My Mom told me I should start using anti-aging products! I actually didn’t take her seriously, cos I think I'm too young to start and second, there are no visible wrinkles or age spots on my skin. Curiosity got the best of me however, and I decided to do some reading about anti-aging. It's no surprise though that almost every article I have read has the same message: "Prevention is better than cure". 

It’s easier to delay the formation of wrinkles, than trying to get rid of them when they’ve decided to show up on our foreheads and lip area, well that’s unless you’re okay with getting a Botox. Healthy and natural anti-aging regimens, however, are still better. So if we want to look youthful and amazing in our 40s, we should definitely start now. Below are some tips I’ve gathered to ensure both a youthful look, and youthful health.

1. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink 5 to 8 glasses of water a day.
2. Exercise, in order to strengthen your muscles, balance and bone density.
3. Drink vitamins.
4. Use anti wrinkle creams, toners, moisturizers, and especially sun block. Too much sun is the primary cause of skin damage.
5. Get enough sleep.

Now I know you are thinking this is too easy to do, but we got to admit that it's easier said than done. We all know these things but somehow we find ourselves NOT doing them like getting enough sleep, or exercising and eating healthy. Hopefully, after reading this simple anti-aging tips you'll be one step closer to actually doing them religiously.

Taking care of our skin is actually one of the best precaution and the most easy and convenient anti-aging treatment there is. It is way cheaper than going to a dermatologist or beauty doctor to have your face lift or whatever "anti-aging" procedure they offer to give you youthful glow and young-looking skin. The best anti-aging treatment starts with you, at the comforts of your own home, without draining your monthly budget.

If you're not familiar yet, here is the most common skin care routine:

Cleanse - we may not consider or consciously been doing this as an anti-aging treatment but actually it's the first step on the skin care routine and this step is probably the only step that most of us do since washing the face is as automatic as when we brush our teeth in the morning and evening. However, simply washing with water doesn't cut it. We need to use a gentle facial cleanser to get rid of the dirt, dust and oil that our skin face every single day. Choose a facial cleanser that suits your skin type: for oily skin, for dry skin, for sensitive skin.

Exfoliate - exfoliation isn't everyday. The purpose of exfoliating is to get rid of dead, dry skin so exfoliating every day might cause your skin to dry out.

Tone - some dermatologists say you can go without facial toner if you use a really good facial cleanser twice a day or if you have dry skin, but if you have acne-prone or oily skin, a toner is highly recommended. Benefits of a toner:

• help refine pores
• remove excess oil
• remove makeup and dirt residue
• restore skin's pH balance

When choosing a toner, if you have oily skin make sure that it has salicylic acid.

Moisturize - if you have dry skin, you may skip toners, but you cannot skip moisturizing even when you have oily skin. There are also moisturizers that are made for specific skin types so make sure that what you are using is the ideal one for you. Light and non-greasy for oily skin and somewhat rich and moisturizing for dry skin, etc.

Taking care of our skin is as easy as waking up and getting dressed, what's a little difficult is choosing the right product for your skin type. Just remember to read the ingredients and more specifically the skin type that it's made for.

Change Your Diet

1. Out with the Bad & In with the Good. What you eat has a huge effect on how you look. Reduce the amount of sugar, trans fats, and processed foods you eat-- they break down collagen and elastin, dramatically aging your skin. Replace the bad stuff with plenty of antioxidant-rich foods and Omega 3 fatty acids.

Antioxidants neutralize the free-radicals that age skin, while Omega 3’s help to reduce inflammation (redness and swelling) and give your skin a healthy glow.

2. Hydrate. According to most experts, you need at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day. Drinking plenty of water keeps the skin hydrated and the body functioning better.

3. Add Some Vitamins. Think about adding at least a daily multivitamin to your diet. Really want to see the effect of taking vitamins on your skin? Try an anti-aging skin care vitamin with antioxidants, Vitamin C, and essential fatty acids.

Keep the Sun Out

4. Wear Sunscreen Daily. Nothing ages skin quite like too much sun exposure. So wear a zinc oxide sunscreen every single day-- even if you’re not planning on spending much time outside.

5. Get Big Glasses. Large sunglasses with 100% UV protection are great for looking chic… but they also protect the delicate skin around the eyes from sun damage.

Put on Some Products

6. Add Topical Skin Care Products. Most skin care products out there don’t do much. But some, such as retnoids (generally sold in the form or prescription creams), do have an obvious effect on your skin. Also think about adding topical antioxidants, peptides, and plenty of moisturizer.

7. Boxtox It. Want to combat the wrinkles you already have? Consider getting Botox injections around the eyes or the forehead to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. A bonus? Botox also acts to prevent wrinkles.

Cut Out Bad Habits

8. Don’t Over-Worship the Sun. Love to sun-bathe on a hot summer day, or go to the tanning booth all winter to get a warm summer-looking tan? Don’t. More than 15 minutes a day of prolonged sun exposure will age your skin.

9. Just Say No. Are you a smoker or a heavy drinker? Cut it out. Alcohol dehydrates the body, and smoking in particular ages your skin dramatically-- even over-exposure to second-hand smoke can do plenty of damage.

10. Don’t let Stress Take Over. Too much stress can actually age your skin. How? High stress levels raise the amount of a hormone called cortisol in the body-- and this hormone has an effect on your skin’s appearance.

Change your Lifestyle

11. Get Exercise. Any activity that affects the health of your body will affect the health of your skin. Making sure to exercise regularly will relieve stress and improve your body’s circulation and overall health.

12. Get some Z’s. Think you’re too busy to sleep? Think again. To improve the tone of your skin, you need to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. When the body gets enough rest, wrinkles and under-eye circles are less noticeable and hormones (which have a huge affect on skin) are better-regulated.