Everybody wants to look their best at their age. The appearance of a woman’s skin on her face, chest, and hands impacts how old she is perceived and her self-esteem.
Aging is inevitable, but we have control over the intensity of the aging process. It’s more than our genes and the sun that might age our skin.
Until recently, the ways to tighten the skin were either mild – stimulating collagen in the top layers of skin with peels, retinoids, and certain kinds of lasers done either at home or in a dermatologist’s office; or severe like a surgical face-lift, which is both expensive (at around $8000) and could have a greater risk.
The biggest noninvasive technological breakthroughs are in radiofrequency and ultrasound devices, which stimulate collagen production by sending energy to different structures of the skin.
Sun protection is key
Prolonged sun exposure speeds up the loss of collagen in our skin. UV rays break down the elastin and collagen in your skin, causing premature aging, wrinkles, dark spots, and a dull appearance.
“The very best way to stay youthful-looking is not to lose collagen in the first place, says New York dermatologist Robert Anolik, a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine. “There’s no substitute for regular sunscreen use and a good lifestyle—no smoking, low alcohol, and sugar consumption, exercise, keeping down inflammation in general. Do it and you won’t have as much visible aging, to begin with, and any results you get with anti-aging dermatology will be better and hold longer.”
How can you lift your skin naturally and fight the signs of aging?
Try to sculpt your face at home instead, to have a more youthful appearance. You won’t have the same dramatic effect as facial cosmetic surgery and it will take some time and effort, but it’s not as invasive either.
Try at-home micro-current facial-toning devices, like those made by NuFace and Ziip, brands that claim to lift and tighten skin by using a low-voltage electric current to stimulate facial muscles and encourage collagen and elastin production. These devices use serums with hyaluronic acid, which is also used in fillers to help plump the skin.
NuFace promotes “the 5-minute facial lift” and recommends using it 5 times a week for 5-20 minutes for the first 60 days, the 2-3 times a week thereafter.
Downside: These devices need to be used frequently and often to see results. It’s difficult to stay compliant, but try to include it in your evening routine.
Facial massage
Facial exercises may significantly reduce some signs of aging, according to a new study. The study, published in JAMA Dermatology, found that middle-aged women looked about three years younger after a few months of exercising their face muscles.
Happy Face Yoga is one of the longest-established facial exercise programs. Try some exercises from Happy Face Yoga used in the 30-minute program, see “Exercising Your Face.”
The exclusive face fitness studio FaceGym – loved by Ellie Goulding and Karlie Kloss – is now available online too. The FaceGym trainers show you how to sculpt your muscles for a natural facelift.
Massaging your face with a piece of jade or rose quartz – gua sha and jade rolling have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries to move the body’s flow of “chi” (or energy) and relieve muscle tension. This practice has grown in popularity as a beauty treatment in the United States over the last few years. While gua sha and jade rolling don’t promote collagen production or erase wrinkles, they help improve blood circulation.
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Pro Tip: Use coconut oil or other vegetable oil when massaging your face with this devices.
Invest in quality skincare products: retinol, glycolic acid toner, vitamin C-serum and cream with niacinamide can be part of your at-home beauty routine. You may also need a product with hyaluronic acid for hydration and eye cream with peptides to stimulate collagen production.
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Use natural products
You can peel your skin and body face naturally with baking soda, sugar, or coffee. Create your own facial scrub using baking soda. Mix three parts baking soda with one part water, and then rub gently onto your face and rinse afterward with warm water.
You can also use sugar or coffee both for your face and body scrub. Mix sugar or coffee with 1/2 cup coconut oil and gently rub your face, neck, and body skin. Wait for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Rose water – because of its antibacterial properties, rosewater will soothe irritated, acne-prone skin and fight the sign of aging. Apply the rose water toner to your face and neck and make it part of your beauty routine.
Honey is moisturizing, has antibacterial properties, and tightens the skin. Apply a mask with honey and lemon on your face and wait for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.
Milk contains lactic acid, an acid that is commonly used in skincare products to exfoliate the skin and remove the dead skin cells.
Fruit acids (rich in vitamin C and AHA) – are very effective to combat the signs of aging because they have antioxidants and acids. They help exfoliate, brighten, and improve skin tone and texture. You can find these acids in cosmetic products, but a cheaper and more convenient alternative is to apply them on your skin directly. We typically find them in fruits and vegetables such as oranges, berries, lemons, pomegranate, tomatoes, peaches. Make a paste with your fruits and vegetables of choice and apply it to your face and neck; leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Natural oils help moisturize and give your skin a more youthful appearance. Use quality oils such as coconut, avocado, almond, olive, or argan oil. Apply your facial oil at the end of your skincare routine, leave it overnight, or use it for massaging your skin.
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Avoid wearing makeup or reduce the quantity and frequency of using make-up on your skin. Allowing your skin to breathe should help it keep a youthful appearance. Always remove your makeup before you go to bed.
If you smoke, consider quitting, and if you drink alcohol regularly, limit the intake.
Drinking enough water will help your skin look plump, hydrated and healthy.
Exercise. Working out tones the skin improves blood circulation and tones the face and body muscles.
Have a healthy diet in general, rich in quality proteins, healthy fats, antioxidants. Consider foods that build up collagen in particular: fish and seafood, chicken, eggs, garlic, beans, fruits rich in vitamin C (berries, citrus fruits), greeny leaves (spinach, kale, sprouts, broccoli), and lycopene-rich fruits and veggies (peppers, tomatoes, beets, carrots).
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Sleeping helps your skin repair itself: increases the blood flow, rebuilds the collagen structures, and helps your face muscles relax. We associate sleep deprivation with duller skin, more wrinkles or fine lines, bags under the eyes.
Sources of information:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/25/well/live/face-lift-at-home.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/well/move/facial-exercises-may-make-you-look-3-years-younger.html
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2666801?redirect=true
- https://goop.com/beauty/skin/how-to-tighten-skin-without-a-face-lift/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-chubby-cheeks#takeaway