14 Effective and Natural Ways to Reduce Wrinkles

Aging is a natural part of life, but looking older doesn't have to be. Fine lines and wrinkles can be reduced drastically using healthy options that will enhance overall health.

Spending money on skin creams, special moisturizers, and soaps that boast the ability to turn back the clock aren't the way to the fountain of youth.

These 14 options are all inexpensive and easy to use, and they have the added benefit of no chemicals or caustic ingredients that will harm sensitive skin. They can not only lessen the signs of aging, but help with overall health problems to ensure better results in many other parts of life.

Sleep is imperative for overall good health, and it's especially important for wrinkle reduction. Without sleep, you won't grow body tissue that helps regenerate skin.

You may also see an increase in your production of cortisol, and that means an increase in wrinkles since cortisol slows down the growth needed to get rid of wrinkles.

Rapid Home Remedies also says that the position you sleep in matters. Experts agree that sleeping on your back is much better for your skin than sleeping on your side or stomach. Side sleeping can lead to wrinkles on the face and between the breasts.

Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones, and we absorb vitamin D from the sun. However, the same sun that feeds us vitamin D also allows UV rays to harm our skin and increase our wrinkles. Since vitamin D can be found in food and supplements, it's best to lessen sun exposure to keep skin looking young and smooth.

When you're in the sun, wear clothes that keep your skin protected or apply sunscreen. Webmd finds that sunscreen with SPF 45 should work well. Sunglasses are also important since constantly squinting causes those fine wrinkles around the eyes called crow's feet.

Hats are also helpful. Wide brimmed hats allow the face to stay protected from direct sunlight.

Related: 10 Reasons Why You Should Start Using Natural Makeup Today

Smoking is bad for you, period. It's not only bad for your internal organs; it also wreaks havoc on your skin, the largest external organ you have.

The reason smoking is thought to be so bad for skin is because it ruins collagen and elastin. Webmd says without these, skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles faster. So put away the cigarettes and save your lungs and your skin from permanent damage.

It's important to gently wash makeup and dirt off your face before bed. However, it's also important not to wash your skin too much. Washing too often, especially with soaps that contain caustic chemicals, dries skin out and strips it of the oil it needs to stay moist and smooth. Plus, even minus the soap, most water coming from the tap still has the ability to dry out skin.

Coconut oil has been lauded as the ultimate cure all for almost any problem. In fact, it's even great for reducing the signs of wrinkles.

It may seem counterintuitive for those who struggle with acne or oily skin to slather a thick coat of coconut oil on their body. However, coconut oil is a great choice for anyone due to its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that keep acne and other irritants at bay. It's also the ultimate hydration system, leaving skin soft and smooth.

Natural Living Ideas recommends placing a thin layer of coconut oil on the face for wrinkles, or pour a small amount in the bathtub so your entire body can be moisturized. As a bonus, coconut oil also works as a fabulous conditioner, so don't be afraid to use it in the shower on your hair.

Green tea can work to help skin a couple of different ways. First of all, drinking green tea instead of sugary drinks that dull skin will help lessen the look of wrinkles and give skin a radiant, brighter look. The other secret is actually applying green tea to the body.

Green tea contains polyphenols, another form of antioxidants that help skin wrinkle less. To reap the benefits of green tea, brew a cup and then splash it on your face for a reinvigorating pick me up. Wait until it's cool, of course.

The Alternative Daily also says you can just pull out the tea bag, drink the tea, and then rub the bag on your problem wrinkle areas. That's called having your tea and drinking it too!

You may remember those old movies where women ran around with green, goopy masks on their faces. Hopefully what they applied to their faces was avocado because it is the ultimate face mask for wrinkle reduction.

Avocados contain carotenoids which are known to stop free radicals in their tracks. Carotenoids also protect skin from harsh, environmental risks that increase the signs of aging.

Placing avocado directly on the face works, but if you're not a fan of the green, goopy mask, consuming avocados is just as good. Healthiest Foods says that they are full of healthy fat and nutrients.

This video from eHow shows how to make and apply an avocado mask.

We don't store vitamin C in our bodies which means that we have to start over every day to make sure we get enough. A great way to do that is to consume foods that are high in vitamin C, like pineapple.

Since vitamin C is essential for collagen production, we must have it in our bodies to have skin that is pliable enough to avoid wrinkles.

If pineapple is not your thing, here are some other foods that are high in vitamin C according to HealtAliciousNess:

• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Berries
• Oranges
• Tomatoes

You need your skin cells to regenerate for smooth, younger looking skin. Diet is very important in this process, and if you're skimping on the protein, you're probably cheating yourself. Along with vitamin C foods, grab healthy high protein choices like eggs, fish, and steak.

The Daily Mail says flavanols in dark chocolate are what make this sweet treat good for anti-aging. Before you consume the sweet treat, make sure it is the dark kind found in cocoa beans.

If, for some reason, eating chocolate is not your thing, drinking hot cocoa with the right kind of chocolate will accomplish the same task. As is true with anything, moderation is the key. You only need a small amount to reduce wrinkles and have extra UV protection.

Squinting, either due to poor eyesight or exposure to the sun, causes wrinkles. Those crow's feet grow deeper every time our eyes make the repetitive motion of squinting. Plus, squinting involves more than just our eye muscles, so it increases wrinkles all over the face.

If you need them, buy a pair of prescription glasses or contact lenses and wear them when you're instructed to. Prescription sunglasses are also a must have since they will keep squinting at bay.

Castor oil has been known as anti-wrinkle agent for centuries. Livestrong says this quickly absorbed oil works best if used after the face has been gently washed. Applying castor oil on the face and under the eyes will help moisturize areas prone to wrinkles.

Castor oil is also a good option because the price is right. It's cheap and effective without containing harmful elements that might damage sensitive skin.

While Huffington Post says there is no evidence that going overboard with water consumption will help skin look younger, it's a given that drinking enough water a day is important for healthy skin. The body depends on water for many important functions, and a couple of them are to keep skin elastic and firm, helping to avoid the sunken in face look.

Water should also be the go-to choice for hydration. Sugary drinks will actually strip your skin of the much-needed elastin, offering the exact outcome of what you hope to accomplish.

Have you ever wondered why many companies test their makeup on animals before letting humans use them? The answer is because the product might not be safe. All of the ingredients in makeup are not innocuous, yet we put them on our skin daily.

Makeup is not a must, though society may make us feel like it is. However, if you feel like you must wear makeup, Rapid Home Remedies says to choose products that don't contain alcohol to dry out your skin. Also be careful of where you place make up since concealer or base used to cover wrinkles may actually make them look deeper.

Get Rid of Your Wrinkles Naturally

While growing old is a privilege, looking older is not. Using these 14 simple techniques will help your skin look brighter, reduce the signs of acne, and lessen wrinkles. Most of these ingredients can be found in your pantry, and none of them are costly or dangerous.

Don't buy the hype that only expensive creams or spa treatments can make your skin radiant again. These natural methods have been tried and tested for years, and they have not yet come up lacking.

So don't let your skin start showing signs of aging without a fight. Instead, use these safe, simple techniques to keep your youthful glow and flawless appearance.