10 Home Remedies to Reduce Wrinkles & Fine Lines

Senior living encompasses a lot of different things, but one of the topics that does not get explored as much as people age is skincare routines. As you get older, there will be noticeable differences to your skin, there is no way around that. However, there are lots of easy home remedies you can do to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while keeping your skin healthy and supple.

1. Break Out The Oils

Introducing more oils into your skincare routine is very important as you age. Oils such as Vitamin E and coconut oil are essential for maintaining your skin, keeping it moisturized, as well as evening your skin tone. Massaging coconut oil into your skin at night, and using vitamin E under your eyes to prevent dark circles and bags is a must.

2. Introduce Superfoods Into Your Diet

A lot of people tend to think using lots of products is the best way to prevent wrinkles and lines. While yes, products are key but so is your diet. Incorporating superfoods and key ingredients can help protect your skin in the long-term and slow down the aging process to some extent. For example, turmeric is a great ingredient that has a lot of health benefits including protecting from sun damage. Similarly, foods such as almonds, blueberries, and tomatoes are all easy ways to boost your vitamin C intake and help protect from sun damage.

3. Look for Products with Retinol And Vitamin C

Speaking of products and vitamin C, the other important part of skincare routines is carefully examining the ingredients of what you are using to see if it is the right fit for you. For example, those prone to dry skin should use products with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to retain moisture. For those looking to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, Retinol and vitamin C are key ingredients to look for. While prices vary for skincare items, you can balance it out by choosing higher-quality items and cheaper items depending on brands. Think about your key skin issues, and start researching from there to understand what ingredients you need.

4. Do a Food Mask Once a Week

Superfoods are not just for eating, but they can be used to create easy face masks as well. Depending on your skin type, there are a lot to choose from, but some include:

• A banana mask: mash up a banana with a teaspoon of orange juice and a teaspoon of plain yogurt, apply for 15-20 minutes and rinse off. This is best for those reducing the appearance of wrinkles
• An egg white mask: mix one egg white with a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice and ½ teaspoon of honey to fight off bacteria. If you are prone to oily skin, this is a good choice
• Avocado, aloe vera, and olive oil: crush ½ of an avocado and mix with a teaspoon of olive oil and aloe vera and apply to face for 15-20 minutes and rinse off. This hydrates and moistures, so it works well for dry skin.

5. Do a Quick Lemon Juice And Honey Dab

In a hurry? Before doing your makeup, why not do a lemon juice and honey dab? All you need to do is apply a thin layer of a lemon juice and honey mixture to your face for about 10 minutes and rinse off. Lemon helps boost collagen production while honey preserves the moisture in your skin cells.

6. Cucumber And Yogurt Blend Masks

This is a great option for all skin types. You’ll need to puree half a cucumber and mix with mint leaves, ½ cup of Greek yogurt and store in the fridge for at least an hour. This mask contains vital ingredients such as folic acid, vitamin C and iron while keeping your skin hydrated and toned. After cooling, apply to face for at least 20 minutes, and rinse off.

7. Juice Cleanses

Another way to incorporate more superfoods into your diet is to do juice cleanses every so often. You do not need to be super intense in doing this, but having more smoothies and juices in your diet overall can really help counteract aging. Some recommend doing a three-day cleanse by having juices and smoothies with various fruits and vegetables that target aging. For example, The Blonde Vegan has a lot of recipes for juices, smoothies as well as shakes that are designed to help with reducing signs of age. Another resource for recipes can be found here.

8. Exfoliate

As you start to introduce more superfoods into your diet, another skincare component to think about is exfoliation. How often do you do it, what products do you use, and are these ingredients the best ones for your particular skin type? Generally, you should aim to exfoliate every 7-10 days, by using gentle scrubbing motions or soft cotton pads. You can either use homemade recipes for natural exfoliators such as sugar and coffee or you can look for exfoliation products with the right ingredient combination for your skin.

9. Stay Away From The Sun

For long-term prevention, staying away from the sun is an absolute must. Carry an umbrella, and always make sure to apply and reapply sunblock throughout the day. Sun damage is the number one reason for the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it will continue to make things worse if you do not start using more products to prevent this. Tinted moisturizers are great since they have an extra layer of sunblock, and also keep a tube of sunblock in your bag. Also, try to avoid sunlight at its peak between 12-3 PM if possible.

10. Cut Down on Sugar

Last but not least, your dietary intake must limit sugar as much as possible. Processed and refined sugar tends to lead to a lot of health issues, as well as making you age faster. Where possible, use natural substitutes such as honey and coconut sugar for healthier alternatives. If you do have a lot of trouble giving up sugar, why not try sweeteners such as Stevia or brown sugar? While there is still lots of debate over white versus brown sugar, it seems as though brown sugar is marginally better than white sugar according to current research. As always, use these skincare remedies in conjunction with healthy habits such as moisturizing daily and drinking lots of water. If you find that you have dry skin and eczema that flares up often, think about your diet as that might trigger that as well. One way to do this is to keep a ‘skin diary’ and log the different remedies you use, and your dietary habits so you can better understand your skin and how best to take care of it as you get older.