Sunscreen: Nothing speeds up the appearance of aging like sun-damaged skin. But chances are, slathering yourself in sunscreen isn’t part of your daily routine. When it comes to choosing skincare products, look for those with SPF protection to shield your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It’s an effortless way to keep your skin healthy.
Wash Your Face Before Bed: Sometimes when you hit the sheets after a long day, every bone in your body is exhausted… even your skin! That’s why it’s extremely important to wash your face before you fall asleep. As you go about your day, your skin is bombarded with hair products, makeup, pollution, smog, and sweat among other things. Give your skin a fresh start before you fall asleep by making sure you wash your face every night.
Hit Snooze: Good sleeping habits are essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Always being tired can create troublesome, unruly skin. According to Dr. Oz, “Sleep deprivation reduces the skin’s ability to stay hydrated and supple leading to a dull, dehydrated appearance.” He also suggests developing a regular sleep schedule and sticking to it, avoiding caffeine, heavy meals, and alcohol before bed. The snooze button never looked so good!
Exercise: It’s no secret exercise can help you look younger, but did you know it also plays a major role in maintaining healthy looking skin? “We tend to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of physical activity, and those are important. But anything that promotes healthy circulation also helps keep your skin healthy and vibrant,” says dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD. “By increasing blood flow, a bout of exercise helps flush cellular debris out of the system.” Sounds like the treadmill just got a lot more exciting.
Switch Up Your Skin’s Diet: Incorporating certain foods into your diet can benefit your complexion. Mike Roussell, PhD told Shape that with “a few simple diet tweaks, you can help reduce signs of aging such as wrinkles, dryness, and thinning skin.” Dr. Roussell says to stock your fridge with the following: flax/flaxseed oil (an omega-3 fat that’s a key component of the lubricating layer that keeps skin moist and supple), red bell peppers and carrots (both are rich in Vitamin C, which is produces collagen to keep skin firm and protects cells from damage), and lean beef/poultry (research shows women with a low protein intake are more likely to have more wrinkles than those with a high protein intake). Eat up!
