Beauty
How To Protect Your Face From Early Signs Of Aging
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Beauty
How To Protect Your Face From Early Signs Of Aging
A natural part of our life cycle, wrinkles are a sign of years well-lived.
When it comes to anti-aging skin care, the goal isn’t to avoid every line and crease, but to provide the foundation for healthy, resilient skin at every age. Read on for strategies to protect against the day-to-day external aggressors that lead to early, preventable signs of aging.
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Aging
Intrinsic aging is a natural, inevitable process that comes with the passing of time. As we age, our skin renews itself more slowly, and it may begin to look and feel drier or thinner. This is due to decreased activity in key cells, like fibroblasts and keratinocytes, and a drop in collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production. Some scientists have estimated that intrinsic factors account for only about three percent of visible aging. That means you have more control than you think!
Extrinsic aging is caused by external factors, like our environment and habits. Sun exposure is one of the biggest culprits, causing a breakdown in collagen and elastin, proteins that give the skin elasticity and tightness. Pollution, poor nutrition, smoking, stress and exposure to blue light also contribute to extrinsic aging. While we can’t avoid all of these factors all of the time, limiting exposure where we can makes a real difference.
How To Prevent Aging Zone by Zone
If you have a specific area of concern, we've got you covered.
How to prevent lines on your forehead
Those that are particularly expressive may develop wrinkles on the forehead sooner—but that’s no reason to stop expressing your emotions! Instead, add a few simple habits to your routine to protect your skin without impacting your day-to-day life. For example, the fore- head gets a lot of direct sun exposure, so in addition to SPF, consider popping on a brimmed hat when heading outdoors on a sunny day. Wearing sunglasses can also help mitigate the vertical lines that appear between the eyebrows when squinting in bright light. Stimulate this area by massaging it with your fingers or a gua sha tool (just apply a serum or moisturizer beforehand to give your skin some slip).
Pro Tip: If you’re prone to furrowing your brow while sleeping, try a reusable silicone forehead mask. Wear one overnight to physically smooth lines and wrinkles while you’re catching z’s. Wear it on its own or supercharge the effects by smoothing on a serum before using the mask to seal in the powerful active ingredients.
How To prevent under-eye wrinkles & smile lines
Much like the forehead, the area around the eyes is constantly moving, especially for those with expressive faces. Enjoy every eye-crinkling smile without worry by adopting some proactive, skin-loving habits.
When it comes to the eye contour, a healthy lifestyle, including proper hydration and sleep, can significantly effect the radiance and plumpness of your under eyes, so be sure
to prioritize H2O and rest.
Sun protection is also essential, so slather on some eye-safe SPF and slip on your sunnies to protect the thin, delicate skin around your eyes while also preventing squinting. Eye serums, creams, and masks with super moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin E are also a great choice to lock in hydration for a firmer, smoother look.
How to prevent lines around your lips
Keep your lips hydrated and moisturized to maintain a plumper, more defined look. Light lip oils and balms are great for daytime use, and choosing one with SPF can help prevent burns and sun damage. Applying a rich lip mask before bed is a great way to wake up with ultra-soft, healthy-looking lips, thanks to hours of uninterrupted contact with your skin.
WORK IT
Try these simple techniques to boost circulation and firm the mouth area.
Puffed up: Fill your cheeks with air. Push all of the air to the left cheek and hold for a few seconds. Repeat for the right cheek, upper lip, and lower lip.
Manual massage: With your index finger, gently tap around your entire lip line five to 10 times. Use your finger to gently massage along the lip line with small clock- wise circles, then repeat with counter-clockwise circles.
How to prevent wrinkles on your neck and chest
Giving TLC to your face is part of your daily routine, but how often do you extend that care to your neck and chest? The skin on these areas is delicate and can benefit from the same skin-care ingredients you apply to your face, like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. The neck and décolletage also tend to receive a lot of sun exposure, so don’t stop at the face when slathering on that SPF.
Positional factors can have an effect on wrinkles in this area. Constantly looking down at your phone can increase the look of horizontal lines across the front of the neck, known as “tech neck.” When it comes to the chest, sleeping on your side or stomach creases the skin of the décolletage, contributing to vertical lines. Try keeping your phone or laptop screen at eye level and sleeping on your back or doing light stretches to keep lines at bay.
STRETCH IT OUT
Give your neck and chest a gentle stretch to counteract the effects of poor posture.
Press gently on your collarbones. Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling. Push your lower jaw forward to activate and stretch the platysma muscle. Hold for 10 seconds.
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