Inflammation, excess consumption of sugar, and sleep are some of the biggest contributors to aging skin.

Chronic inflammation can gradually cause tissue damage over time accelerating the aging process.

Overeating sugar causes cross-linking of collagen in a process called glycation, which results in a loss of elasticity in the skin. This can make skin have an overall dull appearance and can cause wrinkles.

When we sleep, our bodies release growth hormones that stimulate the production of collagen in the skin. Also, our bodies repair and regenerate damaged skin cells during sleep. Lack of sleep can contribute to overall inflammation in the body as well.

Another contributor to aging skin is smoking. This is something I am sure many people know, but it does not hurt to mention it!

Recommendations to help keep skin youthful include:

- Focus on a diet that is rich in fresh whole foods.

- Reduce sugar/carbohydrate consumption.

- Hydrate! Skin cells become plump when hydrated, giving the skin an overall plump appearance.

- Make sure you are getting enough quality sleep.

- Find an exercise routine that works best for you. Even a 10-15 minute walk everyday can benefit you and your skin!

- Limit alcohol consumption

- Try to reduce or quit smoking cigarettes.

Excess sun exposure to the face can contribute to aging skin.

Sun exposure is very important for overall health and can give the skin a glow if you keep your daily face sunbathing sessions somewhat strategic: you never want to let your skin burn!

If you get lots of sun, a big beautiful sunhat or shade will be your best friend.

Certain topicals we use here at Sun and Moo have been shown to help individuals maintain youthful skin.

Tallow has many anti-aging properties. It is loaded with nutrients that nourish the skin and help increase collagen production which keeps the skin smooth and firm.

Carrot Seed Oil is full of antioxidants, specifically carotenoids, that help counteract the effects of UV rays. Carotenoids also stimulates skin rejuvenation, aids in detoxification, and can increase cell turnover to help brighten the complexion and slow down the aging process.

Plantain contains a substance called allantoin that is highly beneficial for promoting new cell growth.

Baobab Oil helps with fine lines and wrinkles by preventing collagen breakdown. It is also incredibly moisturizing which is really important for maintaining youthful skin.

Rosehip Oil is full of antioxidants like beta-carotene which help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps diminish dark spots.

Helichrysum Essential Oil means “immortelle”, aka immortal. This plant has powerful anti-aging properties. It is known to help reduce the appearance of age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone and texture irregularities.

All of us experience stress to a certain extent, but when it becomes chronic it can negatively impact our health. In regard to the skin, chronic stress can contribute to aging of the skin. Stress can cause changes to the proteins in skin that result in a reduction of elasticity which can lead to wrinkle formation. Not to mention, when we get stressed, we tend to furrow our brows which can lead to the development of wrinkles in that region over time.

To benefit health overall, it can be helpful to intentionally keep stress at bay by utilizing stress-management techniques.
 
Some popular ways to manage stress include:

- Exercise: If you are looking for guidance or inspiration…one of the best apps out there for at home exercises is WeGLOW.

- Meditation: There are so many meditation tracks and podcasts out there. Check out the Podcast app and spotify t o see if any options resonate with you and give it a try. The best meditation routine is prioritizing at least 5 minutes a day in the morning to connect with yourself and shut out the noise from the world.

- Diaphragmatic breathing: This way of controlled breathing has been shown to cause physiological changes by lowering blood pressure and heart rate in addition to lowering levels of circulating stress hormones in the body. To start, sit or lay in a comfortable position while placing one hand on the heart and the other over the abdomen. Then you want to deeply inhale for 4 seconds through the nose towards your belly. You want the hand on your stomach to rise. Hold that breath for 4 seconds then slowly exhale completely for 6 seconds with pursed lips like you’re trying to blow out a candle. Repeat the cycle for 5-10 minutes.

 - Talk to a loved one: Sometimes we just need to let our thoughts out. When we keep challenging or negative thoughts in, they can build up and do more harm than good. Talking to someone can help you release stress. If you feel more comfortable writing your thoughts down, that can really benefit stress as well.