How to Look Younger, Naturally

Okay, not this young.

The last time I ordered wine in a restaurant, I was carded by the waitress. Before I pulled out my license, I pulled out a picture of my grandchildren.
I'm only one person; I'm not a dermatologist, but I've been told I look very young, so I'm passing on my "secrets."

Instructions

1. Stay covered.
   Be a sun worshiper; but worship it respectfully. Wear a (large-brimmed) hat, carry an umbrella, stay in the shade. UV rays from the sun age your skin. In spite of the fact that this is well known, people still don their skimpy bikinis, slather on SPF 4, and soak up the rays. Why? So they'll look good. But the tough, leathery skin they'll have a few years down the road doesn't look good, and no amount of lotion will fix it.

2. Wear shades.
   Not only will they look cool, but they'll reduce that squint that causes crows' feet. If you wear prescription glasses, ask for photochromic lenses; the ones that darken as you go outside. UV rays can cause eye damage such as cataracts; another reason to wear good shades.
   You can wear cheap sunglasses. Look for those that block UV rays and HEV rays. Buy the biggest wraparound style you can stand to provide maximum protection.

3. Get out of the tanning booth.
   Despite any claim you might have heard, these are actually MORE harmful to your skin than the sun. If you must have a tan, get a spray-on tan. Better to look stupid now than leathery and wrinkly later!

4. Don't yo-yo diet.
   Besides being unhealthy, this will cause you to have extra, stretched out skin. Think of a balloon that's been blown up and popped. When you lose weight, your skin does naturally (slowly) shrink. But the less it has to do this, the less wrinkles get a chance to form.

5. Don't smoke.
   Smoking causes constriction (narrowing) of the blood vessels in the skin, which reduces the blood supply to the skin. A study by the National Institutes of Health showed that doctors could tell smokers from non-smokers just by looking at their faces. If the fear of emphysema and cancer isn't a deterrent, maybe the fear of wrinkles could be.

6. Eat your veggies.
   Eat a wide variety. Oranges and yellows contain beta-carotene, reds have lycopene, greens provide vitamin C and folate, and blues and purples are full of antioxidants. You might have seen these important vitamins and minerals advertised in beauty creams, but they do more good inside you than smeared on your face.

7. Exercise.
   Keep your muscles firm and your blood flowing. Keep your bones strong. Exercise in a way that you enjoy, so you won't be tempted to give up after a short time. I love to go for walks on moonlit nights. So does my husband. So does my dog.

8. Be nice to your hair.
   Overprocessed, sun-damaged hair looks old. Go easy on the chemicals, and cut off the split ends. Ask your hairdresser to suggest a style that's youthful and complements the shape of your face. Long, straight hair is in style among teenagers right now, but it emphasizes vertical wrinkles.

9. Wear sunscreen.
   I said natural, but I'll include some chemicals here. I wear sunscreen on all exposed parts of my body, every day of the year. However, sunscreen has come under fire in recent years. Look for:
   SPF of 15 or greater- more than that isn't really necessary, and might make you feel overconfident.
   "Broad-spectrum" sunscreen that protects against UVB and UVA radiation.
   Sunscreen that is "waterproof" or "water-resistant."
   To be effective, sunscreen should be applied 15-20 minutes before sun exposure and reapplied every 2 hours.

   I'm including a list of some common ingredients with comments:
   Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) is good for reducing wrinkles, but it breaks down in sunlight. That means it doesn't last long. Reapply every hour.

   Benzophenones; oxybenzone and dioxybenzone can be irritating, and don't last in water.

   Octocrylene increases free radicals and may actually increase skin cancer (malignant melanoma.)
   (Yet another controversy: The evidence suggesting a relationship between sunscreen and melanoma is correlational, and thus cannot be used to establish a causal relationship. It's possible that fair skinned people, who are more likely to use sunscreen, are also more likely to develop melanoma.)

   SunBLOCK contains ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide which physically block ultraviolet radiation (UVR). These will leave a white residue on you skin. However, they are probably far more effective then the other "sunscreen" ingredients. Powdered Titanium dioxide has caused cancer when breathed by rats.
   Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are physical blockers. They provide a "cover," which, unfortunately, shows on your skin. you have to decide if it's worth it.

   Used consistently, sunscreens and sunblocks can cause a deficiency of vitamin D. You can counter this by eating fortified cereal, breads, and milk products.
   If you do use sunscreen, don't depend on it. Stay shaded as well, especially between 10:00 and 2:00 when the sun is strongest.

10. Smooth on the cream.
    Creams can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Various ingredients such as vitamins and antioxidants come in and out of style. I use a thick cream with little irritating fragrance. Look for glycerin or mineral oil, and apply it immediately when getting out of the shower to "seal in" water.

11. Enjoy life.
    Tension shows up in every cell of your body; including your face, your posture and your skin. It also shortens your lifespan.
    This is probably the most important advice I can give. If you need help, don't be ashamed to get counseling. A happy person looks better and feels better than an angry or tense person.

Tips & Warnings

• This information is not meant to replace medical advice. Ask your doctor before making any changes in your diet or routine.

Resources

• Solartex Sun Gear
• PubMedCentral - Smoker's Face
• Melanoma foundation - Sunscreen
• More by me: Grow Old Well
• More by me: Grow Healthy, Long Nails
• More by me: Lose Weight If You Don't Have Time to Lose Weight