Aging is a natural process, but our habits and lifestyle choices can accelerate the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. While you might be aware of some factors, others may surprise you. Here are some surprising ways you could be aging your skin faster—and what you can do to prevent it.
1. Over-Cleansing Your Face
Cleansing is essential to wash away a day of dirt, makeup, and environmental damage from your face. However, washing your face too often or using harsh cleansers can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. This can weaken your skin’s protective barrier and accelerate aging. The best trick is to stick to gentle cleansers filled with clean plant-based ingredients, avoid washing your face more than twice a day, and always use lukewarm or cold water.
2. Sleeping on Your Stomach
Believe it or not, you could be speeding up getting wrinkles by sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping with your face pressed against the pillow can cause sleep lines that develop into wrinkles over time. Try sleeping on your back or using a silk pillowcase instead, which can help reduce the pressure on your skin and minimize wrinkle formation.
3. Skipping Sunscreen Indoors and In Winter
Sunscreen is essential to your daily routine, regardless of season or setting. Even when you’re indoors, UV rays from the sun can penetrate windows and contribute to skin aging. Though it might feel silly, apply sunscreen daily, whether you will be indoors or outdoors, to protect your skin from these harmful rays and stop skin aging faster. And don’t even consider slacking off in winter.
4. Using Products with Alcohol
Many skincare products contain alcohol, particularly toners and cleansers. Though they may feel good on the skin, they can dry and irritate. Over time, this can break down collagen, weaken the skin’s barrier, and make it more susceptible to aging. Always look for alcohol-free skincare to maintain your youthful complexion for longer.
5. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Beauty sleep isn’t a joke; sleep is essential for skin repair and regeneration. You might pull an all-nighter here and there every so often, but having long-term sleep issues can age you fast. Consistently getting less than seven hours of sleep can lead to dullness, fine lines, and dark circles. If you want to protect your skin, prioritize a good night’s sleep to keep your skin looking youthful for as long as possible.
6. Skipping Moisturizer
Never ever skip moisturizer. Even if your skin feels oily, skipping moisturizer can lead to dehydration and make fine lines more pronounced. As you age, your skin loses the ability to hydrate itself, so you could speed up the appearance of wrinkles by skipping over your moisturizer. Use a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer daily to maintain your skin’s moisture balance and protect against aging.
7. Using Hot Water to Wash Your Face
Hot water might feel nice on the skin, but washing your face with it strips it of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Over time, this can weaken your skin’s barrier, accelerate the aging process, and lead to the development of wrinkles. Stick to lukewarm or cold water when cleansing your face; ideally, add a filtration system to your home for the healthiest skin.
8. Consuming Too Much Sugar
Having a sugary snack is something most of us can’t resist, but be warned that sugar could be causing you to wrinkle sooner. High sugar intake can lead to glycation, which damages collagen and elastin in your skin. This results in wrinkles, sagging, and a loss of elasticity. Though it feels impossible, reducing sugar consumption can help keep your skin firm and youthful. Try snacking on fruit or nuts instead.
9. Neglecting Your Neck and Hands
You might diligently look after your face with sunscreen and skincare, but your neck and hands are as susceptible to aging as your face. In fact, your hands and neck are the first places that can give away your age. Neglecting sunscreen and moisturizer in these areas can lead to premature wrinkles and sunspots. Make sure to extend your skincare routine to include your neck and hands.
10. Overusing Exfoliants
Exfoliation is excellent for removing dead skin cells, but overdoing it can damage your skin’s barrier and lead to sensitivity and premature aging. As you age, your skin barrier weakens and can struggle to produce collagen. Don’t further damage your skin’s barrier by over-exfoliating. Stick to exfoliating 1-2 times a week with a gentle product (avoid harsh physical scrubs) to keep your youthful glow.
11. Stressing Out
Stress is a part of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for us. Stress wreaks havoc on our physical and mental health and appearance; it can make us gain weight, turn our hair gray, and add more wrinkles. Chronic stress triggers the body to produce more cortisol, the stress hormone that breaks down collagen and accelerates aging. Managing stress through activities like meditation, exercise, or hobbies can help maintain your skin’s youthful appearance.
12. Drinking Through a Straw
Wrinkles are a natural part of life, and believe it or not, we can get fine lines and wrinkles from moving our faces too much or making certain expressions. It’s how we end with forehead lines and crow’s feet. Regularly using a straw can make repetitive motions around your mouth, which can cause wrinkles to develop. Drink directly from the glass or cup to minimize these repetitive movements.
13. Ignoring Your Diet
You are what you eat. Diets don’t just look after our insides, they look after our outsides too. A diet lacking in essential nutrients can contribute to dull, aging skin. Ensure you eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support skin health and prevent premature aging.
14. Not Removing Makeup Before Bed
We get it: after coming back from a big night out or a long day away, the last thing you want to do is take off your makeup. But be warned, leaving makeup on overnight doesn’t just clog pores and cause breakouts; it can also contribute to premature aging. Make it a habit to thoroughly cleanse your face before bed to allow your skin to breathe and repair itself.