a healthy diet.
Eating healthy is never a bad idea. And it’s certainly not a bad idea if you want great skin. All the nutrients your skin needs are packed in the foods you eat.
You can get omega-3s from foods like fish and flaxseed, which will help your skin clear of blemishes. You can get antioxidants from fruits like raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries — this anti-aging beauty secret will prevent fine lines and wrinkles. And healthy fats like those from olive oil and avocados will help your skin be plump, clear, and smooth.
5. Get enough sleep.
Finally, make sure you’re getting enough sleep every single night. Sleep is one of the top ways to ensure beautiful skin every morning. They don’t call it “beauty rest” for nothing.
It’s a time for blemishes, puffiness, and inflammation to go down and for your skin to rejuvenate its supplies of collagen for a smooth, plump surface. One reason for this is that it reduces cortisol — remember that stress hormone that can cause skin problems? Additionally, sleep allows your skin to heal, just as it heals the rest of your body.
Of course, there are many other ways to ensure that your skin, hair, and overall beauty stay in good condition as you age. Namely, you should never smoke (quit now if you do!), avoid excessive drinking, stay away from these 14 foods that make you age fast, make sure you’re physically active regularly, and there’s one last thing: enjoy your life.
Getting a few smiles and laugh lines around your mouth and eyes is not a sign of “terrible aging.” It’s a sign that you laugh, have fun, and enjoy living — and that’s a great way to age
Rick Kaselj MS, is a leading kinesiologist and injury specialist as well as co-creator of the best-selling Unlock Your Hip Flexors program. Rick creates exercise programs that help people heal injuries and eliminate pain, so they can go back to living a full, active, healthy life.
