We’ve all been there: waking up one morning and catching ourselves in the mirror to the horror that we’ve aged overnight.

Let’s face facts here: it happens to us all. But when the time does eventually come, we’d like to age as gracefully as we possibly can. With that in mind, have you ever considered that elements of your day-to-day life might be deterring you from that eternal youthful glow you desire so?

Many of us are lovers of makeup and use it as a means of expressing ourselves as well as feeling more confident about our self-image. But have we ever considered whether makeup contributes to the ageing of our skin?

In this article, we will delve into a few of the major aggressors that can inhibit our skin, offering our insights into how you can do all that you can to look fresh as a daisy, from today and into your future.

Thankfully, some of the more obvious factors, such as a poor sleep schedule, can be more controlled.

1. Lack of sleep

Our bodies depend on a good night’s sleep to relieve any day’s stresses through rest and recovery. Many parts of our body are directly affected by not catching enough Z’s, and with our skin finding itself at the top of the list for largest organs of the body, it is no wonder that it takes a hit.

A nightmare has become a reality: studies suggest that lack of sleep can make us look significantly older than we are. Sleep allows the skin to rest, breathe from external aggressors, and have time to re-set itself. And since lack of sleep can also raise the level of the stress hormone cortisol, which is a high contributor to premature aging, you may want to think again before watching one more episode on Netflix.

Dos: Exercise throughout the day and a few hours before you go to bed. Ensure you are having at least seven hours of unbroken sleep every single night, and try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day to get into a routine.

Don’ts: This can be far more easily said than done in our digital age, but try with every fiber of your body to avoid looking at your phone an hour before settling down to sleep.

2. Neglecting to remove your makeup properly before bed

Thankfully, makeup alone has been proven to not cause ageing, but leaving it on for extended periods of time is not something your skin will take lightly.

Ladies, we’re all guilty of these lazy moments, especially after a few glasses (or bottle) of wine. But falling asleep still covered in makeup is a sacrilege act we must do our utmost to avoid.

Doing so can form an occlusive barrier in the skin, causing the infamous three ‘b’s that send shivers down our spines: blockages, blemishes, and breakouts. And you know what the three ‘b’s lead to, right? Dullness.

Dos: Using a cotton pad, lather your face in a gentle makeup remover such as Micellar oil. Then use a natural wash-off cleanser to completely free your skin from any remaining grime before snuggling into your pillow.

Don’ts: Avoid using standard wipes where you can. When it comes to your skin, it is often the quickest’ fixes’ that are the least effective. However, if you are exhausted after a long day at work, a face wipe is better than nothing at all. Give yourself a break.

3. Cleansing your face too often

Oh no – who knew washing your face could be a double-edged sword?

It has been found that rubbing our faces too often can accelerate skin aging. For example, rubbing your eyes frequently has been found to contribute to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eye area.

Each of us is beautifully unique in our way, from head to toe. That said, it’s essential to choose a cleansing product dependent on your skin type.

Oily skin takes well to gel-based solutions, while those with sensitive skin should be more inclined to more natural-based substances such as cleansing milk.

Dos: Twice a day is all you need: once in the morning before applying moisturizer and makeup, and once in the evening after removing your makeup. It’s that simple! For a flawless, fresh glow to your complexion, take at least a minute to really massage the cleanser into your skin.

Don’ts: Using hot water can be harsh for the skin. Keep it tepid, and you’re safe.

4. An inconsistent skincare routine

It is crucial to up your beauty game if you aren’t yet submerging yourself into in a stringent daily skincare routine. Having an inconsistent skincare routine is detrimental to your skin’s healthy appearance probably more than any other factor. Just think of looking after your face like it’s a daily walk or cooking your dinner. It’s self-improvement, and your skin is hungry.

Dos: having great skin doesn’t have to be laborious nor cost a month’s wages. Keeping your routine sweet and straightforward with a cleanser and a moisturizer is often a contender when it comes to combatting the skin ageing processes.

Cleansing your skin thoroughly (especially at the end of the day) means removing traces of makeup and pollutants is such an important step.

Dermatologists have found that the environment causes up to 80% of aging factors. Mother nature is very rarely on our side – is she?

Don’t worry; you haven’t read our above tips and tricks in vain. They will still help you on your journey towards an eternal glow.

When it comes to environmental factors, while we may have less control over environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays from that big ball of fire we all know as the sun, there are some things you can do to help slow down the effects.

5. Increased sun exposure

It’s more pertinent than ever to apply sun cream to sun-exposed areas such as the face and neck. This is after your newly developed delicious skin routine (you’re welcome).

We were all lectured as children about the importance of wearing sun cream, and your parents weren’t lying. Increased sun exposure can be dangerously harmful to your skin, causing redness, peeling, pigmented spots, wrinkles, and rough skin.

Dos: Stock up on the SPF – the higher, the better.

Don’ts: It’s obvious this one, right? Look after your lovely skin in our heating up world. Sorry, sun worshippers: that means avoiding sitting in the sun all day. Don’t pull that old trick of ‘falling asleep in the sun’ – not only is it not worth it for the sake of your skin ageing, but too much sun exposure can put you at risk of much more sinister conditions, such as skin cancer.

6. Ignoring the Impact of Pollution on Your Skincare

Honestly, ladies, it may be hard to believe that this is a genuine thing, but it truly is. Since none of us are blessed with x-ray vision, it can be hard to see pollution and bacteria with the naked eye, making our combat against it all the more difficult.

What’s more, these floaters can bury themselves into our skin and cause us problems without us even realising! How utterly horrifying!

Do’s: Look for skincare products rich in antioxidants such as baicalin. They act like a shield against environmental aggressors, stopping them from infiltrating the skin. Skincare is an army force that can battle aggressors and protect your complexion day to day.

Don’ts: This one is for makeup lovers. It’s sad, we know. But you should try your very best to avoid touching up makeup such as concealer, foundation, and bronzer as the day goes on, as this could push pollutants further into the skin. Use a solid setting spray to complete your makeup routine to ensure that your makeup stays nice and fresh all day.

The bottom line, ladies, try to prioritize looking after your skin and tell your daughters to do the same from as young an age that they possible can. Your future selves will thank you for it.