Wrinkles are no doubt annoying, especially when they are hard to get rid of. Well, aging is inevitable and so are wrinkles and fine lines — signs of aging. But can we slow this process? The answer is yes!
Aging, like fine wine, isn’t a myth. Wrinkles on the face happen but aging gracefully is in our hands. Actually, it is not that complicated. We just need to be disciplined and diligent when it comes to our skincare routine.
With age, wrinkles start becoming noticeable, especially around the eyes, forehead, mouth and neck. Fine lines, on the other hand, are the start of wrinkles, and look like small creases on your skin. The minor difference is that wrinkles appear deeper on the skin, while fine lines stay closer to the skin’s surface.
Dry skin folks, beware. Wrinkles and fine lines are more prone to appear on these skin types due to lack of hydration. Having said this, anyone can get wrinkles or fine lines — age is not the only factor. You can experience premature aging due to other factors that affect your skin.
Don’t worry. With just a few steps, you can reverse the effects of wrinkles and fine lines. Read along to find out the deets.
Before we go to the topic, let us see what wrinkles are, and what causes them.
CONTENT INDEX
- What are wrinkles and what are the different types?
- Causes of wrinkles
- What should we do to prevent them?
All About Wrinkles
Wrinkle is a fold, ridge or crease in an otherwise smooth surface, such as the skin. Wrinkles on the face occur due to either aging or other factors such as sun damage, habitual sleeping positions, loss of body mass, or hormonal imbalance.
Muscle contraction causes the skin to bunch together, forming lines between the bulk of the muscle, which then form wrinkles and fine lines that we see. They mostly occur on the face around the eyes and forehead.
Types:
Dynamic wrinkles - dynamic wrinkles are a result of muscle contraction on the overlying skin. The most common locations are between the eyebrows, forehead, and on the cheeks near the outer corners of the eyes, referred to as ‘crow’s feet‘.
Static wrinkles - they are mainly caused by sun damage, smoking, poor diet that lacks nutrition, genetics and prolonged dynamic wrinkles. The skin loses its elasticity and succumbs to gravity.
Wrinkle folds - this occurs due to the sagging of facial structures. It causes deep grooves between the nose and mouth known as the naso-labial groove. This also leads to loss of skin elasticity.
Next, let’s see what causes wrinkles.
Reasons Why You Get Smile Lines
There are several causes for smile lines or wrinkles.
Aging
The primary cause of wrinkles, aging. is natural and inevitable. As people age, collagen production reduces, thereby resulting in the build up of dead skin cells. This gives the skin a dull look, and is accompanied by wrinkles.
Aging skin retains less moisture and heals slowly. All these factors contribute to the creation of wrinkles.
Sun damage
Another reason for premature signs of aging is the sun (also called photoaging). Excessive exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays can damage the epidermis layer of the skin, which acts as a skin barrier.
When these harmful rays attack our skin tissues, an enzyme in our skin damages healthy collagen fibers, resulting in wrinkles.
Facial muscle contractions
Wrinkles on the face (lines on the forehead, between eyebrows and around your eyes) are a result of small muscle contractions. Smiling, frowning, squinting and other habitual facial expressions cause wrinkles to become more prominent.
Environmental factors
Pollutants, dust and other elements present in the air can cause your body’s collagen to break down and result in more dead skin cells, which are the primary reason for wrinkles.
These pollutants include:
- particulate matter
- soot
- nitrogen dioxide
Now that we have seen the causes, let us move on to the prevention of wrinkles.
How Do We Stop Wrinkles from Appearing?
Sun protection
The easiest way of preventing those smile lines from appearing on your face is to protect it from the sun. To escape the UV rays of the sun, apply a sunscreen of SPF above 30.
Sunscreen acts as a barrier to protect the skin from harmful rays, and prevents aging. For extra protection, wear a hat, light-colored clothes and sunglasses.
Pro tip: wear sunscreen every two hours even if it is not sunny.
Apply retinol
If you already have wrinkles or want to prevent it from appearing on your skin, retinol is the best option. This is because retinoids derived from Vitamin A are rich in antioxidants that promote collagen production. Thus with more collagen, the skin can produce new skin cells for a fresh, plumpy skin. Due to skin regeneration, the chances of wrinkles are low.
Do remember to consult your doctor before using retinol. Always start with a low amount followed by a moisturizer.
Moisturize
The thumb rule for any skincare routine is to apply moisturizer. Moisturizing regularly keeps your skin hydrated. It is more important as you get older, since your skin becomes drier and prone to more wrinkles.
Use moisturizers that are gentle and fragrance-free, with ingredients such as Vitamin C or hyaluronic acid that is packed with antioxidant properties.
Stay hydrated
Drinking sufficient amounts of water cannot be stressed enough, especially with respect to skincare. Try drinking 3-4 liters of water everyday to flush out toxins from the body and maintain a clear skin. Drinking water also has another benefit. It keeps the skin naturally hydrated, thus preventing dryness. This indirectly prevents wrinkles and fine lines.
In addition to water, you can also apply serums that are water-based such as hyaluronic acid, which locks the moisture on the skin, and treats specific conditions related to aging of the skin.
Eat vitamin-rich foods
You have probably heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat’. The diet you consume directly reflects on your skin. Which is why we should eat healthy food containing more veggies and fruits.
Eat foods that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They will improve skin elasticity and prevent premature aging.
Some foods and drinks to include:
- green tea
- olive oil
- salmon
- avocados
- pomegranates
- flax seeds
- vegetables, especially carrots, pumpkin, leafy greens and broccoli
To sum it up, eating right and moving the body can keep skin problems related to premature aging at bay. In addition, we can use mild skincare products to improve overall skin health and fight against external pollutants.
The Unbottle Way
At UnbottleCo we practice intelligent skincare. This means products free from harsh chemicals and only packed with the good stuff for our skin. Our anti-aging range provides solutions for wrinkles and fine lines in a skintelligent way.
Age-Defence Face Cleanser Proven to Fight Fine Lines and Wrinkles with Grapeseed Oil and Alpha Arbutin
Hi! I’m Tuco Skintelligent Age-Defence Face Cleanser. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.
To treat:
- Alpha-arbutin brightens skin tone and heals skin damage
- Grapeseed oil promotes skin elasticity and flexibility
To prevent recurrence:
- Green tea reduces free radicals and detoxes skin
- Saffron evens and brightens skin tone without causing breakouts
Age Defence Body Lotion Proven to Fight Fine Lines and Wrinkles with Kojic Acid and Saffron Oil
Hi! I’m Tuco Skintelligent Age Defence Body Lotion. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.
To treat:
- Kojic acid treats skin conditions, such as sun damage, scars, and age spots
- Saffron Oil boosts collagen synthesis for brighter-looking skin
To prevent recurrence:
- Wheat germ oil builds collagen and increases skin elasticity
- Almond oil preserves skin’s natural moisture
Age Defence Face Serum for Fine Lines and Wrinkles with Grapeseed Oil
Hi! I’m Tuco Skintelligent Age Defence Face Serum for Fine Lines and Wrinkles. Here are the botanical super-actives I have inside me.
To treat:
- Grapeseed oil boosts skin elasticity and flexibility
- Witch hazel relieves inflammation and tightens pores
To prevent recurrence:
- Rosehip oil exfoliates and brightens skin tone
- Saffron Oil boosts natural collagen for skin elasticity and brightens skin