Some people are gifted with age-defying genes and some people need to work for their fresh-faced appearance. That can mean expensive face serums and creams, invasive procedures, and costly treatments that don’t guarantee your 20-year-old face back. We’re here to tell you, youthful skin can be yours with 5 easy and evidenced-based actions you can take every day.

The Sun is The Enemy

Remember when your mom would walk around in wide brimmed sun hats, wear long sleeves in 80-degree weather and apply sunscreen every two hours religiously? Well, you should have been taking notes. Sun damage is the leading cause to premature aging and wrinkles. Regular sunscreen use slows down signs of aging and keeps the skin youthful. It’s recommended to apply SPF 30-50 every day and to reapply every couple of hours, even when it’s overcast. Just because it isn’t sunny, doesn’t mean ultraviolet rays aren’t damaging your skin.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Whether you have dry skin, oily skin, combination skin, or acne prone skin, you need to moisturize. It won’t make your acne worse and, contrary to popular belief, it won’t make your skin oilier. Moisturizer is like a tall glass of water in a hot desert. It helps nourish, hydrate, and replenish your skin of depleted moisture. Research shows that moisturizers that contain Hyaluronic Acid or vitamin C are especially effective when it comes to wrinkle prevention.

Hydrated Skin is Happy Skin

Don’t underestimate the power that comes with staying properly hydrated. Want to rid yourself of acne? Drink water. Want to increase skin elasticity? Drink water. Want to flush harmful toxins from your body and give your skin a good pH balance? I think you know what we’re going to say. A study conducted on a healthy group of women found that higher water intake can positively affect skin hydration, help boost skin elasticity, and even correct tissue damage.

You Are What You Eat

According to a recent study, women who regularly eat red meat and unhealthy snacks tend to have more wrinkles than women who include fruit and greens in their diet. Foods that are high in anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties can also improve skin elasticity and protect against premature aging. Some foods with these qualities include:

  • Green tea
  • Salmon
  • Olive Oil
  • Avocados
  • Flax Seeds
  • Vegetables, especially carrots, broccoli, leafy greens, and bell peppers.

Sleep On Your Back

The way you sleep is a hard thing to change, but it could be the one thing keeping your skin’s elasticity from depreciating. Research shows that people who sleep on their side or stomach are prone to face compressions, which can speed up the formation of wrinkles. If you can’t change your sleeping position, consider investing in a silk pillowcase to prevent friction and abrasions on your face.

As Mark Twain says, “Wrinkles merely mark where smiles have been.” While they’re an inevitable part of life, there are preventative steps we can all take to slow the aging process and keep our youthful skin intact for longer. And what it all comes down to is lifestyle. If you lead a healthy lifestyle, get in your fruits and veggies, wear sunscreen, and hydrate your body, your skin will be healthy and hydrated. It will thank you by looking youthful for longer.

Vivien Fisher

Vivien Fisher

social media coordinator
Vivien Fisher (she/her/hers) is a social media coordinator and blog writer for Pure Romance. She loves covering topics like sexual health, lifestyle trends, and anything related to television and film. Her interests include spending time with her pet rabbit Bernard, creating amusing and educational content for the Pure Romance platforms, and exploring all that Cincinnati has to offer.