Natural Ways To Keep Your Skin Healthy As You Age

It may feel like every time you look in the mirror, you notice a new line or wrinkle that wasn't there yesterday. All those wonderful experiences and memories that you've created through the years have taken a toll on your body and skin. Just like it's not as easy as it used to be to get out of bed in the morning, your skin doesn't have as much elasticity and collagen as it once did. 

This is primarily because your body just isn't producing collagen like it did in your twenties. As a result, you may have invested a small fortune in anti-aging creams and serums to help you to maintain your youthful glow. In addition to finding these must-have products, there are plenty of natural ways to help your skin age more gracefully. 

You probably don't realize that it's just important to get enough water and rest, as well as find ways to reduce stress, but there are other things you can do for this vital organ too. Aging can't be stopped, but you can utilize simple methods of making aging take less of a toll on your appearance. In fact, diet, exercise, sun protection, and massage can all give your aging skin the boost it needs to make you appear years younger.

As you age, your skin will naturally look a bit worse for wear due to the lack of collagen. However, that doesn't mean you should head straight to the plastic surgeon. There are a few, easy steps you can take right now to help give your skin a boost. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your diet and a healthy lifestyle, such as no smoking and drinking, are essential to keeping your skin looking fresh and youthful. Fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli, and strawberries, are packed with vitamins and antioxidants to fight father time. 

Additionally, herring, salmon, and tuna are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for preserving collagen. You could also try snacking on almonds and sunflower seeds to add vitamin E to prevent further cell damage. While full of vitamin D, the sun can wreak havoc on your skin. The American Cancer Society points out that UVA rays lead to wrinkles, liver spots, and leathery-looking skin. Therefore, it's vital to protect your skin from sun damage by using non-toxic or organic sunscreen and wearing protective clothing like hats and long sleeves. 

If you shy away from sunscreen, you can also use natural oils, like coconut oil and almond oil. However, these typically provide less than SPF 10, and it's recommended that you use a minimum of SPF 30 or higher for skin protection. Alongside living a cleaner lifestyle, consider adding a massage to your calendar.

Massage has a lot of well-known benefits. Not only does it make your muscles feel amazing, but it also provides your skin with some key anti-aging benefits. A 2017 study published in the National Library of Medicine showed that massaging your skin daily increased the appearance of substances, like fibrillin, that give your skin more elasticity. And, when you're combatting environmental factors and aging, you want all the elasticity you can get. 

There are various different types of massage you can try, like Swedish, gua sha, and shiatsu, which use light strokes to help ease tension and drain the lymphatic system. Plus, if you use anti-aging oils like carrot seed oil and rosehip seed oil for your massage, you're doubling the age-fighting power. While laying on that table feels fabulous, you can also promote healthy skin by exercising moderately at least a few days a week.

Even 10 to 15 minutes of exercise is beneficial to increase your blood circulation, as well as giving your immune system a boost. While you might think that the rosy glow from a good run is less than appealing, in truth, it's helping your skin to look more youthful. Just think, you're improving your skin, one step at a time. As you age, wrinkles and fine lines are going to happen. But you can negate some of the damage with regular exercise, massage, and eating a healthy diet. Your body, mind, and skin will thank you!