Get ready to get wrinkly.
Sooner
or later, we all start to look old. Maybe it’s a errant shock of gray
hairs mysteriously appearing at the temples, or maybe it’s a handful of
not quite massive, but also not quite fine lines stretching across a
once smooth forehead. Either way, the unstoppable march of time beats
on, and it’s sure to show somewhere on your person. Good news is, that’s
why we have things like retinol and Botox,
to help keep your skin looking at least semi-fresh should you not be
ready to accept the unfortunate consequences of getting older. The bad
news is, though, that certain bad habits can make the symptoms progress
even faster and, if you don’t cut them out of your life now, will make
you look twice as old in half the time. These are those bad habits; do
yourself a favor and avoid them at all costs.
1. Soaking Up Too Much Damn Sun
And
we’re not just talking about straight-up sunbathing during the summer
months, either. In fact, it’s everyday rays that tend to do the most
long term harm, since so many people forget (or neglect) to apply any
sort of SPF to their poor, unprotected skin on the daily, leaving it
susceptible to UV-induced damage and cancer.
2. Or Not Getting Enough Of It
On
the flip side of the coin, there are also studies out there that show
Vitamin D deficiencies, caused by not getting enough natural light
exposure, can also lead to certain types of advanced-stage cancers.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. But please, use SPF.
3. Not Getting Nearly Enough Sleep
It’s been barely a hot second since we talked about sleep deprivation,
so we won’t get into explicit detail here, but let’s just say that
without a solid 8 hours, you can kiss your youthful, elastic,
pimple-free skin goodbye.
4. Ignoring Moisturizer (Or Using the Wrong Stuff)
Every
man’s skin has its own specific needs. Some guys have extremely oily
skin; others are as dry as the goddamn Sahara. Whichever way your punim
leans, if you’re not moisturizing regularly, and with skin type-specific
stuff, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Because the tools are out there. Not using them is just bad judgement.
5. Using Cheap-Ass Soap
We
get it, good soap can be expensive. Especially at the rate you go
through it, using only premium bars can cost a pretty penny. But that
dime-a-dozen drugstore stuff is only going to take its own toll in the
long run, too, stripping skin of necessary natural oils and leaving
behind a film of residue that’ll continue to mess with your pelt as the
day goes on. So get yourself something at least half-decent. Bonus
points if it’s got an exfoliant.
6. Not Staying Active
Fun fact: working out won’t only keep your muscles taut, but it’ll also do the same for your skin. That is, exercise has been shown to keep skin looking healthier
for longer by improving blood flow to the outer layers, which in turn
boosts oxygen levels and sweeps away harmful waste products. One more
reason you need to re-up your gym membership.
7. Stressing the Hell Out
Over the years, scientists discovered
that stress, and the elevated cortisol levels that goes along with it,
can be tied to anything from heart disease and hypertension to decline
in libido levels, erectile dysfunction, and so much more. So it’s not at
all surprising that stress can mess with the skin, further decreasing
collagen over time. That said, it’s nonetheless true.
8. Not Eating The Right Stuff
The
good: omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, low-glycemic meals,
Vitamins A, C, and E. The bad: inflammatory foods, sugary snacks,
high-fat meat. You are what you eat, as they say.
9. Drinking More Than Your Fair Share
Ever noticed how heavy drinkers tend to look that much older than their teetotaling counterparts? Well, consider that mystery solved.
10. Lighting Up, Obviously
Seriously, you need another f*%king reason to quit smoking?
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