Appearance is very important; it is the first thing we notice when we meet someone. The secret of the youth has been searched for centuries. We can’t stop the natural ageing process, but we can look younger by implementing some simple lifestyle changes and applying few easy techniques.

As we grow older, there are certain hormonal changes in our body that affect many things, including overall skin tone and skin’s texture.

Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle will naturally make us look younger and better. An active lifestyle can help maintain healthy hormone levels and blood circulation in our body.

Here are some of the things we can do, starting today, to improve the appearance of our skin to make us look younger and lead a healthier lifestyle to slow down the aging process:

1. Detox

Toxin elimination is critical for your body to function more efficiently. Our bodies’ metabolism has done that process, but in everyday life, we are exposed to so many chemical hazards from the air, food and environment. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables are natural ways to detoxify your body.

Get your share of antioxidants. They not only flush toxins from your body, but also fight free radicals, which can accelerate ageing. Some of the best sources of antioxidants include green tea, strawberries, pomegranates, blueberries, artichokes, kale, beans, lemons, apples and dark chocolate. Try to include them in your diet and you will be surprised to see what they can do for your health and stamina.

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2. Food

You are what you eat. Eating healthy foods on a daily basis will make our bodies fitter, slimmer and younger looking. All of that natural fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are beneficial to your entire body, including your skin. Include these anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods in your diet:

• Green tea is your best friend. It is high in antioxidants and can help detoxify your system by removing toxins that prevent moisturisers from working properly on our skin.

• Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for your heart, skin, hair, bone, brain and breast health. Nuts, walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, flaxseed oil, soybean oil and canola oil are all good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Also, fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines are loaded with Omega 3. If you don’t like eating fish then you should look for a pure Omega 3 fish oil supplement.

• Fruits are rich with antioxidants that are essential to make skin look younger and protect you from harmful free radicals that contribute to the speeding up of skin aging. Blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi and apples are all at the top of the list of antioxidant-rich fruits.

• Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes as well as artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish, lettuce, collard greens and kale.

• Cucumbers are great source of silica, which is a necessary mineral for healthy glowing skin. In addition to silica, cucumbers are about 90% water. Eating cucumbers will help hydrate your skin and it will plump out the wrinkles.

• Lemons are another superfood high in vitamin C which is essential for healthy skin and gums. 

• Almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios are good source of protein and vitamin E – an important nutrient to vision, reproduction and the health of your blood, brain and skin. 

• Spices such as ginger, turmeric, cumin, garlic, oregano, basil and cinnamon are good for toning, detoxifying, hydrating and keeping skin youthful.

• Olive oil contains vitamin E, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains antioxidants that help protect against free radicals, which contribute to aging.

• Flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and flaxseed oil are one of the best anti-aging superfoods. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, they are powerful anti-inflammatories and have shown to improve cholesterol levels, blood pressure and even protect against brain aging.

It is critical to drink plenty of water. If you are dehydrated or have dry skin, you will be more prone to ageing symptoms. Most experts agree that drinking at least eight glasses of water per day will keep you hydrated and improve the health of your skin.

Limit your intake of sugary and processed foods. Although junk food and fast food may taste good, they contribute to the ageing process. Sugary foods cause inflammation, which damages the collagen and elastin that keep our skin firm and youthful.

3. Exercise

Exercising is an excellent way to keep your skin looking young. If you exercise on a regular basis, you will feel happier, more energetic and more confident. It increases bone density and muscle tone, making our body appear much younger. Regular exercise boosts your metabolism and improves overall blood circulation. It is beneficial to your heart and will certainly help you live a longer and healthier life.

Make it a point to walk or run at least 4-5 days per week. If going to the gym isn’t an option, there are plenty of exercises you can do at home, such as knee or wall pushups, stationary lunges, crunches or stretching. The goal is to keep your body moving. Consider purchasing a treadmill or stationary bike.

4. Sleep

You’ve probably heard the phrase “beauty sleep.” Your body needs sleep in order to repair body cells and refresh your mind. Sleep also causes the release of Human Growth Hormone (HGH), which renews old cells, including skin cells so you can look younger naturally. A decrease in HGH levels is one of the causes people age.

As with other key hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen, it is important to have healthy levels of growth hormone. HGH is the hormone that regulates a lot of your body’s functions and growth processes, and getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to boost your long-term HGH production.

HGH helps to maintain, build, and repair healthy tissue in the brain and other organs. It can also help to speed up healing of an injury and repair muscle tissue after exercise. This aids to boosts muscle growth, strength, metabolism and burn fat.

