We all would like to remain young forever; sadly, it’s impossible, and we have to resign ourselves to the inevitable passage of time. However, we can slightly put it off and look younger as long as we take good care of our skin. It is precisely on the face where we can find the first marks of the passing time, with wrinkles slowly appearing and skin sagging.
We tenaciously look for new and better ways to stop the ageing of our skin. In recent years, many people have been in love with the Korean skincare routine, as the women there may boast about their beautiful, radiant skin. By trying to emulate them, some spend a fortune to purchase the latest creams with miracle ingredients.
However, if you want to achieve the same results, you should understand that a skincare routine is more than applying a product to your face. It’s more of a lifestyle, and you should commit to it as quickly as possible to prevent wrinkles. There are things you should avoid, like UV rays, cigarettes, alcohol, or caffeine. You should also watch out for sleep deprivation, an unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise.
At first, the proper implementation of the whole routine may seem overwhelming; however, you’ll quickly notice the better condition of your skin. If you need some help, this article will focus on things you should avoid in your daily life to maintain a youthful appearance.
1. Smoking
Many believe that smoking is one of the worst habits you can have, as it’s linked to various cancers, and lungs and heart diseases. It is also responsible for your ageing appearance as smoking deprives your skin of oxygen and nutrients, whereas the chemicals in tobacco may trigger the destruction of collagen and elastin. Decreased elasticity and hydration levels of your skin will cause you to look tired and sickly.
If you want to keep your skin looking young and fresh, we recommend that you quit this habit immediately. Unfortunately, it may be hard for long-time smokers. In this situation, you might try to quit smoking gradually. You could start with replacing your traditional cigarettes with a vape pen. Still, you have to remember that vape pens are restricted in some countries, so it’s better to find out where vaping is banned before you purchase one.
2. UV Rays
We’ve all heard how dangerous UV rays can be, especially if we’re exposed to them for long periods of time during the summer. However, the sun is not only responsible for cancer, but it’s also a significant cause of premature ageing as UV rays break down the elastin in your skin. As a result, your skin becomes saggy and loses colour, and more wrinkles appear day by day.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to avoid exposure to UV rays completely. Instead, we recommend that you stay away from the sun’s rays between noon and 3 pm; those are the highest sun exposure hours. Moreover, you should always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF rating of at least 30 and reapply it every few hours. Furthermore, remember to use it every day since you’re constantly exposed to UV rays, even when it’s cloudy.
3. Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation can leave us looking tired and exhausted all day long. The reason for this is the lack of energy and the overall deterioration of your skin. When we sleep, our body produces collagen and elastin – these are responsible for keeping our skin firm and elastic. Unfortunately, as we age, production slows down, which leads to sagging skin and wrinkles.
That’s why we recommend that you sleep at least 8 hours every night, as it’s the time when your body produces hormones that trigger cell renewal. If you manage to sleep only 5 hours a night for several weeks, your skin will gradually start to sag and look older. You might also try to boost your quality of sleep by investing in silk sheets. A delicate fabric will not only help you sleep better, but it won’t cause mechanical damage to your skin.
4. Stress
Stress is another one of the major causes of premature ageing as it triggers the production of cortisol, the stress hormone which can damage the skin’s collagen and elastin. What is more, chronic stress may increase inflammation or provoke glycation, accelerating the formation of wrinkles.
Still, there are times when we’re unable to avoid stress. You won’t be able to control other people or situations in life; however, you can control how you react to them. So, whenever something stressful happens, try to take deep breaths and relax until the situation is sorted out. Don’t spend too much time thinking about it afterwards either – let go of any anger or frustration quickly, so they don’t affect your health negatively in the future.
5. Unhealthy Diet
If you want to keep your skin looking young and fresh, you should pay attention to your diet. Avoid greasy foods and instead choose some greens. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, which will help regenerate damaged skin tissues. This will reduce inflammation and allow you to avoid certain diseases like cancer or heart disease.
Furthermore, eating foods rich in Vitamin A will help prevent acne breakouts; however, these foods are also known to slow down ageing. We recommend that you eat plenty of fruits like avocado, kiwis, oranges, and strawberries; vegetables like broccoli or peppers; or nuts like almonds or hazelnuts. Also, don’t forget about fish; they contain Omega-3 essential fats, which will improve the functions of your skin cells while keeping it healthy and nourished.
6. Lack of Exercise
A sedentary lifestyle causes weight gain; unfortunately, this makes our skin stretch over time which leads to sagging skin and wrinkles appearing earlier than necessary. That’s why we recommend that you do some sports regularly – choose something that suits your preferences best! Running is one of the best activities for your whole body; however, if you don’t enjoy it enough, feel free to join a gym where you can practice weight lifting or cardio.
7. Alcohol and Caffeine
Alcohol and caffeine have a similar impact on you, as they dehydrate your skin. Water is essential for your youthful appearance, as it makes your skin more elastic and gives it a healthy glow. If you’re a coffee addict or a wine connoisseur, you might have to stop yourself from drinking those, or at least you may reduce your intake. You should also avoid energy drinks, as they have a similar effect on your body.
Conclusion
We all want to look young and beautiful forever; however, this is impossible. The passage of time is unstoppable, but we can keep the signs of it at bay for as long as possible. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will help you achieve this goal. By avoiding UV rays, smoking, lack of sleep, stress, unhealthy diet, exercise, alcohol, and caffeine, you’ll be able to delay the ageing process significantly. Expensive creams or serums will help you, but in the end, everything depends on a proper routine.