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.

Here are the common ingredients that are present in anti-aging creams:

• Tea extracts - green tea, black tea, or oolong extracts, but green tea extracts are the most commonly used
• Copper peptides
• Hydroxy acids
• Kinetin
• Retinol (Vitamin A)
• Coenzyme Q10

Now, keep in mind that each individual is different and it doesn't mean that when someone close to you says that this certain anti-aging cream did her wonders, that it would also do you good. So you may have to try several anti-aging creams before you find the one that is effective for you. Also, anti-aging creams don't work overnight. You have to be patient to wait for weeks or months, considering that you are religiously applying the cream, before you see results like less visible wrinkles, etc.

Some more points to consider:

• Over-the-counter anti-aging creams may not be as effective as those of prescribed ones.
• Expensive anti-aging creams do not necessarily mean they are effective than the cheaper ones.
• There are some anti-aging creams that may cause you side effects like rashes or skin irritation. Make sure you read and follow the instructions, if you still experience side effects then stop using it.

If you really want to make sure about the anti-aging cream that would be perfect for your skin and you have money to spare, then a trip to the dermatologist would be of help and can recommend of prescribe you a good anti-aging cream.

First up is your sleeping habits, anti aging skin care begins with a restful (and regular) hours of sleep.  Your skin heals and regenerates when you’re asleep. If you miss out on sleep, you’ll miss out on those natural healing processes too causing your skin cells to age faster.

Avoid getting all stressed out.  Easier said than done, I know.  Stress will always be there. But one way to combat the effects of stress and release the toxins it produces in the body is to get moving.  Spend at least 15 minutes of at least 3 days of your week dancing, hula-hooping, stairs climbing, jogging, walking, swimming and anything you can think of that can get your heart rate up.

Get your daily dose of Vitamin C and antioxidants.  It’s as simple as taking a supplement, eating an apple, drinking a glass of orange juice or adding tomatoes (rich in antioxidants) to your menu.  What this does is provide your skin with the collagen it needs to stay firm and, yes, young.  Miss out on that more often than not then you’ll surely be saying hi to sag and fine lines sooner than you would certainly like.

Get your green tea on.  Green tea has been proven to have the antioxidants that will help you keep yourself younger looking, longer.  Consider replacing your coffee and your soda sessions with a cup of hot or glass of cold green tea.

Finally, just as it is important to keep your insides prepped up for fighting aging, so should you take care of the outer layers of your skin.  Cleanse, tone, exfoliate and moisturize, these are the step to skin care that you should incorporate into your daily routine.  And I’m not just talking about the facial area; these steps should be applied to the rest of your body as well.  There are plenty of anti aging skin care products out there and they’re not all tailored to your skin type.  That means you should find the best one for you.  The sooner you get to do so, the better.

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.