Make Your Face Look Younger

Your face is often one of the first things people notice about you and is a focal point whenever you interact with others. But as we age, our skin changes and we may not feel as confident with our faces. Having a young(er) looking face and glowing skin can also be signs of health and vitality and influences how others react to us.[1] By practicing good skincare, modifying your lifestyle, and considering medical treatments, you can make your face look younger and have glowing, youthful, skin.

Steps

Practicing Good Skincare

  1. Wash your face regularly—and gently. Excess dirt or even acne can make your skin appear less youthful, especially as you get older.[2] Keeping your skin clean can keep dirt or acne from settling in wrinkles or fine lines and prevent breakouts.[3]
    • Use a mild cleanser with a neutral pH.[4] Your skin naturally has a pH of about 5 and you want to find cleanser that helps maintain this balance. Read product labels, which may list a specific pH or say “pH balanced” or “pH neutral.”[5]
    • Try an oil-free cleanser if your skin is very oily. Glycerine or cream-based cleansers are a good idea for dry skin.[6]
    • Rub the cleanser into your skin with gentle pressure. Being rough with your skin can irritate it and may make it look older.[2]
    • Rinse with lukewarm water. Water that is too hot can strip your skin of needed oils or cause irritation, which can you’re your skin look older.[4]
  2. Avoid over-cleansing. It’s important to wash your face regularly, but you don’t want to overdo it. Soaps and prolonged exposure to water can strip your skin of oils. It may also irritate your skin, causing it to look less glowing and youthful.[4]
    • Wash your face no more than twice a day, unless you are especially active.[6] If you are very active or exercise, use a gentle cleanser to wash your face if you are very sweaty or dirty, or if you shower.
  3. Put on moisturizer every day. Apply a moisturizer that boosts collagen and elastin production daily. Keeping your skin properly hydrated can help firm your skin, prevent wrinkles, and make you appear younger.[7]
    • Use a moisturizer even if your skin is oily. Try an oil-free product.
    • Try products that not only boost collagen and elastin, but also make your face more youthful looking by plumping it up with products such as silicone and hyaluronic acid. You can find out if products have these ingredients by reading the labels. However, be aware that many companies over-promise results. Consider consulting online forums such as Paula’s Choice, which includes product reviews from medical professionals and individuals who have tried the product.
    • Apply a moisturizer with a sunscreen may help prevent wrinkles.
    • Consider running a humidifier in your room at night to boost moisturize on your skin.[8]
  4. Exfoliate your skin. Dead skin and debris can settle into pores, fine lines, and wrinkles and make your skin look less youthful. Use a gentle exfoliator to clear away debris and help prevent breakouts.
    • Be aware that exfoliators only scrub away surface skin and cannot remove wrinkles or fine lines.
    • Choose an exfoliator with either synthetic or natural beads to minimize irritation.
    • Use a soft washcloth to gently exfoliate your skin.

