You know that you cannot stop yourself from aging or reverse the aging process, but that doesn't mean you have to look your age. Even though genes play a role in the aging process, there are things you can do to look more youthful. From lifestyle changes, to products and procedures, there are ways to appear younger that anyone can do.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Minimizing Wrinkles for a Youthful Face

  1. 1
    Protect yourself from the sun. Your face is, of course, the first thing people will notice about you, and facial wrinkles are one of the primary signs of aging. Damaging UV light from the sun is a major cause of premature aging.[1] The same rays that give you a tan also cause damage to your skin, which shows up as wrinkles, lost elasticity, changes in texture, and brown spots. Use a sunscreen or facial moisturizer with broad-spectrum UV coverage – SPF 30 or higher – on a daily basis.[2]
    • On particularly sunny days, wear a wide-brimmed hat if you’ll be outside for a while.[3]
    • Never use a tanning booth, which blasts your skin with UV rays.[4]
    • Look for sunscreen containing zinc or titanium oxide.[5]
    • Self-tanning lotions are a safe alternative to baking in a tanning booth if you want a quick bronze.
    • In addition to aging your skin, unprotected sun exposure can also lead to cancer.[6]
  2. 2
    Try natural skin remedies at home. Before spending money on expensive products, which may irritate your skin, try easy to do natural remedies in the comfort of your home. Fruit and food items have been used for thousands of years as organic beauty products. Many common food products contain vitamins and antioxidants that protect and nourish skin.
    • Massage coconut oil or a teaspoon of olive oil into your skin nightly before bed. These are rich moisturizing oils that can lighten wrinkles and tighten loose skin.[7]
    • Make a natural face mask of one banana, a teaspoon of orange juice and a teaspoon of plain yogurt. Apply your mask for 15 to 20 minutes.[8] Bananas hydrate your skin and yogurt contains vitamins that can lighten your skin and help cell growth and regeneration.[9]
    • Make a natural face mask with one egg white, a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice, and half a teaspoon of honey. Apply your mask for 15 to 20 minutes.[10] Honey and lemon juice work as exfoliants while eggs hydrate your skin and shrink your pores.[11]
    • Do not use anything on your skin that you're allergic to, such as eggs. If you have sensitive skin, do a patch test by applying your homemade remedy to a dime-sized area of skin first to ensure you don't have a reaction.
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  3. 3
    Wash your face daily. Our environment is fraught with pollutants like smoke, ozone, and gasoline fumes. These can age skin and cause premature wrinkles.[12] Wash your face with a gentle soap each evening to remove the day’s pollutants.
  4. 4
    Moisturize. Dry skin can look flaky, dull, and can accentuate wrinkles. Incorporate a good facial moisturizer into your routine to keep your skin hydrated.[13] Apply after you wash your face in the evening, and in the morning before you start your day.
  5. 5
    Use facial products containing retinoids and alpha-hydroxy acids. There are many products out there that claim to decrease signs of aging, but look for those with ingredients that are more scientifically shown to do so.[15] Alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids are the most reliable ingredients to make skin look younger, so look for products with one of these as they primary ingredient.[16]
    • Alpha-hydroxy acids like lactic, glycolic and citric acids exfoliate your skin, removing dead skin cells and speeding up the rate that your body makes new, healthier skin cells.[17]
    • Retinol is a form of vitamin A found in nature that helps increase the thickness of the skin and make it more elastic, which minimizes wrinkles and fine lines.[18] Tretinoin (sometimes branded as Retin-A or the milder Renova) is a stronger form of retinol that is only available by prescription.[19]
    • Exfoliating with topical vitamin C in the morning may repair discoloration and lines caused by the sun’s damage. Applying vitamin C to the skin can sometimes cause dryness or flaking. If this happens be sure to moisturize well after application, or switch to taking an oral vitamin C supplement.[20]
  6. 6
    Limit the number of products you use. Irritation and inflammation of the skin can make skin look less healthy and make signs of aging more apparent. Some facial products are rough on sensitive skin, and using too many products on your face can really irritate the skin. “Anti-aging” products are especially likely to cause irritation when combined. It’s okay to shop around and experiment, but settle on a beauty routine with minimal overlapping products and stick to it.[21]
  7. 7
    Wear sunglasses. The skin around the eyes is thin and sensitive, and is very prone to UV radiation.[22] Sagging, baggy, or thinning skin around the eyes can make your face look older. When you’re going to be outside in the sun, wear sunglasses to protect this sensitive skin and keep it healthier and younger looking.[23]
  8. 8
    Sleep on your back. If you regularly sleep on your stomach or on one side, you’re pressing the skin of your face into your pillow all night long. Those creased lines you get in the morning from your pillow, sleep lines, can turn into wrinkles.[24] Sleep on your back to avoid this excess stress on your face’s skin.
