When it comes to your complexion, it’s no secret that every woman wants to know how to slow down the hands of time, if not stop it in its tracks completely. In this day and age where the almighty Botox reigns supreme, and where we are constantly bombarded with images of celebs who seem to grow younger as time passes, we really want to know what we can do to maintain our skin at its best and avoid wrinkles.

And I should know. As I enter my late twenties, I’m starting to notice the fine lines around my eyes and wonder what kinds of lifestyle changes I can make that will help prevent these lines from getting any deeper.

No longer in your twenties? No worries, I’ve got tips that I would share with my mum and my grandmother. Now, I won’t list off the natural anti-aging products you can try, but you can check out some links at the bottom. And don’t even get me started on the conventional anti-aging wrinkle cream products out there, which actually may do more harm than good. These products tend to be full of questionable preservatives like parabens, BHT, and formaldehyde-releasing DMDM hydantoin. (See this Ecoholic article for more info.)  Also, don’t miss our suggested Daily anti-aging regimen below.

Late 20s and Beyond

So, the honeymoon phase of having a care-free approach to your skin is coming to a close. If you’re anything like me, that phase was very short-lived. The time between when I stopped having to worry about breakouts and when I started noticing smile lines went by in a blur.  This is the time to start preventing wrinkles before they start:

• Start by taking a closer look at your diet. Juicing is a great way to up your vitamin intake and improve your skin.

• Use sunscreen! A recent study revealed that regular use of sunscreen is more effective than any anti-aging product you can buy off the shelf. And the younger you start, the better.

• Need an excuse to drink more red wine? You may have heard of a compound called Resveratrol that is found within red wine. A 2008 study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, found the red-wine ingredient slowed down age-related decline in mice. Studies have not confirmed similar results from resveratrol supplements.

• If you haven’t already, stop smoking and reduce your exposure to second hand smoke! I don’t need to be the one to tell you that smoking wreaks havoc on your skin. There’s a reason they’re called smoker’s lines.

Hints for My Mum (Your 50s and beyond)

By now, you’re starting to show the wisdom of your years and your laugh lines are a little more pronounced (the sign of a life well-lived, if you ask me!). There are still steps that you can take in order to stop the lines from getting deeper. In addition to those healthy habits you picked up in your twenties, here are some other things to consider:

• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Skin that’s dehydrated will look dull and flaky. Since you’re no longer dealing with the oily skin of your youth, this is your chance to go wild with the heavy moisturizers to help plump up your skin

• Use a gentle exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells and reveal a more glowing complexion. Because your skin becomes more delicate as you age, remember, less is more, and your skin may not be able to tolerate the harsh scrubs it once did in your youth.

• Check out some of Mother Nature’s Natural anti-aging tricks with this recipes from Papaya, Avocado and Honey

• Load up on anti-oxidant. Research shows that blueberries may be just as effective as Botox: Bye-Bye Botox, Hello Blueberries?

• Keep hydrated! Nourish your skin from the inside out by drinking lots of water–8 to 10 glasses a day–and consuming lots of hydrating fruits and vegetables like cucumbers and watermelon.

• Getting rid of Cellulite isn’t something that is easily banished, but luckily there are some easy at-home remedies that can help diminish its appearance. Check out this recipe that uses coffee grounds!

• Aim for a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, lots of omega3 rich cold-water fish

• Avoid processed foods which are often high in sodium (which will make you retain water) and look unnecessarily bloated. Canada’s Food Guide recommends women over 50 get 7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

• Consider Asian cultures, whose dessert is simply fresh fruit, love ginger (packed with antioxidants) and green tea (which have been demonstrated to stimulate circulation and improve immune system).

“You will see a difference in as little as three days,” starting with “a radiant glow, puffiness diminished, and your skin will look more toned. You will see changes in cholesterol levels as your good cholesterol goes up and your blood pressure returns to a normal level. [And] you will have more energy and elevated moods.” – dermatologist Nicholas V. Perricone, MD, a clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., and the author of The Perricone Prescription and The Wrinkle Cure: Unlock the Power of Cosmeceuticals for Supple, Youthful Skin.

Tips for Grandma (Your 70s and beyond)

The effects of being care-free with your skin during your younger years are now beginning to show, but, fear not, all is not lost! There are still ways to maintain a dewy glow.

• The best thing you can do to delay aging is to keep your body weight at a normal level – “We are trying to look at two models of longevity, and one is a caloric-restricted model, and mice, rats, or monkeys who eat 60% of calories of their brothers live up to twice as long,” says Nir Barzilai, MD, director of the Institute of Aging Research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N.Y

• Get enough rest. If you don’t get enough sleep, your skin will suffer and you’ll look older than you really are.

• Stay active. Keeping fit in the later years of your life isn’t just important for cardiovascular health: regular exercise will also keep your skin looking radiant. Again, Asian cultures have less reliance on the car and thus, constantly on the move.

So, there you have it, folks. Advice across the generations for warding off wrinkles and maintaining a youthful glow. This might sound like re-hashing of concepts you’ve already heard but ask yourself, whether you actually practice them. For instance,  I can’t remember the last time I had 7 servings of fruits and vegetables in a day.

Regardless of age or sex, your Daily anti-aging regimen should include:

• 8-10 glasses of water per day of water

• At least 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night

• Ample Vitamin A and C intake–easily achieved through a juicing diet, or by getting your daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables

• Green tea and/or red wine

Peckish?

Almonds pack skin-plumping fats and vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps offset UV damage.

Dark chocolate with a cacao content of 72 percent or higher is rich in damage-fighting antioxidants as well.

Blueberries give you a magic combo of antioxidants and collagen-protecting vitamin C.

Takeout? Read why you should go Indian!

But, always remember:

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.” ― Mark Twain

If considering Safer natural anti-aging products:

Can you recommend a good natural anti-aging cream?,

Buying Tips: Natural Anti-Aging Creams

Best anti-aging products

Do anti-aging supplements actually work?

Anti-Aging: The Truth Behind 5 Key Products

** Disclaimer – This article represents the opinions of Organic Lifestyle but does not make any claim to be being a subject matter expert in this area. Consult your medical practitioner prior to any treatment. Also, while listing these companies, Organic Lifestyle makes no representation regarding the products, services or business practices of the named companies.

Organic Lifestyle would like to thank Master Juicer Carole Belmonte of Toronto based Belmonte Raw Juice, Homeopath Natasha Narayan and Adria Vasil (via Ecoholic column) for their respective inspiration. 

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