As we age, we often think about ways to preserve our youth and one of the best ways to do so is to take good care of our skin using natural methods.
In this post, I connected with a few Professional Dermatologists and Skincare Experts from around the country and asked them to give me their best tips for making skin look younger naturally.
Here’s How to Make Skin Look Younger Naturally:
Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified Dermatologist from Beverly Hills, California. She is the founder of StaySkinSafe.com, where you can find out more about the medical and cosmetic services she provides. Dr. Shainhouse shares with me the following tips:
Use Sunscreen
Dr. Shainhouse explains that minimizing unnecessary sun exposure is one of the most effective ways to prevent premature skin aging. Avoiding sun during peak sun hours (11 am-3 pm), covering up with protective clothing (higher necklines, longer sleeves), wearing a wide-brimmed hat and UV-protective sunglasses are a great start. Sunscreen is the last step to protecting skin that isn’t covered up.
Next, be vigilant about wearing sunscreen every single day! Applying a thin layer of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ on all exposed skin, including your face, ears, chest, and hands, will help to prevent both collagen breakdown that leads to premature skin aging, as well as DNA damage that can lead to skin cancers. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients like Avobenzone, that breakdown the UV rays when they reach the skin. Mineral sunscreens contain ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, that deflect the UV rays to prevent skin damage. Both are effective. Remember to re-apply every 2-3 hours if you will be spending time outside in the sun, as well as after swimming, vigorous sweating and toweling off.
Try Anti-oxidants
Antioxidants help diminish free radical damage in the skin from daily UV exposure. Applied to the skin as a serum in the morning, antioxidants can prevent DNA damage by preventing oxidation during exposure. When used at night, they help repair potential damage from the day.
Look for ingredients like vitamin C, vitamin E, coffee berry, resveratrol, acai, green tea extract. As a bonus, vitamin C can help fade superficial skin pigment due to sun damage, which can help even out skin tone over time, leaving skin appearing younger.
Try Retinoids
Retinoids, like Tretinoin (prescription) and retinol (over the counter) are vitamin A derived, topical agents that accelerate cell turnover and help the skin create new collagen, a process that naturally slows down once we reach our 20s. They can be irritating and drying, so start using them only twice a week, until your skin toughens up in a good way. They will help you shed older skin cells at the surface, to reveal shiny, healthy, stronger skin. They are best used at bedtime since the sun can deactivate them.
Stop Smoking and Sleep Right
Epidermologoical studies done by Professor Akimichi Morita, Ph.D. show that smoking is an important environmental factor in premature skin aging.
This was also confirmed by Ann Ramark, a nutritionist specializing in skin health, who told me that it’s best to stay far away from cigarettes and to prioritize your beauty sleep. Quality sleep is one of the most effective ways to restore collagen and hyaluronic acid in our skin, making your skin look firmer and plumper naturally.
Dr. Fayne L. Frey, MD, FAAD, founder of FryFace, a first skincare information and product selection service, recommends at least 7-8 hours of sleep per evening. She says that “Skin is an organ. An organ is one of many working systems of the body. To optimize skin health and skin appearance you must optimize your health.”
Laurisa Dannoun, a Dermatology Registered nurse, says to always go to sleep with clean skin, sleeping with makeup and the daily buildup of sebum is a sure way to age your skin very fast! Try to sleep on your back to elevate pressure on the face which will cause sleep lines.
Eat Fruits with Carotenoids
Ann Ramark also says that diet plays a huge role too and her best tip is to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables since they are rich in carotenoids. The carotenoids will give your skin defense against harmful UV-rays and blue light. They will also increase the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid that helps to make your skin tighter and healthier. Eat carotenoids together with healthy fats, such as walnuts or Avocado. The fat will increase the uptake of the carotenoids and good fats are also great the skin.
Eat Fermented Foods and have Neck Massages
Hannah Maruyama, Scalp Micropigmentation Practitioner and owner of YAMA Studios say that fermented foods like natto (fermented soybeans), kimchi, and sauerkraut are fantastic sources of probiotics. Eating a serving or two of those a day makes a difference within a couple of weeks.
She also recommends having gentle facial and neck massage every day. This helps to promote blood flow to the face and will help the skin to look younger. Use clean hands, watch your nails, and use slow upward circles, being careful with your eye area.
