Home remedies for wrinkles on the face

So you've tried everything and you still have those pesky fine lines. No worries. Here are some simple recipes you can whip up and try at home to keep wrinkles from getting worse and give your skin a youthful glow:

Egg membrane, the thin transparent layer that separates the egg from its shell, has been proven to be effective in filling up stubborn wrinkles. This happens because of the antioxidant properties of egg membrane, which protects the skin from free radical damage and keeps it young. 

Free radicals are unstable oxygen atoms, which are formed in our body as a by-product of metabolism. With age, the number of these free radicals keeps on increasing and the accumulation of these radicals causes oxidative damage, which is what leads to ageing. Antioxidants neutralise the free radicals and hence slow down the ageing process.

Here is how you can use egg membrane:

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

How to use:

• Crack the eggs carefully in a bowl to expose the thin membrane.
• Gently, peel the membrane off.
• Put the membrane as tiny patches on wrinkled skin.
• Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove and wash with lukewarm water.

If you are feeling lazy and want to separate the membrane on your own, just buy a cream that contains egg membranes and you are good to go.

Aloe vera gel is an excellent emollient - it softens the skin. It helps restore and retain skin moisture, thereby making your skin look plump. Studies have shown that oral supplements of the aloe vera plant can increase elastin, collagen and the moisture content of the skin in people above the age of 40. This is because of the presence of certain compounds called sterols in aloe gel. Aloe also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can delay the signs of ageing.

Here is how you can use aloe vera to tackle your wrinkle problem:

Ingredients:

• Aloe vera gel
• Rose water (gulab jal)

How to use:

• Take a spoon full of aloe vera gel and mix it with a few drops of rose water in a clean bowl.
• Gently massage the mixture on the wrinkle prone area.
• Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with room-temperature water.

Oral supplements of aloe gel are available in the market. However, it is best to consult a doctor before taking any supplements. Rose water is a good astringent and has antioxidant properties, which also help to delay the signs of ageing.

Read more: Aloe vera gel benefits for skin

Coconut oil is one of the best and most easily available remedies for fine line and wrinkles. Studies suggest that coconut oil is a natural antioxidant. So it may reduce the effect of sun damage on your skin and will also help retain moisture in your skin.

Here is how you can use coconut oil:

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil

How to use:

• Take a bit of coconut oil in one hand.
• Now, with the help of your fingers, gently rub the oil over all the wrinkle-prone areas.
• Make sure to move your hands in a circular motion.
• You can either apply the oil during the day immediately after you take a bath or let it sit overnight. (If you apply it during the day, make sure you let the skin absorb it completely before you go out. An oily face can attract dirt and lead to blackheads and other problems.)

Read more: Get rid of blackheads with this simple remedy

Both lemon and honey have various benefits for the skin. While honey is a natural humectant (preserves moisture), lemon is one of the best sources of vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant and is responsible for maintaining the elastin and collagen levels in the skin. Honey also promotes tissue repair and provides nourishment to the skin.

Here is how you can make the mask:

Ingredients:

• A few drops of lemon juice
• A tablespoon of honey

How to use:

• Take the honey in a clean bowl.
• Put the lemon juice in it and mix well to make a homogenous mixture.
• Apply an even layer of this paste all over your face or on the wrinkle-prone areas.
• Let it stay for about 30 minutes.
• Wash with lukewarm water.

If the mixture is too thick, you can add a bit of rose water to get a consistency that is easier to spread on your face. Rose water is an excellent astringent and antioxidant. It helps fight ageing and also helps moisturise and tone your skin.

Vitamin E is probably the best-known remedy for ageing skin around the world. First, it regulates the skin barrier, the outer most layer of skin, which is responsible for retaining the natural oils and moisture in the skin.

Second, it acts as an antioxidant and helps reverse some of the harmful effects of sunlight on the skin (photoageing).

And finally, it reduces inflammation and provides a glow to your skin.

Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of this vitamin - a little bit can have lasting benefits for your skin. So, you can buy an antiageing cream and apply it on your wrinkle-prone skin. Most such cosmetics have around 0.1% of vitamin E in them. Make sure to check the label before use.

