July 23, 2024

As you stand in front of the mirror, you might find yourself confronting the inevitable signs of aging—fine lines creeping around your eyes, skin losing its youthful glow, and perhaps even a few gray hairs making their debut.

While noticing signs of aging is a universal experience, aging too quickly can be an unwelcome change that can leave you feeling unattractive, undesirable, and even powerless. If you've caught yourself feeling this way, you've likely tried countless products promising miracles, only to be left disappointed and questioning if true, lasting solutions exist for maintaining a youthful appearance.

Aging gracefully can be a challenge (even if you are a relentless, longevity-hacking self-experimenter like me!). This is because your skin, the body's first line of defense against environmental stressors, toxins, and pathogens, gradually loses its protective and regenerative prowess with time. Collagen production slows, cellular turnover decreases, and your skin's microbiome—a complex ecosystem of beneficial bacteria—can become imbalanced. These changes not only affect your appearance but can also impact your body's ability to detoxify and maintain optimal immune function. Moreover, the aging process at a cellular level involves complex mechanisms like mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and telomere shortening (for more information on this topic, you can check out this podcast). These factors contribute to the visible signs of aging and can accelerate the overall aging process throughout your body.

As you've probably already noticed, the cosmetics industry typically focuses on surface-level treatments, failing to address the deeper, scientific roots of aging.

But what if there was a comprehensive approach to skincare and anti-aging that went beyond superficial fixes? A regimen grounded in cutting-edge science, addressing not just the appearance of your skin, but its fundamental health and function?

In this article, you'll get to explore a holistic self-care routine that harnesses the power of ancient wisdom and modern biohacking techniques. From the surprising benefits of oil pulling for oral and systemic health to the transformative potential of red light therapy and carefully curated skincare ingredients, you'll discover how to nourish your skin from the inside out, potentially reversing the clock on aging and enhancing your overall vitality.

5 *Rejuvenating* Self-Care Treatments and Biohacks to Enhance Your Beauty (& Boost Your Longevity!)

1. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is a proven and time-honored method, particularly in Ayurvedic medicine, to remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums (for more information you can check out my podcast with holistic dentist, Dr. Nischwitz). It can be more effective than flossing and is one of the best ways to naturally whiten your teeth, even without toothpaste or charcoal powder.

The procedure is simple: you simply swish about a tablespoon of oil, typically coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, or a blend of cleansing oils, in your mouth for five to twenty minutes (this video demonstrates how to do it!).

Oil pulling works by removing fat-soluble toxins and bacteria from your mouth when you spit out the oil and creating a clean oral environment that contributes to the prevention of gingivitis, bad breath, cavities, tooth decay, and gum infection. The Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine recently published a study that reviewed holistic approaches to oral health. The analysis revealed not only that oil pulling is one of the most effective natural solutions for preventing tooth decay and premature tooth loss but also that the effects of oil pulling reach far beyond oral health. For example, it may help prevent heart disease (just Google “heart disease oral health” to see what I mean), systemic inflammation, acne, and throat dryness, and it can also whiten teeth, strengthen the jaw, and, of course, help with TMJ symptoms.

Here are the exact details for correct oil pulling:

1. Do it first thing in the morning, before you brush your teeth or drink anything. I wake up, walk to the sink, put a tablespoon of oil in my mouth, and then swish for about ten minutes while preparing coffee, stretching, and performing other routine morning activities. I currently use a brand called SimplyO3, which combines organic olive oil with ozonated oil and peppermint oil. Another good brand is The Dirt, which is a blend of coconut oil, sesame oil, and essential oils of peppermint, cardamom, clove, tea tree, turmeric, and rose, along with a hexane-free stevia extract, natural menthol, and rosemary extract. Finally, you can add a few drops of peppermint, oregano, lemon, or other refreshing essential oil to coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil for a good DIY version. 
2. Gently swish 1–2 tablespoons of the oil in your mouth and between your teeth for five to twenty minutes, but be sure that you don’t swallow any of the oil since it does contain toxins and bacteria from your mouth.
3. Spit out the oil in a trash can. Do not spit into the sink or toilet; it can clog the pipes. Then immediately rinse your mouth with water, swishing and spitting several times.

Within one week of oil pulling each morning, you’ll likely notice that you have a cleaner mouth and better morning breath, and it can conveniently replace a morning tooth brushing. I floss once a day, brush once a day, and pull once a day, and my dentist reports very clean teeth and gums when I go in for my quarterly cleaning.

