We all want to stay young and beautiful as long as possible so that the signs of aging don't bother us. Especially on the face. Of course, no one can hide from time: this is a natural process to which all living things are subject, without exception.
Age-related skin changes cannot be stopped completely. But it is very possible to slow them down and make the signs of aging less pronounced. And essential oils will help us with this.
Which oil helps with wrinkles best, which essential oils are suitable for facial skin at different ages? How to use them correctly to get the maximum effect? We will talk about all this in our article.
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What types of wrinkles are there?
Wrinkles on the face are the most obvious and unpleasant sign of aging and skin aging. The first wrinkles may appear after 25-30 years. Although at this age they are mainly associated with dehydration and dryness. Let's take a closer look at the mechanisms of skin aging.
Mechanism of wrinkle formation
Under the influence of external factors (ultraviolet radiation, poor nutrition, vitamin deficiency, chronic stress, lack of sleep) and natural processes, our skin loses its elasticity and actively loses moisture. Over time, the body produces less and less hyaluronic acid, which holds water in the skin tissues. As a result, the facial skin becomes drier and more sensitive to negative external factors.
Collagen and elastin fibers (proteins that play the role of the framework) face their supporting function less and less over time. They partially sweeten, become brittle and hard, and partially degrade completely. The remaining fibers are not enough to keep the skin as elastic and smooth as before. It literally breaks down and age-related wrinkles appear.
The main reasons for the formation of wrinkles on the face:
- Physical changes associated with age.Reduced production of elastin and collagen, hyaluronic acid, gradual thinning of the subcutaneous fat layer.
- Gravity.Elastin and collagen fibers also gradually fall under their own weight due to gravity. The oval of the face becomes less clear and "floats".
- UV damage.Exposure to the sun or solarium without protective equipment, leading to dehydration, damage to skin structures, activation of oxidative processes and premature aging.
- Bad Habits.Smoking and lack of walks in the fresh air cause problems in blood circulation and tissue nutrition. When you smoke, the skin 'burns' and comes into contact with combustion products - increasing oxidative stress. Visually, the skin of smokers appears darker and rougher.
- Incorrect or insufficient nutrition.Strict diets that lead to nutrient deficiencies. Sudden weight loss, when the skin does not have time to "shrink" and breaks down.
- Active facial expressions.Characteristic of emotional people, it causes spasms of small muscles. This is how skin folds are corrected.
- Increased or decreased facial muscle tone.When the muscles of the face are constantly relaxed or, on the contrary, tense, for example, during work (the crease between the eyebrows, squinting of the eyes), this leads to a change in the position of the tissues and the appearance of wrinkles even in a youngage.
- Dermatological diseases, allergic reactions.Atopic dermatitis, for example, leads to dehydration and reduced elasticity, depleting the skin's pores.
As you can see, we can influence most of the reasons by changing our habits and lifestyle. Delaying the appearance of wrinkles is much easier than eliminating them. So let's find out what types of wrinkles there are.
Types of wrinkles
Wrinkles are divided into groups according to different criteria: depth of appearance, degree of severity, location or mechanism of formation. The following types of wrinkles are distinguished:
- in the forehead?
- eyebrows;
- "crow's feet";
- "Bunny wrinkles";
- nasolabial and nasolabial;
- purse string;
- "puppets";
- mental aspect;
- "Rings of Venus"
If everything is clear with wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, nasolabial and nasolabial wrinkles, then we will briefly talk about the features of other groups below.
- "Crow's Feet"called wrinkles located around the eyes. These are surface fine folds that appear to diverge in different directions from a point. Because of this feature, which looks like goose feet, they got their name.
- "Rabbit Wrinkles"- small folds that form on the side of the nose. From the back of the nose they diverge at an angle towards the cheek. Such folds are characteristic of people with active facial expressions, who often laugh, wrinkle their nose and squint their eyes. The facial expression then takes on some resemblance to a chewing rabbit.
