Don't we all wish that there is a magic pill to make us look young forever?
Collagen is as close as it can get - it is responsible for your youthful, radiant skin. Your body gradually slows down the production of collagen as you grow older and it can start as early as age 20 depending on your diet and lifestyle.
As collagen depletes, your skin becomes thinner and loses support, making it more fragile. Visual signs of aging include wrinkles and sagging skin. Do not despair. Here is how to gain back your youthful skin.
#1 Stay hydrated
Water is essential to skin cells to stay hydrated and helps with collagen production. Your body first hydrates the internal organ cells and then your skin cells. Drinking eight 8-ounce glass of water is a good rule of thumb and easy to remember. So depending on your daily activities and environment, you may need more or less water intake.
So, how do you know if you are drinking enough water? Since your body regulates the amount of water in your body, the color of your pee would be a good indicator. A very light yellow urine would indicate that you are well hydrated.
#2 Add lemon juice to your water
Add fresh squeeze lemon juice to your water and drink it throughout the day. The vitamin C in the lemon stimulates the production of collagen which is responsible for the elasticity of your skin.
#3 Take collagen supplements
Topical collagen can be effective short term as long as the collagen molecules can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin. On the other hand, taking oral collagen supplements help increase the body's natural collagen production. Hence, supports the skin structure from inside out. Try EatFit Collagen Peptides. It's odorless, tasteless and mixes well in smoothie, coffee, and food and most importantly easily absorbed by the body.
#4 Massage your face
Facial muscle stimulation can help tone and tighten your skin, increase blood circulation and boost collagen production. Build an upward massage movement while applying a topical Collagen cream in your daily routine. Collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed by your skin. Select collagen cream products that can penetrate the deeper layers of the dermis.
I also recommend using an electric massage wand. It was initially recommended by a physical therapist for my daughter to stimulate her sensory pathways from the joints to her brain. I started experimenting it on my face. The facial stimulation makes my face tingle I can feel my face more ironed out with less wrinkle. Give it a try if you have not already.
#5 Give your face a workout
You may have seen or heard about Face Yoga, one of the latest anti-aging craze. Face yoga exercises may lift, tone and reduce wrinkles making you looking younger. Give it a try if you have not already.
#6 Eat for youthful skin
Eat foods rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which fight free radicals that breakdown skin collagen. Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential as they protect the fatty cell membrane around the skin. Learn what to nutrients can help boost collagen production in your body.
#7 Quit Smoking!
Nicotine contains chemicals that can damage both collagen and elastin in the skin by restricting blood flow in the outer layers of the skin and depriving skin cells of oxygen and nutrients essential to collagen production and repair. Visual signs of collagen damage to facial skin include dry, wrinkly skin around the eyes and lips.
#8 Quit Sugar!
A high sugar-diet increases the rate of glycation where blood sugar bonds with proteins creating advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that can damage collagen and elastin in the skin, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. So, stay off foods that contain the white stuff!
#9 Avoid excessive sun exposure
The Ultraviolet rays in sunlight damages the collagen fibers causing collagen to break down more rapidly causing wrinkles. So, put on your sunscreen and avoid excessive sun exposure.