Today’s society is obsessed with youth. Being young is associated with being hip, trendy, and up-to-date with the ever-changing digital landscape. Media often celebrates personalities who are under 40 or under 30 who have managed to build their own empire and reach success at an early age.
These days, people also see youth as something that is not just dictated by age, but also by appearance. With people racing to slow down aging, plastic surgery has become a multi-million dollar industry. Plastic surgeons often have their pates full, with patients lining up for Botox, implants, and other kinds of surgical procedures all in the name of looking young. Fortunately, you do not need to spend thousands of dollars just to achieve the fountain of youth. We list down 8 ways to look younger even without surgery.
Invest in Quality Skincare products
Taking good care of your skin at an early age saves you the trouble of having surgery when you grow older. They help slow down the aging process by preventing wrinkles, crows’ feet, and other skin problems. Invest in natural skincare products that you can easily incorporate into your skincare regimen. It is important that you do proper research on which products work best for your skin type. You can also ask the help of a skin specialist in helping you decide which skincare products will benefit you in the long run.
Cover Up Flaws with the Right Make-Up
Aside from finding quality skincare products, you can also look younger with the help of make-up. The right kind of make-up can accentuate your best features and cover your flaws. Make sure to prepare your skin by applying primer which can serve as the protective base for your make-up application. Wearing the right foundation for your skin tone also helps further hide your skin’s blemishes. Another way to look younger by using make-up is to add a touch of blush on your cheeks, for that healthy radiant glow.
Protect Yourself from the Sun
According to a study, UV rays from the sun can cause 80% of skin’s visible aging. Overexposure to the sun results in wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin. You can minimize sun damage by regularly using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Moreover, when going to the beach or walking under the sun for extended periods of time, consider bringing an umbrella, a hat and a pair of sunglasses with you.
Pile on the Good Stuff
You can also slow down the aging process by eating more healthy food. By eating a balanced diet of leafy greens, vegetables, protein, carbohydrates, and fats, your body is afforded all the nutrients it needs to function properly. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of antioxidants that can help your body defeat free radicals that tend to damage your skin. Nutritionists also warn against eating too much processed food because they often contain too much sugar, salt, refined carbohydrates, or bad fats that can affect your inner bodily functions and make your body age faster. Too much sugar can also cause your skin to lose collagen, making it less elastic and more prone to developing wrinkles early.
Get Enough Sleep
Lack of sleep can result in puffy eyes and deep eye bags, making a person look older than she really is. Getting proper sleep, on the other hand, enables the body to get the rest it needs to regenerate and to function properly. When you get 6 to 8 hours of sleep every day, your body is able to produce more growth hormones that maintain your skin’s elasticity.
Stop Smoking
Aside from its internal negative effects on the body, smoking also drastically speeds up the aging process. Smoking affects a person’s blood circulation and hinders blood supply from reaching the skin tissues properly, thus resulting in premature wrinkles. It also destroys the production of collagen and elastin, thereby robbing the skin of its supple and youthful look. When you stop smoking now, you give your skin the chance to repair itself. The sooner you quit, the better you can avoid smoking’s more irreversible effects on your skin and on your health as a whole.
Maintain an Active Lifestyle
Exercising at least five times a week helps maintain the proper circulation of nutrients and oxygen in your skin. It also helps generate human growth hormones. An active lifestyle likewise allows you to sleep well, reducing the appearance of dark circles around your eyes. More importantly, staying fit also means having toned muscles, which prevents your skin from sagging. Since exercise helps you lose weight, you get to rid your body of excess fat, making you appear healthier and younger.
Do More Things That Make You Happy
Stress contributes more to a person’s rapid aging than any other external factors. People who are stressed tend to overthink and worry more, and they take care of themselves less. But while stress cannot be avoided, it can be minimized. Experts recommend doing more things that make you happy. You can find your passion outside of work by pursuing a hobby or learning a new activity. Positive emotions make your brain release endorphins, enabling the body to become more stimulated and energetic.
Ageing is part of life’s natural process. Eventually, everybody will grow old. But it doesn’t mean that aging has to happen sooner than later. We can all slow down time and remain young even without going under the knife. With proper skincare, healthy diet, and a happy, active, and stress free lifestyle, we can defy our age and remain young for just a bit longer.
