10 Habits That Make You Seem Older & 10 That Keep You Youthful
The Fountain Of Youth Is Within You
It's not just the way our skin looks or how our bodies appear that makes us look older. It's everything from how we do our makeup to our embrace of life. Some people go straight to Botox or plastic surgery to preserve their youth; however, what they don't realize is youth comes from within as well as from the outside. Simple lifestyle changes can greatly impact how young you look and feel. Here are 10 habits that make you seem older and 10 that keep you young.
1. Wearing Excessive Makeup
While makeup is a great tool for enhancing your natural features and covering up imperfections, overusing it can have the complete opposite effect, aging your appearance. What's more, it dries out your skin and clogs your pores.
2. Wearing Excessive Perfume
The stereotypical grandma is always heavily doused in strong perfume. Don't be like grandma. When it comes to perfume, a little goes a long way.
3. Skipping The SPF
There are many schools of thought surrounding skincare, but one thing dermatologists all agree on is the importance of sunscreen. Nothing ages your skin faster than UV rays so make sure to lather on that SPF every day.
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4. Bad Posture
Slouching is very unflattering as it makes you look older and heavier. Poor posture over time can also cause your spine to get misaligned, leading to a rounded back and drooping shoulders, the classic granny look.
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5. Using Electronic Devices Too Much
Researchers have found the light emitted from our phones and other electronic devices to be harmful to our skin. What's more, the hours spent hunched over our laptops can result in older-looking necks.
6. Too Much Alcohol & Caffeine
Drinking too much alcohol dehydrates your skin and breaks down collagen and elastin, resulting in premature aging. Similarly, overconsumption of caffeine causes your skin to dry out and can lead to a dull complexion, sunken eyes, and premature fine lines.
7. Eating Too Much Sugar
In addition to contributing to obesity and diabetes, excessive sugar intake causes your skin to age by damaging collagen and elastin. It also dehydrates your skin, making it look dull, dry, and more prone to wrinkles.
8. Smoking
Smoking makes you look older on many levels. For one thing, sucking on a cigarette is so last century, but it also breaks down collagen, making your skin look more sagged and wrinkled with a greyish complexion.
9. Eating Out All The Time
When you eat out, you take in an average of 200 more calories than if you were to eat at home. Additionally, the food you order is generally much less healthy, full of added sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats which load your body with free radicals contributing to premature skin aging.
10. Being Too Serious
Usually, the people out there having fun, and doing cool things with their lives seem younger than those who take everything seriously. Life can be tough sometimes but don't forget to smile and engage in activities that bring you joy.
Now that we've covered the habits that make you seem way older, let's go over some of the good practices that can help you stay young.
1. Staying Curious
Just like toddlers who ask endless questions, maintaining a youthful curiosity about all kinds of things will help you stay young. In addition to making life more fun and interesting, learning is also a great way to keep your brain healthy and stave off dementia.
2. Exercising Regularly
Sitting too much has been shown to add eight years to your life. On the other hand, exercise keeps you young by helping you maintain a healthy weight and improving your blood circulation which flushes out toxins, leaving you with a glowy complexion.
3. Maintaining A Good Skincare Routine
A consistent skincare routine can help your skin hold onto its youth. Remove impurities with a gentle cleanser followed by a toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen to keep your skin nourished and protected.
4. Staying Hydrated
One of the best things you can do to keep yourself looking young and fresh is simply to drink enough water. Adequate hydration helps your kidneys flush out toxins and helps your skin lock in moisture.
5. Meditating
Engaging in regular meditation increases the production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA. It also protects your chromosomes which increases your resistance to skin cell aging.
6. Being Passionate
Finding things or people that you're passionate about and devoting time to them gives you a joi de vivre that makes life more riveting. It also gives you an excited and youthful energy that helps you stay young.
7. Get Plenty Of Antioxidants
Antioxidants combat free radicals in your body which are responsible for damaging cells and causing premature aging. Antioxidant-rich foods include pomegranates, blueberries, broccoli, leafy greens, and herbs.
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8. Prioritize Your Sleep
If you wake up feeling refreshed, you'll look refreshed too. Sleep is when our bodies repair themselves, including our skin cells so those who get enough sleep generally have a more youthful appearance.
9. Be Social
Engaging in social activity keeps your mind sharp. It also brings you plenty of joy which contributes to your mental health and helps you stay positive, one of the characteristics often associated with youth.
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10. Have Fun
One of the best ways to stay young as long as it doesn't entail engaging in too many vices is maintaining a lust for life. Never overlook the importance of fun and try to maintain a lighthearted attitude toward life.
