Try This Meditation Trick For Preventing Fine Lines—It Only Takes 16 Seconds

In a world where Donald Trump is president and digital dependency is the real deal, finding time to unplug and zen out is almost a necessity. But did you know that during the time you’re om-ing away the stresses of the day, you could actually be counteracting future wrinkles? According to Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder and CEO of Unplug Meditation Studio, making time for yourself to meditate—16 seconds, to be exact—will not only ground you, but will also help relax the muscles in your face that can inevitably lead to fine lines.

“A lot of people carry tension in their face, and that is the number one thing [that can lead to wrinkles],” Yalof Schwartz told Allure at a recent Aerie event to celebrate the launch of her new book, Unplug: A Simple Guide to Meditation for Busy Skeptics and Modern Soul Seekers. “The key is to relax your face—relaxing your forehead, relaxing your eyes, relaxing your mouth, relaxing your body.”

By doing so, you’ll ultimately let go of stress in your mind and body. Yalof Schwartz’s tried-and-trusted meditation technique, which she picked up from spiritual guru Davidji, takes just 16 seconds (who doesn’t have 16 seconds to spare?), and should be done in every doorway you walk into, she says. “When you exit your apartment, pause at your doorway. When you go into the office, stop,” Yalof Schwartz advises. “Breathe in deep through your nose for four seconds, hold for four, exhale through the nose for four, and hold for four.” And, that’s it.

“When you slow down your breathing, you send a signal to your brain that everything is OK,” she says. “Because when it’s not, your breath is short. People don’t realize that’s all it takes.” But if you’re not totally sold on Yalof Schwartz’s meditation trick for preventing fine lines (and that’s totally OK), we recommend applying an anti-aging serum (like the Prevage Anti-Aging + Intensive Repair Daily Serum) twice a day to help fight wrinkles early on.

Now that you know the meditation trick for preventing fine lines, find out the best skin-care routine to try in your 20s.