6 Ways To Look Younger In 60 Minutes A Day Or Less

6 Ways To Look Younger In 60 Minutes A Day Or Less

When it comes to aging, time seems to be the enemy. But use it to your advantage, and it could be your best ally. We've rounded up some super simple things you can incorporate into your daily routine that will help with your anti-aging efforts, every day in under an hour -- no Botox necessary.

1. Start your day off with tea, not coffee.
white tea
OK...this might be hard for some of you. But a simple switch could mean a reduced risk of cancer, arthritis, and yes, wrinkles. Kingston University researchers found that even small amounts of the enzymes found in white tea, less than what you'd find in a cup, can protect your body from enzymes that breakdown collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin give your skin its elasticity and plumpness, the loss of which can result in wrinkles. We'll drink to that.

2. Scrub up.
There's no way to wake yourself up and shake off grogginess like a splash of cold water on your face. While you're in the bathroom brushing your teeth, flossing (we hope), and taking care of business, don't forget to exfoliate your skin! As we age, we don't shed skin as effectively, dermatologist Susan Weinkle said in an interview. The buildup of dead skin cells can lead to a dull, lackluster appearance. Weinkle says exfoliating not only sloughs away the dead skin, it helps products like moisturizers sink in better and gives them a chance to be more effective. With some exfoliating brushes taking just 60 seconds to use, you could be on your way to younger skin in a minute a day.

3. Conquer your sweet cravings.
reaching for donut
It's lunchtime and temptation is all around: from the sugar-laden chocolate chip cookie you can add to your meal for 99-cents, to several spoonfuls of sugar in your soda. But resist, and your face will thank you later. Studies have shown too much sugar in the diet can lead to premature aging. One study found that increases in blood sugar in people ages 50-70 could make them appear anywhere from five to seven months older. Another study found a high-sugar diet can not only lead to the breakdown of collagen in elastin in your skin, which we mentioned earlier, but also affect the type of collagen you have. More fragile forms of collagen can make you more susceptible to sun damage, and in turn, wrinkles.

4. Don't even think about sleeping with your face on.
When you've had a long day, you might not even have the energy to slip into your pajamas, but there's one pre-sleep ritual you absolutely can't skip. Washing your face. You might think all you're doing is smearing eyeliner on your pillow and waking up with raccoon eyes, but the truth is a lot uglier. Last year, one woman volunteered to leave her makeup on overnight, every day for a month. The result? Besides a blotchy complexion and inflammation, she looked years -- yes years -- older. Leaving your makeup on overnight clogs your pores, experts say. It also causes additional exposure to free radicals and oxidative stress. Over time, this means premature aging and fine lines. Not what we'd call beauty sleep.

5. Move your bedtime up by just 15 minutes.
alarm clock
You might think you can make up for your lack of sleep on the weekdays with a long lie-in over the weekend, but there's no real way to "catch up" on sleep. In a perfect world, getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep would be a breeze. But with sleep disturbances, unpredictable schedules, and staying up worrying, many of us just aren't getting enough restorative rest. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can cause premature aging of the skin, unevenness, and more fine lines. As if it wasn't bad enough being told, "You look tired!" Ugh.

If you're not getting enough sleep or can't seem to pin down a sleep schedule, experts recommend going to bed just 15 minutes earlier each night until you reach your desired bedtime and spend about 85 percent of your time in bed, asleep.

6. Get yourself a satin pillowcase.
Dermatologists say it's best to sleep on your back to avoid fine lines and wrinkles. But it can be hard to give up your cosy side or stomach-sleeper position. If you can't make the change, take a minute and swap your cotton pillowcase out for a satin one. Dermatologist Debra Jaliman told HuffPost Style that a satin pillowcase helps the skin slide, not pull, meaning you don't get those dreaded sleep lines. And if you really want to get fancy, she says there are special beauty sleep pillow which help alleviate some of the pressure on your face while you're sleeping, to keep your skin wrinkle-free for longer.

Have any other 60-minute ideas of your own? Let us know in comments.

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