What Actually Works for Wrinkles?

 

Note: This post is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice. Full disclaimer below.
Heads-up: Some links in this blog may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. Your support helps me keep creating content I love and sharing it with this amazing community. So truly, thank you! 🖤 I’m so glad you’re here.

(And No, It's Not Another $120 Cream…)

Wrinkles aren’t the enemy. But if you’re feeling like your face is folding faster than you'd like — let’s get to the truth.

Because despite what the flashy serums promise, long-term skin smoothing starts beneath the surface — in your fascia, your nervous system, your nutrition, your daily choices, and yep… your hands-on, face-care rituals.

Let’s break down what actually works to reduce the appearance of fine lines, smooth tension, and restore that glowy, lifted vibe:

Facial Massage & Fascia Release = Natural Lift

Wrinkles aren’t just about aging — they’re often a sign that your fascia is tight, dehydrated, or full of adhesions. Fascia is the connective tissue that weaves throughout your face and body, and when it becomes stuck or restricted, it can literally shape the way your skin sits. This is where fine lines and folds tend to settle in. To truly smooth wrinkles and restore that lifted, vibrant look, you have to work with the fascia — gently releasing it to create space, allow lymph to flow, and deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. No cream can reach that deep. If you're not addressing what's under the skin, you're only skimming the surface.

What helps:

Woman using a pink facial cup on her cheek with eyes closed, smiling softly in a warm, cozy setting.

  • Gua Sha

  • Facial Reflexology

  • Cupping

  • Lymphatic massage

  • Jaw release + intraoral massage

  • Myofascial facial techniques

These boost circulation, help collagen production, move stagnant lymph, and release emotional, muscular, and fascial tension that literally etches lines into your face.

✅ Pro Tip: Do these techniques regularly and you’ll see long-term sculpting, softening, and even changes in facial symmetry. Consistency = sustainability.

Mindset & Nervous System Reset

Woman with eyes closed, hand on her chest, smiling peacefully, giving herself love and compassion, in a softly lit room with candles.

Stress = faster aging. Cortisol breaks down collagen, inflames the body, slows repair, and tightens your jaw and neck — which directly affects the way your skin sits on your face.

What helps:

  • Mirror work and affirmations

  • Breathwork

  • Nervous system regulation (vagus nerve work, humming chanting or gargling water, etc.)

  • Slowing down your skincare ritual with intention

Your skin isn’t separate from your internal world. You can literally glow different when your nervous system feels safe. An what’s amazing about most of hands on face-care techniques, is they help to calm the nervous system… so it’s a win, win!

Products That Support Your Skin Barrier

Here’s the tea: Many anti-aging products are harsh, overactive, or full of fillers your skin doesn’t want or need. When your barrier is compromised, your skin gets dry, flaky, dehydrated, and sometimes red, and older-looking.

Instead, look for:

  • Nutrient-dense facial oils (like rosehip, marula, seabuckthorn)

  • Hydrosols (instead of toners packed with alcohol)

  • Minimalist serums with whole-plant actives

  • NO harsh exfoliants or aggressive peels (save your skin barrier, friend)

✅ Try blending oil + hydrosol in your palm = instant glow potion without preservatives or emulsifiers.

Flat lay of herbal supplements, powders, capsules, tincture bottles, and a mug of warm tonic arranged on a wooden board with dried herbs and a ceramic bowl.

Internal Support: Supplements That Work From Within

Because your skin is made from what you eat and absorb — and no topical will replace what your cells are lacking. Think about it… skin cells are produced WAAAY before they hit the surface.

Top wrinkle-fighting supplements to consider:

  • Collagen (hydrolyzed, clean-source) – helps support elasticity and firmness

  • Hyaluronic Acid – for deep hydration (internal & topical combo is best)

  • Vitamin C – crucial for your body to make collagen

  • Silica – strengthens connective tissue (bamboo extract is a great source)

  • Zinc + B Vitamins – support repair and hormone balance

  • Adaptogens (like ashwagandha, rhodiola) – help reduce cortisol, which slows aging

Pairing high-quality internal supplements with daily movement + touch = your best anti-wrinkle insurance policy.

I only recommend what I personally trust and use — no junky fillers or questionable blends. That’s why I’ve set up a Fullscript dispensary, where you can find every skin-supportive supplement mentioned above.

👉 Browse my trusted collection here.

Because radiant skin starts with what you feed your body — and quality always matters.

So, What’s In It for You?

Let’s talk results. Here’s what actually happens when you work with your skin and body:

✨ Smoother, plumper, healthier-looking skin
✨ Lifted features (yep, without injections)
✨ A relaxed face that reflects a regulated nervous system
✨ Confidence that comes from knowing you’re doing the right things
✨ A simple routine you’ll look forward to, not dread

Want to Learn the “How”?

That’s exactly what I cover in Skin Fit Academy — a membership where you learn real tools that actually create change in your skin:

💆‍♀️ Face Massage
💖 Gua Sha
🌀 Reflexology
🌿 Holistic Skincare
 🧴 Pro-aging Product Guidance
🧠 Nervous System + Mindset Tools

I teach you to lift, sculpt, de-puff, glow, and relax into your face — all inside an easy-to-navigate portal.

👉 It’s almost glow time… Drop WAITLIST in the comments and you’ll be first in line when Founding Member pricing goes live!

Can’t wait to dive in? I got you. 💻 Check out the on-demand courses that are already ready to transform your skin — no waiting required.

📚 References & Recommended Reading

This isn’t just glow-up gossip — it’s backed by science and experience.
Here’s where the research supports what we teach in Skin Fit Academy (and why those serums alone aren’t cutting it).

💆‍♀️ Facial Massage, Fascia & Lymphatic Flow

  • Cleveland Clinic – Manual Lymphatic Drainage: Benefits & Techniques
    https://health.clevelandclinic.org/manual-lymphatic-drainage

  • Cosmopolitan (2025) – I Tried a Lymphatic Drainage Facial—Here’s What Actually Happened
    https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a64060200/lymphatic-drainage-facial-review

  • ScienceDirect (2024) – Manual lymphatic drainage facilitates measurable upper-body fluid clearance
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859224001530

  • Dr. Carla Stecco, The Fasciae: Anatomy, Dysfunction and Treatment – Foundational textbook on fascia structure and its role in appearance, posture, and skin tension

  • Wikipedia – Gua Sha overview and traditional applications
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gua_sha

🧠 Stress, Cortisol & Skin Aging

💊 Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, and Internal Support

🧴 Skin Barrier, Minimal Skincare & Product Safety

🌿 Nervous System Regulation (Without Cold Plunges)

  • National Library of Medicine – The Vagus Nerve as a Pathway to Relaxation and Repair
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8080884/

  • The Fascia Guide (Robert Schleip) – Nervous system + fascia connection
    https://www.fasciaresearch.de/

  • Simple Vagus Nerve Stimulators:

    • Humming, gargling, mirror affirmations, facial touch, and Gua Sha are low-effort ways to calm the nervous system and lower cortisol naturally.

The content provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or skincare concern.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. Use of the information provided is at your own risk.

Skin Fit and Nourished Holistic make no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We disclaim all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 
Angie Uhlenatural anti-aging, facial massage, gua sha for wrinkles, fascia release, lymphatic drainage, collagen benefits, holistic skincare, nervous system and skin, wrinkle prevention, face yoga, facial cupping, skin barrier support, stress and aging, pro-aging skincare, skincare that worksComment