Aging is a natural process, but some of 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 ways you’re accelerating aging—along with tips on how to slow down the clock.
1. Not Being Sun Safe
Unfortunately, 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.
2. Not Drinking Enough Water
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.
3. Not Quitting Smoking
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.
4. Not Heeding Alcohol Warnings
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 like 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.
5. Not Moisturizing Enough
After a night out or a long day at work, sometimes, doing our nightly skincare routine feels like a chore. However, 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 itself 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.
6. Not Managing Stress
Stress can be an unavoidable part of life. However, 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.
7. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Just like stress, poor sleep is something we’ll all experience at one time or another. However, chronic sleep deprivation is a serious concern as it can wreak havoc on our waking lives and mental health and also 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 and your health in check. If sleep is an issue, implement a consistent bed routine, have a long bath before bed, turn off screens, try a CBD sleep aid, and listen to sleep music or white noise.
8. Not Eating the Right Food
Junk food is one guilty pleasure many of us have a hard time saying no to, but it’s worth learning to cut down on sugary and fried foods and snacks to maintain our health and youthful glow. Excess sugar in your diet can lead to glycation, which damages collagen and elastin in your skin, causing wrinkles and sagging. Processed and fried foods cause inflammation, which can throw out our hormones, triggering aging. Be more mindful of what you eat, keep a food diary, follow an 80/20 rule, and eat lots of antioxidant and omega-3 fatty acids like fruit, vegetables, oily fish, nuts, and avocado.
9. Not Limiting Your Coffee
Most of us can’t function without our morning coffee; however, excessive caffeine consumption can cause aging signs. Caffeine dehydrates your body and skin, leading to a dull, dull complexion. 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.
10. Not Taking Your Makeup Off
There’s nothing more annoying than coming home late and realizing you still have to take off your makeup and do your whole skincare routine. Sleeping with your makeup on might not immediately affect your skin, but this bad habit will age you over time. 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.
11. Not Using a Gentle Cleanser
When we wash our faces, we want to know that every pore and crevice is clean. But be mindful of what kind of cleansers you’re using. 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.
12. Not Prioritzing 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, whether it’s wrinkles, lines, or sun spots. 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.
13. Not Getting Off the Yo-Yo Dieting Wagon
Yo-Yo dieting is bad for you for many reasons, but one of the most significant incentives to end this dangerous habit for good is that it can be aging you. Fluctuations in weight too often can lead to loss of skin elasticity, causing sagging and wrinkles. Maintaining a stable, healthy weight is crucial for keeping your skin firm and youthful.
14. Not Getting Enough Exercise
Exercise can feel hard to squeeze into our busy everyday lives, but we must do it. Regular exercise boosts circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your skin, which helps maintain its elasticity and vibrancy. A sedentary lifestyle, where you sit for hours, can make your skin look dull, tired, and old. We should get 8000-10000 steps per day, according to Medical News Today, so if you can’t handle the gym, go for a long walk.
16. Not Using Eye Cream
Eye cream is one thing you don’t want to skimp out on in your skincare routine. 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.