    • If you simply can’t sleep on your back, invest in pillowcases made of satin or high thread counts to minimize sleep lines.[25]
  9. 9
    See your doctor for aesthetic procedures. If you have the desire and the funds, you can pursue medical procedures aimed at creating a more youthful appearance in your face. As with any medical procedures, there are certain risks. Speak with your doctor about whether these methods are right for you. In general, it’s safer to use natural remedies and healthy lifestyle than chemical procedures. Some aesthetic procedures include:[26]
    • Botox: Injections into the muscles underneath wrinkles in order to let the skin on top lie smoothly. It’s typically used on the top half of the face (lines on the forehead, between the eyes, crow’s feet, etc.).
    • Wrinkle fillers: Wrinkles are filled with a variety of substances, including collagen, hyaluronic acid, and others. It’s usually used on the lower half of the face (laugh lines, thin lips).
    • Chemical Peels: Chemicals are used to “burn” away the top layer of skin. Your body responds to this damage by creating more collagen.
    • Dermabrasion: A vacuum suction device and chemical crystals are used together to remove your top layer of skin, which evens out the skin’s texture.
    • Laser treatments: The energy produced by a light source removes the top layer of skin, which encourages collagen production.[27]
  10. 10
    Develop your routine for youthful skin early. The best treatment for aged looking skin is prevention. Start a healthy skin routine in your younger years or when you first notice signs of aging for best results. Experts suggest the top 6 elements of a youthful skin routine are sunscreen, a gentle cleanser, a toner, a moisturizer, retinoids, and antioxidants to fight free radicals.[28]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Decreasing Signs of Age on Your Body

  1. 1
    Fight turkey neck. Even with a youthful looking face, the skin of your neck, hands, chest and shoulders can show aging. Don’t neglect these other parts of your body in your care routine. Moisturize daily and use the same sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on a daily basis for exposed skin. The thin and delicate skin of your neck is a major place that will show age, possibly even before your face will. This skin may benefit from a moisturizer with peptides, to help collagen production.[29]
    • You can draw attention away from your neck by wearing a long necklace or blouses with interesting prints of designs.
    • If you choose to pursue medical treatment, fraxel laser treatments can help the texture of your skin and Botox can soften those vertical lines.[30]
  2. 2
    Tend to your hands. Many people complain that their hands portray their aging due to thinning skin that can look and feel papery. Your hands can benefit from products containing retinoids just like the skin of your face. Use an ultra-moisturizing cream plus a hand cream containing retinol; using a dollop of your facial moisturizer on your hands in the morning and evening is an easy remedy. As with other skin, protect your hands from UV rays with an SPF 30+ moisturizer, or accessorize with a pair of gloves when outdoors.[31] Consult a dermatologist about whether these procedures are right for you.
    • Draw attention away from aged looking hands by skipping dark nail polish in favor of paler shades.[32]
    • There are rejuvenating procedures for your hands that use lasers or injectable fillers; these procedures can thicken skin that is thinning and remove dark spots.
