I recently
noticed a friend of mine, declaring on her social media page – ‘Life begins at
30!’ It was her birthday. In reply to this, a female friend of hers wrote – ‘…
and so do wrinkles and all the other perils of ageing’.
Today I’d
like to talk about our bad habits that contribute to the visible
signs of ageing. So, let’s become aware of a fact first, before we talk about
the bad habits.
Fact: The
first wrinkle or the first grey hair is only a visible sign of the ageing
process. Their appearance on your body is a mere visible indication only. In
fact after the age of 25, the body begins to degenerate gradually and this is
visible later, at about the age of 30.
Note: The
bodies of different people function differently. So you may find your wrinkles appearing
on your siblings or best friends appear well after the age of 35. So don’t go
by what you see on others. You may age earlier than them. Your genes determine when
these changes will be visible on you.
Certain
habits that most of us adapt to regularly contribute the ageing process to a
great extent. Not only do these age you, but they play a great role in making
you look older than you are and at a premature stage. See for yourself whether
these habits are part of your regular life.
1. Don’t be too skinny: Leading dermatologists opine that loss of
facial fat causes sagging and a gaunt, aged appearance.
Also, going
on crash diets or starving is a big no-no. If your sudden and immense weight
loss is due to an illness, consult a doctor for a healthy diet regimen, which
you can follow to cope with the subsequent weight loss.
2. Don’t rub, pull or tug on sensitive areas:
Vigorous pulling, tugging and rubbing on delicate skin around the eyes can
cause darkness of the skin.
3. Don’t under sleep: The skin restores and rejuvenates itself on
its own at night, while you’re sleeping. It repairs itself, so anti-aging
products can penetrate better. Also less sleep is harmful for your body clock
as well, that imparts a tired and dull look on your face.
4. Don’t sleep on your side: Sleeping on
the side may seem cosy and comfortable, but it’s not too good for your skin, as
this leads to wrinkles along your neck area. Also, sleeping on the stomach is
not advisable, as pressing your face for 8 hours against a pillow can break
down the skin, causing wrinkles. As a rule, always sleep on your back.
5. Don’t sip/ smoke: We all know smoking
wreaks havoc with our bodies and kills us. Sipping out of a straw also speeds
the ageing process around your mouth area, leading to fine lines and deeper
laughing lines.
6. Don’t live with stress: Stress is part
of our lives today, but it’s important to learn to unwind and leave your
worries for good. Exercise, music, a book that you’ll die for, a vacation or
some quality time with kids, friends and family can do wonders for your body
and skin. You can also give meditation, a relaxing massage a shot to relieve the stress. Develop an outlet to let go of the stress in your life.
7. Don’t forget the sunscreen: Sun
protection is a must for everyone today, considering the pollution levels and
the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays on our skin. If your work requires
you to remain outdoors for 90% of your day, re-apply the sunscreen after every
3-4 hours. Also go for a higher SPF. Ideally, an SPF of 30 is good for women who
are indoors most of the time.
Note: Computers
and mobile phones also emit radiation that is damaging for your skin. Use a
good sunscreen if your sin is sensitive.
8. Don’t ditch the Elixir: Water is a magic
potion and if you notice fine lines on your face, far before your 30th
birthday, then it’s time to hydrate yourself. Dehydrated and moisture less skin ages
faster. So drink, drink and drink.
9. Don’t forget sunglasses: When you’r out in the sun, wear sunglasses always. Repeated squinting can easily lead to
wrinkles and lines around the eye area. Sunlight can also cause pigmentation,
if your eye area is exposed.
10 . Don’t forget the moisturizer: As we
age, our skin becomes loose and drier. The dryness happens because the skin
produces lesser oil. So the cardinal rule is to moisturize. And you must not
only moisturize your face. Pay special attention to your hands and neck as they
reflect your age, much more than your face. So now you know why most actresses and
old women flaunt a taut facial skin, but ragged and loose skin on their neck
and hands.
And your body needs some moisture too! If not a cream, then you can surely treat with oil, cant you, beautiful ladies?
So these were the common habits that play a major role behind the fine lines you spot on your face, one fine day. Take care not to continue these habits to flaunt a youthful and glowing skin all the time. Stay radiant Ladies! :)
Images sourced from Google.
