Wrinkle Aid Prevention for Women

My mother is fast approaching 70, but she is regularly mistaken for my sister. Most people guess her age at mid-40s, and there's a very good reason for it. Her skin is smooth, youthful and completely wrinkle-free. Youthful skin is beautiful, and the woman who manages to keep her skin healthy and smooth will always look young and fresh, no matter how old she is. There are some basic habits and products that can help you keep your skin looking young, firm and beautiful - and many of them are surprisingly affordable.

1. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.

Water is essential to your health in many ways, and keeping your skin healthy is just one of them. Your body needs plenty of fluids to help it flush away toxins, including the toxins that lead to dry, dull skin.

2. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Fresh fruits, vegetables and juices are a prime source of antioxidants, part of our amazing immune system response to damage. When you increase your body's ability to fight off the signs of aging, you are doing one of the best things you can do to keep your skin looking young.

3. Establish a regular face cleansing routine.

This is where using the right products for your skin type becomes important. You don't have to consult a skin care consultant, but it doesn't hurt. The basics of a good skin care routine for your face include a foaming cleanser geared to your type of skin, a facial scrub to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, an astringent to refine pores and an occasional facial mask that's chosen for your skin's needs.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is especially good for sensitive, troubled skin, but it works just great on any type of skin. It's been recommended by dermatologists for years, and was what my dermatologist recommended for my face when eczema reared its ugly head when I was in my teens.

4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

Regular moisturizing is important to help your skin maintain its elasticity and freshness. Moisturizers work in one of two ways - they either create a 'seal' over your skin to keep moisture in, or they gradually release water that is absorbed by the skin. Experimentation will tell you which moisturizer is best for your skin type, though a skin consultation with a professional can also help. The moisturizer that you use will also probably change with age as your skin changes.

Olay was a part of my mother's daily regimen back when their flagship product was Oil of Olay in the black bottle. She trusted her skin to Olay for five decades, and today, I do, too. The company's Definity and Regenerist lines of skin care products include moisturizers and exfoliators that leave your face dewy soft and smooth.

I'm old enough to remember Dove's revolutionary 3/4 cleansing cream bar for skin care. They've expanded their line to include a full line of facial, hair and body products. I regularly use Dove's Pro-Age Beauty Body Lotion and Pro-Age Body Oil to keep the skin all over my body young, smooth and wrinkle free.

Two more products that I love for my face are Vioderm and Dermitage. I'd thought my skin was in pretty darn good shape, but when my roommate went on a 'sample spree' and I ended up with sample starter kits of both of their skin care systems, I figured what the heck. In less than a week of using each of them, I found out just how much better my skin could look. The serum and active moisturizer plump out tiny wrinkles and help your skin replace your old skin cells more quickly. The difference in my skin is nothing short of amazing.

5. Quit smoking!

Scientists aren't quite certain why smoking ages your skin so badly, but there's no doubt that it does. They suspect that it's a combination of factors - the facial expressions that you make when you purse your lips to draw on a cigarette and squint combined with the damaging effects of the cigarette smoke constantly on your skin. If you smoke, quit now. You'll be saving more than your skin.

6. Protect your skin from the sun.

Overexposure to the sun damages your skin cells, sometimes irreparably. Ask any woman who was a tanned beauty in her youth about her skin and she'll tell you - dry, leathery and wrinkled. If you're out in the sun, be sure to use sun screen, and shield your face from the worst of the sun's rays.

7. Exercise regularly.

Who'd have thought exercise could help prevent wrinkles? It seems that it does, though. According to Skincancerconnection.com, regular exercise helps improve blood flow, which is one of the most important factors in helping your skin renew itself.