4 Ways to Improve Aging Skin

Improving your aging skin doesn’t only apply to those in the “mature skin” category. Your skin starts aging as early as your 20s, even if you aren’t aware of it. However, there are preventable measures you can take now to avoid damage. Consider implementing the following 4 ways to improve aging skin.

Although it may sound cliché, I can’t help but wish I had started taking care of my skin earlier. Fortunately, the younger generation is more aware of the importance of skin and hair health. It’s important to note that some factors within our control can accelerate the aging process of our skin. It’s crucial to start taking care of it as soon as possible.

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1. Stay Hydrated

Our body’s natural oil production decreases as we age, resulting in dryness. Proper hydration is important to improve aging skin. Drinking water regularly every day, regardless of age, is essential to avoid adverse effects on the skin.

It could be a sign of dehydration if you’re experiencing itchy, flaky, red, or inflamed skin. Dry skin can also exaggerate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Drinking more water can help alleviate these symptoms. While water alone won’t reverse the effects of aging on your skin, it does contribute to your overall health and the health of your hair and skin.

Did you know your body is made up of about 50-70% water? So, staying hydrated is essential. Experts recommend that you drink half your body weight in ounces.

2. Get Rid of Bad Habits

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all have habits that aren’t the best for our health. While some may be harder to change than others, it’s essential to become aware of their impact and try to make positive changes.

Everyday Bad Habits:

Touching your face – We did an entire blog post. If you missed it, you can read it here. The average person touches their face 23x per hour. That is an average of 552x a day! Skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and contact dermatitis can be exacerbated. You can transfer dirt, oil, and bacteria onto your skin.
Smoking – I honestly do not know how anyone can afford to smoke these days, but if you are, it can contribute to premature aging. Smoking increases fine lines around your mouth. Studies have also shown that smoking can prolong wound healing and impair collagen production. The NIH did a study linking tobacco and premature skin aging, and you can read that study here.
Remove makeup every night – To maintain healthy skin, it is important to remove your makeup every night. This process eliminates the dirt, oil, and makeup residue accumulating throughout the day. Not doing so can cause your pores to clog, resulting in blemishes, redness, and other skin issues. Our skin’s ability to regenerate cells and produce collagen decreases as we age. To avoid hindering this process even more, removing your makeup before going to bed is crucial. Leaving makeup on overnight can accelerate the breakdown of collagen in your skin.
Get your beauty rest – Earlier, I mentioned that skin cells and collagen production slow down as we age. Sleep loss will speed up the aging process. While we are sleeping, our skin cells are regenerating. Lack of sleep can lead to dull, puffy skin.

3. Protect Your Skin From the Sun

We can protect our skin from harmful UV rays in multiple ways. Society has told us that a suntan looks better than white skin. But did you know that a suntan is just damaged skin? Sun damage can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.

Tips to protect your skin from the sun:

Sunscreen – Dermatologists suggest using a minimum of SPF 30 for best protection. They also recommend wearing daily sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. If you are in the sun for long periods, remember to protect sensitive areas like your hair part, hairline, and the tops of your ears.
Wide-brim sun hat – We recently wrote a blog post on “How to Pick the Perfect Sun Hat.” Experts recommend that your sun hat have a brim of at least 3 inches to effectively shield your face, neck, and shoulders from the sun. The wider the brim, the better the coverage.
Sunglasses – Not only are sunglasses cute, but they serve an important job. They protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them from harmful UV rays. UV rays from the sun can damage the skin, cornea, lens, and other parts of the eye. The repeated “squinting” motion from not wearing sunglasses can cause wrinkles around the eyes, better known as “crow’s feet.”

4. Good Skincare Routine

Knowing your skin type is crucial, as it can evolve. For instance, your skin may have been oily when you were younger or in your 30s, but it may become more sensitive and drier as you age into your 50s or 60s.

Understanding your skin type is crucial in selecting the right skincare products that cater to your skin’s unique needs. As we age, our skin becomes more delicate, and it is vital to handle it carefully, particularly around the eye area, which is the most sensitive.

What is Your Skin Type:

Normal skin – If your skin has just a few blemishes, no significant sensitivities, and pores that are hard to detect, you have what’s known as normal skin.
Combination skin – Does the word T-zone ring a bell for you? People with combination skin will have either dry or normal skin in some areas but, in their T-zone, have oily skin. The T-zone is your nose, forehead, and chin area. Your pores may appear more prominent, with blackheads and shiny skin.
Dry Skin – Does your skin often feel tight and, at times, flakey? People with dry skin will have almost invisible pores and a dull, rough complexion. Usually, you can have more visible fine lines.
Oily skin – Do you struggle with blemishes? Or maybe it seems like your face is always shiny? If you answered yes to these questions, you probably have oily skin. Your pores will also be enlarged.
Sensitive skin – Do you experience dry patches, redness, itching, or burning on your face? If you have sensitive skin, you may react to many different products or easily be triggered by contact with certain things.

We recommended 4 ways to improve aging skin. Have you tried any? Remember, it’s never too early to care for your skin.

Please share your thoughts or tips that you have found helpful in the comments below.