Photo: Double Image Photography / Flickr

Some people age gracefully. They mature accordingly, with their beauty and style perfectly following their life’s trajectory. What could be better than this? Not aging at all! Some people throughout their lives look a good decade or two younger than they really are, as if they have discovered the fountain of youth and are unwilling to share. How then can you slow the process of aging?

Beat stress

You’ve heard the saying about people aging a few years over a few months of intense stress and pressure. It would be a rather humerous joke if it weren’t so true. Stress has negative bearings on your health, your skin, your hair and your entire appearance, resulting in your ‘physical aging’ being accelerated. Reducing your stress levels is one way of uncovering the physical fountain of youth.

Work out more

Working out frequently has the opposite effect on your body that stress does. The perspiration from an intense workout cleans out your pours, allowing your skin to breathe better, and self repair from any ailments it may have. Additionally, a serious fitness regime makes your body look like that of a 20 year old’s years into your 40s and 50s even. I hate to say it, but the fountain of youth hangs out on the treadmill.

Be deliberate about caring for your skin

Aging is most apparent on the skin. After time your skin loses its firmness, wrinkles and blemishes develop and the radiance you had when you were young simply fades away. As such you must be absolutely mindful of caring for your skin. Purchasing skin care and anti-aging cream is a must if you want to retain a youthful look, as well as caring for your skin in other ways.

Spend as little time in the sun as possible. Quit that smoking habit that’s wreaking havoc on your skin cells, and moisturize frequently. Also, and some ladies may shudder at this suggestion, but lay off the makeup as much as possible. The more your skin can breath, the better it can repair itself, and instead of relying on makeup to give you a youthful look, remember the fountain of youth lies in not letting your skin get damaged in the first place.

Just to get you started

These are simple techniques you can implement today to look and feel younger. Ultimately it’s all about your skin, but that secret ‘fountain of youth’ well you think your friends discovered really doesn’t exist. It’s all in how you care for your skin and your body.

Tags: exercise, makeup, skin care, stress relief