- "puppets", or frown lines, run in a straight line from the corners of the lips to the chin. The reason for their appearance is the constant overexertion of the mouth muscles (tightened lips). Similar to the sockets on the puppets.
- "Wrinkles with laces"go from the nose to the upper lip. They look like a tight bag or pouch, hence their name. They usually appear in adulthood.
- "Rings of Venus"- folds in the form of horizontal stripes on the neck. They look like deep furrows and appear due to weakness, lack of elasticity of the neck muscles, which no longer support the skin. In addition, you sleep on high, uncomfortable pillows, constantly tilting the head forward - and gradually unattractive folds appear on the neck.
How to fight wrinkles?
Let's move on to the most interesting and important - methods that help against wrinkles on the face and other signs of premature aging. There are already many of them in humanity's arsenal. Everyone can choose a method that suits their taste and budget:
- antiaging procedures in the office of a professional cosmetologist (plasmolifting, botulinum toxin injections, etc. ).
- face lift and plastic surgeon;
- regular use of specialists
anti-aging cosmetics (face creams, masks, serums) at home. - face building classes, facial fitness (anti-wrinkle facial exercise).
- antiaging massage;
- taking specialized complexes of vitamins and minerals.
- use essential oils.
All these methods are effective in combating age-related changes. To make it sustainable, you need to revise your entire lifestyle: eat right, exclude sweets, exercise regularly and walk in the fresh air, give up bad habits, sleep 7-8 hours a day, learn to cope with stress.
Later in the article we will take a closer look at which essential oils are best for preventing and eliminating age-related wrinkles. The potential of this product in combating age-related changes in cosmetology is very great, but not everyone knows about it.
The best essential oils for facial wrinkles
What are the benefits of essential oils for treating age-related changes in facial skin? First, they have a beneficial effect on the limbic system of our brain, which is responsible for emotions. Second, the advantage of essential oils is that they affect the skin at a cellular level. This is due to the fact that the molecules of the active substances in the oils are very small and lipophilic, they easily penetrate the skin structures and have a regulatory effect on the processes.
Table of the best anti-wrinkle carriers and essential oils
| Base/Essential Oil | Basic properties | Age |
|---|---|---|
| Primrose | It protects against the first wrinkles, helps normalize hormonal levels and has an anti-inflammatory effect. | 30+ |
| Borago | Essential for problematic skin and atopic dermatitis (allergic reactions). It reduces irritation, dryness and peeling, restores the skin's barrier function, stopping moisture loss. It slows down age-related changes, has a strong regenerative and anti-inflammatory effect. | 30+ |
| Raisin | Effectively restores, removes peeling and inflammation, suitable for dry skin. It helps fight pigmentation and has a brightening effect. | 30+ |
| Macadamia nuts | Ideal oil for dry, chapped, dehydrated skin. Essential for the care of the face, knees and elbows in autumn and winter, it can be applied to the eyelids. It has a strong restorative and deeply nourishing action, slows down aging and fading. | 30+ |
| Avocado | It protects against UV rays, prevents the first wrinkles, deeply nourishes the tissues, prevents dehydration, accelerates the healing of small wounds. Suitable for oily, combination and dry skin, it normalizes the sebaceous glands. | 30+ |
| Jasmine | Smoothes the skin, removes peeling and dryness. Suitable for problematic, inflammatory and oily skin. | 40+ |
| Himalayan cedar | Strong antioxidant effect and proven anti-allergic effect. It makes the texture of the skin smoother and activates the regeneration processes. | 40+ |
| Lavender | Effectively fights photoaging and helps with sunburn. Soothes irritated skin and speeds up healing. | 40+ |
| Incense | It increases elasticity, eliminates inflammation and is actively used for anti-aging care. Speeds up healing. | 40+ |
| Myrrh | It smoothes fine wrinkles, slows down the degenerative processes and effectively restores cracked skin. | 40+ |
| Jojoba | Excellent as a base of a mixture, it is particularly stable, regulating both excess and lack of sebum. | 50+ |
| Neroli | Increases elasticity and fights tissue relaxation. | 50+ |
| Rose | It helps to saturate with moisture, stimulates renewal, relieves inflammation and swelling, protects against negative external factors. | 50+ |
| Lemon | Brightens, removes age spots, tones, smoothes the skin. | 50+ |
| Sandalwood | It fights well against sagging and dry skin, making wrinkles around the eyes less noticeable. | 50+ |
| Immortal | Increases collagen synthesis, improves the condition of the vascular wall. | 50+ |
The division of oils by age is more than arbitrary. They are selected according to their duties. It can also be used at a young age. Essential oils are not hormones. They normalize skin function without causing addiction and affect various processes. Therefore, these oils can be used at any age.
