It’s fair to say that all of us want younger looking skin. As we age, the supple skin of our youth begins to lose its elasticity, with the resultant wrinkles a testament to our advancing years.
Because no one is immune to wrinkles, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry. Cosmetic companies continue to cash in big time on this lucrative sector of the beauty world, with millions of people across the world continuing to buy anti-wrinkle cream after anti-wrinkle cream, despite their apparent ineffectiveness.
Personally, I’ve never bought an anti-wrinkle product in my life, and have no intention of ever doing so. The TV ads alone are enough to send me into fits of laughter: exfoliating microbeads? Deep-penetrating nanoparticles? Hydrating serum? It’s all just marketing mumbo jumbo, designed to sound cutting-edge and ridiculously effective, but it’s almost always just a heady concoction of chemicals. Need to hydrate your skin? Here’s an idea: get it wet, then apply coconut oil. No microbeads or serum required!
Most of these commercial anti-wrinkle products do far more harm than good. In their feeble attempts to make their cream a top contender for the anti-wrinkle awards, they pump their products full of harsh chemicals and preservatives that not only absorb through the layers of the skin into your bloodstream, but can also speed the progress of skin aging in the first place! It’s all a bit ironic, really.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is first on the list of natural anti-wrinkle remedies simply because I’m head over heels in love with the stuff. Ever since going Paleo, coconut has found a space very close to my heart, as it’s not only awesome for cooking, but also hair styling, exfoliating, dipping dark chocolate into (seriously, give it a go), and of course moisturizing.
The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil make it amazingly nourishing for your skin, and when used correctly it can lock in the moisture and provide a protective barrier that eases the aging effects of sun and the elements. All of these factors combined mean that slathering a healthy dose of cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil on your skin every day should help to ward off those pesky wrinkles.
But here’s a crucial tip that it took me a while to discover: coconut oil works best when applied after you’ve wet your skin. I usually apply it immediately after showering, ensuring that I lock in that moisture before it evaporates. The result is skin that’s supple and wrinkle-free, and for a fraction of the cost of those nasty anti-wrinkle creams!
Olive oil
There’s a reason why olive oil has been a go-to skincare product for over 5,000 years! From the Egyptians to the Greeks to the Romans, ancient cultures were quick to realize the skin-promoting potential of olive oil, and there’s plenty of people who still give it pride of place in their bathroom cabinet to this day.
Olive oil is absolutely loaded with vitamins A and E, both of which are critical antioxidants for warding off free radical damage to the dermis (skin) and nourishing your skin from the outside in. The monounsaturated fatty acids in olive oil lock in moisture, making it a serious contender for the best natural anti-wrinkle food available.
As always, quality is key — for best results, opt for cold pressed extra virgin olive oil in dark glass bottles.
Banana
Bananas aren’t just good for your insides — their potent mix of vitamins and antioxidants can work wonders for your skin as well. The vitamin C and B vitamins in bananas help to slow the progress of aging on your skin, while their famously high concentrations of potassium will help to deeply hydrate your skin cells.
To make a powerful anti-wrinkle face mask, simply mash a whole banana and mix in a teaspoon of plain, full-fat yogurt, then apply to your face. Leave the mixture on for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Follow up with a generous dose of coconut oil to lock in the moisture, and your face will smell like fresh-baked banana bread. Delish!
Aloe vera
Everyone knows that the thick gel found inside aloe vera leaves is amazing for sunburn and dry, itchy skin — is it any surprise, then, to discover that it’s a great way to prevent the development of wrinkles? Wrinkles occur when skin cells begin to die off and the dermis slowly dries, losing its elasticity. Aloe vera gel is amazingly hydrating, thereby preventing the skin from drying out and slowing the formation of wrinkles.
Not only that, aloe vera is chock-full of skin-nourishing nutrients that will help to protect your skin from the vagaries of everyday life. These include vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, E, calcium, potassium and zinc. Preliminary studies indicate that topical application of aloe vera can help to treat psoriasis, speed wound healing and lower inflammation, making it a great choice for your next natural anti-wrinkle cream.
Lemon and honey
If you’ve got big plans for the day and need to look your best, there’s an easy, natural way to ensure your face looks young and fresh: the lemon honey dab. Honey contains humectant, a natural skin moisturizer, while fresh lemon juice encourages your skin cells to create more collagen. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a bowl and mix in a small amount of raw honey, then use your fingers to apply the mixture to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.