How to EASILY Prevent Wrinkles

When the skin loses its elasticity, wrinkles begin to form . If the skin is supple, creasing of the skin goes away as soon as you stop making the expression. There is, of course, some wrinkling as a result of aging. Wrinkles usually appear first around the delicate tissue around the eyes. These are called smile lines or “crow’s feet”. Laughing, smiling and squinting cause wrinkles around the eyes. The next areas that show damage are the cheeks and lips. All areas are made extremely worse by sun damage which causes general drying and aging of the skin. Our skin also becomes thinner and drier as we age which contributes to wrinkles forming. The following also play a major role in wrinkling of the skin: diet and nutrition, facial expressions, muscle tone, proper skin care, stress, facial expressions, environmental pollutants, heredity, and lifestyle habits such as smoking. However, sun exposure is the most important factor because it dries out the skin and causes free radicals that damage your skin cells. Your skin's worst enemy is the sun and the effects of the sun are cumulative.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pure Water
• Sunscreen
• Exercise
• Natural Skin Care Products
• Healthy Diet
• Satin Pillowcase
• Fresh Lemons
• Shower Water Filter

1. Hydrate. Drink at least 2 quarts of pure non-chlorinated water every day to help keep the skin hydrated and to flush out toxins.

2. Do not smoke.

3. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Both caffeine and alcohol dry out the skin. If you do drink alcohol, avoid drinking alcohol within three hours of bedtime. Alcohol increases the risk for leaks in the capillaries, thus allowing more water in. This, in turn, causes sagging and puffiness. Capillary leakage increases when one is lying down.

4. Stay out of the sun. If you must be in the sun, always wear sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15. Sun exposure is the top cause of wrinkles and skin cancer. People actually get a lot of sun damage walking to and from their car. Wear sunglasses to prevent squinting and to protect your eyes from sun damage which can cause cataracts.

5. Exercise: Get daily exercise because this exercise will increase circulation of blood to the skin.

6. Practice good skin care and be sure to keep your skin well lubricated. The best products to use would contain natural ingredients. Apply a moisturizing lotion at night while your skin is damp. Avoid alcohol based products. Avoid products that contain mineral oil, petrolatum, or any hydrogenated oils. Avoid harsh soaps, (especially those with deodorant), and cold creams.

7. Use a good eye cream with SPF protection. The skin around the eye is extremely delicate. Creams that you would use for the rest of the face can often be too heavy for the eye area. Never rub under the eyes or pull in an outward motion as this can cause more wrinkles to form. Apply eye products with a light tapping motion using your ring finger only.

8. Exfoliate. To help improve skin and eliminate small wrinkles, exfoliate to gently remove the top layer of skin to allow regrowth for new skin. This can be done with simple scrubs or special creams.

9. Eat Healthy. A diet with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and the use of healthy oils (such as olive oil) may protect against oxidative stress in the skin. Benefits derived from these foods are from the high levels of antioxidants found in them.
   OPTIONAL: Antioxidants may help reduce the risk of wrinkles and protect against sun damage. Antioxidants for skin protection include the following: vitamins A, C, E, selenium, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and alpha-lipoic acid. Vitamin C is necessary for collagen formation.

10. Take faster showers and use a water filter for your shower that takes out the chlorine. You actually lose moisture from your skin when showering or bathing. Use warm or cool water as hot water robs your skin of its natural oils. Chlorinated water, particularly at high temperatures, poses special risks for wrinkles. (Note: Hot showers with chlorinated water also increase the risk of breast cancer.)

11. Get plenty of sleep. When sleeping, lie on your back. This helps offset the effects of gravity. To minimize negative effects on the skin, sleep on a big, soft, natural (non-synthetic) pillow with a satin pillow case.

12. Relax. Be happy. Smile. A tense face causes wrinkles.

[annvans]

on 9/6/2009 Wonderful article, full of info. Thanks!