Wrinkles. Yep, it’s like we just yelled “Boo!” at you, right?

For many of us, wrinkles are a scary thought. But, they are unfortunately a part of life and something that we will all experience to some degree.

The good news is that you don't have to put up with them if you don’t want to.
There are things you can do to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

However, to know how to reduce wrinkles, you first have to understand what causes them and what you can do to help slow the natural aging process of your skin.

Let’s look into it now.

Can You Really Reduce Wrinkles?

What Are Wrinkles?

Wrinkles are the fine lines and creases that appear on your skin. They most often appear on parts of your body that see the most sun - such as your face, neck, hands and arms.

Some show as very fine lines, whereas others can become quite deep folds or crevices. The deeper wrinkles tend to appear around your eyes, mouth and neck. Wrinkles tend to become more noticeable the older you get, but how noticeable depends on a number of factors.

Genetics play a big part as skin structure and texture all impact how severe wrinkles can be. But, there are some preventable causes too. Let’s look at what they are…

What Causes Wrinkles?

There are a number of things that can cause wrinkles, with varying degrees of preventability:

Age: We begin to lose elasticity in our skin as we age and our skin also becomes more fragile. There is also a decrease in the natural oils that your skin produces, drying it and making it appear more wrinkled. But, that’s not all our skin loses as we age. We also lose fat in the deeper layers, which results in loose skin that is prone to sagging and more pronounced wrinkles.

Sunlight: Down here in NZ, the sun is particularly powerful. Unfortunately, exposure to the sun’s UV rays is one of the biggest contributing factors to wrinkles. UV light can break down your skin’s collagen and elastin - that form the connective tissues deep in the dermis. Without those connective tissues to fully support your skin, it can lose strength and flexibility, again causing wrinkles and sagging.

Smoking: This habit is proven to be one of the worst contributors to wrinkles as it accelerates the normal ageing process of your skin. Luckily, it is also one of the most preventable causes.

Facial Expressions: There is a reason that the wrinkles around your eyes are called smile lines. Repeated movements, like smiling, squinting or frowning create grooves every time your facial muscles are used. As you grow older and lose some elasticity in your skin, the grooves become a permanent feature as the skin is no longer able to spring back after the movement.

Can You Reduce Wrinkles?

Now that we know what they are and what causes them, can we reduce wrinkles?

The answer is yes. And here’s how you can do it:

Slip, Slop, Slap:

Apart from quitting smoking, the number one way that you can reduce the chance of wrinkles is to protect yourself from the sun. Try to stay out of the sun in the hottest part of the day and always wear protection like sunscreen, a hat with a decent brim, long sleeves and sunglasses.

Have Healthy Habits:

Keeping your body healthy allows it to perform at optimum efficiency. Drinking plenty of water and getting good restful sleep will help your skin stay hydrated. Try to eat healthy too, as plenty of vitamins and nutrients in your diet can positively impact your skin. Preservatives, sugars and greasy foods can have the opposite effect, so minimise your intake of these

Quit Smoking:

Smoking can cause a number of negative impacts on your body, with premature ageing being one of the most major. Quitting will significantly improve your skin health. Even if you have smoked for an extended period of time, quitting can still boost your skin’s tone and texture.

Consider Collagen:

Collagen supplements are thought to improve your skin’s moisture, elasticity and hydration. It’s also thought that collagen can help to reduce your skin’s roughness and how it wrinkles.

Have A Great Skincare Routine:

Healthy skin cells are plump and flexible, they have a smooth surface and help your skin to glow. But, when your skin is dry a lot of that plumpness is lost and fine lines become more prominent. A good quality moisturiser introduces water back into your skin, plumping those skin cells back up and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

A regular skincare routine ensures your skin says hydrated and gives your cells the chance to rejuvenate every morning and night. But, you have to be selective about the skincare products you use, some harsher products can actually strip your skin of moisture. That’s why products with natural ingredients, like our Summer + Bloom range, are best.

We use nature’s best ingredients to keep your skin looking healthy and hydrated, plus reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Shop our range now.