Summer is fast approaching. The change of seasons is a perfect time to re-charge and renew. New season new you. Or new season much improved you. I’m sure these words conjure up all kinds of visions of self care. Whatever that means to you! ⁠

I’m big on aging gratefully (you see what I did there? I agree with everyone who says each day is a blessing and getting old is a privilege. And though I have nothing against saying “gracefully”, I do hate the implication that is often associated with this word, and that is that aging gracefully implies you should not use the tools at your disposal to slow down (notice I’m not saying eliminate) some of the signs of aging. ⁠⁠ I’m all for slowing down the external signs of aging, such as the changes to your skin that cause sagging, thinning, and wrinkles. I have no issues with the more intrusive interventions—such as injectables, lasers, or plastic surgery, but I also appreciate and respect the choice to not go to those extremes. I believe everyone has the right to make their own choice, no judgement or shaming whichever route you take. ⁠⁠ If you do prefer to go with a more natural approach, or if you just want to delay that trip to the aesthetician, dermatologist, or plastic surgeon, there are things you can do to slow down the way your skin ages. I have 8 great tips for you that will make a huge difference.

The Sun

The 1st age accelerator that you can take control of right now is the sun! Does that surprise anyone? The suns UV rays change your skin’s DNA right at the cellular level. In the most extreme cases it can cause cancer. But that’s not the only damage it causes. ⁠ UV radiation can cause the formation of free radicals—unstable oxygen molecules—that damage lipids and proteins. Lipids keep your cells moisturized and plump, and proteins are necessary for building collagen, elastin, and keratin. These are responsible for the texture and resilience of your skin.

UV damage results in wrinkles, sagging, sunspots and uneven tone.⁠ ⁠ The solution for this is simple. Always, always wear an SPF of at least 30, and reapply throughout the day. ⁠ Now saying it’s simple doesn’t make it easy. Not all sunscreens are created equal. Some of the chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that can penetrate the bloodstream. Though more studies are required to see exactly how these can affect the body, there are other effective options available, so why take the chance. Look for sunscreens that contain physical blockers such as zinc or titanium. These ingredients sit on top of your skin and block the sun’s rays from penetrating. ⁠⁠ Like I said, a simple step, but your skin will love you for it.

Smoking

Are you a smoker?  If so, here is another reason to quit.  Your skin is begging you to!  We all know this habit has detrimental effects, not just on our skin, but every organ in our body.  If you are a smoker though, this is not an easy habit to change.

Maybe this can provide a little motivation.  The very action of sucking on a cigarette creates wrinkles around your eyes and mouth.  The nicotine restricts blood vessels, which limits the transfer of oxygen and nutrients to your cells.  The carbon monoxide, and other chemicals in the cigarettes stimulate enzymes in the cells that break down collagen and elastin—all of which leads to premature aging of the skin.

You can stop this cycle by quitting.  Blood flow will improve, and more nutrients will be delivered to the cells.  Healthier cells will also be more receptive to all the great ingredients in your skincare products.

Stress Management/Self Care

It's unfortunate that so many of us have been taught that self-care is a selfish act.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It’s an act of self-preservation.  Some very basic self care can result in better, more youthful skin.

One of the first things you will need to combat is stress.  Study after study proves that stress damages your DNA and increases inflammation.  It can also cause flare ups of various skin conditions such as acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis and exacerbates wrinkles caused by frown lines.  Stress often leads to other poor lifestyle choices, such as poor eating habits (stress eating), poor sleep, not exercising. 

Our skin loves exercise.  The increased blood flow nourishes the cells.  Have you experienced that post exercise glow?  So, you know how true this is.

Good sleep is also important for your skin.  Research shows that poor sleep can lead to more wrinkles, dark under eye circles, droopy eyelids, amongst other things.  And your skin goes into fixing mode while you sleep allowing it to repair much of the environmental damage of the day.

Toxic Chemicals

Many of us have switched to clean beauty products.  We read ingredients carefully on our creams, shampoos, lipsticks.  But toxic chemicals can be hiding in other places as well.  Most prevalently in our homes: cleaning products, furniture, carpeting, dry cleaning, medication, just to name a few.  

Be cognizant of what is in the products you use.  Google can be your best friend here.  If you are questioning an ingredient you see listed, you can easily do a little research and get more information.  I’m not suggesting that all chemicals are toxic.  I’m also not suggesting that everything labeled “organic” or “natural” are safe.  So that is why I am encouraging you to do a little research.