Maintaining Your Facial Skin through Lifestyle

  1. Do facial muscle exercises. Stretching and working out your facial muscles can keep blood circulating and fine lines and wrinkles from developing. Repeat these exercises once or twice a day to help your skin be firmer and appear more youthful firmer.[9]
    • Put a hand on your forehead and push your head against it. Stay in this position for 10 seconds.
    • Sit upright and lift your head back so that your chin is pointing toward the ceiling with your lips closed. Make a chewing motion with your mouth and feel your facial muscles working. Repeat this exercise about 20 times.
    • Tilt your head to the ceiling again and pout your lips in a kissing motion. Repeat this exercise twice by pouting your lips for twenty seconds each time.
  2. Vary your facial expressions. Whenever you use your facial muscles, it causes a groove to form under your skin. As your skin ages and loses elasticity, it can no longer fill this groove and cause fine lines and wrinkles. Varying your facial gestures may help to keep your facial skin firm longer.[10]
    • Incorporate regular exercise into your lifestyle as well. It not only promotes blood circulation and keeps you healthy, but may also help your skin appear more youthful.
  3. Eat a skin-friendly diet. Some studies have shown that a nutritionally well-balanced diet can protect your skin and delay aging and loss of elasticity.[7] Consuming face friendly foods like fruits and vegetables may promote more youthful skin.[4]
    • Avoid foods high in fat and sugar, which may slow cell turnover and make your skin appear older.[7]
    • Eat foods high in vitamin A and beta-carotene like fruits and vegetables increase cell turnover for healthier skin. Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin A and beta-carotene.
    • Incorporate foods high in vitamin C like citrus fruits, which studies have shown may promote younger looking skin.[4]
    • Have food high in essential fatty acids, such as walnuts or olive oil, to keep skin cells hydrated.[7]
    • Avoid food high in unhealthy fats, which could make your skin appear less youthful.[4]
    • Remember that unhealthy food takes the place nutrient-rich choices that can promote healthy skin.
  4. Drink plenty of water. Hydrated skin—from the inside and out-- is generally fuller and firmer. Drinking enough water or other liquids every day may help keep your skin healthy and looking youthful.[8]
    • Women should drink at least 9 cups of water a day to stay hydrated. Men should aim for 13 cups.[11]
    • Choose water to help keep your skin looking youthful. Non-caffeinated tea and sodas as well as juices are also good choices.
    • Remember that you’ll also help hydration by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
    • You can have occasional coffee or caffeinated teas and soft drinks, but recognize that they can dehydrate you.
  5. Avoid or limit sun exposure. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun’s rays speeds the natural aging process by breaking down the collagen and elastin fibers that keep your skin firm. Spending too much time in the sun may age your skin more quickly, so avoid or limit how often you are in the sun.[8]
    • Wear a broad spectrum, high SPF sunscreen every day.
    • Put on a hat with a wide brim to help protect your skin from sun exposure.
    • Sit under an umbrella at the beach, pool, or golf course.
  6. Stop smoking. Smoking speeds up the natural aging process just like sun exposure.[10] Stop smoking to help your skin stay firmer longer and make you look more youthful.[8]
    • Look at the skin of smokers, especially around their mouths. Smoking can not only dry out your skin, but also promote the development of fine lines and wrinkles of the face.[8]
    • Speak to your doctor about quitting smoking. She can help you develop an effective treatment plan.
  7. Manage stress. Uncontrolled stress can make your skin sensitive and prone to problems including aging.[4] Limiting the stress in your life may help your skin stay youthful looking.[12]
    • Organize your day by setting limits and scaling back your to-do list. Schedule time to relax avoid unnecessary stress[4]
    • Step away from stressful situations if possible.
    • Put away your phone, computer, or any other devices for a set time every day to help you unwind from the world. Taking a warm bath may help relax you and reduce your stress.
    • Go for an easy walk or do some light exercise, which can relieve tension-causing stress. Keep your exercise gentle, such as yoga, so that you don’t tense your muscles further.
    • Try meditating, which has different health benefits including lower blood pressure and heart rate, decreased anxiety and depression, less stress, and greater feelings of relaxation and general well-being.[13]
  8. Accept the beauty of aging. One of the positive aspects of aging is knowing yourself and having confidence. Embrace the curves and contours of your face and see them as badges of experience and wisdom.
    • Let your inner beauty show through, which may show on your face and make it appear younger. Healthy skin and a glowing smile can do wonders for any woman’s appearance.[14]

