Aging Gracefully
Skin aging is the loss of elastin and collagen in the skin, which causes the skin to show signs of wrinkles and sagging skin. The rate of this aging process can differ from person to person and also depend heavily on various factors – including genetics, lifestyle, stressors, and sun exposure, to name a few. So, it is no surprise that when it comes to our skin care goals, “aging gracefully” ranks near the top of the list for most of us.
In our pursuit to maintain a youthful, glowing complexion and prevent premature skin aging, we’re willing to do practically anything — that is safe and natural, of course. Thankfully, you don’t have to resort to going under the knife or using botox to get amazing results. There are some simple yet effective ways to slow the aging process and prevent premature damage to your skin — so you can age youthfully!
Whether you are 16 or 61, aging gracefully and maintaining beautiful skin doesn’t happen by chance; it takes effort. There is no single magic bullet, but here are 15 natural tips to support aging well with beautiful skin to help ensure you are the best version of yourself at any age!
1. Stay Hydrated
Water alone isn’t the fountain of youth, but it can work magic on your skin. Water flushes out toxins for a clear complexion; helps the skin maintain elasticity and moisture levels for a supple, plump look; and supports a healthy pH in the body to help maintain balance. The amount of water you should drink depends on factors like activity level, environment, and weight. Aim to drink between 3-4 Liters per day or more, depending on your individual needs. And be sure to add electrolytes to your water for balance and replenishment.
2. Protect With Mineral Sunscreen
Natural mineral sunscreen is a physical barrier, so as soon as you apply the sunscreen, it starts to protect your skin. For best results, apply each morning (and year-round) as the final step of your skin care routine (before applying makeup) to protect against UV & UVB rays. These rays are the primary culprit of color and texture changed to the skin, resulting in signs of premature aging. Choose a natural broad spectrum mineral sunscreen, such as this one, that goes on smoothly and protects — but won’t soak in and be endocrine-disrupting.
3. Choose Natural Skin Care Products
Do your skin and health a favor — avoid the many products on the market laden with harsh and toxic ingredients. These products will speed up the aging process and wreak havoc on your health and the environment. Instead, choose skin care products that are natural, safe, and gentle yet effective. The best skin care products are made with only natural and safe ingredients.
4. Eat Super Foods
The foods you eat have a tremendous impact on your overall health — including your skin. Eat a diet packed with the best foods for the skin, including those foods that will best support aging gracefully. These ‘superfoods’ are loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, water, and many essential nutrients. These nutrient-dense powerhouses can help to replenish, protect, and strengthen the body and skin for optimal aging youthfully.
5. Supplement Your Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body—and your skin. As we age, our production of collagen slows, and our body’s reserves are depleted. So, supplementing is vital to support healthy connective tissue and skin. Choose a supplement like The Spa Dr.® Collagen Plus formulated with collagen peptides and other nutrients that help support collagen. The peptides makeup the basic building blocks of collagen. So, your body can use peptides to produce more collagen and support the skin’s cellular renewal process to promote healthy, glowing, firm skin.
6. Use Adaptogenic Herbs
Adaptogenic herbs can help support and protect the body from physical and emotional stressors. They are packed with powerful nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and prebiotics that support aging gracefully. You can create various DIY facial treatments with herbs — or choose a skin care system that is synergistically formulated to optimize the herbs for your skin. Ginseng, turmeric root, sea buckthorn, wild yam, cordyceps, holy basil, ginkgo biloba, licorice, and green tea are a few of my favorite adaptogens to support healthy aging.
7. Sip On Green Tea
Enjoy the skin anti-aging benefits of green tea by using it in your beauty routine. You can enjoy the benefits by drinking it, taking supplements, or applying it to your skin. Internal use reduces the risk of certain cancers, supports healthy metabolism, and can do wonders for your skin! You can also use it topically, like in this DIY oat, green tea and yogurt face mask to utilize the antioxidant EGCG that is abundant in green tea — which will rejuvenate, repair, and protect skin cells from premature aging.
