Your skin is your largest organ and the one that everyone sees. No one wants to look older than they are, but sun damage and poor health habits can result in unhealthy, mottled, and wrinkled skin.

At Monarque Health & Wellness, we’re your partners in skincare. Our medical team works with you to ensure your skin has a healthy glow, no matter how old you are. To that end, we’ve put together the following five anti-aging skincare tips.

Use sunscreen daily and choose one with a moisturizer

Using sunscreen is one of the best ways to avoid having skin that looks like leather as you grow older. The sun’s UA and UV rays damage your skin. Your body produces extra melanin when you’re in the sun for prolonged periods to help protect it; the melanin is the source of your tan.

But as you grow older, melanin can clump together and produce dark spots on your face, neck, hands, and other exposed areas of your body. In addition, sun damage causes lines and wrinkles, because too much sun causes the collagen and elastin fibers in your skin to break down. These two proteins are the keys to keeping your skin smooth.

Your body produces less collagen and elastin as you age. Aging plus excess sun exposure is a recipe for wrinkles and dark spots. That’s a good reason to apply sunscreen liberally; apply it 30 minutes before you go outside and every two hours or immediately after getting out of the water. Look for the words “water resistant” and “broad-spectrum” on the container.

Another tip about sunscreen: Look for one with a moisturizer, and avoid those containing alcohol, which dries out your skin.

Use a gentle cleanser

Use a mild face wash that doesn’t strip your skin of all of its moisture. As you age, your skin gets thinner and more fragile. At Monarque Health & Wellness, we can recommend cleansers that won’t harm your skin, yet cleanse it thoroughly. Use gentle pressure and a circular motion when you wash your face, and avoid vigorous scrubbing. Get the best deals for anti-aging supplements.

Look for key ingredients in moisturizers

If your skin is drying out from aging and other factors, look for moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid and dimethicone. Other appropriate ingredients that help keep your skin moist include glycerin, propylene glycol, proteins, urea, lanolin, or mineral oil.

You can use a thicker moisturizer at night and a thinner one during the day, as well as in the summer months. Some moisturizers contain antioxidants like green tea or pomegranate. Since antioxidants block free radicals that destroy skin cells, moisturizers with antioxidants may help your skin.

Eat and drink healthily

For your skin to be healthy, you need to eat healthy foods and keep hydrated. We recommend eight glasses of water a day. Another great beverage is green tea, which can actually help prevent sun damage to your skin.

Low-fat dairy such as yogurt and cottage cheese is a good source of vitamin A, important for healthy skin. In addition, fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants that protect your skin cells include dark berries, plums, prunes, artichokes, and black, red, and pinto beans.

Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna, as well as walnuts and flaxseed oil are great for your skin because they help the cell membrane hold in water.

Finally, use cold-pressed, expeller-processed, or extra virgin olive oil instead of vegetable oil in your salad dressing and when you cook; just don’t cook with olive oil on extremely high heat.

Take vitamins and consider a supplement

Even though you eat healthily, as you age, your body doesn’t absorb certain nutrients as well as when you were younger. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for your skin. It helps create healthy skin cells, but your body may not produce it as efficiently as you age. Other important vitamins for your skin are vitamins A, C,  E, and K.

Taking an age-appropriate multivitamin containing significant daily percentages of these and other vitamins and minerals may help your anti-aging efforts. You might also consider a fish oil supplement. Aside from other health benefits, omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil boosts skin hydration and protect against sun damage.