I Don鈥檛 Need Botox in my Twenties鈥擜nd Neither Do You

This is my personal opinion but I believe getting botox in your 20s is way too early.

I think that both men and women become their sexiest after thirty. So why mess with your face now?

In our 20s, we make the biggest skin mistakes. Those mistakes actually create wrinkles versus preventing them. I鈥檓 not saying it鈥檚 time to start chemical peels and microdermabrasion now, but little things here and there鈥攁nd maybe some big things鈥攚ill help you avoid going for the botox needle in the near future.

Here鈥檚 a list of lifestyle tips to follow if you鈥檙e serious about anti-aging or want to slow it down a bit.

1. You Don鈥檛 Need a Cigarette or a Drink to Party

I鈥檓 not saying be a bore and don鈥檛 go to parties. You鈥檙e only young once! When you鈥檙e older, it鈥檒l be more awkward to explain. But while partying, make healthier choices.

Say no to smoking.

No, seriously. Not only will your health thank you, your face will love you. Smoking constantly deprives the skin of oxygen and vital nutrients. So some smokers appear pale, while others develop uneven coloring. Youth is about glowing skin and having makeup free days. And trust me, 20s are very youthful if you do it right. As for wrinkles? Smoking basically destroys any collagen or elastin which means your skin starts to drop and those laugh lines or forehead lines will be set in stone鈥攁ctual hard lines.

Also why do smokers generally have more eye wrinkles or crow鈥檚 feet than anyone else? The warmth from lighting up cigarettes and squinting to keep smoke out of your eyes contribute to visible crow鈥檚 feet. Meanwhile, chemicals from inhaled tobacco cause internal damage to the skin structures and blood vessels around your eyes.

Alcohol consumption is no better. People can have allergies to salicylates which is usually found in wine whereas hard liquor and beer don鈥檛 let your body properly metabolize, resulting in puffiness and breakouts.
2. Enjoy the Sun鈥ith Caution

I鈥檓 not saying to live under a rock for good, but there are safer ways to enjoy that summertime sun. You have to be smart and safe when you decide to lay down and get some color. Sun exposure is a major cause of premature aging.

According to Dr. Arthur Perry, a Plastic Surgeon, 鈥淚t is the ultraviolet light (UV) contained in sunlight that is responsible for much of the aging of the skin. Chronic UV exposure causes wrinkles, splotchy pigmentation, visible capillaries (telangiectasia) and loose, rough skin. UV causes damaging substances called free radicals to be produced. UV also depresses the natural antioxidants in the skin, contributing to more damage. Ultraviolet light damages your genetic material (DNA) every time you are in the sun. To convince yourself, compare the skin on the back of your hands with the skin on the inside of your upper arm. The upper arm looks better in everyone.鈥�

So stay safe with UV-Protection Sunglasses, a big stylish hat, a generous and constant re-applied amount of Sunblock/Sunscreen with UV Protection and take breaks from the sun. Note that just because the spf number is higher, does not mean you don鈥檛 have to re-apply it as often! As for tanning, though a little bit won鈥檛 hurt you鈥擵itamin D, whoo!鈥攖here鈥檚 always the option of tanning salons. But see
3. Sleep Deprivation鈥擸ou Only Live Once

Whether it鈥檚 starting work, going to college, or enjoying $5 Fridays, we lose sleep: for a good reason or not. We tend to sleep a lot less after we turn 18 and that continues until our 30s or beyond. One of the first places that lack up sleep shows up is on the face鈥攖hose dark circles and bags under the eyes and sagging skin are all signs of aging and lack of sleep. Besides for sleep deprivation affecting your brain, it also prevents you from making the best decisions during the day time鈥攎aybe you grab the sugary cookie over a healthier option for that quick pick-me-up. Sleep deprivation is never a good idea.
4. Dieting and Lifestyle

Yo-yo dieting is a sneaky contributor to aging. Whether you鈥檙e Vegan, Paleo, Carnivore, or whatever else is healthy: stick to it. No heartbreak, reunion, wedding, or anything with a timeline is worth either:
1. Starving yourself for days or weeks to fit into whatever. Your Health is much more important than That Dress.
2. Emotional eating鈥攃andy, fast food, or any other 鈥渕oping friendly鈥� snacks.
鈥淩apid weight gain or loss can cause visible changes in the skin, such as stretch marks and laxity,鈥� says Dr. Jennifer Linder, a dermatologist. Healthy living is nature鈥檚 beauty treatment. 鈥淚f you drink plenty of water and consistently eat a healthy diet, your skin will look better.鈥�

Also, now that you鈥檝e embarked on a healthy lifestyle, it鈥檚 time to start taking vitamins and dietary supplements鈥擮ne A Day, vitamin D, biotin, etc.

Along with a balanced diet, an exercise plan will also help with your skin, thanks to that sexy thing we call sweat. 鈥淚ncreasing blood flow to any area of the body promotes the metabolism in that area, and it makes sense that [when you exercise] toxins would get flushed out and cells will heal and grow faster,鈥� says dermatologist Dr. Jessie Cheung.
5. Skin and Makeup

Whether you wear makeup everyday or every once in a while, there is a correct way to take care of your skin before and after makeup.

This is a personal opinion but buying a foundation that is on the 鈥渃heaper side鈥濃€攊.e. less than 20 dollars鈥攆or daily use is not a good idea. If it will be on your face daily, make the investment and get a good foundation for your skin. Please be willing to drop the money whether it鈥檚 a mineral powder foundation or a liquid. How you apply it is very important as well. Roughly applying makeup can torture skin. Rough handling can cause wrinkles and fine lines to appear from harsh handling. Be gentle to your face, especially tugging around the eyes.

If you can, once a week take a day off from your makeup to let your skin 鈥渂reathe.鈥� Because of school or work, I wear makeup almost five days a week, but the second I鈥檓 off, I reach for a makeup wipe and go home prepared to do my nightly routine. Do not wait until bedtime to wash cosmetics off. The longer makeup stays on your face, the longer it will clog pores and the more likely skin blemishes will occur. A good idea for that makeup off day is to make that the day you do your eyebrows or use any home masks or facials.

Forgetting to take off your makeup off at night ages your skin! You may find it tempting to fall into bed after a busy day鈥攐r a late night on the town鈥攚ithout cleaning your face. But skipping a cleanser at night can lead to breakouts later. During the day, environmental toxins, like dirt and pollution, build up on skin and invade pores. This can cause complexion problems. So don鈥檛 hit the sack before you wash. Use a good cleanser and save your skin. Keep a box of cleansing towelettes bedside for added convenience鈥攕imply swipe and sleep.

Taking your makeup off correctly goes hand in hand with having a good skincare routine that has a cleanser, exfoliator, moisturizer, and whatever else works for you.