8. Exfoliate Dead Skin Away
Exfoliation once a week will help slough off dead skin cells and bring young, vibrant skin cells to the surface — to create a healthy, youthful, glowing complexion. Use a very gentle exfoliant, like The Spa Dr.® Pearl and Rose Exfoliant, to carefully remove surface build-up while avoiding damaging the younger skin you are working to reveal. Also, the powerful vitamin content of resveratrol and red beet extract found in The Spa Dr.® exfoliant is packed with anti-aging and wrinkle-fighting antioxidants.
9. Care For Your Gut
The skin is a magic mirror — it gives us clues about our overall health. When it comes to gut health, your skin is more like a window. There are numerous studies that directly connected skin diseases, such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis, with the gut microbiome. And, when it comes to aging, your gut health plays a crucial role in the process. To support a healthy gut microbiome to age gracefully — eat prebiotic and probiotic foods, take a high-quality probiotic supplement, and cut back on excess simple carbohydrates and sugars.
10. Eat Healthy Fats
Focus on incorporating healthy fats like nuts, avocado, flaxseed, fatty fish, and Omega 3supplements. These sources of the potent essential Omega-3 fatty acids provide powerful antioxidant properties, skin health, anti-inflammatory, and gastric health support. Omega-3 fatty acids are necessary to maintain youthful skin that is thick, supple, and moisturized. A study found a 39% increase in skin hydration by consuming as little as 1/2 tsp of omega-3-rich oils daily. This is important because dehydration weakens the skin’s defense and can cause sensitivities, irritation, and premature aging.
11. Healthy Skin Microbiome
Your skin’s microbiome health matters because a healthy and balanced microbiome will impact how your skin looks. A healthy skin microbiome protects against environmental toxins, UV damage, stress, and infection — all of which play a direct role in the rate of photoaging and intrinsic aging of the skin. Care for your skin microbiome by choosing a safe, natural, and effective skin care product system. A skin care system that maintains a healthy microbiome and promotes graceful aging will be:
perfectly pH balanced — to protect healthy skin microbiome
antioxidant-rich — to promote ageless beauty
effective at clarifying and balances — for a radiant, flawless glow
and is safe and gentle without sacrificing results!
The Spa Dr.® Daily Essentials is a natural, luxurious, and effective 4-step system designed to cleanse, nourish, protect and revitalize any skin type at any age.
12. Exercise
When it comes to your skin, exercise is youth-promoting. It increases blood flow to flood your cells with nutrients and oxygen, while supporting the removal of free radicals and toxins — all of which will help you maintain a healthy, youthful glow! Regular exercise lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. This is particularly important since elevated cortisol can lead to premature skin aging. So, to slow the aging process and keep your skin younger, get out there for 30 minutes each day!
13. Supplement With Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants around for glowing youthful skin. It is a natural component in the skin’s dermis and epidermis layers and is vital in promoting collagen and elastin production. Vitamin C has powerful antioxidant properties to help reduce UV light-induced oxidative damage, leading to premature signs of aging from skin photoaging and hyperpigmentation.
14. Get Your Beauty Sleep
Beauty sleep provides optimal conditions for your body to repair and revitalize. For example, during deep sleep, your body and mind are rejuvenated at the cellular level, restoring strength and function throughout your body. Research points to poor sleep as a major contributing factor to premature skin and overall aging.
15. Take Niacin
Also known as Nicotinamide (or Niacinamide) supports the repair and renewal of cellular function, increases collagen synthesis, and helps moisturize the skin and keep it elastic. It helps build cells in the skin while protecting the cells from environmental stresses, such as sunlight, pollution, and toxin. Niacin has been shown to lighten age-spots and decrease wrinkles.
SKIN QUIZ
Take my Skin Quiz to find out your skin type. Knowing your skin type will help identify your skin’s needs. Then you can take an individualized approach to introduce the necessary habits to enjoy aging gracefully with the beautiful, glowing skin you deserve!
The Spa Dr.® Approach
At The Spa Dr.® – our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information. We also strive to offer guidance that will nurture your skin care journey.
Book a free virtual consultation now with any of our skilled estheticians — their here to help answer any of your skin care routine questions.
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I hope you enjoyed these natural skin care tips. Feel free to share them with your friends, and spread the word to promote natural beauty!
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