Break These Bad Habits and You’ll Unlock a Fountain of Youth for Your Skin

Skincare is big business. The average American spends nearly $500 on skincare products, according to a recent analysis.

These products, however, are not a magical elixir. A daily skincare regimen, while essential for maintaining healthy skin, may also help you look 10 years younger at 50, but you’re still going to visually age.

The good news is that you have much more control over the pace at which you age than you may realize. And it’s not about adding new, expensive creams or serums to your regimen. It’s a bit more challenging than that. You’re going to have to minimize the bad habits that are accelerating things like dark circles and wrinkles.

Here are the ones that are contributing the most to your older appearance. By cutting back on them, or eliminating them entirely, you’ll begin to see substantial, long-lasting results.

Spending too much time in the sun.

Inviting as a warm summer sun is, it’s also the source of the vast majority of skin changes that we associate with aging, including things like fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, and leathery skin. Not to mention it also causes cancer.

Applying sunscreen in the morning – and reapplying throughout the day, especially for sun-intense activities such as hiking, swimming, and a day outdoors – will protect your skin from everyday UV rays. But it’s still a good idea to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible, particularly when the sun is at its highest intensity, which is between 11 AM and 3 PM.

Not moisturizing.

We mentioned the importance of a daily skincare regimen earlier. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. In fact, cleansing your face, moisturizing your entire body, and applying sunscreen will cover all of your skin’s basic needs. Moisturizer traps moisture inside your skin, to keep it feeling firm, supple, and soft all day.

Not getting enough sleep.

Sleep deprivation can have severe consequences on your entire body, and you can certainly wear it on your face. This is because being poorly rested is a type of stress for the body, and keeping stress in check is important for looking your best and brightest. And that’s not the only trickle-down effect that a lack of sleep has on your appearance: It also contributes to poor eating habits, which will also lead to a more aged appearance.

Stressing out all the time.

Stress, of course, comes in many shapes and sizes. When it occurs on an ongoing basis, it can have a lasting impact on your body, including your appearance. Your hairline will recede faster, for instance, and collagen production will slow significantly, which leads to stress lines across the brow, crow’s feet at the eyes, and duller skin with a rougher texture. It can also trigger a flux in hormones, which can cause acne, and, as you age, hyperpigmentation increases, meaning the aftermath of those pimples can stay on your face for a year or more.

Exercising too little.

Regular exercise boosts circulation around your body, which, in turn, boosts nutrient delivery to your cells. This improves hair health and retention, along with ensuring regular cellular turnover across the surface of your skin.

Eating processed food regularly.

Having a healthy diet is another tenet of being healthy. A diet comprised largely of processed foods will contribute to the appearance of aging.

Getting dehydrated.

While we’re here, staying hydrated is also essential to keeping your body’s various systems functioning at the best of their ability, not to mention your body’s largest organ (your skin).

Drinking too much.

Alcohol causes a host of skin-related negative effects, from hindered cellular turnover and inflammation to puffy eyes and dehydration (as the body metabolizes it, it releases a byproduct called acetaldehyde, which causes body tissues and skin to lose moisture). Aim to drink in moderation, and while doing so, alternate between a serving of alcohol and a glass of water to help mitigate these effects.