Are you frustrated with those lines on the forehead? They are often the first lines to appear in the face and often the first sign that you are no longer as young as you used to be.

Now, I’m not sure you will be able to remove all evidence that you had lines on the forehead, but you can definitely make them fade naturally so that they will no longer be noticeable.

First, a little about how and why these lines on the forehead form: As we get older, our skin produces less collagen and elastin which are important substances in the second layer of our skin, the dermis.

Collagen is important because it gives our skin form and strength. Elastin is important because it gives skin its elasticity, and is why it snaps back in place when pulled or pinched.

In addition, our skin thins and dries out due to to the decline of various fluids such as hyaluronic acid, sebum (natural oil) and the decline of keratin, the scaly cells that make up your outer skin, the epidermis.

All these things happen gradually, beginning in the mid 30’s and accelerating into the 40’s and beyond. The reason wrinkles often form lines on the forehead first, is that as your skin dries out, loses elasticity, and thins, it starts to stick to the underlying muscles, which in your forehead, are very close to the surface.

When these muscles contract, it pulls the skin with it and creases it. When you are young, this produces dynamic lines that immediately disappear when the muscles relax. But over time, these lines become permanent, static lines.

So now you know how the lines on the forehead form, how do you make them fade?

Well, the first thing you want to do is to reduce the causes of the collagen and elastin declines, and the second is to stimulate your own skin to produce more of these substances naturally. Here’s a few things you can look for that can do just that:

Vitamin E: One of the leading causes of the decline of important substances in the skin is oxidation. Free radicals damage all kinds of cells, and are introduced in our systems by our diet, exposure to the sun, smoking, and other environmental pollutants.

Eating healthier, drinking plenty of water, and reducing exposure to the sun and pollutants can reduce free radical damage. Furthermore, topically applied vitamin E is shown to be a powerful local antioxidant, and has been shown in many scientific studies to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

If you decide to find a skincare cream with vitamin E, be wary of any that have synthetic vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate), or natural vitamin E in tiny concentrations. Instead, look for natural vitamin E (called “alpha-tocopherol” without the “acetate”) in concentrations of at least 0.5%.

Coenzyme Q10: Don’t let the name fool you; this is the scientific name for a vitamin-like substance that is present in every cell in our bodies. It declines as we get older, but scientific studies confirm that when applied to the skin, it can have a dramatic anti-wrinkle effect by stimulating collagen and elastin production.

As in the case of vitamin E, not all forms of Coenzyme Q10 (a.k.a. CoQ10) are created equal. Look for a form called Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10, the best and most bio-active form available. Most other forms simply sit on the surface of your skin and waste your money.

I cannot stress enough that it is not just the ingredients you want to look for when choosing a cream to reduce lines on the forehead; you want to make sure those ingredients are natural, bio-available, and in sufficient concentrations to make a difference.

For example, just the two skincare ingredient types I mentioned will have a synergistic effect to reduce lines on the forehead by remedying the underlying cause. It will take some time, but quality of ingredients and consistent application is the key.

Believe me, once you find a good, natural skincare cream with the ingredients and qualities I mentioned, you will be well on the way to making those lines on the forehead fade away, and with them, your first signs of aging.