Using at Home Treatments

  1. Apply topical retinoids. Retinoids are skincare products with vitamin A derivatives. These can improve skin elasticity, the appearance of fine wrinkles, splotches, and skin roughness, which may make you look younger.[15]
    • Ask your dermatologist or doctor about using prescription tretinoin and tazarotene to reduce signs of aging.
    • Be aware that many insurance companies do not cover retinoids when they’re used for cosmetic purposes.
    • Consider getting an over-the-counter skin cream that has low-grade retinoids in it. These products are not as powerful as prescription retinoids and may not make your skin look younger over the long term.
    • Be aware that retinoid use can cause redness, dryness, and burning of your skin.[15] Keeping your skin moisturized may reduce redness, as can staying out of the sun.[16]
  2. Dab on an eye cream. There is a long-held truism that the eyes are the window to the soul. Using an eye cream every day and night may help reduce wrinkles and fine lines, sagging, puffiness, and dark circles around your eyes, helping you to appear more youthful.[17]
    • Consider an eye cream that has a roller for application, which can reduce puffiness and make you appear more awake.
    • Use an eye cream with emollients for plumping and mica for brightening dark circles during the day.
    • Purchase an eye cream for day or night with ingredients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, collagen, and peptides to improve the overall appearance of your eye skin. You can find these ingredients by readings the labels. Just like with other products, consider consulting your dermatologist or an online forum with medical and public reviews before you buy.
    • Apply the cream using your ring finger. Because eye skin is so delicate and thin, it’s easy to pull it, which can lead to sagging. Using your ring finger can help prevent from pulling too harshly at your eye skin.
  3. Use at-home microdermabrasion. Although microdermabrasion used to be a treatment reserved for doctors’ offices, many skincare companies have begun offering less potent at-home microdermabrasion kits. Consider using one of these if you want to avoid more involved medical procedures.[18]
    • Buy a kit at your local pharmacy or larger retailer. Many cosmetics or skincare stores also sell kits. Ask a professional for help with selecting the best product for your needs.
    • Talk to your doctor before using an at-home microdermabrasion kit. She may have suggestions on brands you can buy or if you should avoid them altogether because of a skin condition or allergy.
    • Make sure to follow the packaging instructions on any kit you purchase. Not applying products or using the tool properly can result in damage to your skin.
    • Recognize that at-home microdermabrasion kits contain products far less potent that what doctors use. This will result in less dramatic, and perhaps more natural, results than professional microdermabrasion.
  4. Apply makeup. There has been significant advancement in the technology of makeup. New formulas help not only hide the signs of aging, but can also help combat them. Putting cosmetics strategically on your skin can help lighten and liven up your entire face.[14]
    • Remember that less is more. Spackling on heavy makeup, such as eye shadow or foundation, can have the opposite effect and make you appear older.
    • Use a primer to help disguise discoloration and hyperpigmentation. Primers often help reflect light off of your skin, which can also make you appear younger.
    • Apply a liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone and make a smooth palette for blush. Avoid cream foundations, which can settle into lines and wrinkles. Top off your primer and foundation with a dusting of translucent powder to set them if you like.
    • Finish your face with a cream blush, which helps impart a healthy, youthful glow. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks to recreate the plumpness of youthful, full cheeks.[19]
    • Use eye makeup to help counteract sagging eye skin and make your eyes look large and youthful. Apply a light, nude-colored shadow such as beige or mocha, from your lashes to your brow. Define your lash line with an eye shadow in gray, brown, or black for a soft look. Top it off with one coat of mascara.[17]

