How to look younger (without botox)

If you’re wondering how to look younger, know this: We've all been there before. 

You’re getting ready for bed and find yourself standing in front of the bathroom mirror, obsessing over each line and sunspot, riddled with this question → 

“When did all these appear? I still feel like I’m...in my 20s.” 

Aging is especially inevitable and, to most of our devastation, shows through our skin, the largest organ in our body. The shift tends to be especially prominent in areas of our face that move a lot - like eye crinkles and smile lines. 

Major skincare companies are focusing their efforts toward anti-aging products because they know customers will pour lots of money into trying ANYTHING that promises to work - from botox to facial eye masks. 

Here’s the truth though. 

There are ways to achieve younger skin - packed with your glorious, natural beauty - without having to spend a fortune on drugstore products or shockingly expensive botox. 

That’s why, in this blog, we’re revealing the “fountain of youth” insights into: 

• What causes skin to age?
• Why certain skin phenomenons people look older
• The vital importance of hydrating your skin (and why most “lotions” do NOT do this enough)

The #1 causes of aging skin 

How your skin ages depends on a variety of factors. Certain elements of your lifestyle or family history indeed have the power to slow down or increase the perceived age of your skin. Some of the top factors include: 

Lifestyle & personal habits 

Your daily activities add up overtime and lead to results, including the level of aging.  

For example, smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable. These damaging free radicals are horrendous to the skin- wreaking havoc on the cells, leading to premature wrinkles.

In addition, the more time spent in the sun without sunscreen or wearing drugstore, chemical-filled makeup, the faster skin is likely to age. 

Stress 

While no one has a perfect life without any anxiety or worry, a certain level of stress truly does make a difference in contributing to the skin’s apperance of aging. This is why you may see that 70 year old yoga teacher with a constant youthful smile on her face - who’s skin glows differently than someone a decade younger. 

Diet

“You are what you eat” has never been more true than with skin’s appearance. Certain foods, especially processed foods, bring unnatural ingredients into the body and contribute to damage. In contrast, the more fruits, vegetables and other powerfully healthy foods you eat - the more you take in the vitamins and amino acids that help skin to repair itself and stay as supple as possible. 

Environment 

The greater pollution and other airborne factors can sink into skin and affect the level of skin’s aging. (That’s why it’s so important to step away for chemicals and shift into at least one new cosmetic that’s totally natural.) 

Unique body & genetics

While everyone ages, it is only human, people naturally age at different rates. Some groups and ethnicities are simply more prone to smooth, young skin for longer periods of time - and have more “baby faces” that carry on throughout their lives. 

One sneaky phenomenon that makes people look older

When we hear “aging”, our first thought is wrinkles. However, there are certain types of skin occurrences that - if treated - will make the skin appear younger. 

The #1 perpetrator? 

Dark undereye circles. 

There are various causes of dark circles under the eyes. The two main causes are loss of fat from the face, which gives a filled out glow, and reduced bone mass, which comes with age. The volume loss creates a shadow which creates a dark appearance.

The other is loss of collagen. As we get older, skin (especially the thin skin around the eyes) experiences a decrease in elasticity- allowing the darker veins underneath to become more visible.

(Thankfully, we have the #1 best way to combat eye circles - naturally.) 

How to hydrate your skin (besides drinking water)

How many times have you heard that drinking lots of water is essential for your overall health? Probably more often than any of us can count.

However, no matter how much water we drink, there are other ways dehydration can happen and affect our skin.

For example, a lot of skin products have chemicals that are likely affecting your skin - 

Check out the chemicals in everyday skincare to remove from your routine. 

What causes dry skin, that’s affecting aging

As you age, your skin slows the production of many beneficial substances that naturally help to keep your face hydrated. Ceramides make up the skin’s natural moisture barrier, and as we age and are exposed to water and sunlight, the ceramides decrease- causing the skin to show signs of dryness and ultimately, wrinkles. This is why as you age, it becomes more and more important to make sure you’re treating your skin with an extra dose of (all-natural) hydration.

The easy, natural ways to make skin look younger

Use sunscreen

While it is an excellent source of Vitamin D, the sun (excessive amounts of it) can cause detrimental damage to our skin. Sunscreen protects your skin from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, which come in two forms – UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are most commonly associated with skin aging; these beams are the cause of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots that make skin look prematurely older.

Vitamin C has a myriad of benefits to our skin, especially for helping it appear younger. 

As we age, skin tends to shift in pigmentation - with slight discolorations popping up around the face. Vitamin C is like a natural toner, smoothing out the colors and providing a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect.

In addition, Vitamin C provides renewal, like a fantastic weekend spa trip. Especially when applied topically, Vitamin C helps the skin to replenish and plump up against lines and wrinkles. 

Learn more about what Vitamin C does for your skin here.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

A hydrated complexion looks more plump, healthy and youthful looking. This in turn improves skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

Ironically, hydrated skin also helps to combat oiliness. On the other end, dehydrated skin produces more oil because it is compensating for a lack of moisture (which in turn leads to breakouts). Dehydrated skin is also less resilient to environmental irritants. When your skin is fully hydrated, it is able to fight and flush out toxins more effectively because your cells are getting the maximum amount of hydration that they need to function at their best.  

And (you know we have to share this!) - Drinking an adequate amount of water every day is the first step towards maintaining a hydrated and soft complexion. According to experts, you should aim for eight glasses or two liters of water per day. [source]

Be aware of your protein intake

A diet high in protein and essential fatty acids, both found in salmon and other oily fish, eggs, nuts and seeds is a skin-friendly one, is important because it provides the skin with essential fats and amino acids.

Chemicals and processed foods are toxic to your cells and cause degeneration, making you look older. Your skin is an eliminating organ, and if you've got a poor diet, your complexion will show it," says Fender, who recommends plenty of fresh fruit and veggies to help alleviate dull skin.

Most importantly, use the right kinds of skin products

While many companies advertise products that are anti-aging, many are loaded with chemicals that ultimately strip away hydration and leave the skin MORE affect. 

Using a healthy, natural eye cream can reduce the appearance of dark circles, rejuvenate your skin & give it the moisture it needs to look younger. 

Make sure to read the ingredient list - so you can see the moisturizer only has simple, natural ingredients.