It’s normal to want to look as young as possible for as long as possible. But as you’ll agree, aging gracefully isn’t easy. There are many habits that make us look older, and here are some of them so you can do your best to avoid them.
Smoking
One of the most destructive habits for the way you look is smoking tobacco, which accelerates skin aging, leading to wrinkles and an unhealthy complexion. This is one of the many reasons why it’s so important to quit smoking when you’re young, as it will recover your circulation and skin texture, restoring a healthier appearance. Better still, quit now while you still look young.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Just like with cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol can wreck your skin, causing it to lose its plumpness and elasticity. Limiting alcohol intake is the easiest way to prevent this, helping you to maintain your skin’s natural hydration levels and produce a more youthful and radiant appearance.
Poor Diet
Another terrible habit you should drop before you start looking older than you really are is eating a bad diet, especially one high in processed foods and sugars. This can lead to inflammation and the accelerated aging of your whole body, so start eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins as soon as possible, and you’ll thank yourself later.
Skipping Sunscreen
One of the worst habits for heightening your perceived age is to neglect sunscreen, which leaves your skin unprotected from harmful UV rays. As the NHS explains, this exposure can cause premature wrinkles and age spots, which are common in older people. So, consistent daily use of sunscreen, even on cloudy days, is essential for maintaining youthful skin and preventing long-term damage.
Not Drinking Enough Water
If you don’t drink enough water in your youth, prepare to start looking and feeling older sooner rather than later. Insufficient hydration can make skin appear dry and dull, whereas proper hydration helps maintain skin elasticity and a youthful glow. So, aim to drink around eight glasses of water a day, helping to keep your skin looking fresh and vibrant.
Frequent Use of Hot Water
Surprisingly, if you take regular hot showers or hot baths, this can actually strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Opt for lukewarm water to maintain your skin’s moisture balance and prevent premature aging, or better still, try out cold showers, which, while uncomfortable, are fantastic for many aspects of your health and appearance.
Lack of Sleep
It can be tempting to prioritize productivity over sleep when you’re young, but this can result in dark circles, puffy eyes, and a tired complexion. All of these negative qualities make you look older than you are, so make sure you are prioritizing quality sleep, allowing your body to repair and regenerate, and keeping your skin looking refreshed and youthful.
Not Removing Makeup Before Bed
For anyone who wears makeup, it’s a terrible idea to sleep without removing it because this will clog your pores and cause breakouts, leading to an uneven skin tone and texture. Always cleanse your face before bed to remove makeup, dirt, and impurities, allowing your skin to breathe and rejuvenate.
Excessive Sun Exposure
If you spend too much time in the sun, even when you’re weathering sunscreen, you’re still going to cause skin damage and premature aging. This is why it’s best to wear protective clothing, hats, and sunglasses to protect your skin. This doesn’t mean you should stop wearing sunscreen too, though.
Over-Exfoliating
Believe it or not, excessive exfoliation can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Instead of overdoing it and leading to this counterproductive side effect, just apply gentle exfoliation once or twice a week, which will be more than sufficient enough to remove dead skin cells and promote a smooth, youthful complexion.
Neglecting Moisturizer
As you’ve probably noticed, skin care is a common trend for premature aging, so don’t forget to moisturize your skin in your youth; otherwise, you’ll get dry, flaky skin that accentuates fine lines and wrinkles. Using a daily moisturizer suited to your skin type helps maintain hydration and a supple texture, keeping your skin looking youthful for as long as possible.
Stress
A lot of people fail to anticipate that chronic stress can accelerate their aging process by affecting their skin’s elasticity and causing wrinkles. This is one of the many reasons why it’s important to practice stress management techniques such as meditation, exercise, and deep breathing, all of which improve your overall well-being, and thus, your future appearance.
Not Wearing Sunglasses
We’ve got more bad news for you if you enjoy spending time in the sun–squinting in bright sunlight can cause fine lines around your eyes, making you look older than you are. So, to add to your list of UV protection, you need to be wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from both squinting and general UV damage. Plus, you’ll probably look really stylish wearing them, which is a bonus.
Using Harsh Skin Products
While we’ve established that skin care is important to reduce your perceived aging, be careful not to apply harsh products to your skin, which can irritate and damage it. Try to use gentle, dermatologist-recommended products that help maintain your skin’s health and youthful appearance. If you’re confused about what to buy, speak to a doctor or dermatologist, and they’ll help you out.
Poor Posture
Another very common cause of making someone look older than they really are is when they slouch a lot in their youth, which will negatively impact your body’s alignment and cause muscle strain. This is all too common today with the rise of computer-based jobs, so make sure you’re always practicing good posture to optimize your overall health, as well as to help you look more youthful and confident.
Not Exercising Regularly
Everyone knows that a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to weight gain and poor circulation, but they often don’t understand that this will make them look older, too. Thankfully, regular physical activity will boost your circulation while also improving your muscle tone and keeping you happier, all of which will help you maintain a youthful appearance.
Overconsumption of Sugar
It’s not just your teeth that suffer from high sugar intake; it can also lead to glycation, a process that damages collagen and elastin in your skin, causing premature wrinkles. Try to reduce your sugar because this way, your skin will maintain its firmness and elasticity longer until your senior years.
Dressing Poorly
Believe it or not, it’s not just your health that you need to think about when it comes to premature aging, but how you dress, too. If you constantly dress in poor-fitting, outdated, or mismatched clothing, you’re going to look much older than you are. You don’t have to buy loads of expensive designer clothing, but at least make sure you wear clothes that fit well and match your age.
Ignoring Mental Health
These days, we’re quickly learning that neglecting your mental health can take a toll on your physical appearance. Managing stress and prioritizing self-care can enhance your overall well-being and help you maintain a youthful glow, so look after yourself, and don’t forget to give yourself a break once in a while.
Skipping Regular Dental Care
You could follow all of the tips in this list, but if you don’t look after your teeth, you’re still going to look older than you really are. Gum disease, tooth loss, and stained teeth can all come from poor dental hygiene and make you look like a senior, so make sure you are brushing, flossing, and getting your teeth checked regularly, helping to maintain your youthful smile.