As we age, collagen and elastin—the proteins that give our skin its firmness and structure—break down, and fine lines and wrinkles start to set in. There’s nothing we can do about genetic aging—it’s part of the natural aging process—but we can prevent premature wrinkles and stop our lines looking so visible. Our skin’s health, texture, and elasticity are impacted by our lifestyle choices, daily habits, and even the skincare and makeup we use. So, if you’re doing any of these things, stop now to ward off aging signs and not make yourself look older than you are.
1. Stop Squinting and Frowning
Our facial expressions can become permanently etched onto our faces. Squinting, frowning, and even smiling can turn into deep permanent wrinkles, which are often most noticeable around the eyes, forehead, and jewels. Facial expressions cause the muscles to contract, so be mindful of your actions. Don’t stare at screens too long, wear sunglasses so you don’t squint outside, and stop frowning—but keep smiling.
2. Stop Drinking Through a Straw
Believe it or not, drinking through a straw can age you. That pouting face you make with your lips purse can lead to premature lines and wrinkles around your mouth. Drink from a glass to avoid more wrinkles or deepening the ones you have. It’s also better for the environment.
3. Stop Sleeping on Your Tummy
You might want to reconsider your posture if you’re a stomach sleeper. Sleeping this way and on your side presses your face hard against the pillow, which can cause creases in your skin (you know, those sleep lines), eventually turning into permanent wrinkles. Sleep on your back and invest in a silk pillowcase; they’re more gentle on the skin and less likely to make wrinkles look worse.
4. Stop Tanning
There is no such thing as a healthy or safe tan. Sunscreen must be a non-negotiable part of your daily routine, regardless of age or the weather. Your skin is exposed to the sun’s harsh UV rays daily, even staring through a window. Not applying SFP leaves your skin vulnerable to sun damage, which breaks down collagen and causes lines, pigmentation, dark aged spots, and increased redness and sensitivity. If you want a hint of color, add a touch of bronzer to your foundation or use it instead of blush on your cheeks. And never set foot onto a tanning bed.
5. Stop Using Facial Scrubs
Exfoliating your skin 2-3 times a week is essential to remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface. This will help reveal a younger-looking layer and unplog pores so your skincare will penetrate deeper into the skin. However, if you do it too much or use a harsh physical scrub with scratchy beads, you can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. These scrubs can also cause micro-tears in the skin and weaken the sskin’sbarrier. This all adds up to accelerating the development of wrinkles and making them worse. Choose a liquid exfoliant infused with enzymes or alpha hydroxy acids, which will do a better job of exfoliating without wounding the skin.
6. Stop Eating So Much Sugar
Your sweet tooth is causing you to wrinkle faster and harder. Eating too much sugar is a major contributor to premature aging as it causes inflammation in the body and glycation, a process where sugar binds to healthy collagen proteins in the skin, destroying them. This causes the dreaded sagging. Beauty truly is inside out, so enough with the sugar fix; eat plenty of antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats (avocado, nuts, and salmon) to elevate your skin health and reduce your appearance of wrinkles.
7. Stop Smoking and Vaping
This one should be obvious. Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your physical health and the appearance of your skin. In addition to an increased risk of cancer and more lines and wrinkles on your face and around your mouth. Smoking is not only toxic; it reduces blood flow to the skin, depriving it of oxygen and essential nutrients, damaging collagen and elastin, and making your skin look gray and leather-like. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your skin, health, and longevity. Try NRP (nicotine replacement therapy) to help you quit or see a doctor; there is medication you can take to reduce cravings.
8. Stop Drinking the Wrong Things
Spending your day downing coffee, tea, and sugary drinks has a disastrous effect on your health and skin. Women need to drink 2.7 liters of water daily for adequate hydration, to allow their bodies to flush out toxins, for healthy kidneys, and to keep their skin hydrated. Not getting your daily fill causes dry, dehydrated skin, which makes it less plump and radiant and wrinkles more pronounced. Hydrate from the inside out by keeping up your water intake and eating hydrating foods like celery and watermelon; these count toward your daily quota.
9. Stop Using the Wrong Skincare Products
To give your skin a fighting chance against aging, invest in clean, science-based anti-aging products filled with skin-boosting ingredients and antioxidants like vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. Never use harsh chemical-filled products or anything not for your skin type. You should also always check the expiration date, as using expired products is very damaging. Without a daily skincare routine, including a cleanser, an anti-aging serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and regular exfoliation, your skin will become dry and congested, and wrinkles will look worse. And note that your skin changes with the seasons and age, so always adapt your routine accordingly.
10. Stop Drinking Alcohol in Excess
A glass of wine at the end of a long day is a little luxury, but your skin pays the price. Alcohol dehydrates your skin and causes inflammation, speeding up and deepening wrinkles and deepening them. Drinking also disrupts sleep, impacting the skin’s ability to repair itself overnight. There is no safe amount you can drink if you want to keep your skin and body healthy, but moderation is the key. And if you enjoy a drink, make better choices. Dry white wine, champagne, light beer, or hard kombucha are your best bet.
11. Stop Going to Bed at All Hours
Our skin thrives off asleep; the second we hit the pillow, it gets to work, rejuvenating itself, repairing damage, and strengthening its barrier. Not getting enough rest can lead to dull, tired skin and accelerate the formation of wrinkles. It also messes with your mental health. Go to bed at the same time every night and aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep, and your skin will thank you. If you have trouble nodding off, turn off screens two hours before bed, have a long warm bath, listen to a sleep track, or play some white noise. CBD gummies and melatonin can also help.
12. Stop Ignoring Stress
Like smoking and not getting enough sleep, stress triggers premature aging. Subjecting your body to chronic stress increases cortisol levels, a stress hormone that destroys collagen. To live a healthier life and enjoy more youthful-looking skin, practice stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to protect your skin and overall well-being.
13. Stop Neglecting Your Neck and Hands
When it comes to applying skincare and sunscreen, we often stop at our jawline, but this is a big mistake. Your neck and hands are exposed to the same environmental stressors as your face, and the skin on these areas is finer and has less collagen, so they are more prone to developing wrinkles and dark age spots. Invest in a firming anti-aging neck cream; stimulating ingredients like caffeine work wonders, and always apply SFP to your neck and hands.
14. Stop Taking Long Hot Showers
It’s hard to beat the feeling of a long hot shower after a long day, but what you may not realize is hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and making wrinkles more noticeable. Have a lukewarm shower instead to preserve your skskin’soisture barrier. The same goes for cleaning; lukewarm or cool water is best. Finish your shower with a few cold water blasts to reinvigorate your skin and energy levels.
15. Stop Applying Heavy Matte Foundation
After putting in all that work with your skincare routine, you don’t want to let it down by applying makeup that ages you. Heavy matte foundations make the skin look dry and cakey, and they also settle straight into fine lines and wrinkles, making them look worse. Opt for a lightweight liquid foundation with a hydrating satin formulation and do a light layer and build up if needed. Mixing your foundation with a face oil or your moisturizer will also help you fake a more dewy, radiant glow.