So far in this series, we have covered how and why our skin ages, powerful natural anti-aging ingredients to look out for and anti-aging advice based on your skin type and age. 

The thing is, though, all the anti-aging skincare advice in the world isn’t valuable if you already have skin issues you are uncomfortable with, and while VM embraces and celebrates aging beautifully, we absolutely understand that sometimes you will have pre-existing wrinkles and premature skin damage that you don’t love.

The good news is that you can definitely soften the wrinkles you already have and improve the bounce and elasticity of your skin. And the best part is that you can do it without injections or harsh skin treatments!

Here are our top five natural improvement strategies for wrinkles. We’ve kept it very simple so that you can start immediately and see results quickly.

1. Drink more water

It sounds so simple, but we just don’t seem to do it. Even one extra glass of water a day (we recommend it as soon as you wake up, perhaps with a twist of lemon) is a great start.

Your skin is made up of cells and cells are mostly made up of water. So, if they are dehydrated, your skin becomes tighter, dryer, less resilient and prone to wrinkling. Water is the first line of defence in getting your wrinkles to soften up. So drink up.

Tip: invest in a glass water bottle to keep with you at all times. Initially, it might be annoying to carry around. Aaand you may well lose a few while you get in the habit (sorry to all the poor, abandoned water bottles out there!), but once you’re in the swing of regularly drinking water, you’ll start to feel its absence more than its presence- promise!

2. Use a Facial oil

If you aren’t using one already, add an oil to your skincare routine. Oils are lipophilic, which means they can deeply penetrate our skin, trapping water and their own emollient goodness within while also creating a breathable protective layer that protects against the elements.

Facial oils work to strengthen our own natural skin barrier and can soften and even shrink large pores. Our Nature's Elixir Oil (affectionately known by everyone who uses it as NEO), is rich in Argan, Seabuckthorn and Pumpkin Seed oils, some of the most antioxidant and vitamin rich oils you can find on the planet. We call it a 12 hour miracle oil, because the overnight “glow” you get is pretty miraculous, but within a month of consistent use, you will see the incredible difference a facial oil can make to your skin.

Tip: After you cleanse, mix a few drops of facial oil with a couple of drops of water or sprays facial mist. Press directly onto your face, concentrating in particular on any areas that are dry, wrinkling or crêpey. The water acts like a vehicle, driving the oil even deeper into your skin. We love using Rose Hydrosol for this, as it adds antibacterial and skin toning benefits on top of the nutrients from the oil.

3. Facial massage

You’ve just put oil on your face, the obvious next step is a massage. Stimulating the skin and muscles of the face brings blood flow, which brings oxygen, which is anti-aging skincare from within.

More blood also means more collagen production and in case you’ve forgotten exactly what collagen does – it is the protein that ensures the cohesion, elasticity and regeneration of the skin. Collagen is the glue that holds us together and as we age, it is not produced as effectively, so anything that gets collagen production going is going to be great for maintaining youthful skin.

Massaging your face once a day will stimulate the lymph drainage as well, making you look and feel less puffy and more invigorated. Read more about the benefits of facial massage here.

Tip: Massage your facial oil into your skin in gentle upwards and outwards motions to stimulate blood flow, collagen production and lymph drainage.

4. Use a powerful serum

What your skin needs most when it comes to wrinkles is some powerful natural ingredients that provoke change from within. We’ve talked about active ingredients before; these are substances that are biologically active and which change the chemistry of your skin.

Sensitive skin types should go for our Collagen Boosting Gel, as this Hyaluronic Acid serum is gentle enough for all skin types. Gotu Kola partners with Australian native extracts to increase elasticity and leave your skin glassy and smooth.

If you have strong skin and know you can handle a little heat, use our Super C + Bearberry Illuminating Face Serum to actively brighten, renew youthful radiance and banish dull skin.

Tip: A powerful active serum is perfect for use just before bed, over your oil, after your massage and just before a long restful sleep.

5. Do a Weekly Face Mask

Whether detoxifying, deep cleaning, hydration boosting or otherwise, face masks are a phenomenal way to give your skin an intensive weekly treatment of some kind. Regularly taking this specialised care of your skin will do wonders for slowing down the aging process and retaining a youthful glow.

You know your skin better than anyone, so find one that serves your skin's needs. As always, though, we recommend sourcing the purest, most natural and organic ingredients possible to ensure your skin isn't being fed with nasties that do more harm than good. (Learn about some of those here!)

We particularly recommend our Gold & Lime Caviar Coconut Membrane Sheet Mask as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sheet mask fibres. This bio-cellulose coconut membrane mask is suited for all skin types and boasts an unsurpassed ability to retain moisture. The fibres of the coconut membrane fit to the contours of your face like a second skin, offering you superior hydration, adhesion and ingredient penetration.

It's a spa-quality treatment at home to deeply re-hydrate, prevent premature aging and restore radiance to dry, dull complexions.

Tip: Before applying the mask, exfoliate using our Prebiotic + C, then spritz your face generously with Group 11 Active Mist. This will prime the skin perfectly to receive the intense hydration and collagen boost from the mask. 

 Feature image: Cerquiera