Aging is part of life, and as we get older, our skin loses elasticity, and our collagen breaks down, leading to skin sagging and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. We can’t wind back the clock, but we can stop it from ticking too fast by having a good anti-aging skincare routine, eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding toxic behaviors like drinking and smoking. What you may not realize is our seemingly innocent daily habits can accelerate skin aging and make us look older and less attractive than we are. Here are some common yet surprising offenders.
1. Drinking Through a Straw
Sure, sipping through a straw helps prevent stains on your teeth, but puckering up your lips around the straw repeatedly creates fine lines around your mouth. This motion is often referred to as “smoker’s lines.” Try to avoid using straws where possible or use them sparingly to minimize the risk of developing these unwanted wrinkles. And be careful of the lipstick you wear, as heavy matte formulations settle into and show up fine lines fast.
2. Cleansing With Hot Water
We get it; a hot shower after a long day can be incredibly soothing, but using hot water to wash your face can actually harm your skin. It strips away your skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness and accelerating the aging process. That tight, dry sensation you feel afterward? That’s not a good thing, it’s your skin’s way of pleading for moisture. Try to stick to lukewarm water if you want to keep your skin looking youthful for longer.
3. Applying Heavy Foundation
A foundation that’s too thick or matte can settle into fine lines and wrinkles, making your skin look much older than it is. Depending on the foundation you’re using, it can also highlight dry patches and uneven texture. Opt for a lightweight, hydrating, water-based foundation that gives a natural finish and enhances your skin’s radiance.
4. Skipping Sunscreen on Cloudy Days
Yes, the sun can still damage your skin, even when it’s cloudy. UV rays can still penetrate through the clouds. In fact, up to 80% of UV radiation can reach your skin even when it’s overcast, contributing to premature aging. Constant exposure is the number one cause of wrinkles, age spots, and skin sagging. You should be slathering on sunscreen every single time you leave the house if you want to protect your skin and avoid wrinkles.
5. Sleeping All Wrong
Cotton pillowcases are undeniably cozy, but over time, this fabric can also tug at your skin as you toss and turn during the night, potentially leading to sleep lines that may become permanent wrinkles over time. Ditch the cotton pillowcases for silk or satin one. Remember, beauty sleep is real—skimping on it can lead to dark circles, puffy eyes, and a lackluster complexion. Not only do these pillowcase protect your skin, they’re also great for your hair, too.
6. Over or Under Exfoliating
Exfoliating is key to achieving radiant skin, but you need to find the right balance. Overdoing this skincare regime can damage your skin’s natural barrier, making it susceptible to environmental damage and accelerating signs of aging. Stick to exfoliating 2-3 times a week, and make sure you’re using gentle exfoliants to avoid irritating your skin.
7. Not Wearing Sunglasses
Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement; they can protect your skin from UV damage and wrinkles. Squinting in bright light can accelerate the formation of crow’s feet and fine lines around your eyes, and let’s be honest—no one wants to add extra wrinkles to their face. Investing in a high-quality pair of sunglasses with UV protection is essential. Make sure to always wear them when you’re outdoors to keep your skin looking youthful and radiant.
8. Neglecting Body Care
You may have a top-notch skincare routine for your face, but what about your neck and hands? These often-overlooked areas are just as exposed to the sun and environmental factors, making them susceptible to premature aging. The skin on your hands and neck is thinner and more delicate, so it’s more susceptible to signs of aging. To avoid a sharp contrast between a more youthful face and body, extend the skincare regime to include your neck and hands, and apply sunscreen to these delicate areas to protect them from sun damage and keep them looking youthful.
9. Drinking Too Much Coffee
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t love their morning coffee, but overindulging in caffeine can dehydrate your skin, leaving it looking dull and more susceptible to wrinkles. Over time, dehydration reduces the skin’s elasticity, which makes wrinkles and fine lines more noticeable. Make sure to balance your coffee consumption with ample water to keep your skin hydrated and radiant.
10. Not Removing Makeup Before Bed
We’ve all been there, you get in from a big night at 3a.m. and the last thing you want to do is wash your makeup off. But sleeping with makeup on is more than just a skincare faux pas—it’s a surefire way to invite clogged pores, breakouts, and accelerated aging. Your skin needs to breathe and repair while you sleep, and makeup blocks this crucial process. >Make removing your makeup and properly cleansing your face before bed a non-negotiable. Your skin will thank you.
11. Product Overuse
Don’t believe the myth that layering on every skincare product under the sun will get results quicker. Excessively using skincare products can disrupt the skin’s natural barrier, leading to increased dryness, sensitivity, and clogged pores. This damage impairs the skin’s ability to retain moisture and repair itself, causing inflammation and a breakdown of collagen and elastin, which can lead to wrinkles and fine lines. Make sure to add antioxidant-rich products such as vitamin C or green tea extract to your daily skincare regime for a powerful boost in fighting signs of aging.
12. Yo-Yo Dieting
Frequent weight fluctuations can start to cause your skin to lose its elasticity over time, resulting in sagging and premature wrinkles. Just like your body, your skin thrives on stability. Repeated changes in your weight stretch the skin, making it increasingly difficult for your skin to maintain its firmness and resilience. Sometimes this is out of our control thanks to certain conditions, however, if you’re yo-yo dieting, you could be speeding up the aging process.
13. Using Expired Skincare
Sometimes, you drop hundreds on certain skincare products, so if you don’t use them by their expiry date, throwing them away hurt your heart and your wallet. However, using expired skincare or makeup products can actually introduce harmful bacteria and ineffective ingredients to your skin, leading to irritation that could speed up the aging process.
14. Skipping Lip Balm with SPF
Your lips are as vulnerable to sun damage as the rest of your face, but they often get overlooked. Constant UV exposure makes your lips dry, red and can also cause them to develop fine lines after a while. Sun exposure can also cause a loss of fullness to the lips which can also make you look older. Make sure to apply lip balm with SPF every day to shield your lips from harmful UV rays and keep them looking youthful and healthy.
15. Too Much Sugar in Your Diet
There’s nothing more satisfying than chowing down a candy bar, but sugar plays a significant role in premature aging. When sugar molecules attach to proteins in your skin, they cause these proteins to stiffen and lose their elasticity—a process known as glycation. Glycation attacks the collagen and elastin in our skin, which are essential proteins that keep the skin looking firm and youthful. If you want to maintain your youthful look for longer, cut back on sugar and focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These nutrient-dense foods help preserve your skin’s elasticity and radiance.
16. Environmental Stress
If you live in a city, chances are that every day, your skin is exposed to harmful pollution, dirt, and debris flying around microscopically in the air. Even when you’re out of the pollution, at home and in the office, constant heating and cooling from air conditioners can also take their toll on your skin, causing it to wrinkle and appear aged. Stress is another huge factor that accelerates aging by damaging your skin’s collagen and triggering inflammatory responses.