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Wrinkles are an unfortunate fact of life. As we age, our skin begins to produce less and less collagen and elastin. These are two basic elements of healthy, plump and young looking skin.

Since genetics also plays an important role in the aging process, it may be difficult to prevent face wrinkles, however, there are environmental factors and bad habits that can be controlled to help slow down the process.

Common Factors that Accelerate Aging

Smoking and sunbathing are the worst culprits when it comes to accelerating the aging process. Both habits are known to produce free radicals which eventually destroy healthy tissue.

Smoking is the worst habit you can acquire because its effects aren't exclusive to your facial area, in fact, they can lead to skin wrinkles all over your body. This is due to recurrent facial expressions, smoking can also contribute to the formation of eye wrinkles (also known as crow's feet).

Sunbathing is also responsible for skin wrinkles as well as for age spots and dry, leathery skin. If you want to reduce the harmful effects of the sun, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you need to stay in the sun for prolonged periods of time, wear protective gear like wide brimmed hats and long sleeved tops.

Consuming large amounts of alcohol is also a way of accelerating the aging process. Alcohol dehydrates the body and can actually dry out the tissues in your body and skin. So, it is important that you moderate your alcohol intake and increase your consumption of pure water.

Wrinkle Creams for Your Skin

By getting hold of a good wrinkle cream you can actually help your skin resist the signs of aging. Some people will notice that they are developing wrinkles as early as their twenties. Due to its low level of natural oils, dry skin has a higher tendency to wrinkle than other skin types.

However, if your skin is oily you may not have to worry about wrinkles until after you hit your thirties. Whichever the case, start looking for products that contain one or more of the following ingredients: coenzyme Q-10, hyaluronic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), or copper peptides.

Coenzyme Q-10 is known to help promote skin growth and smooth the skin due to its firming properties. Hyaluronic acid is another ingredient that has been clinically proven to diminish fine lines and wrinkles due to its water holding capacity. In fact, it has the ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.

Alpha-hydroxy acids, on the other hand, help promote exfoliation, increase skin thickness, stimulate skin repair, and increase collagen production. AHAs such as glycolic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, malic acid and citric acid are some of the most commonly found in skin care products. Copper peptides have been proven to help increase the production of collagen and boost the healing process.