As we age, our skin sags when fat, collagen, and elastin break down.  That being said, there are still beautiful skin treatments we can use to gain some control.

Listed below are the ingredients, nutrients, and daily habits that the experts say will help your skin stay firm.

Skin Care Tip #1- Elastin is by far what makes skin tight and youthful looking.  The problem is that we stop making elastin around the time we hit puberty.  It was just recently that the discovery was made that dill extract may produce new elastin and there are now products out there now that do contain it.

Skin Care Tip #2- Without collagen, skin is destined to have the same texture as an old leather bag.  Fortunately, retinoids is the one family of ingredients that dermatologists agree stimulate collagen production.

Skin Care Tip #3- Eyes.  You should use an eye cream every day & night that contains retinoids, which have shown to increase elastin under the eyes.

Skin Care Tip #4- Apply sunscreen every morning.  Most moisturizers today contain at least SPF15.  If you don’t, long term sun exposure breaks down collagen and degrades elastin.

Skin Care Tip #5- Antioxidants protect the skin from all the evil in the environment (AKA  free radicals) plus they block an enzyme called elastase that breaks down elastin.  Choose products containing several different antioxidants because they work better in synergy.  Recommended antioxidants are vitamins A & C and Coenzyme Q10.

Skin Care Tip #6- Use your moisturizer daily as they can protect your skin against free radical damage.  Dehydration leads to oxidative stress, which generates free radicals.  Without moisture, your skin isn’t able to repair itself and suffers even more damage.  Recommended ingredients are cholesterol, ceramides, essential fatty acids, and niacinamide.

Skin Care Tip #7 – Relax your neck.  During a workout you can sweat, pant, and even grunt, just don’t strain your neck.  When you do, you’re strengthening the muscles that will eventually pull down your face.

Skin Care Tip #8 - Don’t smoke.  Smoking destroys collagen and elastin and decreases levels of estrogen, which is necessary to keep your skin firm.

Skin Care Tip #9 – Eat the Proper Foods.  New research tells us that low levels of vitamin C and zinc may inhibit the skin’s ability to repair itself.  Try eating more fatty fish (i.e. salmon), dark green vegetables (broccoli), almonds, and walnuts.  And drink green tea!

Skin Care Tip #10 - Ignore your cravings.  I know this is not what you want to hear, however, experts believe that overindulging in sugar (including corn syrup, dextrose, and fruit-juice concentrate) can prematurely age skin – as early as your mid-30s.  Sugar in the bloodstream forms harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs); and AGEs weaken collagen and elastin.

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