How to Reduce Fine Lines

Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural part of growing old. They mainly show up on the parts of the body that get the most sun exposure like the face, neck, and hands. Even though we’re all bound to have them, it’s normal wanting to age in a graceful way and minimize their appearance.

With that in mind, 5-Minute Crafts gathered 6 evidence-based tips regarding skincare and lifestyle habits to help keep fine lines at bay.

❗ The information in this article is general. It’s recommended that you consult with a doctor or dermatologist if your skin doesn’t improve.

1. Protect your skin from the sun.

Proper sun protection is key. A well formulated broad-spectrum sunscreen will protect you against the damaging UV rays from the sun that contribute to wrinkling, aging, sunburns, and more. Look for SPF 30 or higher and use it on a daily basis, even during rainy or cloudy days.

2. Moisturize.

Just by using a moisturizer you can actually improve the appearance of your skin. Your skin tends to become drier as you grow older, which makes it more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Moisturizers hydrate, soften, and smooth out the skin’s surface, making it look more plump and healthy.

3. Pick the right active ingredients.

It’s wise to take a look at ingredient lists while shopping for skincare products. Whether it’s creams, toners, or serums, the right ingredients can truly make a difference on how your skin looks. Here’s a list of ingredients that can target all the signs of aging:

• Retinols and retinoids have the most data behind them to support their use on aged skin.
• Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) like glycolic acid or lactic acid, have a lot of benefits when it comes to anti-aging.
• Antioxidants like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, and niacinamide can be helpful.
• Peptides have been shown to stimulate collagen production in your skin — and more collagen means firmer and more plump looking skin.

4. Check your habits.

There are certain bad habits that can impact how you look. Lack of sleep, using harsh and drying soaps to wash your face, living a very stressful life — all of these can negatively affect the health of your skin long term.

Instead, focusing on exercising regularly and minimizing stress can yield positive results — even on your facial skin.

5. Change your diet.

A healthy and balanced diet can also affect your skin. Switching up your diet to include more skin-loving foods like fruits (like avocados and pomegranates), vegetables (carrots, pumpkin, tomatoes, broccoli), olive oil, fatty fish (like salmon), spices (chili peppers, cinnamon, and ginger) is an easy way to keep your skin in check.

6. Sleep on your back.

Research indicates that the way you sleep can impact wrinkle formation. The study showed side sleeping or sleeping on your stomach can speed up the formation of wrinkles due to skin distortion from mechanical compression during sleep. To counteract this, try to sleep on your back instead.