“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows.” – Audrey Hepburn. While this quote embodies the true meaning of beauty; it does not mean we do have to exert effort in order to age gracefully. As Kilroy Oldster once said, “Youth is not a curse but a fleeting blessing. Youth enables us to cavort freely unconcerned with the larger issues in life. Aging and the accompanying responsibilities that come with added maturity is what augments, vexes, and then excises us. Maturity represents accumulation of supplanting changes happening in a person over time including physical, mental and social growth and development. Growing old gracefully entails submission to biological alterations and witnessing unsettling changes in cultural and societal conventions.”

Aging, skin aging in particular can be divided into two types. Intrinsic aging refers to the natural aging process. Our genes are mainly responsible for this. Most common signs of intrinsic aging are fine lines and wrinkles. The second type of skin aging is extrinsic aging; which is largely affected by our environment and lifestyle. To combat this, we can take preventive measures.

Slow skin aging by doing these

  1. Protect your skin from harmful UV rays. It does not matter whether you are spending a weekend getaway at the beach or just going to the office. Using sunscreen with an SPF or above can help combat skin aging. Also try to avoid directly sunlight from 10 am to 2 pm because the sun rays are significantly more dangerous during this time range.
  1. Stop smoking now. Smoking speeds up skin aging by causing wrinkles and saggy complexion. Crow’s feet around the eye area and droopy skin around the eyelids are signs of the so-called “smoker’s face.” Smoking also deprives your skin of Oxygen. Oxygen is instrumental in the natural process of collagen-forming to skin cells healthy. Moreover, smoking can also cause various cancers, skin cancer included.
  1. Exercise regularly. Moderate to heavy exercise helps improve blood circulation, boosts immune system and increase happy hormones. This in turn, would lead to a more youthful appearance and delays sagging of skin.
  1. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables contains anti-oxidants and vitamins that prevent premature skin aging. On the other hand, eating food containing large amount of processed sugar can speed up skin aging. Sugar also causes adult acne which would lead to deep scarring.
  1. Avoid using products that are too strong. Strong skin products which cause burns and stings can irritate your skin, making it more susceptible to premature skin aging. Use a mild toner and moisturizer instead in cleaning your face and body. Body oils (such as argan, grapefruit and coconut) can also make your skin always smooth and silky.
  1. Avoid phobic anxiety. Some individuals have specific phobias such as spiders, heights and closed spaces. In a study conducted by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, anxiety brought by these phobias speeds up aging process among older women ages 42-69.
  1. Botox is key. Botox is a neurotoxin deduced from an organism called “Clostridrium botulinum.” This organism is found in cultivated soils, lake sediments and viscera of sea animals. Thus, completely natural and non-toxic. Botox is a great basic essential anti-aging treatment for expression lines. It is also a proven medical treatment to effectively prevent forming of wrinkles. Some individuals also use Botox to treat excessive sweating, bowel disorders and even migraines.