2. Supermodeling Your Skin

To enhance the radiance of my skin, I used to smear extra-virgin olive oil on my face every morning. Olive oil? Yep, and here’s why: Olive oil contains three major antioxidants—vitamin E, polyphenols, and phytosterols (you can discover more about the healing properties of olive oil here). These antioxidants can protect the skin from premature aging. Vitamin E partly accounts for the anti-aging benefits of olive oil because it helps restore skin smoothness and protects against ultraviolet light. Hydroxytyrosol, a rather rare compound found in olive oil, also prevents free-radical damage to the skin, particularly sunlight damage. Olive oil (you can check out more information on my favorite one here) doesn’t clog pores and doesn’t give skin the annoying sheen that coconut oil—another natural moisturizer and skin protectant—does, and the color in a good extra-virgin olive oil can add tone and glow to the skin.

Although I often still use olive oil as a moisturizing and glow agent, particularly when I’m traveling and I’ve forgotten other skincare products (you’d be surprised at how simple it is to hunt down canola oil–free extra-virgin olive oil at any hotel or airport restaurant), I’ve upgraded my skincare protocol.

The long and short of it is this: Your skin is one of the largest organs in your body (the largest is your muscles) and is colonized by a diverse array of microorganisms. This is driven by the ecology of the skin surface, which is highly variable and depends on, among other things, geographic location, the health of the host (you!), and exogenous environmental factors, like whichever skin products you happen to be using. These skin microbiota play a role in educating your immune system by passing information from the environment into your body, allowing you to better thrive in whichever geographical location you happen to be in and helping you build a healthy and robust immune system. Yep—your skin microbiome actually changes as you travel. Fascinating, eh? In research, the human body plus all its microbes, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mites, has even been referred to as a superorganism.

Of course, you won’t get any of the positive, immune-boosting, complexion-enhancing effects of a healthy skin microbiome if you are (1) constantly bathing yourself in antibacterial soaps and cosmetic toxins; or, perhaps less well-known, (2) not feeding your skin compounds that allow your good skin bacteria to flourish.

Unfortunately, olive oil—while rich in skin antioxidants—doesn’t really feed the skin microbiota. There’s also little evidence that olive oil alone can help produce youthful collagen and elastin, remove wrinkles, shrink cellulite, nourish connective tissue, fade scars, kill bad bacteria, or rejuvenate damaged skin. One of the reasons your skin ages and gets wrinkles is that your body’s cellular defense systems deteriorate over time, and the free radicals that are produced as part of normal metabolic processes can overwhelm your skin’s natural antioxidant defenses. Olive oil can help a little bit with this, but it isn’t a panacea.

As I age, I’ve been searching for a better solution. In a podcast interview with Amitay Eshel, founder of Young Goose skincare, I realized that my oil-only regimen was falling far short of what I needed to truly protect and nourish my face. Having always been a guy who’s pretty confused about why there are so many different types of lotions, moisturizers, serums, and sprays available, I asked Amitay all the dumb questions I had about how to use all this stuff, including how often and in what order (here's a video you can watch that includes my step-by-step skincare regimen).

So there are specific steps that I learned and now follow for my daily morning and evening skincare routine—and I no longer have smoke coming out of my ears when I open my bathroom drawer and try to figure out what to do with all the different products. As a result, my skin seems to be “reverse-aging” and growing more supple and less wrinkled—particularly when I combine the following steps with a weekly derma roller and clay mask treatment, along with a red-light mask for the face. Given the thousands of dollars that some of my friends pay for fancy medical spa facial treatments, my at-home protocol seems relatively inexpensive, quick, and pretty darn effective.

Step 1: Cleanser

The first step in a proper skincare routine is cleansing. Cleansers are designed to remove dirt, debris, and makeup. Cleansing in the morning is necessary to remove oil and buildup that may happen overnight. Cleansing at night is equally important, especially to remove makeup, if you wear it. As I do my morning oil pulling, I jump straight into a quick thirty to sixty seconds of cleansing.

Step 2: Toner or Astringent

A toner or astringent—often in the form of a spray—helps rebalance and refine your skin, provides exfoliation, and can help restore hydration. Astringents play an important role in minimizing the appearance of pores and help rebalance the appearance of your complexion. This step should be done prior to applying serum or moisturizer to help the skin retain the moisture that they both provide. So, after cleansing, I simply spray on a toner.