  3. 3
    Smooth your knees and elbows. Wrinkled, sagging skin on your knees and elbows can show your age. Massage onto the area high-moisture lotion that contains urea or ammonium lactate, ingredients which help penetrate the thick skin on elbows and knees. Exfoliate using a cream for that purpose, or a brush or loofah. Do yoga several times weekly - yoga strengthens your joints and leg muscles, which tighten the muscles and skin around your knees.[33]
    • Skin-tightening injections for elbows and "knee lifts" are medical procedures available from plastic surgeons.
  4. 4
    Wear the right bra to support drooping breasts. Breasts sag with age, but wearing the appropriate bra can help them fight gravity and appear younger. Check your bra at home by standing sideways in front of a mirror. Bend your elbows to 90˚ and notice where the fullest part of your breasts fall. This should be about midway between your elbows and your shoulders. If they're below that level, tighten your bra straps. If you do that and they still fall low or it causes your bra to hike up in back, this isn’t the right bra for you.[34]
    • When purchasing a new bra, request a professional fitting to learn your correct size. This might be different now than when you were 25 years old. Try on multiple styles, and aim for supportive cups.
  5. 5
    Enhance your eyebrows and lashes. Brows and lashes can thin after years of plucking and with your changing hormones, which can make your face look more aged. Fill in thin or sparse brows with a pressed eye shadow that matches your hair color. Use a small brush and light strokes. Utilize a lash-enhancing mascara or try out false eyelashes for a more youthful pop to your eyes.[35]
    • Droopy eyelids and fat around the eyes can be caused by oxidative stress, which is usually a result of poor diet full of processed foods. Switch to a whole foods diet of fresh rather than processed foods to reduce puffiness around the eyes and decrease inflammation. Celery is a particularly good snack for this.[36]
  6. 6
    Whiten your teeth. Teeth that are stained and yellowed are a sign of age, and a bright healthy-looking smile can take years off your appearance. Whiten your teeth by brushing with a whitening toothpaste twice daily, using a whitening tray or strips, or visiting your dentist for a cleaning and bleaching procedure. Avoid smoking and drinking black coffee and tea, which worsen stains. Of course, remember to floss daily.[37]
  7. 7
    Enliven your hair. We all know that aging causes gray hair, but it also causes hair to be thinner, drier, and finer.[38] Over-styling to compensate can further dull hair and cause damage, and over-washing dries hair out. Getting a color or highlights at a salon is always an option, as is dyeing your hair yourself at home, but coloring may cause damage to hair, as well. Try to reinvigorate your hair without chemicals, if possible. If you experience sudden or rapid hair loss, see your doctor to ensure there's no medical reason; getting a blood test can help pinpoint if you're deficient in certain nutrients or low in thyroid hormone, which can cause thin or brittle hair.
    • Hair products containing caffeine, niacinamide and panthenol can help decrease indications of aging hair.[39]
    • Volumize hair to counteract the thinning that happens with age. Many shampoo, conditioning, and beauty product lines promote hair thickening.
    • Part your hair in a different place or try a “zigzag” part. Hair tends to start thinning earliest at your regular part.[40]
    • Take a supplement of the vitamin biotin to increase your hair’s thickness and volume.[41]
    • Experiment with a new haircut to get rid of dull split ends and reinvent your look.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Cultivating a Lifestyle that Promotes a Youthful Appearance

  1. 1
    Eat the right foods. Your diet significantly affects how you look and feel like you're aging. Eating a healthy, “anti-aging” diet will fight free radicals to reduce signs of aging. Drink plenty of water (8-12 glasses a day) and eat eight to ten servings daily of fruits and vegetables. Avoid processed foods and sugars, which contain chemicals that can cause your skin to age prematurely.[42] Specific “beauty foods” have been shown to benefit your look, as well.
