5 simple ways to look younger fast
We are all about looking and feeling as young as we can for as long as we can and intervention with the right products is necessary to keep aging at bay. These go-tos are sure-fire ways to keep your skin and body in optimal shape.
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Invest in good skincare
There’s a reason why they call it skin ‘care’—you need to take good care of your skin for it to remain healthy. The healthier your skin is, the better it will look. Neglecting the outermost layers of skin will lead to thinning, wrinkling and discoloration as well as an overall aged appearance. But that’s not to say that skincare isn’t skin deep, too, because it is. It’s important to feed your skin with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to stay healthy, young, and well protected.
Every good skincare routine should consist of the basics: a cleanser, toner, anti-aging serum, antioxidant-rich moisturizer, and sunscreen. At night, swap your SPF for cell-renewing retinol to amp up the anti-aging factor. This combination of heavy-hitting age diminishers helps to reduce lines and wrinkles, refine enlarged pores, soften the skin’s texture, and decrease discoloration.
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Up the collagen factor
As we age, our bodies naturally lose collagen (it’s the most copious protein in the body and gives structure and support to underlying tissues), in turn, causing our skin to become loose, saggy and lack that youthful appeal. In fact, the older we get, the more collagen that is lost. As early as age 30, one to two percent of the skin’s natural collagen is lost each year. The best way to keep your natural collagen reserve intact and limit unnecessary depletion is to avoid sun exposure and smoking, protect your skin from pollution, and maintain healthy habits.
Restoring lost collagen, be it with a supplement or something more invasive like lasers of fillers (they are available at your dermatologist’s or plastic surgeon’s office) will help the skin reclaim its bouncy elasticity and mitigate the signs of aging.
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Stock up on supplements
It takes just a few seconds to swallow a supplement and feed your body with the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. While topical products can do wonders for the external surface of your skin, it’s critical to keep the internal skin cells healthy, too, with skin-friendly supplements.
For overall skin health, pick a clean supplement that boasts adequate amounts of vitamins C and E, which both act as powerful antioxidants to protect the skin and body from environmental damage. But that’s not all you should be looking for–your supplement should also contain vitamin D, zinc and omegas to help mitigate other skin-related conditions like breakouts, redness and inflammation. A complete vitamin-based beauty supplement, like TimeCapsule and the new Hush & Hush SkinCapsule collection, should always be used alongside a full skincare regimen, not in place of one.
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Get restful sleep every night
A good night’s sleep doesn’t just make us feel refreshed come morning, it also puts the body to work to slow aging. While we sleep, the skin carries out its natural rejuvenating processes. For example, the skin creates new collagen when you sleep as part of the repair process, and blood flow increases for glowy-looking skin. Research released by Sealy (in the UK) found that those who are well-rested have brighter eyes and skin, and fewer wrinkles.
When you’re sleep-deprived, not only will your body physically feel tired, but your face is likely to show it, too—think swollen, puffy eyes, dark under-eye circles, lackluster skin, and more pronounced lines and wrinkles. Plus, a lack of sleep prompts the body to release more than normal amounts of growth hormone, which can have a direct effect on premature aging.
The best way to ensure a restful night’s sleep every night is by practicing sleep hygiene—always go to bed at the same time; don’t watch TV or scroll on your phone while in bed; and create a nightly wind-down ritual. If you’re someone who needs a little extra help chilling out before bedtime, opt for a melatonin-free nighttime supplement, like MindYourMind, to make falling asleep and staying asleep that much easier. You’ll thank us come morning.
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Don’t neglect your neck and hands
A dead giveaway as to how old you really are can easily be assessed by looking at the skin on the hands and neck. These thinned skin parts of the body are constantly exposed to damaging elements like the sun, pollution, and harsh soaps, which can cause them to lose elasticity and become dappled with spots. It’s as important to protect the skin on your hands and neck as it is the skin on your face and the rest of the body.
While daily supplements help encourage collagen production—we’re partial to TimeCapsule, which boosts hydration and collagen levels with ingredients like marine collagen, omega 3s, and hyaluronic acid—make sure you apply a layer of sunscreen to these body parts. They should be protected from the sun and blue light every single day.