We're all looking for that fountain of youth that will keep us perpetually young.
Absent that, most of us would settle for just looking young and healthy—without resorting to invasive procedures. In fact, one study found 9 out of 10 adults said they wanted to look younger without going under the knife.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to look as young as you feel. Furthermore, the precautions you take in your 20s and 30s will pay back in spades as you age.
1. Protect your skin. Every day you expose your face to the sun, wind, dirt, and even chemicals in the products you use.
To put your best face forward, apply sunscreen daily, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the delicate skin surrounding the eyes, use pH-balanced soaps, and lotions formulated for delicate skin, including anti-wrinkle creams such as Retin A or Kinerase.
While you may tend to focus primarily on your face, your hands can really show your age if you don't care for them. Hands do not have age-protective oil glands, so they have little natural protection against the elements and the skin tends to dry out faster.
Use sunscreen and lotion on your hands, wear gloves when doing work in the house or garden, and massage your hands in olive oil, which is rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
2. Eat right. When it comes to your skin, you are what you eat.
Avoid sugars, processed meat, and other processed foods. Eat antioxidant rich foods such as oranges, cantaloupe, tomatoes, leafy greens, salmon, and low-mercury, fatty seafood. Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated, and sip green tea, which has skin-healthy flavanoids. Minimize caffeine intake since it's dehydrating.
3. Relax. When you're stressed, it shows in your skin.
Practice deep breathing, take a walk outside, connect with friends, have sex, or get a massage. In fact, massages do more than help you relax; they help keep your skin firm. Kneading muscles improves blood circulation, delivering important nutrients and oxygen to your skin.
4. Get plenty of sleep. It will ward off puffy, baggy eyes. Your skin rejuvenates itself while you sleep, helping to maintain a supple and taut appearance.
5. Don't smoke. Not smoking may be the single best thing you can do to avoid looking old before your time. Smoking breaks down natural proteins in the skin and decreases the blood supply.
6. Consider non-invasive, anti-aging procedures. Thermage®, for example, is a type of radiofrequency treatment that uses heat to tighten the skin and stimulate collagen production.
Sources:
BodyHealthBeauty.com. "Secrets To Stay Young." Web.
http://www.bodyhealthbeauty.org/beauty/stay_young.php
St. Louis University. "Saving Face: Plastic Surgeon Gives Tips on How to Stay Young Looking and Avoid a Face Lift." Web. 8 October 2003. http://www.slu.edu/readstory/more/3242
Real Age. "9 Days to Younger Looking Skin." Web.
http://www.realage.com/look-young-stay-sharp/simply-beautiful-skin/9-day-renewal-plan
Lye, Bethany. "Look Younger Without Plastic Surgery." MSN.com. Web. http://health.msn.com/womens-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100159193
