Want Younger Looking Skin? Be Stress-Free

Stressed? It’s probably showing on your face. A 2005 study showed that cells age much faster than normal when under high amounts of stress. Far too many of us are overloading our brains and bods, so instead of shelling out big bucks for some miracle wrinkle cream, why not just take your stress level down a notch? Here are several tips for both preventing stress before it strikes and de-stressing if it’s too late:

Stress Tip #1: Get some sleep already.

Don’t let sleep land at the bottom of your to-do list in times of stress. All three stages of sleep dissolve free radicals, which are notorious for their contribution to early aging. The second stage of sleep is when hormone levels peak and cell repair takes place, when any damage to your skin that could be contributing to premature aging is repaired. Try to get about 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Stress Tip #2: Try a healthy skin diet.

When you’re well nourished, your skin appears healthier. Neglecting balanced nutrition causes deficiencies in vitamin A & B and essential fatty acids. This hinders the skin’s natural ability to heal and renew itself, causing quicker aging. Steer clear of sugar, caffeine, white flour, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods, all of which lack nutritional value. Load up on nuts, fruits, vegetables, brown rice, beans, cottage cheese, yogurt, and plenty of water instead. Healthy skin is also optimized to receive full benefits from anti-aging creams and treatments.

Stress Tip #3: Kick the habit.

When people are stressed, they often reach for cigarettes or alcohol to release their anxieties.Smoking depletes your body’s supply of vitamin C, which is usually used to preserve collagen in the skin. (You know, that stuff that keeps your skin plump and youthful? Yeah. Smoking eats it.) And alcohol’s no angel when it comes to beauty either — heavy drinking enlarges blood vessels and capillaries in the skin, which can lead to a loss of that healthy “glow”.

Stress Tip #4: Don’t compromise your beauty routine.

After a long, stressful day, it’s tempting to fall straight into bed without washing your face. However, skipping your evening routine not only leads to mascara-stained sheets, but also clogs pores and accelerates the signs of aging. At the very least, you should wash your face every night to remove any embedded dirt, sweat, makeup, and other impurities accumulated throughout the day.