How this guide was made: researched from the American Academy of Dermatology and published studies on sleep, aloe vera, facial exercise and collagen, plus Anna's own routine. Personal notes describe what Anna does; they aren't controlled tests. This post has no affiliate links.
Welcome to Comfort Mind Body, where we test skincare on real skin and check it against the research, so you can skip the hype.
I’m 34, with oily skin and a prescription for tretinoin, so skincare products are definitely part of my life. Still, some of the things that help my skin most happen outside the bathroom cabinet. Sunscreen goes on every morning, and sleep gets at least 8 to 9 hours. On top of that, my meals lean on collagen-rich and antioxidant-rich foods. Face massage rounds it all out.
In this post, we’ll look at how to reduce wrinkles naturally. First, you’ll see which natural remedies for wrinkles actually hold up and which ones you can skip. Then I’ll share the simple routine that works for me.
Partly. Natural habits can help prevent new wrinkles. They can also make fine lines look softer. But they can’t erase deep wrinkles.
- Daily sunscreen and not smoking have the most evidence for preventing wrinkles. Sunscreen matters most, so reapply it every two hours when you’re outdoors. A daily moisturizer works differently. It hydrates your skin, so fine lines look softer right away.
- Food, exercise, sleep, and gentle skincare help too.
- Most home remedies for wrinkles, like oils, aloe, and DIY masks, moisturize your skin. They don’t remove lines.
For deeper lines, a retinoid or a dermatologist can do more. My guide to the types of wrinkles on the face explains what each kind of line needs.
Natural Remedies For Wrinkles: What The Evidence Says
Here are 9 popular natural habits and remedies, and what the research says about each one.
Read the infographic text
Daily sunscreen: Strong. Best proof for prevention. UV light causes most visible skin aging. Reapply every 2 hours outdoors.
Not smoking: Strong. Smoking speeds up skin aging and wrinkles, especially around the mouth.
Daily moisturizer: Quick softening. Hydrates skin, so fine lines look softer right away. It doesn't prevent new wrinkles.
Fruit and vegetables: Some. The AAD says a healthy diet may help prevent damage that leads to early aging.
Exercise: Some. May boost circulation. The AAD lists it as a way to look more youthful.
Good sleep: Some. In one small study, poor sleepers showed more signs of skin aging.
Collagen supplements: Mixed. Some reviews show benefits, but the best-quality, independent trials don't.
Face massage, gua sha: Little. Feels relaxing and can reduce puffiness for a while. Very little wrinkle research.
Aloe, oils, DIY masks: Little. They moisturize. No good proof they reduce wrinkles. Lemon can irritate skin.
Consistency wins: small habits done every day beat any single remedy. For deeper lines, a retinoid and a dermatologist can do more. Simplified guide, not medical advice. Sources: AAD, Myung and Park (2025), Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (2015).
How To Reduce Wrinkles Naturally: The Habits With The Most Proof
Most of these come from the American Academy of Dermatology’s tips for preventing early skin aging, roughly in order of how much proof is behind them.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day
The sun causes most of the visible aging on our skin. That makes a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ every morning the most powerful natural habit there is.
That’s why sunscreen goes on my face every single day. Sunglasses help too, since they stop you from squinting. Outdoors, reapply it every two hours.
My sunscreen guide helps you find one you’ll actually wear.
Don't Smoke
Smoking speeds up skin aging. It’s linked to wrinkles, especially the vertical lines around the mouth. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Your doctor can help you find a plan.
Moisturize Every Day
A moisturizer traps water in your skin, so fine lines look softer right away. It’s the quickest natural win on this list. My post on hydrating vs .moisturizing explains what your skin needs, and my picks for the best cream for wrinkles cover the creams I use.
Eat Antioxidant-Rich Food
The AAD says a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables may help prevent the damage that leads to early aging.
In my kitchen, that means berries, leafy greens, green tea, and a little dark chocolate. Of course, no single food erases wrinkles. Still, colorful produce is good for your whole body, and your skin comes along.
Sleep 7 Or More Hours
In a small 2015 study, women who slept poorly showed more signs of skin aging. Their skin also recovered more slowly from sun exposure than good sleepers’ skin. It’s only one small study. Either way, sleep is good for you. Personally, I get at least 8 to 9 hours a night.
Move Most Days
The AAD lists exercise as a way to look more youthful. It may boost circulation. A daily walk counts.
Manage Stress
There’s little direct research linking stress to wrinkles. But stress can disturb your sleep and trigger skin flares. Walks, deep breathing or anything that helps you unwind is good for you either way.
Be Gentle With Your Skin
Cleanse gently and wash your face after sweating. Stop using any product that stings or burns.
Scrubbing hard or using harsh DIY recipes can irritate skin. That can make it look older, not younger. My guide to protecting your skin barrier covers the basics.
Checklist: Natural Anti-Aging Habit Checker
Checklist
Natural anti-aging habit checker
Tick the habits you already do most days. Your result shows what to add first, starting with the habits that have the most proof.
Tick the habits you already do to see your result.
A general guide, not medical advice. The habits come from the American Academy of Dermatology's tips for preventing early skin aging.
My Natural Anti-Aging Routine
Here’s what my routine actually looks like. None of it is magic. Instead, it works because it’s consistent, and that’s the whole secret.
- Sunscreen every day.
- At least 8 to 9 hours of sleep.
- Collagen-rich foods: collagen peptides most days. On days with bone broth or one of my gelatin desserts, the peptides get a break.
- Antioxidant-rich foods: berries, leafy greens, green tea and a little dark chocolate.
- Face massage with my hands, a gua sha, a roller and a device.
- Coconut oil for my body.