Some people will have allergic reactions to certain products.  Usually it presents as redness, itching, scaling, or swelling.  If you have these reactions, it is worth your while to visit a dermatologist for an allergy patch test.  Identifying exactly what ingredient/chemical is causing the reaction is the first step to avoiding it in future.

If you are taking any medication, be sure you know the potential side effects.  Many medications can affect your skin.  Some antibiotics, for example, make you more sensitive to sunlight.  They can accelerate skin burning and other skin breakdown associated with sun exposure.  Obviously, you will have to take the medications.  But you will have to adjust your lifestyle to protect yourself.

Alcohol

I can’t tell you how much alcohol is OK, versus how much is too much.  That varies based on a lot of different factors, so experiment.  Cut back 1 glass a week, or 2 glasses a week, until you see and feel a difference.  Or use less alcohol in your drinks and more water or juices.  Drink a full glass of water between alcoholic drinks.  There are lots of strategies to help you cut back on alcohol

Why is it worthwhile?  Because alcohol can weaken the immune system.  It can also increase inflammation and decrease vitamin absorption—all of which accelerates aging, including skin.  So, enjoy a drink every now a then.  Just don’t over do it.

Diet

It’s not just what you drink that affects the condition of your skin.  It’s everything you put in your mouth.  Now we all know it, don’t we?  A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and fiber are key to a healthy body and healthy skin. 

The first thing you should do to improve the over-all health of your skin is to cut back on sugar.  Refined sugar causes glycation of the skin.  What does this mean?  When we consume sugar, our bodies create by-products called AGEs.  This stands for advanced glycation end products (I’m sure the irony of this name does not escape you.)  These AGEs combine with the collagen and elastin in your skin cells, which, in turn, weakens skin and causes a loss of elasticity. 

Other products that can cause glycation include animal products (particularly red meat, cheese and butter), mayonnaise, certain fats.  Frying food increases its ability to cause glycation.  One of the reasons eating a baked potato, for example, is a better option then french fries.

What should we eat for healthy skin?  As stated above, eat a diet heavy in fruits and vegetables, and lower in meat, refined carbohydrates, sugar, and you are well on your way.  To help you out, here is a list of 10 foods that will give you glowing skin.

1. Watercress

2. Red bell paper

3. Papaya

4. Blueberries

5. Broccoli

6. Spinach

7. Nuts

8. Avocado

9. Sweet potato

10. Pomegranate seeds

Like many of you, I’m very busy and so often it is easier to reach for snacks that are easy and ready to go.  But those are often the ones that are loaded with sugar and bad fats.  My commitment to myself is to spend time every Sunday preparing snack bags loaded with some of the ingredients listed above so throughout the week, I can grab and go.  I know my skin will thank me for it. 

Genetics

The 7th factor that affects our skin, sadly, is one we can’t do very much about.  For better or worse, your genetics is something you are stuck with.  At least for now. 

Genetics generally determines whether your skin is oily, normal, or dry.  It determines if you are prone to acne, or other conditions.  It can determine skin elasticity and thickness.  It determines if you are prone to developing wrinkles.

The good news is healthy lifestyle habits can help you overcome some of the hereditary components.  Let’s take heart disease as an example.  You may have a genetic predisposition to heart disease.  But if you eat properly, exercise regularly, and adapt healthy habits, you can stave off the disease and live a normal healthy life.  Adapting good skincare habits, for example the ones here in this article, can work the same way.

Now having said that, the opposite is also true.  You may have great genes, but if you have poor lifestyle habits, never wear sunscreen, drink too much alcohol, eat too much sugar, that will be reflected in your skin.

Pollution

The final factor to evaluate is pollution.  Your skin is exposed to the elements every single day, and that includes pollution.  Air pollution contains soot and particles that come in direct contact with skin.  Studies have shown that this pollution in the air increases pigmentation on cheeks and forehead—age spots. 

Like how maintaining a healthy immune system helps us fight off disease, our best defence against air pollution is to maintain good skincare habits and keep skin as healthy as possible.  Applying an antioxidant, such as vitamin C, may also provide a level of protection.

And there you have it.  Eight steps to younger looking skin.  Please let me know what you thought.  Are you inspired to change your habits to improve your skin?  What other advice do you have to share?