Have you been taking care of your skin? Many of us spent the last year cooped up at home. On the rare occasions that we go out, we have to cover our face with masks. So, why take care of our skin, especially our face? Everyday, all of us are aging. It is a natural and inevitable process. No matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it. The truth is no amount of anti-aging treatments can stop or reverse the signs of aging. It simply is impossible. We can, however, choose to age gracefully. There are ways to slow down the aging process.
Although we are still in the middle of the pandemic, the availability of the vaccines is a sign that one day all of this will be over. Soon, we will be able to show our face again in public. The question is are you ready to show your beautiful face again to the world? So, why not use this chance to properly take care of your skin so that when the time comes you will have beautiful, younger looking skin? There is no need to spend a lot of money on facelifts, injections or other invasive treatments. There are simple things that we can do on a daily basis to help slow down the aging process:
1. Apply Moisturizer
As we age, the skin loses its elasticity. It also becomes dryer and thinner causing wrinkles to emerge. Moisturizers keep the skin from getting dry. Although they do not prevent wrinkles from forming, they improve the appearance of wrinkles, making them less deep.
Applying moisturizer on a regular consistent basis will keep your skin hydrated and protect it from damage. It also gives a more youthful appearance.
2. Cleanse Your Skin
Washing your face once a day is enough. Wash your face in the morning and at night. You need to remove dead skin cells, excess oils, impurities and your make-up before going to bed. Wash the face gently. Scrubbing, exfoliating or using a mechanical brush on a daily basis can be harmful to your skin.
3. Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Anxiety speeds up aging. When we are stressed, stress chemicals are released in the body and these chemicals create biological changes. It damages the cells and accelerates cellular aging. On the other hand, when we are happy, we look younger. We are full of energy, our eyes sparkle, we smile and we laugh. In fact, a study shows that smiling makes us look two years younger than our age. So, smile if you want to look younger.
4. Drink Plenty of Water
Do you have a houseplant? What happens if you forget to water it? The same is true with human beings. Besides keeping us alive, water also affects our appearances and our quality of life. On average, a person needs to drink at least eight 8 oz. of glasses of water a day.
Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez are very vocal about how “drinking lots of water” is making their skin soft and smooth.
5. Eat Glow Foods
Eating lots of glow foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains is not only good for the body. It can also slow down aging. In contrast, eating lots of sugar, refined carbohydrates and other food high in calories but with little nutritional value accelerates aging.
6. Exercise Regularly
A study conducted by the University of Birmingham indicates that regular exercise slows down aging, On the contrary, a sedentary lifestyle results in a loss of muscle mass, a decline in immune system and an increase in cholesterol levels.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Sleeping is not only good for your overall health, it is also good for your skin. While we sleep, our skin cells repair themselves and regenerate. In addition, sleep reduces stress. The facial muscles are also relaxed. Fine lines are created when you are awake, especially when you are stressed.
8. Lose Weight
American and British scientists found direct evidence that fats accelerate the ageing process. They found out that the more people weigh, the older their cells appear on a molecular level. Obesity was found to have added an average of nine years to a person’s body because it changes the whole body’s metabolic processes.
9. Stop Smoking
If you are a smoker, you know that there are tons of reasons why you should quit. One of them is that smoking ruins your appearance and speeds up the aging process.
Eye bags, scaly skin, stained teeth, premature aging and wrinkles, scarring, thinning of hair, cataracts, and flabby tummies are just but some of the effects of smoking that will make you look a lot older than you actually are.
10. Use Sunblock
Regular use of sunscreens protects the skin against aging or photoageing to be exact. Photoageing is the loss of elasticity, spotting and wrinkling of the skin caused by exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
To be effective, don’t just use any sunblock. Use a sunblock or sunscreen which is identified as “broad spectrum”. This simply means that it can block out both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays affect the skin’s top layer while UVB penetrates deep into the dermis.
While an SPF of 15 is generally enough, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a sunscreen with at least 30.
Looking forward to a beautiful, younger looking you soon!
Updated Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 10.29.2018
Feature Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova from Pexels