After 30 years
At this age, the skin copes with its barrier function and retains moisture not so well. The stratum corneum becomes thicker and the layer of living cells decreases. The first wrinkles appear, including "crow's feet" in the sensitive area around the eyes. This is the time when the formation of wrinkles and folds on the skin can be successfully avoided if you choose the right care, eat right and follow a healthy lifestyle.
To prevent the appearance of facial wrinkles, we recommend including the best essential oils for ages 30+ in your personal skincare regimen:
- raisin;
- primrose;
- borage (borage, borage);
- avocado;
- macadamia nuts.
The first 3 oils from this list are especially important. Due to the presence of gamma-linolenic and other fatty acids in these oils, they effectively eliminate moisture loss, fight peeling, relieve inflammation and accelerate tissue repair.
Avocado and macadamia oils are very useful for dry skin care. They deeply nourish it, soften it, make it smooth and elastic, smooth out small wrinkles caused by dehydration and metabolic disorders. Avocado and macadamia oils are considered carrier oils. They can be used either in their pure form, in the form of an oil serum under a cream, or by making your own creams and masks.
If at this age you are already bothered by under-eye circles and puffiness, you can use anti-wrinkle essential oils with lymphatic drainage, vascular strengthening (geranium, fennel, immortelle, etc. ).
After 40 years
At this age, the skin accumulates more and more age-related changes. The number of collagen and elastin fibers decreases by about 1% per year. The skin's ability to retain moisture continues to decline and less and less hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans are produced.
These processes take place in the deep layers of the dermis, so they are much more difficult to treat than wrinkles at a younger age that arise due to insufficient hydration. There are not many substances capable of penetrating tissues far from the surface of the skin.
The list of essential oils for wrinkles over 40 is quite long. The most popular oils are:
- jasmine;
- lavender;
- Himalayan cedar?
- incense;
- myrrh.
Monarda and myrtle facial oils offer a strong lifting effect. Traditionally, the widely used frankincense and myrrh work more to increase elasticity.
After 50 years
The use of phytoestrogens is strongly recommended in the care of mature skin. Because with the onset of menopause, the female body stops producing estrogen independently, which protects the skin from aging. You can try including anise and fennel oils in mixes and homemade creams in short courses. But with caution.
Due to estrogen deficiency, the number of collagen and elastin fibers decreases even faster (by 2% per year instead of 1% in the same period of time at the age of 40+). The skin becomes thinner, the volume and density of the facial bones decrease, which also leads to sagging skin and the appearance of wrinkles.
If you took good care of your face, protected it from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, ate right and led a healthy lifestyle, then by the age of 50 the condition of your skin will be much better than that of those who did not receive quality carecare.
Measures aimed at maintaining normal blood flow to the tissues of the skin, strengthening blood vessels, as well as active hydration, protection from UV rays and the use of oils help support the skin at this age. The most effective shows for people aged 50+:
- immortal;
- neroli;
- roses;
- sandalwood;
- lemon (as an extra, to improve the complexion).
