Having wrinkles is completely normal. In fact, smile-lines and crow’s feet can be very charming and add character to the face. However, it’s no secret that many of us want to know how to prevent wrinkles and reduce the visibility of the ones we already have. Wrinkles most typically happen due to aging. As we age, our body’s ability to produce collagen slows down, making our skin lose elasticity and creating wrinkles. Wrinkles can also be caused by pollution, sun exposure, stress, smoking, and repeated facial expressions.

Medical procedures like Botox® and Juvederm® are the usual go-to when we want to reduce wrinkles, however, the best anti-aging trick for keeping wrinkles at bay is living a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few evidence-backed ways to protect your skin and keep your face looking wrinkle-free.

Protect your skin from the sun

Keeping your skin protected from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is one of the most vital anti-aging tips we can offer. Studies show that regularly using sunscreen slows down signs of aging on the skin. To prevent sun damage, we recommend you use a sunscreen that is an SPF 30 or higher every day, even if it’s cloudy outside (the sun’s UV rays can still cause damage, even when it’s cloudy).

If your skin is extra sensitive to the sun, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses can give you an extra layer of protection.

Anti-aging vitamins

You’ve likely seen anti-aging creams tout the different vitamins in their products and wondered to yourself “does this really work?” The truth is a bit complicated. On one hand, many skin creams don’t contain high enough concentrations of antioxidants to really be effective at staving off the signs of aging.

On the other hand, antioxidants themselves (vitamins that fight free-radical damage to your body) are extremely effective at both preventing wrinkles and decreasing sun damage on the skin. Eating antioxidant-rich food and using anti-aging skincare products with antioxidant-rich formulas can make all the difference when it comes to preventing wrinkles. These are some of the vitamins you should look for:

• Vitamin E: Because of its ability to protect cell membranes and prevent damage to the enzymes associated with them, experts often consider vitamin E to be the most important antioxidant. Studies suggest that vitamin E helps to “deactivate” free radicals, making them less likely to cause damage to your skin. But that’s not all! Studies have also shown that applying vitamin E directly onto the skin can lessen the damage caused by the sun’s UV rays as well as limit the production of cancer-causing cells. If you want to add vitamin E to your diet, incorporate foods like sunflower oil, grains, oats, nuts, and milk, yogurt, and cheese into your meals.
• Vitamin C: Yes, vitamin C does more than just keep your immune system healthy. It’s also an excellent skincare vitamin. Vitamin C can be found in your skin, stimulating collagen production and protecting your skin from environmental stressors. Just like vitamin E, vitamin C can repair the damage caused by free radicals and stop free radicals from aging your skin. When we expose ourselves to harmful UV rays, the amount of vitamin C in our skin decreases, leaving us vulnerable to wrinkles and other signs of aging. Adding this crucial vitamin to our diet and skincare routines can keep our skin looking young and healthy.
• Vitamin A: You may have seen the word “retinol” pop up on a lot of skincare products. It’s a vitamin that’s well known for its ability to stimulate the production of new skin cells. Retinol also happens to be the active form of vitamin A! Lots of people take vitamin A topically and orally to help treat a variety of skin conditions like acne, wrinkles, and discoloration. If you want to see an improvement in your skin’s appearance, incorporating vitamin A through your food, vitamin IV drips, or supplements is the way to go.

Better sleep = happy skin

• Sagging eyelids
• Puffy eyes
• Dark undereye circles
• Pale or discolored skin
• Fine lines and wrinkles

To promote healthy skin, we recommend that you wash your face each night with a gentle cleanser and get a full night’s rest. And whenever possible, sleep on your back to avoid damaging the skin.

Stay hydrated

Water is the most important tool we can use to keep our bodies healthy. The body relies on water for nearly every one of its functions. That includes keeping our organs working, ridding the body of toxins, digesting food, and even keeping our skin looking bright and youthful.

Water is the most important tool we can use to keep our bodies healthy. The body relies on water for nearly every one of its functions. That includes keeping our organs working, ridding the body of toxins, digesting food, and even keeping our skin looking bright and youthful. When our bodies are dehydrated, we prone to having dull skin, pronounced wrinkles, and enlarged pores. This is because water keeps our skin elastic and flushes out the toxins that often clog our pores.

To keep the skin looking healthy, it’s important to drink anywhere between 5 to 8 glasses of water a day. If you struggle with staying hydrated, vitamin IV drips are a safe and effective way to hydrate the body while giving your body nutrients.

Humidifiers are a great option for people whose skin is extra dry. And of course, a good hydrating moisturizer is always an excellent way to maintain skin health.

The Bottom Line

Having wrinkles is a normal and inevitable part of aging. Without medical treatment, its next to  impossible to completely rid yourself of fine lines and wrinkles. However there are plenty of small, proactive changes you can make to your lifestyle to prevent new wrinkles from forming and improving the appearance of the ones you already have. 

If you find yourself in need of advice or anti-aging medication, it's important to talk to your doctor or dermatologist for more information.