    • Dine on salmon three times a week or other fish containing omega 3 fatty acids like tuna, trout, herring or mackerel.[43]
    • Excellent fresh produce for skin health include: pears, blueberries and other berries, tomatoes, beans, dark chocolate, apples, artichokes, carrots, red grapes, pecans, black plums, and the spice turmeric.[44] Broccoli, cabbage and avocado are some of the best produce for age defying.[45]
    • Healthy and youthful looking hair requires protein, omega-3’s found in fish, vitamins A and C that you get from green leafy vegetables like kale, and zinc, which is abundant in nuts.[46]
    • If your skin has been damaged from sun exposure, incorporate soy into your diet regularly.[47]
  2. 2
    Give your body the minerals it wants. Vitamins and nutrients aren’t just important for your overall health, some of them can aid in keeping skin looking youthful. Selenium fights free radicals and can help prevent wrinkles. Copper, which you shouldn’t eat but can come in a cream form, can improve fine lines and damage from the sun. Ingest enough calcium to inhibit premature skin aging and help skin to rejuvenate.[48] Consult your doctor about your diet and take supplements if you do not get the daily requirements from your food.
  3. 3
    Exercise regularly. If you’ve ever seen a doctor, they’ve probably told you that exercise is important to keep your heart healthy and lower cholesterol. Fortunately, getting your blood pumping carries oxygen and nutrients to your skin, which helps cell turnover and promotes a youthful look. Gentle weight training can increase muscle strength and tone to give you a leaner, more youthful look.[49] Ideally, adults should get 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day.[50]
    • Exercise in a way that’s enjoyable for you. Walk or jog, ride a bike, swim, do aerobics or pilates, or workout at home with light weights or simple exercises like squats and push ups.
    • Consult with your doctor before beginning a new exercise program.
  4. 4
    Decrease your stress level. Stress releases a hormone called cortisol in your body.[51] Cortisol is a major aging hormone that affects multiple body systems and can cause weight gain, interfere with sleep, and harm your circulatory system.[52] Lower your stress level by doing yoga, meditating, reading, singing – whatever calms your nerves. Your physical and aesthetic body will benefit.
  5. 5
    Don’t smoke. It’s not news that smoking is unhealthy. Smoking cigarettes, however, can also cause premature aging.[53] Studies suggest that you can correlate getting early wrinkles with how much you have smoked and for how long. Smoking removes oxygen and nutrients – the opposite of the positive effects of exercise – and increases free radicals in your body, so quit smoking to improve both your health and appearance.[54]
    • Talk to your doctor if you need help to quit smoking. There are gums, patches, and medications that can make it easier.
  6. 6
    Get your beauty rest, literally. Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night to help avoid getting wrinkles. Your body needs 7-8 hours of sleep to repair itself, and this includes your skin. It also matters when you sleep, since most regeneration happens between 10pm and 2am. Go to bed between 9pm and midnight to make a difference in when you get wrinkles.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What ingredients should I look for in an anti-aging cream?
    Shara Strand
    Shara Strand
    Makeup Artist
    Shara Strand is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Shara Makeup Studio, a makeup and image consulting studio based in New York City. She has over 15 years of image and makeup consulting experience including working as a regional artist for Bare Escentuals and Estee Lauder, Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman. Her work has been featured in WNBC, Fox 5, Direct TV ABC morning news, and Hamptons Magazine. She is the creator of Shara Cosmetics and is a two time Billboard charted singer. She holds a BFA from New York University.
    Shara Strand
    Makeup Artist
    Expert Answer
    Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E are all going to be good for your skin, especially if they're all together in the same products. Retinols in general are going to be a good choice as well.
  • Question
    What causes early signs of aging?
    Mohiba Tareen, MD
    Mohiba Tareen, MD
    FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
    Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.
    Mohiba Tareen, MD
    FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
    Expert Answer
    Damage from the sun can cause premature aging, so it's important to always wear sunscreen when you're outdoors. Smoking can also cause premature fine lines and wrinkles. Make sure you eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep since diet and sleep can affect how healthy your skin looks.
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About This Article

Mohiba Tareen, MD
Medically reviewed by:
FAAD Board Certified Dermatologist
This article was medically reviewed by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology. This article has been viewed 48,059 times.
4 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 18
Updated: January 8, 2023
Views: 48,059
Categories: Aging Skin
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