I recently had a conversation with a friend about all the things it takes to keep our skin looking youthful as we age. So many people today take such drastic measures to try to look as young as they can. Too many times they end up looking like something straight out of a freak show. I am by no means against a little extra help here and there if that is what you choose to do. For me I choose to age gracefully. Unfortunately we all will age but there are things you can do to keep your skin looking years younger. The sooner you begin the more these things will help but beginning at any age will help.

In my opinion your skins best friends would be a healthy diet, exercise, limited sun exposure, plenty of water, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and good hygiene.

Lets begin with a healthy diet. Eating lots of foods high in antioxidants will do wonders for your skin. Fruits and veggies not only help you maintain a healthy weight but also keeps your skin looking younger. They help fight off all those free radicals which can age you prematurely. Also a diet high in lean protein helps as well. Protein is the building block to muscle. Having more toned muscle helps with the elasticity of the skin. By maintaining a healthy weight and not having large increases in your weight also helps maintain the elasticity of your skin. So how you feed your body makes all the difference.

Now lets talk exercise. Exercise helps in maintaining weight but it also plays a huge role in building muscle and maintaining muscle. Resistance training is very important the older we get as our body slows down in producing growth hormone. Muscle helps burn fat and as stated earlier helps the elasticity of the skin.

Now we have all heard what sun damage can do to our skin. Sunscreen is a must for healthy skin. The more your skin gets sun burned the more damage is done and the more you age. I grew up in the age of laying out in the sun with baby oil on and tanning beds. I have to admit if I hadn’t done those things I would have aged so much more gracefully. With sunscreens and spray tans now there is no excuse for damaging our skin in the sun. I’m not against a little sun but always wear a minimum of 30 SPF sunblock. You will still tan a little but you will not burn. If you have very fair skin you may need even higher SPF. I also use a facial sunscreen every day and the foundation I wear has an SPF of 15.

Staying well hydrated will also help you to look younger and will also help your skin be more healthy looking. Your skin appears fuller and small lines and wrinkles are less noticeable. You should at a minimum drink your body weight in ounces of water each day. Being well hydrated also helps all your body’s organs to function properly. If you are dehydrated it puts stress on your body causing your systems to not work at their best.

Another important thing in aging gracefully is making sure you supplement where there is deficiency. Amino acids (glutamine, carnetine, arginine, bcaa’s) and fatty acids (omega-3) all aid in keeping the skin, hair, and nails looking healthy and youthful. As we age our bodies don’t produce these things as efficiently as it once did. I highly suggest researching the effect supplementing amino acids and fatty acids has on aging.

Good hygiene is a must. You should wash your face every night before bed. Never sleep in your make-up. Exfoliate your skin regularly with a scrub. Also, use warm water but not hot water as that can dry the skin. Use moisturizers and lotions regularly as well. Nothing looks older than dry skin.

Finally, staying away from things such as smoking, alcohol, and drugs will keep you looking youthful much longer. Also, trying to live a life that is not stressful will help to. Regular relaxation whether through a favorite hobby or activity or getting a massage is a necessity to staying young and looking your best.