Keep in mind that prescription tretinoin is part of my routine too. So it’s hard to say how much of my skin comes from these habits alone. Think of them as the base, not the whole routine.
Collagen And Gelatin, My Way
Gelatin desserts, like this strawberry coconut panna cotta, are one of my favorite treats. To me, they seem to help my skin glow. That said, it’s my experience, not a promise. Research on collagen supplements is mixed, and the best-quality, independent trials haven’t shown a clear benefit.
You can read the 2025 meta-analysis of collagen supplements yourself. For peptides you put on your skin, see my guide to skincare products with peptides.
Face Massage
For face massage, I use my hands, a gua sha, a roller, and a device. It feels relaxing, and massage can reduce puffiness for a while. However, there’s very little research on massage for wrinkles.
So it stays in my routine because it feels good, not because it erases lines. My forehead wrinkles guide covers gua sha and at-home devices in more detail.
What Didn't Work For Me
Castor oil. On my oily skin, it was way too heavy. Even worse, it broke me out and felt sticky. More in my post on castor oil for wrinkles.
Home Remedies For Wrinkles: What Holds Up And What Doesn't
Aloe Vera For Wrinkles
Aloe gel is soothing and moisturizing on the skin. In one small study from 2009, 30 women took an aloe gel supplement for 90 days. They had fewer wrinkles and better elasticity.
But that’s a single small study of a supplement. It’s not the same as putting aloe from the plant on your face. Don’t drink aloe products without checking with your doctor. Some contain aloe latex, a strong laxative.
Coconut Oil And Other Oils
Oils moisturize. They can make dry lines look softer for a few hours. But none have good proof that they reduce wrinkles. Coconut oil is my favorite for my body.
On the face, though, it can clog pores, so it stays off mine. For more ways to use it, see why coconut oil is the most universal pantry product.
Facial Exercises
A small 2018 study in JAMA Dermatology followed 16 middle-aged women. They did facial exercises for 20 weeks, 30 minutes a day at first, then every other day. Afterward, their upper and lower cheeks looked fuller, and they looked a little younger. It’s one small study with no control group, and it’s about fullness, not wrinkles. But it’s a free thing to try.
Egg White, Honey And Olive Oil Masks
These are some of the most popular homemade remedies for wrinkles. Egg white dries into a thin film. It makes skin feel tighter for a little while. Honey is soothing and holds in moisture. Olive oil is a rich moisturizer. Any effect on lines is temporary.
Olive oil can feel heavy on oily skin. If you use raw egg, keep it away from your mouth. Wash your hands and face well afterward. For simple recipes, see my guide to easy face masks you can make at home.
DIY Masks With Lemon, Baking Soda Or Sugar
Skip these. Lemon juice can irritate skin and cause reactions in the sun. Baking soda is harsh. Sugar scrubs can be too rough for your face. A gentle cleanser and a moisturizer do more.
Natural Remedies For Wrinkles And Sagging Skin
Sagging comes from collagen and fat loss over time. No home remedy can lift it. Sun protection helps limit further UV damage.
Prescription tretinoin can soften some fine lines caused by sun exposure, but it doesn’t lift sagging skin. A dermatologist can talk you through in-office options.
Natural Remedies By Area
- Forehead lines: my guide to forehead wrinkles covers home remedies and what really helps.
- Smile lines and lines around the mouth: see my guide to wrinkles around the mouth.
- Wrinkles under the eyes: see my guide to wrinkles under the eyes.
- Neck lines: see my guide to neck wrinkles.
When Natural Isn't Enough
Natural habits are the base. But for lines you can already see, a retinoid has far more proof than any home remedy. My bakuchiol vs. retinol guide explains the gentle and prescription options, and my anti-aging skincare routine for your 30s puts it all together.
See a dermatologist for deep wrinkles, sagging, or any spot that changes, bleeds, or won’t heal.
FAQs About Reducing Wrinkles Naturally
Final Thoughts
The most powerful natural anti-aging habits are the boring ones. Think sunscreen every day, no smoking, a moisturizer, good food, movement, and sleep. Everything else is a nice extra if you enjoy it, from gelatin desserts to gua sha.
In the end, what really makes the difference is doing it every day. For me, that means sunscreen every morning, 8 to 9 hours of sleep, and food I actually like eating.
Consistency over miracles,
Anna
P.S. from Sushi: Meow. Here's me as a kitten. I didn't need anti-aging secrets then, and I don't need them now. My routine is simple: sleep 16 hours, eat treats, repeat. Mommy, my natural remedy is in the treat jar.
Safety Notes
Safety Notes
- Patch test any new product or home remedy for 7 to 10 days before using it on your face.
- Skip lemon juice, baking soda and harsh scrubs on your face.
- Don't drink aloe products without checking with your doctor; some contain aloe latex, a strong laxative.
- Ask your doctor before starting supplements if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, have kidney problems or take medication.
- Be gentle with gua sha and rollers, and skip them on broken, irritated or acne-prone areas.
- See a dermatologist for any spot that changes, bleeds or won't heal.
Resources
- American Academy of Dermatology: 11 ways to reduce premature skin aging
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to test skin care products
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to apply sunscreen
- Annals of Internal Medicine (2013): Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging, a randomized trial
- Dermatology Practical and Conceptual (2025): Tretinoin for photodamaged facial skin, a meta-analysis
- Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (2015): Does poor sleep quality affect skin ageing?
- Annals of Dermatology (2009): Dietary aloe vera supplementation improves facial wrinkles and elasticity
- JAMA Dermatology (2018): Association of facial exercise with the appearance of aging
- Myung and Park (2025): Meta-analysis of collagen supplements for skin aging
