5 Daily Habits That Can Age Your Skin

1. Going to bed late not getting enough sleep ages skin. The ‘poor quality sleep’ group experienced more uneven pigmentation, a greater appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and a lack of firmness in the skin when compared to the ‘good quality sleep’ group. What’s more, those who slept 7-9 hours a night reported that they were more satisfied with their own appearance – they had a better sense of satisfaction in their own physical attractiveness. Getting a good night’s rest can even boost your confidence!

2. Your daily commute You can protect your skin from external damage and neutralize the free radicals caused by pollution through a skincare routine which both protects and repairs from environmental stress.

3. Not using sunscreen UV damage is one of the principal causes of premature skin aging, accounting for roughly 80% of extrinsic facial aging. In addition, sun exposure contributes greatly to your risk of developing skin cancer.

4. Eating too much sugar Not a day goes by where we don’t hear about the (mostly undesirable) effects of sugar on the body, so here’s another one to add to the increasingly long list: sugar can also cause skin aging, through a process called glycation.

5. Not taking your makeup off When you’re feeling exhausted, sometimes it can be tempting to do the bare minimum of a skincare routine – taking makeup off after a long day can feel like a chore. It’s important to get into the habit of taking your makeup off every day, and cleanse your skin of the day’s impurities.