If you listen to the cosmetic industry, you might believe wrinkles are a natural part of aging but you have a lot more control over the look and feel of your skin than you’ve been led to believe. You don’t have to accept wrinkles under your eyes or on your forehead, dark circles, lines under your eyes, or hyperpigmentation. You can regain smooth, clear skin. Let’s look at how...
Causes of Wrinkles, Crow’s Feet, & Fine Lines
Wrinkles happen when your skin dries out and loses "body" or fullness. When your skin gets dry, its metabolism slows because skin cells (all cells, in fact) require moisture to work right. With a slower metabolism, your skin cells don’t produce as much moisture. Old, worn-out cells do not get replaced as quickly and they don’t replace the collagen and elastin that make your skin firm, strong, and flexible. Then wrinkles form.
And that’s why the skin around eyes develops crow’s feet and fine lines first. This area is thinner than the rest of the skin on your face and body, and it moves a lot more. Every time you look around, smile, frown, squint, and even sleep the skin around your eyes moves. Plus wind and sun exposure speeds up how fast it dries out. The skin on your forehead develops expression lines and wrinkles early for much the same reason. It’s a little thicker than the skin around your eyes, but not much, and it moves a lot and dries out faster. But, there are other reasons wrinkles form...
- Poor sleep and a bad diet weaken your skin.
- Too much sugar in your diet also accelerates wrinkle formation.
- Smoking’s another big cause of increased skin aging and a loss of tone and color.
- Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body, especially the skin.
- Environmental pollution can force your body to use up antioxidants like vitamin E that it might otherwise use to keep your skin healthy and radiant.
6 Home Remedies For Wrinkles
Simple and natural home remedies for wrinkles include:
1. Dump the Sugar from Your Diet
Eliminate sugar from your diet, especially refined sugar. It destroys collagen and makes your skin weak.
2. Eat Natural, Organic Food
Fruits and vegetables deliver essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. And make sure you get enough proteins and amino acids in your diet. If you don’t eat meat or don’t like it, make sure you supplement. Nuts can be a great option since they are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Your skin requires protein to build collagen and elastin.
3. Eat Chocolate
Don't eat just any chocolate, but dark chocolate (with very little sugar). Cocoa contains two phytochemicals — epicatechin and catechin — that protect against UVB sun damage.
4. Exfoliate Your Skin
Remove dead skin to promote and stimulate skin cell rejuvenation. Make sure to use gentle, organic skincare products instead of harsh chemicals.
5. Moisturize Regularly
Look for skincare products that use organic moisturizers and nutrients. Also, avoid skincare products that contain parabens, phthalates, and petroleum products. Cosmetics and lotions like these coat your skin with toxic chemicals that stress and suffocate your skin.
6. Apply Topical Vitamin C
Your skin uses vitamin C to build collagen and maintain its structure. Topical vitamin C reduces fine lines and age lines. [1] In one trial, patients who used topical vitamin C reported 84 percent higher satisfaction with their treatment than the control group. [2] Vitamin C also protects against the sun’s UVB rays that damage your skin.
5 Natural Skin Care Tips to Reduce Wrinkles
The best skincare regimen moisturizes and nourishes. Here are 5 natural skincare remedies to help crow’s feet and brighten your skin.
1. Avocado Mask
Avocado oil cleans, protects and moisturizes for soft skin. The oil also promotes absorption of nutrients like vitamin A that slows aging, vitamin C that supports toned, smooth skin, and vitamin E, an important antioxidant for your skin.
An avocado mask is simple to make: Remove the pit and mash up 1 avocado. You can use the inside of the avocado skin to exfoliate or use your preferred exfoliating rinse. Then apply the mashed avocado on your face and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
2. Cucumber Mask
For this mask, cucumber cools and soothes while yogurt moisturizes and nourishes. Puree together cucumber and coconut-milk yogurt. Gently rub onto your face and leave for 15 minutes.
3. Raw Honey and Coconut-Milk Yogurt
Raw honey and yogurt offer a few benefits. One benefit of yogurt is that the lactic acid exfoliates. Honey hydrates and cleanses the skin of bacteria. Combine plain (unflavored) coconut-milk yogurt and honey in equal amounts, a tablespoon would do, and apply to your face for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
4. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a wonderful moisturizer and brightener and it's easy to get huge benefits from it. Simply rub a little on your fingers and gently apply below and to the side of your eyes.
5. Luminous
For an all-natural skincare approach to crow’s feet, I personally recommend Luminous. This face cream has a unique property that penetrates seven layers into the skin to nourish, moisturize, and enhance cell growth for smooth, ageless skin. It contains a coconut oil base, aloe vera, green tea extract, hempseed oil, and more.
References (2)
- Raschke T1, Koop U, Düsing HJ, Filbry A, Sauermann K, Jaspers S, Wenck H, Wittern KP. Topical activity of ascorbic acid: from in vitro optimization to in vivo efficacy. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2004 Jul-Aug;17(4):200-6.
- Traikovich SS1. Use of topical ascorbic acid and its effects on photodamaged skin topography. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999 Oct;125(10):1091-8.
†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.
