As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin, circulation decreases, and sebaceous glands function less actively, resulting in wrinkles. Both smoking and drinking can cause you to wrinkle more easily, as can exposure to the sun. But you can repair the damage. Here’s how.
HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS THAT FIGHT WRINKLES
To keep your skin moist and deter wrinkles, drink mineral-rich herbal teas of marshmallow root, Irish moss, plantain leaves, and violet leaves. All of these herbs are rich in soothing emollient compounds that help provide lubrication to the body. Aim for 3 to 4 cups each day. Drink plenty of water too, at least 8 to 10 glasses daily.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Slant boards are a wonderful way to de-stress on a daily basis, and lying on one for 10 to 20 minutes daily helps prevent wrinkles and improves skin quality by improving circulation to the face. I bought one as a present to myself a few years back and love it. However, don’t use slant boards if you have had a recent stroke, have high blood pressure, or have a detached retina without consulting with your physician.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Repetitive facial movements and extreme facial expressions, such as frowning, squinting, wrinkling the nose, and propping one’s face in one’s hands, pull on the skin and weaken its supportive structure. Avoid squinting and frowning, as this will edge unnecessary lines in your face. Use a small hand mirror to watch yourself speak on the phone sometime to observe just how many face-wrinkling movements you might be making.
GOOD TO KNOW!
If you smile, you’re more likely to have smoother skin than those who frown constantly. When you smile, you only use thirteen muscles. Frowning uses many more. So get grinning!
Vitamin C (1,000 mg daily) is necessary for collagen production. Vitamin E (400 IU daily) helps our bodies utilize oxygen better, balances hormonal production, and preserves the skin’s elasticity. Zinc (15 mg daily) helps synthesize collagen and is essential in restoring dry flaky skin into balance.
ESSENTIAL OILS THAT FIGHT WRINKLES
Essential oils against wrinkles include chamomile, frankincense, lavender, and neroli and can be found in many natural cleansers and moisturizers. You can also make your own, here’s how:
Magic Moisturizer
3/4 ounce (21 g) beeswax
1 cup (235 ml) vegetable oil such as almond or coconut
15 drops essential oil of frankincense
15 drops neroli essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
1 cup (235 ml) water
Grate the beeswax, add the vegetable oil, and gently melt them together in a double boiler. When the wax has melted, allow it to cool for a few minutes, but not long enough for it to harden. Pour the water into a blender. Turn the blender on to high speed and slowly add the beeswax and oil mixture. After about 3/4 of the oil has been added, the mixture will begin to harden. Turn the blender off and stir. With the stirring implement removed, restart the blender, adding the rest of the beeswax/oil mixture. Then add the essential oils. Don’t over blend. Put moisturizer into clean, wide-mouth containers. Store any extra in the refrigerator. Use it on your face and body.
BEST FOODS TO FIGHT WRINKLES
Fruit, yogurt, and buttermilk contain the much-touted alpha-hydroxy acids that stimulate new cell growth, are humectants, and result in younger-looking skin. Eat these on a regular basis. Moisture-rich foods include avocados, chia seeds, freshly ground flax seeds, oatmeal, barley, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. Also consume antioxidant-rich colorful fresh fruits (like blueberries and cherries) and vegetables. Do your best to eat at least three servings of some of these foods daily.
BEST PRACTICES TO FIGHT WRINKLES
Don’t scrub or rub your face as this causes wrinkles. So does over cleansing the face with harsh soaps that contain deodorants and detergents. This can strip the face of moisturizing oils. Choose soaps with white clay, oatmeal, or olive oil. These are the least drying. Better yet are gentle nonsoap cleansers available with dry skin-soothing ingredients such as calendula. After you wash your face, apply moisturizer. Water helps to keep the skin’s outer layers from drying out and oil seals it in. You know better than to suntan or use tanning booths!
During the day, rehydrate your skin with a mineral water spray, even over makeup. Reapply moisturizer faithfully. The keratinized protein of the top layers of skin requires water to look and feel supple.
Before bed, massage a small amount of serum, which is concentrate of potent substances that nourish the skin (containing less water than a cream or lotion) and then moisturizer in any lines you want to reduce.
Sleep on your back, as sleeping all crunched causes creases leading to permanent lines. Sleep with an open window. Not only does fresh air encourage sleep, it provides oxygen to your body.
This Fight Wrinkles Naturally article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
