Monday, September 29, 2008

Anti-Aging Skincare : 8 Great Tips

Do we all want to look younger? Of course we do! Once it was just the rich and famous who spent money on anti-aging products, but now we all care enough about our appearance to make anti-aging skin care a part of our daily routine.

So what can we keep our skin looking younger? There is no magic anti-aging formula, but a disciplined approach and a good regular anti-aging skin care routine will soon produce results.

Of course there are the more drastic solutions to anti-aging like cosmetic surgery and the now very popular Botox injections. This chemical causes a temporary "freezing" of grooves and wrinkles on the face but has to be repeated at regular intervals. So, if you are wary of going to these extremes, what is available, and what can you do on a day to day basis?

Here are eight sensible anti-aging tips for looking after your skin:

1) The first step for anti-aging skin care is to drink lots of water. A good recommendation is to drink eight glasses a day. This will be difficult to start with, but will become easier! Persevere! Drinking enough water make a huge difference to very dry skin in particular.

2) Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. The current guidelines tell us to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Avoid sugar and sugar based foods. Keep these as special treats!

3) Aim to cut down on stress, and lead a calm existence, not easy in the modern world! When you are stressed your body produces chemicals that can cause illness and skin problems. Relaxation is the key. Find your favourite way to relax. For some this may be a simple warm bath, or a massage. For others physical activity does the trick. Also try to ensure you get a good night's sleep.

4) Make regular exercise a part of your anti-aging routine. Vigorous exercise at least three times a week will improve circulation, and this will soon show in improved skin tone and clarity.

5) Avoid the sun! We all want to display a healthy looking tan, but UV damage is the major cause of skin aging , wrinkles, and skin cancer. Make sure you always have adequate sun protection, and use a daily facial moisturising cream that contains UV protection. Many make up products now also contain anti-aging sun protection ingredients.

6) Stop smoking! Nicotine is death to good skin, and smoking will reverse your anti-aging skin care routine quicker than anything else. Keep your alcohol consumption within safe limits. It is generally accepted that an occasional glass of red wine is an excellent anti-aging antioxidant, but excessive drinking will make your liver less efficient in getting rid of toxins from your body.

7) Choose your skin care products carefully. Everyone's skin is different, so try several anti-aging products to see which works best for you. These products don't have to be expensive. Regular and disciplined use is what matters. There is no point in buying the most expensive face cream on the market, using it once a week, and expecting it to work miracles! It won't!

8) Don't lose too much weight. As we get older, we lose weight from our faces first, and excessive dieting can leave our faces gaunt and our skin saggy and wrinkled. A famous actress once said that when a woman gets to a certain age, she has to choose between her face and her behind! She chose her face, and while she now could not be considered slim, her face is sensational!

Using these guidelines to work towards a good anti-aging skin care regime, and you will soon see the benefits. We cannot stop the ravages of aging but we can delay them a little!

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