We all wish that we could turn back the clock to a time when we had clear, flawless skin.
It’s human nature to want to look young and attractive.
Though it’s impossible to age without at least some visible signs, bad habits could cause you to age prematurely.
And the truth is every day, most of us engage in habits that cause our skin to suffer.
From the food we eat to the way we travel to work, those tiny decisions can come together and make us look old before our time.
Your skin is a living organ that changes as you age.
Adjusting your routine and habits can help you cope better with those changing demands and ensure you look younger for longer.
Avoid these bad ageing habits below, and you’ll age like a fine wine…
Drinking too much alcohol
If you’re used to rounding out the evening with a couple of glasses of wine, cutting back could help you to shave years off your face.
Not only does alcohol dehydrate you, but it can make your vital organs weaker, slow your brain, and weaken your immune system.
What’s more, drinking regularly can increase your blood pressure, affect your medication, and stop you from sleeping.
We all know that a lack of sleep causes baggy eyes and wrinkles!
Washing your face too much
The chances are that your dermatologist recommends washing off your makeup before bed, and though you should, it’s important not to wash your face too regularly.
Doing so can strip your skin of its protective oils, making it look dull, lifeless, and causing dehydration, which leads to deep lines and crow’s feet.
Don’t wash your face more than twice a day, and when you do, use a sensitive cleanser that will moisturise and nourish rather than cause dryness.
Forgetting to moisturise
Once you’ve washed your face on a morning, remember to moisturise!
If you suffer from oily skin, you might try to avoid moisturising too regularly to prevent breakouts and shine, but doing so could actually cause your skin to suffer and dehydrate.
Though no moisturiser is a “miracle cure”, choosing the right one can slow down the ageing process and minimise the appearance of fine lines wrinkles, age spots, and redness.
Somerville’s antiageing cream (£127) is a firm favourite at the higher end of the scale, as it includes ceramide-infused peptides which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, but the more affordable Nivea Q10 (£5) contains the Q10 enzyme which fuels the production of cell energy and renewal, aiding skin regeneration and boosting collagen fibres below the skin.
Suntanning
Unless you’re topping up your tan from a bottle, the chances are that your suntanning habits are causing you to look old before your time.
When you’re out and about, even in the cooler winter months, make sure you’re wearing a high SPF moisturiser or sunscreen, and avoid sunbeds at all costs.
Every time you expose yourself to harmful UV rays, you’re increasing your risk of skin cancer and skin ageing.
If you want a healthy glow, fake it with natural moisturisers and lotions!
Washing your hair every day
Depending on your shampoo, washing your hair can strip it of its natural oils and make it look dry and dull, ageing your face and causing long-term issues like brittle and frizzy hair.
If your hair is naturally dry, we recommend washing it a maximum of two times per week, remembering to use a high-quality conditioner that will lock in moisture and give you a glow.
For those with oily hair, you may need to wash your hair more frequently – perhaps even every day – but experiment with shampoos to find one that will reduce your hair’s shine.
Slouching
Walk into a coffee shop or your office and you’re likely to see dozens of people hunched over their smartphones or laptops. With most of us spending our days sitting at a desk, it’s easy to develop poor posture, which leads to back problems and can make you look older.
If you learn to stop slouching, you’ll feel less depressed, boost your confidence, flatten your waistline, strengthen your spine, optimise lung and brain oxygenation and look younger.
Keep your monitor at eye level so your head doesn’t tilt, put your shoulders back, rest your feet on the ground, and use a lumbar support tool to keep keep your upper back straight.
It may take some time, but it will help to shave years off your appearance in the long run.
Being a screen slave
Finally, know when to turn your smartphone off.
We all know that spending all day in front of a computer is bad enough, but then most of us travel home to watch the TV and scroll through Instagram until it’s time to head off to bed.
Squinting and neck-craning can both promote wrinkles, and the blue light that’s emitted from our smartphones can cause skin pigmentation, so put down your phone and read a book!
How many of these bad ageing habits were you aware of? Let us know on Twitter @Oralift and check back soon for more advice on holding onto your youthful looks, naturally.