How to Prevent Aging While You’re Still Young

Have you ever heard the saying that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago? In other words, if you’re in your 20s and 30s, NOW is the best time to start preventing aging. Your skin is strong and elastic right now, and it’s way easier to maintain the health of your skin than regain it once it’s been lost. I know, I get it. You have enough to think about like school, work, relationships, and probably a million other things. Wrinkles might be the last thing on your mind but trust me, the sooner you get into age prevention, the better.

Here are my top tips for preventing aging while you’re young!

Sun protection, sun protection, sun protection!

If you remember only one thing from this article, I hope it’s this: Protect your skin from the sun!

Overdoing it on sunshine can cause painful sunburns, skin cancer, and serious wrinkles long before you’d expect them.

• Avoid laying out or going to tanning beds. If you really want that healthy summer glow, go for an all-natural spray tan. Baking your skin in UV rays will only lead to disaster.
• SPF is your best friend. Find an all-natural mineral sunscreen you love and apply it religiously. Every single day, especially on your face. Even if it’s not that sunny or warm or if you don’t plan on spending much time in the sun. Please, just do it. (Our favorite is Suntegrity SPF.)
• Wear polarized sunglasses and sun hats. Sunglasses that actually keep out the UV rays (not the cheap-o ones from Target) will keep you from squinting, which squishes your skin and leads to premature wrinkles. Also, keeping the sun off your face with a cute hat adds another layer of protection.
• Avoid peak hours. The sun’s UV rays are strongest between 10am and 2pm, so try to stay inside during those hours. If you must go out, at least slather yourself in sunscreen, wear protective clothing, and stick to the shade.

I still want you to have fun, but be smart about it!

Eat well and drink water

You probably know and do this already because there are so many benefits to a healthy diet. But if you need another reason, do it for your skin. Eat lots of fruits and veggies, especially ones will high water content like cucumbers, melons, berries, and celery, and drink lots of water. Hydration plays a massive role in the health of your skin, and a lot of anti-aging is keeping your skin from getting too dry. Also, eat plenty of healthy fats like nuts and avocados because they promote hydrated skin and provide healthy building blocks for cell membranes (aka healthy, glowing skin). Avoid greasy foods and go easy on the dairy, especially if it makes you break out. Cut back on dehydrating foods and beverages like sweets, soda, caffeine, and alcohol.

Don’t smoke

Smoking wreaks havoc on your poor skin! Not only does it inhibit oxygen flow to your skin, it also breaks down collagen, which is the elastic stuff that keeps your skin bright and youthful. If you needed a little boost of motivation to quit, here ya go.

Exercise

Exercise boosts circulation, which is incredible for your skin. Make sure to sweat and get your heart rate up for at least 20 minutes a few times a week.

Our favorite fun workouts in Portland:

• ‍Pure Barre
• ‍Pulse PDX

Use eye cream before you think you need it

Most women don’t use eye cream until they start noticing wrinkles. It’s never too late, but the best time to start is before premature wrinkles form at all. Find yourself a great eye cream and implement it into your PM skincare routine. Our Whipped Coffee Eye Cream is amazing!

Moisturize like it’s going outta style

Again, hydration is key and a moisturizer is an indispensable tool in your anti-aging arsenal. Find an all-natural, water-based like our Hella Hydration Cream and use it morning and night.

Exfoliation and facials

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells and other gunk that piles up on your face, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles. There are different kinds of exfoliators out there, so read our article on which might one might work for you. We recommend gentle exfoliation once or twice a week, and consider getting a facial every so often as well.

Consider an anti-aging serum

Anti-aging serum. Sounds like a magic potion from a fairy tale, right? Serums are full of good stuff like peptides and antioxidants that fight off free radicals, which are crazy little molecules in our environment that weaken the elasticity in our skin and cause all kinds of damage to our health.They can even smooth out fine lines on your face! Try our Time in a Bottle Serum for extra age-fighting power!

Bonus tip: Nourish your skin with a fun mask

‍Masks can be amazing for your skin! To fight wrinkles, look for masks that contain enzymes like our Plumpkin Pumpkin Face Mask. Enzymes are incredible because they digest the proteins in dead skin cells that settle on the top layer of your skin, which allows you to easily wash them off. This brightens skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, masks are tons of fun! At-home spa night, anyone?

Age prevention doesn’t have to be boring, hard, or time-consuming. After all, a lot of stuff on this list pulls double duty and will make you feel great! Exercise, drink water, eat veggies, quit smoking...all good stuff, right? All it takes is a little consciousness and a few well-chosen products to keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and wrinkle-free!

‍Want to get a jump on anti-aging? Book a facial today!