Tightening Skin with Medical Treatments

  1. Try light source, laser, or radiofrequency therapies. Skin treatments that use light sources, laser, or radiofrequency can promote new collagen to grow in your skin.[15] New collagen can make your skin more elastic and appear more youthful. Keep the following in mind if you want to try any of these treatments:
    • Light source and laser options remove the skin’s outer layer and then stimulate collagen growth by heating the underlying layer of skin. Your skin becomes smoother and tighter as it heals from the procedure.[15]
    • Light source or laser resurfacing can take months to heal and it may scar, lighten or darken your skin.[15]
    • Ask your doctor about trying a nonablative laser treatment. This may be a better option if your skin has less sagging and wrinkles.[15]
    • Consider another nonablative treatment using radiofrequency. Be aware that the results from radiofrequency are less dramatic than lasers and light sources. The results can range from mild to moderate.[15]
    • Ask if your insurance company covers any of these treatments.
  2. Undergo skin peeling. If laser or light therapies scare you, there are less invasive treatments you can consider. Chemical peels, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion remove the outer layer of your skin and may improve elasticity and make your face look more youthful.[15] Keep in mind some of the following facts if you are considering these treatments:
    • Your doctor will apply an acid to the top layer of your skin during a chemical peel. This can burn away some wrinkles, fine lines, and freckles.[15] Healing from a chemical peel can take weeks. You may also need multiple treatments to get results.[15]
    • Dermabrasion sands away the surface layer of your skin.[15] This stimulates the production of a newer, more youthful looking skin.[15] You may see results and fully heal from the procedure within a few months.[15]
    • Microdermabrasion is like dermabrasion, but takes off only a small layer of skin. You may require several microdermabrasion treatments to see results, but it takes less time to heal than dermabrasion.[15] Be aware that microdermabrasion doesn’t always have dramatic results.[15]
    • Consider that insurance companies generally don’t cover these treatments peeling treatments.
  3. Have Botox injections. Botox, which is a product made with the Botulinum toxin type A, may help your skin appear smoother and less wrinkled.[15] Consider Botox if you prefer to avoid removing layers of skin or other more invasive treatments.[15] Keep in mind the following if you want to try Botox:
    • Botox lasts for three to four months. You’ll need repeat injections to keep your results.[15]
    • Botox keeps muscles from contracting and can make it difficult to move your face muscles. This might limit how well you can express your emotions.
    • Be aware that most insurance companies will not cover Botox for cosmetic purposes.
  4. Get soft tissue fillers. There are other types of injections in addition to Botox called fillers. These use soft tissues, including fat, collagen, and hyaluronic acid to plump up and firm your skin.[15] Keep in mind the following if you are considering fillers:
    • They can cause swelling, redness and bruising.[15]
    • Like Botox, you may need to get repeated injections because most fillers last for a few months.[15]
    • Be aware that most insurance companies will not cover filler injections for cosmetic purposes.
  5. Consider a surgical facelift. If you are very concerned about making your face appear younger, you may want to have a facelift. This is the most extreme way to make your face look younger and you should only undergo if after careful consideration and consultation with your doctor. Keep in mind the following if you are considering a facelift:
    • A facelift can come with significant medical risks.
    • A facelift will remove excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles and connective tissues of your face.
    • It can take a long time to heal and you may have bruising and swelling for many weeks after the surgery.[15]
    • Face lifts have long-lasting results of 5-10 years.[20]
    • Be aware that most insurance companies will not cover face lifts for cosmetic purposes.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2811283/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/tips/a18600/wrinkles-and-acne-treatment/
  3. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/symptoms/con-20020580
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237?pg=2
  5. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18489300
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/prevention/con-20020580
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wrinkles/basics/prevention/con-20029887
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/skin-care-and-aging
  9. ↑ http://magazine.foxnews.com/food-wellness/how-get-rid-your-dreaded-turkey-neck
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wrinkles/basics/causes/con-20029887
  11. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256?pg=2
  12. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tension-headache/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20014295
  13. ↑ http://life.gaiam.com/article/meditation-101-techniques-benefits-beginner-s-how
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/03/health/secrets-aging-gracefully/
  15. ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 15.20 15.21 http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wrinkles/basics/treatment/con-20029887
  16. ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30604650/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/t/abcs-vitamins-more-beautiful-skin/
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/tips/a17845/no-knife-eye-lift/
  18. ↑ http://www.self.com/flash/beauty-blog/2012/02/the-benefits-of-microdermabras/
  19. ↑ http://dailymakeover.com/instant-face-lift/
  20. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wrinkles/basics/treatment/con-20029887

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