Aging is an inevitable process. The fact that it's natural, however, is not an excuse to look old while you're still in the prime of your life. To fight the aging process effectively requires adopting certain habits and adding a few products to your grooming arsenal. Here we bring you the top products that will help you cheat the aging process and keep your body, skin and hair in peak condition.
Scalp stimulant/hair revitalizer
Why they fight the aging process: A head of thick, lustrous hair signifies vitality. Products designed to combat thinning hair do so either by stimulating the scalp to encourage hair growth or by improving the quality of the hair you still have so that it appears fuller and more abundant. Either way, these products make the most of the mane you have, particularly if you're in the early stages of hair loss.
How to use them: The frequency with which you'll need to a use hair-growth treatment will vary from product to product. You'll almost certainly require more than one application, however, and you'll have use the product regularly to maintain its results.
Multivitamins
Why they fight the aging process: Vitamins are micronutrients your body is not able to manufacture on its own, so they must be derived from outside sources. These micronutrients work from the inside out by feeding your cells, resulting in healthy skin when consumed in adequate quantities. Additionally, some vitamins prevent and repair cellular damage by neutralizing harmful free radicals, thereby slowing aging.
How to use them: The best way to get your vitamins, of course, is by filling your plate with plenty of fresh raw fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, busy lives often leave us little time to prep food, which means that popping a multivitamin every day can help increase your chances of giving your body what it needs to function at its best.
Exfoliant
Why it fights the aging process: An exfoliant is any product that sloughs off dead skin cells and helps unclog pores. Removing all the gunk from your skin will reveal a new layer of cells, meaning your epidermis will be visibly brighter and younger looking.
How to use it: The skin cell turnover cycle takes approximately 28 days, so don't exfoliate more than about twice a month. When selecting an exofoliant, search for a product with fine grains as it will be gentle and won't scratch your skin. For more mature skin, exfoliants containing alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids are a smart choice.
High-quality razor and shaving cream
Why they fight the aging process: While gray facial hair can look distinguished on an older man, it's unflatteringly aging on anyone under 45. Adopting a fuzz-free look will shave a few years off your mug. A clean-shave should also be coupled with soft skin, another sign of youth.
How to use them: Depending on how fast your facial hair grows, you'll need to shave anywhere from daily to once a week. For super-soft skin, invest in a razor from a reputable brand (like the Gillette Fusion) and spend a little extra on an emollient-rich shaving cream, too.
Eye cream
Why it fights the aging process: Eye cream is designed to hydrate and deliver nutrients to the sensitive, thin skin around your eyes, where wrinkles often first appear. Top products either plump up skin to minimize the appearance of any fine lines you presently have or target the cell turnover process to slow the formation of future wrinkles.
How to use it: Use an eye cream twice daily -- once in the morning and again before bed. A light touch is needed when applying this product as stretching out your skin will encourage wrinkles rather than get rid of them. Dab on eye cream by moving in semicircles toward your nose underneath your eye and on your lids. Store this stuff in the fridge if you also want to depuff under-eye bags and wake up tired eyes.
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More from AskMen.com:
Top 10: Habits That Improve Your Appearance
Fine Living: How To Combat Aging
Top 10: Common Grooming Mistakes
Top 10: Ways To Make The Most Of Your Looks
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Antioxidant moisturizer
Why it fights the aging process: As we age, our skin becomes more dry. A moisturizer that's full of antioxidants will not only drench the upper layers of your epidermis with a hydrating tonic but will also pump nourishing ingredients into your cells, helping skin retain its youthful elasticity.
How to use it: Seek out moisturizers with high doses of ingredients like resveratrol, as well as vitamins A, C and E. You'll know if the product you're considering purchasing has a hefty dose of antioxidants if you find one in the first five ingredients listed on the packaging. Once you settle on a moisturizer, apply it twice daily, once in the morning and again before bed.
Good reusable water bottle
Why it fights the aging process: Dehydration leads to parched, wrinkle-ridden skin. In fact, if you've ever noticed fine lines around your eyes that seem to appear and disappear, it's a sure sign you're not getting enough H2O. Staying hydrated is, therefore, essential to ensuring plump, youthful skin cells.
How to use it: Down 8 8-oz glasses of fluid a day for optimum cell function. Active men should drink more than this minimum. To make sure you're getting all the water you need, purchase a reusable water bottle, fill it up in the morning and sip from it throughout the day. Non-plastic bottles are ideal, though you can safely consume water from bottles made out of No. 2, No. 4 or No. 5 plastics.
Great mattress
Why it fights the aging process: Sleep is when the body repairs itself, which means that it only takes a couple of nights of deprivation to leave you with dark circles, red eyes and a generally haggard appearance. To make your slumber as restorative as possible, it's worth shelling out for an amazing mattress and making sleep a priority.
How to use it: Aim for seven to nine hours of shut-eye to wake up looking refreshed and invigorated. A mattress that offers superior back support will also help make your sleep more comfortable by reducing the tossing and turning that can accompany a bad bed.
Sunscreen and sunglasses
Why they fight the aging process: One of the top ways to slow down the aging process or lessen its effects is to use sunscreen religiously and don sunglasses every time you step outside, even when the sun isn't bright. While the combination of sunscreen and sunglasses won't magically get rid of any wrinkles you already have, it works by preventing future skin damage from occurring.
How to use them: Slather sunscreen on in the morning and reapply periodically throughout the day if you spend a lot of time outdoors. While pale guys will need a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, very dark-skinned men can get away with using SPF 15 or SPF 20 products. Finally, buy your sunglasses from a label you trust so that you know the lenses will effectively block harmful UV rays.
Weights and exercise equipment
Why they fight the aging process: The No. 1 way to stay young and improve your appearance, both in mind and body, is to exercise four to six times a week. Sweat sessions keep your DNA young, which translates into looking younger than your real age.
How to use them: Aim for 30 minutes to 1 hour of heart-pounding workouts almost every day. When you lift weights, avoid doing so on consecutive days to give your muscles time to repair and grow. Also, making a commitment to working out is important for reaping the age-reducing effects of exercise as regular workouts increase the body's antioxidant defense system while sporadic activity actually promotes the generation of aging-free radicals.
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