Aging is a natural part of life, but our daily habits can speed it up, making us look older than we are. Whether it’s questionable lifestyle choices or mistakes in our beauty routines, here are 16 ways you’re accelerating aging—along with tips on how to slow down the clock.
1. Know Your Biological and Chronological Age
We all age; it’s a natural part of life. But you might not realize there are two types of aging (or ages). There is our chronological age (the number of years we’ve been on this planet) and biological age (how old we look and how healthy we are). While we can’t do anything about our actual age, we can look years younger (or older) than we are. , but our daily habits can speed it up, making us look older than we are. Whether it’s questionable lifestyle choices or mistakes in our beauty routines, here are 16 ways you’re accelerating aging—along with tips on how to slow down the clock.
2. Ease up on the Alcohol
Just like smoking, alcohol has dire effects on our health, including our skin. Alcohol dehydrates your skin and depletes it of essential nutrients, leading to a tired, aged appearance. It’s important to limit your alcohol intake and drink plenty of water to replenish your skin’s moisture and look more youthful. And if you must drink, better options are light beer, dry white wine, and champagne.
3. Be More Sun Savvy
Sun safety is an afterthought for most people, but it shouldn’t be because it’s one of the most significant factors of visible aging. Not wearing sunscreen and neglecting hats are among the fastest ways to age your skin. UV rays damage your skin’s collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles, dark spots, and sagging. Make sun safety and sunscreen, in particular, a daily habit, even on cloudy days.
4. Drink the Recommended Daily Water Intake
Skipping your water intake here and there isn’t all that bad; however, not drinking enough water results in dehydration, which shows up on your skin as dryness, fine lines, and a dull complexion. Staying hydrated keeps your skin plump, vibrant, and youthful-looking. You should be drinking eight glasses of water per day.
5. Quit Smoking for Your Skin and Health
Smoking damages your health and speeds up aging by reducing blood flow and oxygen to your skin, causing wrinkles and a dull complexion. The repetitive motion of puffing can also create unsightly fine lines around the mouth. Quitting smoking can significantly improve your skin’s appearance and prevent the development of more serious diseases.
6. Make Daily Moisturizing Non-Negotiable
Skipping moisturizer regularly can lead to dry, flaky skin, accelerating the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is especially true as the skin loses its ability to hydrate when it ages. Moisturize your skin morning and night as the last step in your routine, and always choose products designed for your skin type and to boost hydration. Look for ingredients like squalene, peptides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
7. Implement Stress Management Practices
Chronic stress can accelerate the aging process. Over-stressing can make our bodies produce cortisol, a stress hormone that breaks down collagen and elastin, causing premature wrinkles and sagging. Managing stress through relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, and breathwork helps slow aging and calms your nervous system.
8. Get 7-9 Hours Sleep Nightly
Sleep deprivation is a serious concern as it can speed up aging. Not getting enough sleep deprives your skin of the time it needs to repair and regenerate, leading to dark circles, a dull complexion, and fine lines. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to keep your skin looking fresh. If sleep is an issue, implement a consistent bedtime routine, have a long bath before bed, turn off screens, try a CBD sleep aid, and listen to sleep music or white noise.
9. Eat the Right Foods
Eating sugary and fried foods can impact your skin and health, leading to glycation, which damages collagen and elastin. This causes wrinkles and sagging. Processed and fried foods also cause inflammation, which can accelerate aging. Stick to antioxidant and omega-3-rich foods like fruit, vegetables, oily fish, nuts, and avocado.
10. Limit Your Daily Cup of Joe
Excessive caffeine consumption can cause dehydration, leading to dull skin. While you don’t have to give up coffee entirely, balance it with plenty of water and hydration-focused skincare. Or try herbal teas—they count as part of your daily water intake and can calm stress.
11. Take Your Makeup Off Properly
Going to bed without removing makeup clogs pores, leading to breakouts and dull skin. Always cleanse your face before bed to keep your skin healthy. And if you wear a lot of makeup or live in a polluted city, do a double cleanse.
12. Use a More Gentle Cleanser
Harsh cleansers that contain alcohol, sulfates, and chemicals can strip your skin of natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. This can make fine lines and wrinkles more prominent. Opt for a gentle cleanser, ideally infused with anti-oxidant-rich plant-based ingredients to maintain your skin’s moisture balance.
13. Prioritize Your Décolletage
Your décolletage area is often exposed to the same aging factors as your face, but chances are you’ve never included it in your skincare routine. Believe it or not, this is one of the first places visible aging can occur. Use sunscreen and moisturizer on these areas to prevent signs of aging. Ideally, go for a firming neck cream as the skin on your neck is finer and naturally has less collagen.
14. Get Off the Yo-Yo Dieting Train
Yo-Yo dieting can age you. Fluctuations in weight too often can lead to a loss of skin elasticity, causing sagging and wrinkles. Maintaining a stable, healthy weight is crucial for keeping your skin firm and youthful.
15. Revamp Your Exercise Routine
Exercise boosts circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your skin, which helps maintain its elasticity and vibrancy. A sedentary lifestyle can make your skin look dull, tired, and old. Try getting at least 8000-10000 steps daily, or go for a long walk.
16. Add Eye Cream to Your Arsenal
The skin around your eyes is delicate and prone to showing signs of aging first. If you don’t care for your eye area with a great eye cream, it can lead to crow’s feet and dark circles. Incorporate an eye cream with stimulating firming ingredients like caffeine and niacinamide into your routine to keep the area hydrated and smooth.