If you're anything like me, you have no problem embracing the fact that you're getting older. (Of course, it does give you a warm fuzzy feeling every time you get carded trying to buy a bottle of wine.) Since I've become a woman of a certain age, I've been more conscious about doing everything I can to prevent the signs of aging on my face, from staying out of the sun to slathering on the anti-aging cream. But there are some surprising habits that can cause facial wrinkles that you might not be aware of.
Although wrinkles may be in the future for all of us, there are some things you can do right now, to put them off for a little while longer. The way you sleep, the food you eat, and even the way you apply your makeup could actually be adding years to your look.
So take a few steps away from your screen, put down that glass of wine, and check out this list of surprising habits you may have that could be causing your skin to wrinkle. Trust me, giving up a few of these habits now is totally worth it, and will save you a ton of money on Botox later.
1
Sleeping On Your Stomach
According to Good Housekeeping, letting your face hit the pillow at night can cause wrinkles. Sleeping your back is the best way to keep skin smooth. But if you have to sleep on your stomach or side, it's best to use a satin pillow case.
2
Chewing Gum
According to Women's Health, chewing gum can cause wrinkles around your lower mouth. Try swapping for hard candy or limiting the amount of gum you chew weekly.
3
Spending Too Much Time On The Phone
Being attached to your cell phone could be causing damage to your skin, as mentioned in Allure. Not only can staring down at the phone can cause wrinkles under the chin, squinting at the screen can lead to wrinkling around the eyes.
4
Drinking Alcohol
Before you pour another glass of vino, you should know that alcohol dehydrates the skin, which will eventually cause the skin to lose elasticity and form wrinkles, as mentioned on Stylecaster.
5
Sitting Too Close To The Screen
Everyone's heard how sitting too close to the computer can affect eye sight, but squinting at screens can also cause wrinkles in the skin around the eyes, as mentioned in Good Housekeeping.
6
Smoking Cigarettes
If you need another reason to quit smoking, pursing your lips to take a drag from a cigarette can cause fine lines around the mouth, according to Prevention. Also, smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, which can add years to your face.
7
Eating Too Much Sugar
Eating refined sugar leads to a process called glycation, as mentioned in Women's Health. In this process, the sugar in your bloodstream latches on to the collagen and elastin in your skin, causing them to become stiff, which eventually leads to fine lines and wrinkles.
8
Forgetting The Sunscreen
Even if you're only out in the sun for a little while, sunscreen is super important. According to Prevention, leaving the house without sunscreen can cause damage to your skin. In fact, people who drive without applying sunscreen often have more wrinkles on the left side of their face.
9
Making Faces
According to the Mayo Clinic, laugh lines are definitely a thing. When you laugh, smile, or frown, grooves form underneath the skin's surface. Unfortunately, as you get older, the skin loses elasticity, leaving those grooves there for good.
10
Picking Your Zits
Yes, zits are annoying, but it's best to resist the temptation to pop them. As mentioned in Women's Health, pulling at your skin to pop a zit can cause wrinkles in the long run.
11
Sleeping In Makeup
Dermatologist Jeannette Graf told Stylecaster that sleeping in foundation can cause the breakdown of collagen and cause wrinkles.
