Getting older means getting wiser, but it can also mean losing the shine and suppleness of your skin. While you should embrace yourself at every stage of your life and enjoy everything that comes along with it, it is also important to take care of yourself. Being the best version of yourself goes beyond the skin as it helps you be confident, happy, and healthy.
Having said that, treating wrinkles and fine lines don’t have to mean spending loads of money on expensive creams, lotions, and skin treatments. It can be as simple as rummaging through your kitchen pantry!
That’s right, there are several ingredients in our homes that we use on an everyday basis that serve more purposes than satisfying our tastebuds. They can also be a great addition to our skincare routines by imparting amazing anti-aging properties. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the plethora of chemicals that come along with many of the over-the-counter products that boast great benefits.
Here are some of the best anti-aging ingredients that you can find in your own kitchen!
Strawberries
Not only do strawberries make for a delicious snack that also comes with loads of immune-boosting properties, they can also be applied to the skin topically to make use of some of the very same benefits. You’ve no doubt seen facial scrubs and cleansers with strawberries as an ingredient and there’s a reason for it beyond just that they look and smell nice.
Strawberries are a rich source of salicylic acid, which is a great exfoliant that can help fight acne-causing bacteria. These super berries are also full of antioxidants that keep away free radicals that cause inflammation, leading to a number of skin issues from puffy eyes to acne. They also have a component called ellagic acid, which protects your skin against UV damage and slows down the depletion of collagen in it – slowing down the aging process of the skin.
To benefit from the good properties of strawberries, all you have to do is slice one up and rub it all over your face. Wash clean with some cold water afterward and your skin will feel clean and refreshed. Make sure to pop a few into your mouth as well to get the full effect!
Mayonnaise
We know it’s not the most pleasant idea when you think of putting mayonnaise on your face, however, the benefits may far outweigh your discomfort. Plus, it’s not like we’re suggesting you slather it all over your face. Just a few dabs here and there on areas with wrinkles and fine lines would do the trick just fine.
The reason it works is that mayonnaise contains egg whites, which are a rich source of albumin, a protein that helps tighten the skin and give it a lowly glow. The other main ingredient in mayonnaise is oil, which can also help rejuvenate dry and flaky skin. You may have seen facial oils being marketed as great cleansers, but what you didn’t know is that cooking oils such as olive oil, avocado oil, and other vegetable oils are also fantastic moisturizers. They contain linoleic acid that creates a protective layer on your skin surface and keeps it moisturized, as well as preventing skin damage done by chemicals like uric acid.
Coffee
Coffee lovers know how good the caffeinated beverage is when it comes to giving you a boost. Well, did you know that the same effect can be had on your skin as well?
Coffee is an all-natural ingredient that helps tighten your skin cells, making it appear smoother and brighter. Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants and therefore helps keep the skin clear of free radicals, thereby slowing down the process of aging in the skin. Coffee is also a great remedy for skin issues such as pigmentation, acne, dark circles, cellulite, and inflammation. Plus, it is a fantastic exfoliant!
To get the best out of coffee applied topically, ditch the instant stuff and go for good old coffee beans. You can grind them yourself or buy them pre-ground. There are a number of different ways to make coffee face packs. You can mix fresh grounds with some olive to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells or use cold-brewed coffee to dab on the face to treat sunburns.
Lemon
Rich in Vitamin C, lemons, much like many other citrus fruits, are fantastic for your skin. Vitamin C in lemons is also known as ascorbic acid, an antioxidant that can help fight skin damage and premature aging. Lemons also have antifungal properties which help the skin stay clean and free of harmful bacteria. It also has a high pH level, which is why applying it to the skin can help reduce inflammation and reduce oiliness.
Since citrus fruits are prone to causing skin irritation, make sure to do individual patch tests before applying them to your face. You should also make sure to avoid areas of the eyes as they can cause stinging.
Honey
While lemons are a great anti-aging ingredient on their own, they become all the more powerful when they are combined with honey. You’ve probably seen the two featured together on a number of cosmetic products too! Honey has a lot of similar properties to lemons, which is why they work so well together.
But honey is a powerful ingredient that can be used all on its own as well, as is evident from traditional methods of skincare that have been used around the world for decades. A study conducted in 2014 showed that honey contains flavonoid and polyphenol compounds that help it act as an antioxidant. This hinders the effect of inflammatory compounds, reducing redness and swelling in the skin. The anti-bacterial properties of honey can also help keep away acne-causing bacteria from the skin. Honey is also a great exfoliator with natural enzymes that help remove dead skin cells.
Green Tea
If you’re someone that doesn’t really like the smell of coffee, we’ve got another caffeinated beverage that can help you get pretty much the same anti-aging effects. That’s right, we’re talking about green tea!
Green tea is a fantastic anti-aging aid as it is chock full of antioxidants that help fight the negative effects of aging on the skin such as wrinkles and fine lines. It also has a high content of Vitamin E, which, if you know anything about cosmetics marketed as anti-aging, you will know is one of the best ingredients you can find for that purpose. What’s more is that green tea also contains riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2, which helps keep the skin healthy and youthful by removing dead skin cells and helping produce new ones.
Apart from drinking green tea regularly, you could also use it topically as it is also a fantastic moisturizer. You just need to take some used tea bags, refrigerate them for a little while, and place them under your eyes to soothe puffiness and get rid of dark circles.