Alternatively, you can use vitamin E tablets or foods rich in vitamin E to make an anti-wrinkle pack at home. Here are two recipes you can use:

Recipe 1: Vitamin E, aloe vera gel and honey paste

Ingredients:

• A vitamin E capsule
• A few drops of aloe vera gel
• A teaspoon of honey

How to use:

• Mix the honey and aloe vera gel in a bowl.
• Open the vitamin E capsule and pour all of its contents into the bowl.
• Mix once more to blend the oil with the honey and aloe vera mix.
• Apply a thin layer of this mixture on your skin.
• Let it sit for 20 minutes.
• Wash with lukewarm water.

Recipe 2: Almonds and milk face pack

Ingredients:

• 4 almonds
• About 1 teaspoon of milk

How to use:

• Crush the almonds to a powder-like consistency.
• Mix with just enough milk to form a fine paste.
• Apply the paste to your wrinkle-prone areas and let it dry for about 15-20 minutes.
• Wash with normal water.

Milk also gives that soft and supple glow to your skin, making it look clear and youthful. Make sure you are using pasteurised milk.

While there aren’t enough studies to prove or disprove the benefits of banana for reducing wrinkles, this fruit is packed with vitamins and antioxidants that may counter some of the effects of photoageing and protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV rays.  Also, banana hydrates and nourishes your skin, making it look younger.

Here are two ways in which you can include banana in your anti-ageing routine:

Recipe 1: Mashed banana mask

Ingredients:

• One-fourth banana

How to use it:

• Mash the banana properly in a bowl to make an even paste.
• Apply the paste on the affected areas of your skin or on your whole face.
• Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

Recipe 2: Banana and multani mitti mask

Ingredients:

• A piece of banana
• 1 teaspoon fuller’s earth or multani mitti.

How to use it:

• Puree of a banana in a blender.
• Add the puree to a teaspoon of fuller’s earth. You can also change the amount of fuller’s earth. The idea is to make a thick paste.
• Scrub your face and apply this paste as a mask.
• Let it dry completely.
• Wash with cold water.
• For maximum benefit, try to use this paste once a week. 

Fuller’s earth absorbs all the extra oils from your skin, making it look clean and refreshed.

People with dry skin can add some milk or coconut milk to the second recipe, since it has some healthy fats which promote skin health and keep wrinkles at bay.

You can use a gentle store-bought scrub or a home-made mixture of brown sugar and virgin coconut oil to scrub your face before applying the mask. 

Massage is a hassle-free way to reduce wrinkles. It improves blood circulation and increases the oxygen supply to your skin. You can either massage your face with your fingers or use a massaging device. A 2017 study indicated that massaging your face once a day with handheld massagers starts slowing down wrinkle formation within 10 days.

While massaging may not make your wrinkles disappear miraculously, regularly massaging your face and neck may help to slow down wrinkle formation. Massaging also reduces stress, which is one of the major factors responsible for premature ageing of skin.

Ingredients:

• Oil of your choice: you can use olive oil, coconut oil or grapeseed oil

How to use:

• Wash your face with a mild cleanser and pat it dry.
• Rub the oil between your fingers and gently massage it in your face in small circular motions.
• Don’t put extra pressure as it is unnecessary.
• You can make this a nighttime ritual or do it anytime during the day.

Grapeseed oil has antimicrobial properties which also make it an effective remedy for acne. Plus, the polyphenols in grapeseed are great antioxidants that help to reduce the effects of air pollution on the skin.

Argan oil has proven benefits for skin elasticity, especially after menopause. Post-menopausal women quickly lose both collagen and elastin due to lack of estrogen. Argan oil also acts as a moisturiser and helps maintain the skin barrier, making your skin look soft and supple.

Additionally, this oil contains ample amounts of vitamin E which has anti-ageing properties. To get the maximum benefit from argan oil, you can either consume it or apply it on your skin in the following way:

Ingredients:

• A few drops of argan oil
• A teaspoon of honey

How to use:

• Mix the honey and argan oil to make a paste.
• Apply a thin even layer of this paste on your skin.
• Let it sit for 20 minutes.
• Wash with lukewarm water.
• Alternatively, you can just massage your skin with argan oil.