Increased levels of HGH hormone in your body has a long list of benefits:

• can boost your energy levels and stamina
• reduce wrinkles and fine lines
• promote healthier hair
• increase skin collagen and elasticity so that you get younger looking skin
• boost libido and sexual function
• speed up metabolism and ensure faster fat burning
• increase lean muscle and bone density
• elevate mood and improve sleep quality

Having enough sleep, at least 6 to 8 hours every night will make you feel healthier and younger. 

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5. Relax

Stress and worries appear on our face. If you can manage your stress and feel at peace, your face will look younger and more attractive. Try meditation, which has many health benefits, both in mind and body. It helps to increase relaxation, and decrease levels of anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia. Meditation improves concentration, focus, clarity, vitality, memory and inner peace. It also increases rejuvenation, happiness and emotional stability.

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6. Quit Smoking

There are lifestyle changes which, over time, will have a significant impact on your look. These include simple things like getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and de-stressing. But, It is also critical that you stop smoking and limit your alcohol consumption. Smoking is extremely harmful to your body and it is one of the leading causes of skin aging. It generates a large number of free radicals in your lungs, which can irritate your body cells and increase your risk of cancer while also causing skin damage. Excessive use of alcohol dehydrates the body and strains it, which is reflected in your skin.

So, if you want younger looking skin, quit smoking and your body will reward you with improved health and well being. 

7. Be Positive 

A positive attitude can help you to live a happier life. Negative thoughts lead to failure and make you appear older and less attractive. Being optimistic allows you to stay calm and worry-free. Learning to relax will help you realize that changing your thoughts and attitude can change the outcome of events in your life for the better.

8. Medical Check-ups

Our bodies simply aren’t perfect. That’s why it is critical to have regular medical checkups. Your body requires attention and care in order to function properly every day. It is important to have routine medical checkups during our healthy periods in order to detect diseases as soon as possible.

9. Social Life

A happy social life can lift your spirits, calm your minds and make you feel and look younger. Communication with your friends, family, and neighbours can bring you joy and a sense of well-being.

10. Rejuvenate your overall appearance

Your smile holds many superpowers, making you look and feel younger. It makes you look happier, boosting your mood and creating a sense of well-being. A smile transforms your entire face, makes you look more radiant and distracts from areas that show your age.

Brushing and flossing your teeth, as well as visiting the dentist on a regular basis, will keep your teeth clean. Getting teeth cleaned to prevent plague build up can also save you from losing teeth unnecessarily. If your teeth are discoloured, your dentist may advise you to have them whitened so that you can smile and show off your teeth.

Just because you are older does not necessarily mean that you have to have a short haircut. It all depends on the shape of your face, the texture and volume of your hair. A good hairdresser should be able to advise you on the best way to cut your hair. This can be a great way to draw attention away from signs of aging. Colouring your hair is also a great way to hide grey hair. It is best to choose a colour that is close to your original colour so that it naturally compliments your facial tones.

Choose the right clothes to compliment your body and hide the areas that you do not like. Soft colours will help you look younger because your skin tones become greyer as you get older.

Look after your skin. Clean your face with a proper cleanser so that it dissolves all the make-up on the face and cleanses it properly. Always make sure that you remove your make-up every night. After cleaning your skin make sure that you moisture it to keep your skin hydrated and younger looking.

11. Use Sunscreen

Sun damage is the leading cause of skin aging, resulting in deeply etched wrinkles, leathery skin, dark spots, elastin loss and the potentially life-threatening issue of skin cancer. If you know you’ll be out in the sun for an extended period of time, it is a good idea to apply a strong sunscreen. Don’t forget to protect your neck and hands, as skin in those areas ages faster because they are constantly exposed to the sun.

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12. Moisturize

Make sure you use skin cream rich in natural oils and emollients for a good moisturizing result. Most cosmetics nowadays just use synthetic mineral oil. Use a natural moisturizer so it can be easily absorbed into your skin giving deep down rejuvenation and will not give you any negative side effects.

Well hydrated skin looks plumper, smoother and younger than dry skin. Using a skin cream that can increase the levels of hyaluronic acid in your skin can greatly help with this.

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As you see, with a little effort, you can enjoy happy, healthy lifestyle and smoother, glowing skin. So, let’s get started today and knock years off our visible age.

“You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.”

George Burns

Remember, taking care of your skin and body from the inside out is the best way to keep it looking young and healthy. Incorporating these natural habits into your daily routine can help you achieve and maintain a youthful appearance.