Everyone has to contend with wrinkles at some time or another, but there are ways to embrace their appearance with grace. Though factors like age and environment certainly contribute to wrinkle formation, it’s expressions like frowning, smiling, squinting and even the way we sleep that primarily enhance their visibility. Laugh-lines and crow’s feet are an inevitable, and reasonably appealing, facial feature, but there are several convenient and painless ways to maintain a youthful glow without resorting to face-lifts or extreme injectables. From the simplest at home techniques to preventative measures, technological breakthroughs and a few special items in between, these recommended steps will help you wrangle with wrinkles.

Try Facial Massage
Face muscles are used far more than muscles in any other part of the body, which, in turn, contributes to the formation of wrinkles. Facial massage relaxes the facial muscles, minimizes superficial lines and increases much needed circulation to the skin to create a healthier, natural glow. There are virtually dozens of online videos for easy to learn techniques that can be done conveniently at home. Learning how to do facial massage is a practical and affordable way to stay young looking, but it’s incredibly beneficial when incorporated into everyday beauty regimes such as applying skincare or cosmetics.

Avoid Extreme Injectables
Former plastic surgery scrub nurse Kyle Daly O’Hara’s Maintain Youth spa specializes in a more holistic approach to beauty. She believes that there are several less invasive alternatives to plastic surgery and Botox. “Long-term users of Botox tend to have a more frozen ‘puppet like’ expression and an obvious sign of extended use is the ‘bat-wing’ brow,” O’Hara observes of the overused crutch. As an alternative to this face freezing resort, she recommends hylauronic fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane and Rofilan. Another alternative is the fairly new Aguireline, or acetyl hexapeptide-3, a peptide chain of six amino acids, which relaxes facial muscles when applied topically. O’Hara is also a firm believer in regular facials and facial massage as well as dermis thickening treatments like light therapy facials and photo-facials.

Seek Optimal Eye Health
According to Dr. James Hoff, optometrist and owner of the recently opened Hoff Optometry and Eyewear in Venice, CA, it’s essential to take care of your vision. “Repeated facial movements and motions are major contributing factors in the development and forming of wrinkles,” he explains. Other than ensuring prescription lenses are well-maintained and updated, pay attention to everyday habits to be aware of the things that impact your vision. Staring at a computer screen, however, tends to cause squinting and repeated blinking due to the monitor’s bright light and heat. This seemingly minor action is very dehydrating for the eyes and the skin around them. Dr. Hoff also recommends taking 3-5 thousand milligrams of a sustainable fish oil or flax seed oil daily to aid in the superficial production of moisture for the eyes and the skin.

Harness Effective Technology
As seen in previous posts the, Clarisonic Skin System has been one of the most highly rated and effective personal beauty products ever invented. Clarisonic has now introduced the Opal Sonic Infusion System, which focuses on fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. The system utilizes the benefits of sonic infusion technology with an exclusive anti-aging Sea Serum, which is optimized specifically for the dynamics of sonic infusion. This highly effective system promotes optimal skin health, employing a multi-layered approach through the hydrating properties of marine extracts and botanicals that firm, tighten and protect the delicate skin around the eyes. An immediate reduction in fine lines is noticeable upon the first use and results improve with continued usage. As the skin is thoroughly hydrated, it gradually appears brighter, firmer and more radiant.

Stock Up On Good Make-Up
While a good skincare regime is an important part of a daily routine, wrinkle-targeted products are often disappointing or don’t have continually positive results. Peter Thomas Roth’s Un-Wrinkle is a full a line of products—including everything from essential skincare items to cosmetics such as foundation and powder—that focus on minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. Utilizing innovative and exclusive technologies (such as hylauronic filling spheres and light diffusers, neuro-peptides, peptides and powerful vitamin anti-oxidants), the Un-Wrinkle line is by far the most vast product line to specialize in the prevention and minimization of wrinkle appearance. Results are instantly visible and clinical studies have shown up to a 72% reduction in wrinkle size within 28 days.

Target Specific Areas
Frownies has been a beauty secret to many Hollywood celebrities for decades. A wrinkle treatment that targets the physical causes of deep facial lines and wrinkles, Frownies facial pads are applied to specific areas of the face (forehead, between the eyes, etc.). When used regularly, the underlying facial muscles that help to create wrinkles resume a more natural relaxed and youthful appearance. Frownies are by far the easiest, most affordable, natural and effective way to combat wrinkles.

Try Light Therapy
Phototherapy or light therapy facials are skin treatments that utilize specific wavelengths of natural red and infrared light energy to restore healthy activity to the skin. The light stimulates the body to build new capillaries, which in turn improve the lymphatic system and, in turn, lymphatic drainage. This ultimately helps aid in removing toxins from the body, which is an essential aspect of improving the overall appearance of the skin. Proven to promote the production of collagen—a key factor in diminishing lines and wrinkles—as well as increasing blood flow and circulation, the result is instantly more youthful skin. Until recently, such treatments have only been available in medical and day spas, but Quasar Light Therapy, the industry’s leader in light therapy technology, has released the BabyQuasar. Delivering the same results that you would get during a spa treatment, this at-home system offers total convenience and comfort. Smoother, younger looking skin will be visible after only a few treatments, and results improve with continued use.