HOW TO KEEP FINE LINES FROM SETTING IN

As you enter your mid-30s and especially as you enter your 40s, you will notice fine lines around your eyes and mouth. These fine lines will deepen into wrinkles as you proceed through the next several decades of your life. While genetics play a major role in when you begin to get wrinkles, lifestyle, skincare, and environmental factors also contribute. We will talk about the different types of lines and wrinkles and how you might be able to stave some of them off and prevent fine lines from turning into wrinkles before they need to.

BOOST COLLAGEN PRODUCTION IN YOUR SKIN

You will first start to see the effects of too little collagen in your eyelids and neck skin. It will look thin and creepy as collagen stores disperse. Smoking, stress, and UV rays combine with the natural aging process to make these types of wrinkles, but if you boost the collagen in your skin, you can hold off this effect for a while.

You can take collagen supplements, and you can also apply a collagen-containing serum to help plump up your skin. At night, try a retinol serum. By day, you might consider a Vitamin C treatment. (Do not use them together at the same time, as the combination will irritate your skin.) You can also switch off and use them on alternating days. A good eye cream will help if you are seeing crow’s feet around your eyes; use this at night.

STOP SMOKING

If you smoke, you already know that it is wreaking havoc not only on your skin but also on your heart, your lungs, and other parts of your body. The chemicals and the actual smoke does a number on your skin, but so does the motion of taking a drag; this is part of what causes those deep lines around your mouth.

There are many ways you can kick the habit for good, ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy to patches to gum. Talk to your doctor about what makes the most sense for you and in addition to enjoying better, more youthful skin, you might also add years to your life.

WASH AND MOISTURIZE PROPERLY

When washing your face, do so with a gentle touch. Do not scrub and pull and tug at delicate tissues; instead, just use the pads of your fingers to gently lather up your cleanser, then use lukewarm water to rinse it away. Treat your skin carefully to avoid damaging it. Use a moisturizing cleanser if you tend to have dry, wrinkle-prone skin.

If it is oily, use something that will help control oil and alleviate acne. After you wash, be sure to moisturize. Use a moisturizer that is geared toward your skin type and again, be gentle. Do not scrub it in, just gently rub or even pat it into your skin. Be particularly careful around your eyes. Make sure your daytime moisturizer contains sunscreen, too, or add it afterward.

HYDRATE YOUR BODY

While moisturizer adds hydration from the outside in, you will also want to hydrate from the inside out. This means drinking plenty of water throughout the day. You have heard the advice to drink eight glasses of water per day, and that is a great start. If you are very active or live in a hot climate, you might need more.

If you are not a fan of plain water, you can drink herbal tea. It is best not to rely on sugary sodas, diet soft drinks, and caffeinated beverages. Try adding a slice of fruit (watermelon, limes, peaches, and strawberries all add a nice flavor) and experiment with drinking it ice-cold, at room temperature, or hot. Your entire body will thank you for staying hydrated!

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

During sleep is when your skin repairs itself and can get to work on smoothing out those wrinkles. Aim for seven to eight hours of shut eye per night for the best results. When you are sleep-deprived, you tend to rub your eyes and yawn, both of which are not great for your skin. Observe good sleep hygiene:

• Turn off your electronics an hour before bedtime; if that is not possible, at least switch off the blue light by using them in night mode.
• Make sure that your bedroom is cool.
• Use white noise if that helps you fall asleep.
• Develop a good bedtime routine that will tell your body it is time to wind down.

You might sip herbal tea, listen to music, take a warm bath or shower, then brush your teeth, apply moisturizer, and slip under the covers. While sleeping, position matters and sleep wrinkles are real. Smooshing your face into your pillow can add additional fine lines and wrinkles. Try sleeping on your back if you can. You might also consider switching to a satin pillowcase.

REDUCE STRESS

It is important to minimize stress in your life. While it is easier said than done, keeping your face relaxed really begins with keeping the rest of your body relaxed. There are several different techniques you can try when it comes to dealing with the everyday stressors that affect us all:

• EXERCISE: Going for a walk or run or simply dancing around to music while you cook dinner can help alleviate stress. If you can get up from your desk every hour or so, that will also help your posture, which can reduce tooth-grinding and other facial gymnastics that you might resort to when you’re uncomfortable.
• MEDITATION: You do not need to run off to the mountains for a month to learn to meditate. Just find a quiet place and try to focus on a phrase or word for a minute or two at a time, gradually increasing your meditation time.
• RECREATION: Do what you can to get out into nature (make sure you wear sunscreen!) or just find time to read a book or go for a drive with the windows open. Getting away from whatever is stressing you out can go far in your quest to maintain a youthful appearance.

Reducing fine lines and avoiding wrinkles is something that can make you feel good about yourself as you go through the aging process. There are lots of skincare products and strategies out there. Find what works for you as you strive to look and feel your best!