24 Steps to Look Younger in 24 Hours

Sun Sauce recently sent out a press mailing of 24 tips of counteracting the effects of aging - naturally! It was so helpful that I knew I had to share it with my friends here.

1. Frownies. These little tape devices work miracles without needles and have been around for a hundred years. Wear them at night or for at least four hours and you will see results. Warning: Your husband may think you look like a mummy.

2. Make a mate latté. Yerba mate tea tastes great and comes in many flavors. Heat water almost to boiling, steep for 10 minutes, strain, and then top it off with steamed, frothy milk (or use almond milk and a dash of cinnamon). Do not drink mate if you are taking an MAO inhibitor, as the combination may raise blood pressure.

3. Positive attitude. Various researches have shown that optimism increases good health. Start with positive self-talk: “I can handle this.” Try to avoid criticizing yourself!

4. Care for hands and feet. Exfoliate (use the scrub recipe from chapter 7) and then, before bed, mix avocado oil and primrose oil in equal parts, apply a few drops to hands and feet, cover with gloves and socks, and go to sleep.

5. Detox for a day

6. Dr. Gilbère’s Seaweed Detox Bath. This mineral bath increases blood and lymph flow to circulation-starved areas, breaks down cellulite and moves waste out of your body. You can also use it as a body wrap.

7. Whiten your teeth. Try whitening strips while reading a book before you doze off.

8. Sleep. Get at least eight hours of sleep. Try to go to bed before 10 p.m. Tip: Listen to calming music for 45 minutes before bedtime. (I’ve heard of a study showing that music helped elderly folks sleep longer and feel less tired the next day. This may be because music decreases a key stress hormone in the body.)

9. Sleep with a contour pillow, the affordable alternative to pricey beauty pillows. The Anti-Wrinkle Pillow made by Eyetopia™ stretches the neck and reduces the pressure of face to pillow (which, in turn, reduces wrinkles!). Visit www.cynthiaboxrudmd.com for more info.

10. Look Younger with a sunless tan, use a bronzer or sunless tanning lotion- it will soften the appearance of imperfections while giving you skin an youthful healthy glow

11. Use eye-hydrating goggles. Saturate cotton pads with an herbal calming tonic such as argan or neem oil and place in these specially designed, hydrating goggles. Sleep in them or remove after 30 minutes. Visit www.dreamessentials.com to find out more.

12. De-puff. Cut back on white flour and sugar for 24 hours. Refined carbs cause your body to retain water, making your face “puffy.”

13. Pimple zapper. Blend one packet of brewers yeast and a few drops of lemon juice and apply as a mask before bed. As the mixture hardens, it pushes away debris clogging your pores.

14. Throw on another pillow. Fifteen minutes before rising from bed in the morning, place an extra pillow under your head. This will help de-puff your eyes.

15. Cut down on salt. Salt makes you retain water. Avoid fast foods and switch to Spice Hunters, my favorite spices. My mom is now also a believer in these tasty salt-free spices.3 (Those with high blood pressure should only have 250mg a day; the average person, 3,000mg or less. If you are active and sweat a lot, you may need more.)

16. Pray. Thank God for everything before bed and before you get up. Be grateful!

17. Be joyful. A happy person looks younger because a smile sheds years.

18. Plump away your wrinkles. Drink eight to ten glasses of water with lemon a day. Your skin will be more hydrated and the appearance of wrinkles less pronounced, while lemon helps with digestion.

19. Avoid sugar. It dries out your skin and promotes wrinkles

20. Choose an herbal coffee instead of a regular cup of joe. In a coffee/tea press, make Teeccino Vanilla Nut caffeine-free herbal coffee, then mix with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, half a drop of Pure Inventions vanilla cocoa, and 1/2 tsp Xylitol—or add a little organic half-and-half (it’s a vanilla-cocoa delight!).

21. Get a pedicure and manicure, or DIY. Soft hands and feet and clean nails are beautiful, with polish or without.

22. Use a silk pillowcase. Silk does not crease the way cotton does, and will not leave a mark on your face.

23. Drink rooibos (red tea). This South African tea has collagen-building copper, as well as vitamin C and other antioxidants.

24. Enjoy a Sea Cal Bath by Spa Technologies. Soak for 20 minutes is a blend of micronized coralaceous algae and marine plankton, rich in calcium and magnesium. These powerful minerals restore cellular balance by stimulating metabolism and eliminating excess water. Great for treatment of cellulite, water retention, PMS and bloating.

Do you have any personal anti-aging tips? We’d love to hear them!