Step 3: Mask or Exfoliator

I only do it once a week, but a face mask is a way to get professional medical spa facial results at home, especially if you do derma-rolling before applying the mask. Masks are applied to the skin’s surface to help the beneficial ingredients soak in for a period of time before being cleansed off. Masks come in different forms, such as creams, clays, sheets, and gels. Creams and gels can help hydrate; clay-based masks can help exfoliate and remove excess oils; and sheet masks can apply a multitude of skin-beneficial ingredients that can help brighten, hydrate, and reduce the appearance of redness. See below for more about the Alitura mask I use once per week—and, yes, as a dedicated biohacker, I don a red-light-producing face mask as soon as I get the clay mask on. 

Exfoliating with a scrub two or three times a week can help remove surface dead skin cells. Dead skin cell buildup can leave skin looking dull and can contribute to oiliness, problem skin, dry skin, and skin aging. With age, the natural exfoliation process slows down and causes skin to look dull and tired. Exfoliation is also good for sun-damaged skin, oily skin, and dry skin. I often use coffee grounds to exfoliate since their grainy texture provides a perfect scrub texture and removes dead skin cells—and this is of course a good, budget-friendly way to repurpose old coffee grounds. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants, which can slow the skin-aging process. Other good DIY scrubs are brown sugar, coconut oil mixed with sugar, lemon juice, and sugar, oatmeal and honey, or green tea and sugar or salt.

Step 4: Serum

Applying a serum is an optional step, but it can make a big difference in skin glow and health. Serums are formulated with a high concentration of key ingredients but are lightweight so they can be layered under creams or lotions. This is why they are supposed to go on before moisturizer, not after. You can think of a serum like a vitamin for your complexion: the more beneficial ingredients you provide to the surface layer of your skin, the better it will appear. Look for ingredients like vitamin C for damage, niacinamide for elasticity, hyaluronic acid for tone, retinol for collagen synthesis, and green tea for oxidation from UV light or pollution. 

Step 5: Moisturizer

Applying a moisturizer helps hydrate the surface layer of the skin to help keep it younger-looking. As you age, your body produces less of its natural moisturizers, and collagen production slows down so that your skin loses elasticity. Newer ingredients in moisturizers like seaweed and peptides help restore moisture and improve skin’s texture. For the longest time, I did only the cleanser and moisturizer, but now that I’ve added the other steps included here, the moisturizer is far more effective.

Step 6: Eye Treatment

The eye area deserves special attention. Why? Because it is so delicate, and one of the first areas to show signs of aging, such as crow’s feet, dark circles, puffiness, fine lines, and wrinkles. There are now creams and serums with hyaluronic acid and peptides that are designed specifically for the eyes, and taking a bit of time for eye TLC can be the icing on the cake for your personal skincare routine, especially if you happen to be sleep-deprived or are traveling and have puffy eyes or bags under your eyes. Once I switched from using a regular serum on my eyes to using an eye-specific serum, I noticed a profound difference in the appearance of the area around my eyes.

Some of my favorite sources for skincare products include:

• Alitura (use code BG20 to save 20%)
• Young Goose (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• Caldera Lab (use code BENGREENFIELD to save 15%)
• Greenfield Botanics (use code BENG10 to save 10%)

3. Once-a-Week Mask

Of all these steps, the mask deserves a bit of special attention since it’s probably the single biggest component of my skincare routine that gives me the same type of results I would pay thousands of dollars for via microneedling and wraps at a medical spa. I use a mask from Alitura that removes dead skin, tightens pores, promotes blood flow, and encourages the growth of new skin cells.

Let's dive into the nine nutrient-dense ingredients in this mask and explore how each one helps rejuvenate your skin:

• Freshwater pearl powder is a natural exfoliant that has the remarkable ability to even skin tone, smooth wrinkles, eradicate sun spots, reduce redness, and mitigate irritation. It is a well-known ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine and is used in tonics to treat skin disorders and beautify the skin because of its high antioxidant, protein, and mineral content. Indeed, research suggests that pearl powder substantially increases total antioxidant capacity, particularly the activity and levels of the antioxidants glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Research also suggests that pearl powder considerably suppresses lipid peroxidation, the oxidative degradation of fats in the body. This means that not only is pearl powder a potent skin treatment, but it can also treat age-related degenerative disorders.
• Grass-fed colostrum is a potent source of a variety of nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes. Colostrum is particularly high in insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1). IGF-1 is widely distributed in the skin and is concentrated in injuries, where it promotes skin regeneration. Research suggests that topically applied IGF-1 stimulates collagen synthesis in skin fibroblasts, the growth of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, and angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels), all of which promote healthy skin elasticity and blood flow.
• American ginseng is known to eliminate impurities in the blood and facilitate skin cell oxygenation. American ginseng also contains numerous phytonutrients and has a high antioxidant content.
• L-ascorbic acid is the form of vitamin C that is absorbed most rapidly through the skin. With consistent use, 10 percent L-ascorbic acid can fade sun spots, acne scars, and skin discoloration and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Topical L-ascorbic acid is also necessary for collagen production and healthy skin tone and acts as an antioxidant to eliminate free radicals in the skin.
• Rhassoul clay is rich in minerals that purify pores, balance oily skin, and exfoliate dead skin cells, making it a potent detoxifying agent. Research has shown that rhassoul clay can also improve skin elasticity.
• Green illite is a stable and efficient medicinal clay that is widely used in natural healthcare.
• Calcium bentonite clay, or green desert clay, contains minerals that help remove toxins and clear up the skin. It also shrinks pores and controls the overproduction of sebum, an oil produced in the sebaceous glands in the skin. Calcium bentonite clay develops a mild electrical charge when saturated with liquid, which makes it particularly helpful in extracting acne-producing toxins and metals and shrinking and tightening inflamed pores.
• Kaolin clay, or illite clay, acts as an antibacterial agent. Research has shown that ion-exchanged kaolin clay can significantly reduce bacterial load, skin inflammation, and wound morphology. Kaolin clay is effective for treating irritated, sensitive skin because of its ability to purify pores, treat acne, and reduce oil production.
• Organic kelp powder is a rich source of vitamin B12, vitamin E, and other nutrients that soothe and heal the skin. The sodium alginate in kelp is a topical cleanser and antioxidant that can promote a healthier complexion by penetrating pores and drawing out impurities.

All these ingredients come blended in a powdered form, and once a week I simply mix them with a few ounces of apple cider vinegar—a perfect liquid blending agent for a mask—and smear the mixture on my face and hair, slap on a red-light mask, and then let it dry for about thirty minutes before rinsing it off with warm water, closing my pores with cold water, and finishing with a toner, serum, and moisturizer sequence.

Since beginning a weekly mask protocol, I’ve been approached by complete strangers who ask me what I do to keep my face glowing and young, and by family members and close friends who have commented on the reverse-aging of my face. In other words, this stuff works, and just like brushing your teeth, it’s far simpler than you’d think once you make it a habit!

According to research, the perceived age of your face is likely a better predictor of your mortality risk than your actual age, cognitive function, or health markers. The obvious way to track this variable is to pay close attention to your “mirror, mirror on the wall” and occasionally, without being too narcissistic, inspect your face for signs of oxidative damage or excessive wrinkling. If you want to use a more advanced and precise measurement, check out NOVOS Labs' facial age test. This tool has been trained on twelve million images and validated by human dermatological experts to give you an approximate measurement of the biological age of your face. 

If you're interested in more skincare hacks, you can also check out these resources:

• How To Defy Aging: Little-Known, Potent Nutrients, Biohacks & Skin Care Tactics For Youthful, Vibrant Skin.
• Insider Beauty Secrets For Men, Can You Eat Your Skin Care Products, How & Why To Smear Grass-Fed Colostrum On Your Face & Much More With Andy Hnilo Of Alitura.
• Clay Mask and Derma Roller Routine [Video]
• Ben Greenfield's Scar Treatment Ft. Alitura Clay Mask & Derma Roller [Video]
• Ben Greenfield's Morning Beauty Routine
• Biohack Your Skin: My Anti-Aging Skincare Routine with Young Goose! [Video]

4. Red-Light Mask

Red-light therapy masks utilize wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin at varying depths, stimulating cellular processes that promote skin health and rejuvenation. When applied to the face, these wavelengths of light are absorbed by cells in the skin, particularly by the mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles within cells. This absorption triggers a cascade of cellular responses that can lead to various skin benefits.

One of the key mechanisms by which red-light therapy masks improve skin health is by promoting collagen production. Collagen is a protein that provides structural support to the skin, helping to maintain its firmness, elasticity, and overall youthfulness. By stimulating collagen synthesis, red-light therapy can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin, resulting in a smoother and more youthful complexion.

