How to supercharge your skin’s natural anti-aging ‘serum’

Maybe you’ve considered getting injections of Botox to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles…

Or invested a chunk of your paycheck in those pricey moisturizers and serums to try to turn back the clock and get a more youthful appearance.

But, you don’t have to keep paying a fortune for chemical-laden cosmetics or take the risk that comes with those paralytic drugs, like eye drooping, headaches and a crooked smile.

After all, who wants to do something to try to look younger and end up worse off?

The good news is that there is an acid that’s completely natural to your body that’s been shown to significantly reduce wrinkles, plump your skin, improve surface roughness and naturally reduce the signs of aging…

You may have heard of it because those fancy spas and dermatologists inject it into their clients’ faces for a pretty penny. And according to the Archives of Dermatology, it’s proven clinically effective.

It’s called hyaluronic acid.

Related: 4 tips to boost collagen for beautiful, healthy skin

It works because it’s an acid that’s produced naturally by your body in your skin, eyes and joints that comes with some major benefits. Of course, with age, we produce less and less of it. In fact, adults have only about 1/20th the amount that a baby does.

But according to a scientific study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, there is an easy and inexpensive, yet extremely effective, way to kick your production into gear and supercharge its effects. You’ll even get the added bonus of pain-free joints at the same time!

Sound too good to be true?

Read on and you’ll be a believer…

But first, let’s take a look at what hyaluronic acid does and why it’s so good for your skin…

#1 — Hydration and Lubrication

Hyaluronic acid is your body’s natural lubrication. It’s capable of holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water.

But as you get older, your body has a hard time making enough of it.

That’s why your skin looks drier, your joints feel stiffer and you may suffer from dry eyes.

Using hyaluronic acid on your face helps your skin preserve moisture so it looks younger and dewier.

#2 — Skin Tightening

One of the functions of hyaluronic acid is to help your body retain collagen.

Collagen keeps your skin firm and prevents sagging.

So, when you don’t have enough hyaluronic acid to support your collagen, your skin gets loose and you can end up with those saggy cheeks and droopy eyelids.

Adding hyaluronic acid to your beauty routine can help tighten and lift your skin.

#3 — Wrinkle Reducing

One of the main causes of visible signs of aging is sun exposure. The UV rays of the sun dry out the skin, leading to fine lines and wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid’s hydrating effect helps to eliminate these lines and wrinkles by adding moisture back to your skin.

In fact, studies have shown that using a serum of the acid can reduce wrinkles in as little as 30 days.

#4 — Plumps Cheeks and Lips

Hyaluronic acid also helps improve the volume of your cheeks and lips. This increased plumping makes you appear younger than your years.

Now amp it up

Okay, now that you know why hyaluronic acid is so important if you want to maintain a youthful, more wrinkle-free appearance, it’s time to ramp it up for even better results.

The secret ingredient to help you do that is one you would never expect…

Glucosamine.

That’s right… that supplement that you’ve heard about that helps your joints move more freely and can help with osteoarthritis can also beautify your skin.

That’s because glucosamine is actually the building blocks for compounds known as glycosaminoglycans — the most important of which is hyaluronic acid.

Yes, you heard that right.

In order for your body to make the hyaluronic acid that hydrates and tightens your skin, keeps those dreaded wrinkles away and makes your lips and cheeks appear younger and fuller, you need glucosamine.

And, it’s been shown to be effective in everything from accelerating wound healing and improving skin hydration to decreasing wrinkles and even improving the pigmentation of your skin so that it looks smoother and more even.

Even better, glucosamine is also anti-inflammatory. And as studies have shown, anti-inflammatory could just be another word for anti-aging.

What to look for

Clearly, combining the power of topical hyaluronic acid with glucosamine might just be your own personal fountain of youth. But, where do you find them and what should you look for?

Fortunately, hyaluronic acid serums are now easy to find. You can look for them at your local beauty store or order online.

Related: Stop eating this skin-sagging food

The most effective serums should be at least 0.1 percent hyaluronic acid. And, for best results and the most youthful-looking skin you’ll want to use the serum twice a day.

After washing your face, use a hydrating toner, like lavender or rose water, and let dry. Then apply the serum to your face and neck. Let the serum absorb, then top with the moisturizer and sunscreen of your choice.

And, that glucosamine that puts the power of hyaluronic acid on steroids?

You need to take 1,500 mg per day in order to get the benefits. You can either take it all at once or break it into three doses of 500 mg each.

Aging doesn’t have to mean dry, wrinkled, sagging skin. Amp up the power of hyaluronic acid with glucosamine to replace your skin’s needed moisture, repair sun damage, and look younger in no time.

Sources:

1. Anti-aging and filling efficacy of six types hyaluronic acid based dermo-cosmetic treatment: double blind, randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety — Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
2. Glucosamine: an ingredient with skin and other benefits — Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
3. Anti-Inflammation for Anti-Aging — WorldHealth.net
4. Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment — Journal of Drugs in Dermatology