Tips of defying Mother Nature

Skip the straw

Using a straw seems like an innocent enough habit, but over time, you may notice wrinkles around your mouth.

“Sipping through a straw accentuates those facial muscles where fine lines can occur,” says Angela Lamb, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The more you use those muscles, the more noticeable the lines there will become, she explains.

Seriously, don’t smoke

Add this to the already-long list of reasons to quit. While less serious than reducing your chances of getting lung cancer or heart disease, smoking also damages your looks. The habit takes a major toll on your appearance, contributing to premature skin aging, wrinkles, stained teeth, and even increased psoriasis risk.

“Smoking increases wrinkles due to facial motion, and it also has a vasoconstricting effect, which means it chokes off blood vessel circulation,” says dermatologist David Stoll, MD, author of A Woman’s Skin.

Eat your antioxidants

While a healthy diet does wonders for your entire body, fruits and veggies that contain antioxidants like vitamins B and E are particularly great for skin.

“Antioxidants help protect skin against free radicals in the environment, which are damaging to skin cells,” says dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD, chief medical spokesperson for Sebamed. “They work to prevent free radicals from breaking down the skin’s elastin and collagen, resulting in more youthful, healthier skin.”

For vitamins B6 and B12, fill your plate with fish and poultry. Vegetarians can get vitamin B6 through chickpeas, which contain 55% of your DV in just one cup. And wheat germ oil (100% DV), sunflower seeds (37% DV), and almonds (34% DV) are all terrific sources of vitamin E.

Fill up on fermented foods

You probably already know that foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, and other probiotic-rich foods are good for your gut. Turns out they may also combat premature aging.

“Fermented foods have excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,” says Craig Kraffert, MD, a board certified dermatologist and president of Amarte.

Beauty products that are made with fermented extracts may also make a difference. Dr. Kraffert recommends products that contain ingredients like fermented gingko biloba nut or mushroom extract. “The most commonly cited benefits of fermented extracts within skincare products are skin calming and brightening,” he says.

La Biosthetique Anti-Age Serum Hydratant is a cell-active hydro concentrate supplies the skin with an extra portion of moisture.

Visible fine lines caused by dryness in the face, neck and décolleté, as well as a reduction in the skin’s elasticity, are signs of intensive moisture deficits. After just one application, Sérum Hydratant supplies maximum moisture and results in lasting moisture binding in the skin layers. After cleansing the face, generously apply Sérum Hydratant and then apply your usual day and night care.

Main ingredients:

• Liposomally encapsulated phyto cell extracts from plant stem cells: support the formation of new parent cells, delay the aging process and combat the formation of new and the worsening of existing wrinkles.
• Glyco cell extracts from organically bound silicone from brown algae: activate collagen synthesis, strengthen connective tissue, calm the skin and protect against glycation.
• Algae extract: supplies and binds moisture in deeper layers of the epidermis and offers effective protection against damaging external influences such as temperature fluctuations.
• Triple hyaluronic acid complex: intensively moisturises, stimulates the skin renewal process and binds moisture.