How each of these oils works is detailed in the table above. Oils of earlier age groups are also used, especially resin esters (myrrh, frankincense).
Using essential oils for wrinkles
Now let's talk about how to properly use essential oils to effectively fight age-related changes in appearance and prevent wrinkles. Following these simple recommendations will help you get the maximum benefit from the natural ingredients.
Basic rules
Let's remember that essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. Therefore, you must use them carefully, observing basic rules and precautions.
- Esters can cause skin irritation. Therefore, it is forbidden to use a new oil for facial care without a previous sensitivity test. To do this, dilute 2 drops of ether in a teaspoon of carrier oil. Apply a drop of the mixture to the tip of your elbow and wait at least 24 hours. If after a day there are no signs of irritation at the application site, then you can safely use it.
- Many essential oils have contraindications. Some are prohibited for use by pregnant women, asthma patients and other serious problems. Therefore, please read the instructions carefully before purchasing.
- Do not apply undiluted essential oils to your face. At worst, you may develop an intolerance to the oil over many years.
- Only natural essential oils are suitable for fighting wrinkles. The use of synthetic substitutes can worsen the condition of the skin.
- For the skin around the eyes, esters can be used exclusively together with base oils or as part of other homemade cosmetic products (creams, masks) and only in a reduced proportion (1 drop per 10 ml of base oil). During application, care must be taken that the oil does not penetrate the mucous membrane.
- You need to choose the type of essential oil for wrinkles and a specific recipe, taking into account not only your age, but also your skin type.
- You should not use combinations that include more than 4 types of essential oils. Complex the mixture gradually, using a mixture with one ester for one week, adding another oil the next week, and so on. And not 4 kinds at the same time. Otherwise, it will be difficult to find the culprit in the event of a negative reaction.
- It is better to change the set used every month. This way the result will be brighter and more varied.
Application methods
Essential oils can be used for anti-aging care in a number of ways. You can use a specific type of ether, but the best result can be achieved by combining several. The ester combinations must be done correctly, then the beneficial properties of each oil will be enhanced and not clash.
To combat wrinkles, essential oils can:
Add organic to special cosmetic bases (night creams, lotions, nourishing masks, etc. ). Literally a few drops of ether are enough to significantly improve the care properties and anti-aging effect.
Mix with base oils (macadamia, almond, sesame, rosehip, pomegranate, avocado, wheat germ, grape seed). This is an excellent remedy for preventing and fighting wrinkles. Apply cream over the mixture or alternate care: day mixture, day cream. Store the mixture in a brown glass bottle.
- You can get rid of expression lines by mixing 9 ml of avocado oil, 1 ml of pomegranate seed oil with 1 drop of immortal, 2 drops of rose or sandalwood and 1 drop of lemon (no lemon in summer). Apply at night.
- For deep wrinkles try another recipe with essential oils. You need to mix 8 ml of jojoba oil, 1 ml of green coffee, 1 ml of primrose, add 1 drop of lemongrass, 1 drop of fennel, 1 drop of sage.
- The area around the eyes and the whole face will enjoy an excellent recipe: macadamia nuts 8 ml, wheat germ 1 ml, black currant 1 ml, 1 drop of rose and frankincense. This is one of the simplest and most effective eyelid preparations at home.
conclusion
There is a sufficient variety of essential oils that are useful in fighting wrinkles and slowing skin aging. It is important to choose the right esters and their combinations in order to get the best results from your daily facial care. The essential oils, which we described in detail in the article, are suitable for any age.
But remember: in the fight against aging, it is important not only to organize proper facial care, but also to change your daily habits:
- Healthy food,
- take regular walks in the fresh air.
- quit smoking and alcohol.
- excercise;
- do you drink enough water?
- Sleep enough;
- avoid stress.
We wish you to always stay young, beautiful and choose the ideal combination of essential oils to effectively fight wrinkles.