Aging is inevitable, but there are several ways to diminish fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, and other signs of aging. Some of these involve the use of expensive creams, serums, and potions, while others include more drastic measures like botox. Instead of spending money trying to fix them later, one can prevent fine lines and wrinkles altogether. To help you, here are four tips to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

1. Protect yourself from the sun
One of the best tips to prevent fine lines and wrinkles is to avoid the sun. The harsh UVA and UVB rays from the sun cause significant damage to the skin. Apart from tanning, these rays also destroy the collagen in skin cells. This leads to a dry, leathery appearance and can accelerate the development of fine lines and wrinkles. However, it is not helpful to stay inside forever, either. Your body needs vitamin D that sunlight offers. So it’s best to use a sunblock with a high sun protection factor (SPF) while going out. During summers and mid-afternoon times, cover yourself with a hat or scarf.

2. Keep yourself hydrated
Hydrating through the day is among the best tips to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Your goal should be to drink at least 3 liters of water per day. It’s better to sip water every hour instead of drinking it at one go as the body can assimilate only 500ml of water every hour. Keep a water bottle handy to measure your water intake. You can even add lemon or mint to the water for an extra boost of antioxidants.

3. Get enough sleep
If you want youthful-looking skin, it is essential to get 8 hours of sleep. The body produces the human growth hormone while you’re sleeping. This hormone repairs skin cells, maintaining their elasticity and plumpness. Also, a lack of sleep can release a hormone called cortisol (or the stress hormone). It breaks down healthy skin cells, leading to premature aging. Another tip for youthful skin is to sleep on your back. Sleeping with your face on the pillow can cause the pillowcases to absorb the moisture, increasing dryness. If you prefer sleeping on the sides, it’s best to invest in silk pillowcases.

4. Eat the right food
Collagen is a protein that forms the structure of skin cells. Among the best tips to prevent fine lines and wrinkles is eating foods that aid the production of collagen. These include foods rich in vitamins, zinc, and copper. Foods rich in antioxidants also help restore its elasticity, keeping it youthful. Some of these vitamin and antioxidant-rich foods include green tea, seafood, olive oil, green leafy vegetables, berries, and flaxseeds.

Wrinkles are a part of life. But the correct lifestyle habits can prevent them from showing early. Apart from these tips to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, you can use products containing retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid to keep the signs of aging at bay. Also, remaining stress-free is essential for youthful-looking skin.