BAD BEAUTY HABITS THAT ARE AGEING YOU.

An eternally youthful complexion is something we’d all love the secret to. But unfortunately, as we age, our skin does, too. 

The good news is that a great skincare routine, healthy diet and plenty of water can help reverse the signs of ageing. So, if you want to know how to look younger, these three simple things are sure to help. 

But what about the things that are ageing us every day? The things that we don’t even realise are ageing us? 

Even those of us that take great care of our skin can be guilty of bad beauty habits, and so this blog post is for everyone - not just the serial skincare offenders. I’m looking at you, the ‘I don’t always take my makeup off before bed’, crew. Shameful behaviour!

I’m kidding. But seeing as we’re on the subject of sleeping in makeup, this skincare sin seems like the perfect place to begin...

1. Not taking makeup off before bed 

Failing to remove makeup before bed - even if it’s just occasionally - is so, so, so bad for your skin. And aside from the obvious issue of causing breakouts, it’s also one of the biggest causes of premature ageing. 

Our skin cells naturally renew and regenerate whilst we sleep, and the presence of makeup lingering on the surface or our skin prevents this process from occurring. And as a result, our complexions look tired & dull. 

Want to know how to make your skin look younger? Start by always taking your makeup off before bed. I'm actually going to share another blog post all about the best products for removing makeup, so be sure to check that out when it goes live. In the meantime, though, take a look at my blog post 'Lacura Pink Clay Hot Cloth Cleanser Review.' I love this product and it's so affordable!

Skincare is so important, and taking off makeup before bed is absolutely essential when establishing a great skincare routine

2. Not wearing SPF 

We know a lot more about sun damage than we used to - for instance, the fact that the sun still damages our skin even when it isn’t actually sunny. 

Which is why it’s absolutely imperative that we wear SPF every single day. 

Not wearing SPF is without question one of the worst things you can do to your skin. So, if you haven’t already, then now is the time to introduce a daily SPF moisturiser to your skincare routine. 

I am currently using the CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion With SPF 25, and it’s great (My CeraVe Facial Moisturising Lotion With SPF25 Review can be read here.) One thing that often puts people off when buying SPF face creams is how heavy they can be - which can then result in blocked pores. The good news is that this one is completely non-comedogenic, so you don’t need to worry about any pesky spots surfacing. Phewph.

Wearing SPF every day is so important - don't just save it for when it's sunny!

3. Not exfoliating 

Exfoliating the skin helps encourage cell turnover, all whilst sloughing away any grime and dead skin cells that may be lurking on the surface of our skin. 

This process helps keep our skin looking radiant and youthful, encouraging our complexions to glow, all whilst minimising the appearance of pores and fine lines. 

So, if you want to make skin look younger without Botox or fillers, frequent exfoliation is the perfect place to start. One of my favourite physical exfoliators is the Super Facialist Vitamin C Daily Face Polish. You can read my Super Facialist Vitamin C Daily Face Polish Review here. I also love the Botanics Radiant Youth Micordermabrasion Polish. I'm currently using this face scrub twice a week and it's honestly fabulous, especially considering it costs just £9.99.

4. Using Products with a high alcohol content 

Unless you have super oily, blemish prone skin, then it’s important to avoid drying skincare products. 

Products with a high alcohol content often do more harm than good - stripping the skin of its natural oils and ultimately dehydrating the skin, resulting in dryness, fine lines and more. 

I highly recommend Facetheory skincare products as they are completely vegan and cruelty-free, which I love.  What's more, all of the products are fortified with acids and retinol, meaning that all of the ingredients used are genuinely beneficial to the skin - unlike skincare products that are filled with alcohol.

5. Drinking alcohol regularly 

But applying alcohol directly to the skin isn’t the only problem. 

Drinking alcohol on a regular basis is hugely detrimental to our skin, too.

Alcohol contains inflammatory properties and actually prevents the skin from absorbing essential nutrients and vitamins - in particular, vitamin A, which contains valuable antioxidants. 

Nobody is saying you can’t enjoy the occasional Prosecco - we all love a fizz every now and again! Just be sure to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum and always counteract with lots of water. 

6. Heavy Foundation 

Thick, cakey foundation is fast losing its appeal, with more and more of us opting for a fresh, dewy makeup look, instead. 

But If you are still wearing a heavy foundation, then it may be time to review your makeup routine. 

Thick foundation - and in particular matte foundation - is super dehydrating, which means the skin is stripped of moisture and therefore looks dry and dull. 

If you're looking for a new foundation, then I highly recommend the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation. It's super lightweight, but still provides a beautiful, seamless coverage. It's a real beauty cult classic, and for good reason. 

7. Not getting enough sleep

‘Beauty sleep’ isn’t just a turn of phrase - it’s a real thing! As I said earlier, our skin repairs itself whilst we sleep, which is why it’s so important to get at least 8 hours each night. 

Not getting enough sleep doesn’t just make us feel tired, but it makes us look tired too. And over time, that lack of rest begins to take a real toll on our skin. 

8. Smoking 

As well as being one of the leading causes of cancer, smoking is also one of the main contributors of premature ageing. 

Nicotine, along with the many other chemicals found in cigarettes are known to result in fine lines and wrinkles. And this is because nicotine causes narrowing of our blood vessels, ultimately minimising the flow of oxygen and essential nutrients to our skin cells. 

So, if you needed any more reasons to quit smoking, then here’s another for you. Wave goodbye to cigarettes, and say hello to radiant, youthful-looking skin.

Face lifts, fillers, chemical peels and other treatments are available to help reverse the affects of premature ageing and reveal a more youthful appearance. But by taking preventative steps and properly caring for your skin, you can help diminish the need for any costly procedures later on. So, be sure to establish a great skincare routine that's tailored to your needs, drink lots of water, cut back on the booze and be sure to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. 

I really hope you all enjoyed this blog post & I can't wait to share more with you all soon. In the meantime, why not check out my blog post 'How To Make Your Skin Look Younger', for more youthful skin tips.

Lots of love,

Grace x