10 silent agers Surprising things you didn’t know were making you look older

Surprising things you didn’t know were ageing you

it’s well known that the main causes of wrinkles and dull, older-looking skin are the sun, pollution and genetics, but did you know that supposedly harmless everyday habits could make you look older than you actually are? Here’s how a few tweaks to your lifestyle and beauty routine could turn back time.

Your tiredness

The classic sign of tiredness is yawning, which often causes your eyes to water, which can contribute to swelling and puffiness. Over time, the extra fluid weakens elasticity and stretches the skin under the eyes, accelerating under-eye bags and wrinkles. Solution: Get your beauty sleep and counteract under-eye puff with an eye cream that contains skintightening caffeine. Try: Revitalift Laser X3 Eye Cream, $44.95, L’oréal Paris.

Your expressions

Repeated facial expressions contribute to wrinkles. Yes, your face is meant to move, but it’s best to avoid unnecessary frowning and squinting. Solution: Always wear sunglasses when outside. Brightness causes squinting, which can lead to increased crinkling around the eyes. Try: Shield the delicate skin around the eyes with UV protection sunglasses.

Your driving

If you think you don’t need SPF when you’re in your car, think again. UVA rays are responsible for changing the DNA in the skin, causing premature skin ageing and skin cancer. They have much the same strength from summer to winter and can penetrate through clouds and windows in your home, office or car. Solution: Play it safe by wearing sunscreen every day.

Try: Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 30+ Mattifying, $69, Ultraceuticals.

Your concealer

Using concealer that’s too heavy under your eyes in an attempt to cover dark circles only ends up accentuating wrinkles, making you look older. Solution: Ditch the opaque and cakey kind of concealer and switch to a lightweight formula that will correct and brighten skin discolouration, instead of completely covering it up.

Try: Radiant Lift Long Lasting Radiance Concealer, $27.95, Max Factor.

Your backcombing

Extra fullness is great, especially if your hair is fine or feels thinner than it once was. But lots of backcombing will make your hair look helmet-like and dated. Solution: To thicken the look of your hair, apply a volumising cream before blowdrying or styling. If your hair is coloured, use one which also gives heat and colour protection.

Try: Kerasilk Repower Volume Plumping Cream, $34.95, Goldwell Kerasilk.

Your circulation

Blood flow starts to lag with age, which is partly why skin loses its healthy glow and radiance. Solution: To give it a little boost, take a hands-on approach to skin care by gently massaging your face with an exfoliating scrub once a week, or investing in regular facials. The better your blood flows, the better your skin will look.

Try: Eternal Youth Skin Polishing Exfoliant, $29.95, Dr. Lewinn’s.

Take care of your inner spiritual beauty. That will reflect in your face DOLORES DEL RIO, ACTRESS

Your blusher

If, in an attempt to brighten up your complexion, you’ve been applying a bright pink blusher, stop! Blush that’s too strong or obvious can make you look like you’re trying too hard to look younger. Solution: Go for a hint of rosy cheek colour in a sheer formulation and blend well.

Try: Just A Touch Lip & Cheek

Tint in Signorita, $29.95, Luma.

Your mindset

Any major source of stress in your life can cause inflammation, which accelerates skin ageing. Highs and lows are a normal part of life and you can’t control them, but you can work on how you process, respond and handle stress. Solution: Reduce stress levels by getting good quality sleep, exercising and meditating. Also, use the healing power of essential oils to rebalance the mind, body and soul (see page 140 for a DIY guide).

Try: Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser, $59.95, Natio.

Your sensitive skin

Irritations, rashes, severe dryness and allergic reactions are stressors, which can thin skin and contribute to ageing. Solution: If your skin tends to be reactive, seek out products formulated for sensitive types. Look for words such as “hypoallergenic” and steer clear of potential irritants: alpha hydroxy acids, fragrance, retinoids and alcohol. Try: Day Protector Tinted BB Cream, $32.95, Avène.

Your hairstyle

Very short hair is easy to manage, but it can look severe. Also, pulling your hair back into a ponytail at the nape of your neck might look sophisticated, but it’s dated.

Solution: If you like to wear your hair tied back, move it up about five centimetres for a more youthful look. To achieve lovely locks, keep a little length and enlist the help of styling products. Try: Leave-in Cream with Pomegranate, $19.95, Klorane.

You don’t need a new day to start over. a new mindset HAZEL HIRA OZBEK, AUTHOR