Additionally, red-light therapy masks can enhance cellular repair and regeneration processes in the skin. This includes accelerating the healing of wounds, reducing inflammation, and improving skin tone and texture. The increased cellular activity induced by red-light therapy can also help repair damage caused by environmental stressors such as UV radiation and pollution, leading to a healthier and more resilient skin barrier.

Furthermore, red-light therapy has been shown to increase blood flow and circulation in the skin, which can deliver oxygen and nutrients more efficiently to skin cells while aiding in the removal of waste products. Improved circulation can contribute to a brighter complexion, reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and promote skin vitality. Overall, red-light therapy offers a noninvasive and convenient way to improve the health and appearance of facial skin, with potential benefits for individuals seeking to address signs of aging, acne, inflammation, or other skin concerns.

I use the HigherDOSE mask, which has settings for either a ten- or a twenty-minute session. This is far more convenient than trying to smash my face up against a red-light panel: I can walk around, talk on the phone, get work done, etc. while the red-light therapy takes place.

For more information on the benefits of red light therapy, you can check out these resources:

• The Power Of Photobiomodulation: My Daily Red Light Therapy Routine Explained, Red Light Device Tips & Cautions, 3 New Red Light Research Discoveries & Much More.
• What’s The Deal With Fancy Red Light Devices? Your Go-To Guide On How To Use Red Light To Enhance Testosterone, Skin, Recovery, Cognition, Sleep & Beyond!
• Ben Greenfield on Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation) [Video]
• Shining Laser Lights On Your Balls & Beyond: Photobiomodulation 101 – How To Use Near Infrared & Red Light For Collagen, Thyroid, Muscle, Skin & More.

5. Medical Spas

Although I tend to do most of my own face, hair, and beauty treatments at home, my wife often visits a medical spa or cosmetic or dermatology clinic. These places are increasingly popular locations to do even more advanced protocols than you can get at home. One of my friends, Dr. Cameron Chesnut, a three-time podcast guest on the Ben Greenfield Life show (you can check out those episodes here, here, and here), does treatments that can work for everything from reversing gray hair to growing new hair to eliminating wrinkles, tightening skin and facial muscles, and much more at his Clinic 5C in Spokane, Washington.

Medical spas, also referred to as med spas or medispas, aim to provide the best of both worlds by combining a traditional day spa ambiance with medical expertise and procedures that are typically only available at a doctor’s office. The main difference between a medical spa and a day spa is the types of treatments offered. Medical spas offer medical procedures that cannot be performed at an average day spa, and they must be affiliated with, overseen, or run by a medical doctor. While not every procedure is performed by a doctor, they are supervised by a physician, usually a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon. Unlike day spas that focus on relaxation, medical spas prioritize aesthetic results.

Medical spas and cosmetic and dermatology clinics offer a wide range of services, including hair restoration, follicular transfer, stem cells, peptides, exosomes, facelifts, Botox, laser treatments, acne treatments, facial fat transfers, dermal fillers, CoolSculpting, hyaluronic acid injections, stretch mark removal, temple rejuvenation, chin augmentation, and even neuromodulators (injectables) such as Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin, which are invaluable tools that can help smooth away the wrinkles, lines, and creases that make you appear older and more fatigued than you feel.

Summary

The journey to healthier, more youthful skin is not just about vanity—it's an investment in your overall health and longevity. By adopting a comprehensive anti-aging routine that addresses both internal and external factors, you're taking a powerful step toward not just looking younger but feeling more vibrant and energized.

Remember, true beauty isn't about chasing an impossible ideal of perfection. It's about nurturing your body and allowing your natural radiance to shine through. The routines and techniques that you've just explored—from oil pulling to advanced skincare steps, weekly masks, and cutting-edge technologies like red light therapy—offer a holistic approach to self-care that goes far beyond surface-level treatments.

As you incorporate these practices into your daily life, be patient and consistent. Real, lasting changes in skin health don't happen overnight, but with dedication, you'll likely start noticing improvements in your skin's texture, tone, and overall appearance. More importantly, you may find that these routines contribute to better oral health, improved sleep, and a greater sense of well-being.

Ultimately, the goal is not just to look younger, but to age gracefully and healthily, so now that you've discovered these amazing anti-aging hacks to revitalize your beauty and extend your longevity, why not take it a step further?

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If you're ready to uncover a treasure trove of the latest, science-backed strategies for improving every aspect of your mind, body, and spirit, you can click this link to pre-order your copy of Boundless 2.0.

Have questions, feedback, or insights on the anti-aging biohacks listed in this article? Feel free to drop me a line in the comments section below and I'll be sure to respond!