Photo by Daniel Corneschi on Unsplash

We all get older, but not everyone wants to see those signs of aging when it happens! The world around us, pollution, our DNA in general can all mean that we can age a little faster, in terms of our skin and hair, for example, than we might like. However, there are some ways that you can stay looking youthful for longer, and not only will they keep you looking young, but in many cases, they are good for your health too. Take a look at these ideas and try to incorporate them into your life; you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to your outlook and your aging process.

Keep A Good Weight

By maintaining a good, steady, healthy weight, you can easily reduce the signs of aging, as well as keeping yourself fit and healthy too. Although this is one of the best ways to look after yourself, it can also be one of the hardest to deal with because we all fall into certain habits when it comes to our food. To begin with, try reducing your portion sizes gradually rather than changing the food that you are eating. Rather than three large main meals, switch to five smaller meals instead: breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, then a snack in the afternoon, and finally dinner. Doing so keeps your metabolism working constantly, so there are no dips and peaks, and you won’t suddenly start craving sugar, for example.

Use Sunblock

Your skin can be hugely affected negatively by the UV rays from the sun. These rays can cause wrinkles and age spots, making us look older than we truly are. As well as this, of course, too much sun can contribute to various forms of skin cancer, so it makes sense for a variety of reasons to cover up as much as possible. Using sunblock at all times when you are outside, even if the day seems cloudy and hazy, is a good way to prevent sun damage from aging our skin prematurely. UV rays don’t have to feel hot to be causing damage, which is why it is important to use sunblock (or at least cover up with long sleeves and pants, and a wide-brimmed hat) as much as possible.

Look After Your Hair

Your hair can make you look younger than you are, or older than you are, and it all depends on its condition. If you want to look more youthful, looking after your hair is one of the best ways to go about it. It means washing it regularly (although not every day as this can strip it of its natural oils), and using conditioning treatments. If you find that you are losing your hair and want to retain it, there are even special laser caps you can wear that are intended to stimulate hair growth; you can read more about it here.

Exfoliate

Youthful, glowing, healthy looking skin can be achieved through regular exfoliating, which is an easy (and pleasant) way to go about reducing the signs of aging. Exfoliation stops your pores from getting clogged with dirt and bacteria, which not only keeps everything look fresh but also reduces the chances of you having an acne breakout. Perhaps most importantly, regular exfoliating can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

There are lots of different exfoliators on the market, but since some solutions involve harsh chemicals, it is always best to speak to your doctor about the issue first. Your doctor may be able to prescribe something, and even if they can’t, they will be able to offer some advice. Making your own exfoliating solution is a good way to go about things; you’ll know exactly what is in it, and you can use completely natural ingredients. Research online will give you any number of excellent recipes that will help your skin glow healthily.

Keep Hydrated

Staying youthful could be as easy as drinking plenty of water. The better hydrated you are, the better your skin will look. If you aren’t hydrated enough, you will often find that your skin has a dull, sallow look to it, and lines and wrinkles are much more obvious.

Moisturizing is also important and is another way to keep your skin looking good. Moisturizing creams are something that many people choose not to use, even if they have other elements of a skincare regime in place because those creams can be expensive and cause problems for sensitive skin. However, there are some entirely natural, organic moisturizers that you can use, and these will look after your skin without causing irritation. They include ingredients such as argan oil and rose hips. By using these creams twice a day and regularly drinking plenty of water (as well as spraying your face with water throughout the day) you can keep hydrated and moisturized, and you will look more youthful.

A Positive Outlook

It may seem strange to suggest that a positive outlook can help you to look younger, but it does make sense when you think about it. What you are feeling on the inside certainly affects how you look on the outside. If it didn’t, no one would notice if you were feeling happy or sad!

Trying to keep a positive outlook isn’t always easy, and it will take practice to be in that state all the time, or as much of the time as possible, especially if you have naturally been a more negative kind of person. One way to begin is to smile all the time, even if you don’t feel like smiling. Not only will this make you look younger (frowning will show many more wrinkles), but over time, it will become your natural state. If it helps, try to think of all the things in life that you are grateful for.

Get Enough Sleep

Beauty sleep truly exists, and it is essential if you want to keep looking youthful. Sleeping well means that you will be more energetic, you will find it easier to lose weight, you will be less stressed, and you will be healthier in general. It also means that your body can rejuvenate properly overnight, and that includes giving your skin a healthy glow.