We can’t stop the aging process completely. But there are plenty of bad habits we can cut out of our lives – or at least adapt slightly – to help slow it down.
Here’s a list of habits that hurt our skin and how to fix them:
1. Being dehydrated.
When you’re dehydrated, your skin suffers, so drink plenty of water each and every day. And don’t make the mistake of drinking too much coffee, since the diuretic effect of caffeine can dehydrate you even more, stealing water from your skin cells. Alcohol has a similar effect too, so try to limit your intake.
As a rough guideline, divide your body weight (in pounds) by 2, and aim to drink that many ounces of water per day. (For example, a woman weighing 150 pounds would aim to have 75 ounces of water each day)
2. Failing to wear sunscreen.
The sun is the primary cause of skin damage and premature aging. So not wearing sunscreen every single day is a big mistake. Use one with at least 15 SPF protection, and make sure it defends against both UVA and UVB rays.
3. Stress.
When you’re stressed out, the catabolic (destructive) hormones in your body can wreak havoc on your skin. Not only can you suffer breakouts, but skin can become dull and lose its luster.
Find ways to lower your stress levels – such as exercising, doing yoga or some form of meditation – and your skin will thank you for it. Make time for yourself each day to relax and calm down.
4. Burning the candle at both ends.
The primary time for your body to repair itself is when you sleep. So if you’re not getting enough shuteye, dark circles can appear around the eyes and your skin fails to renew itself as effectively. Aim for at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night to fix this.
5. Secondhand smoke.
We’re assuming you don’t yourself, right? Because that’s REALLY bad for your skin. And what’s also damaging is hanging around in environments where other people smoke. Reduce your exposure as much as possible, because it speeds up how quickly your skin ages and can cause skin to sag.
6. Sleeping on your face.
Repeatedly ‘squishing’ your face into a pillow each night as you sleep is another cause of wrinkles. So attempt to sleep on your back if at all possible to prevent this from happening.
7. Not shielding your eyes from the sun.
Wear sunglasses in the sunshine, so you don’t have to squint your eyes when you’re outdoors. And if you’re having trouble seeing things, get a regular eye exam so you can be prescribed some contact lenses or glasses. Repeatedly squinting is a surefire way to develop wrinkles around your eyes – so take action to prevent this from happening.
8. Sleeping with makeup on.
Going to bed with your makeup still on is another bad idea because your pores can become clogged. Instead make the effort cleanse your face at the end of the day – which will help remove any pollutants, grease or dirt you may have come in contact with that day as well.
9. Not washing bed linen frequently. (plus cell phone hygiene)
Along the same kind of lines as above, keep your skin clean at night by making sure your bed linen is washed and cleaned frequently. That’s because it can become a haven for bacteria and nasties if you don’t. And if you’re on the phone each day, use bacterial wipes to keep your face and phone clean.
In other words, pay attention to anything your face comes into contact with each day to avoid breakouts.
10. Not exfoliating.
Finally, take the time to exfoliate your skin on a regular basis. As you remove dead skin cells your make room to stimulate the renewal process, which in turn makes your skin healthier.
The cumulative benefit of fixing these 10 bad habits can really add up, so we highly recommend you incorporate them into your own lifestyle where necessary and possible.
For more on what you can do to make your skin look better, check out our Top Skin Care Tips.