Some people make themselves age faster with stress, lack of sleep, poor habits, sleeping positions, unhealthy diets, bad posture, damaging hairstyles, and emotional depletion. Other people quietly glide through life looking younger than their years because they know this:
Youthfulness is not just physical. It’s also behavioral, emotional, and mental.
The best part is that you don’t have to dye your hair, get cosmetic procedures, or try to meet unrealistic beauty standards to look young. Most of the time, making a few slight adjustments can soften your skin, brighten your eyes, and allow you to look more vibrant, attractive, and ALIVE.
13 Daily Habits That Make You Look Younger
1. Getting Quality Sleep Every Night
Sleeping is one of the easiest ways to age your face. You can spend all of the money in the world on serums, face masks, makeup, and “anti aging” products, but if you’re dragging yourself out of bed every morning, your skin is eventually going to suffer.
Our body repairs skin cells, balances hormones, and decreases inflammation while we sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your skin becomes vulnerable to dark circles, dullness, puffiness, bags, fatigue, and tension, which all age you even more.
Consistent poor sleeping patterns can even worsen fine lines over time because your body isn’t able to fully recover from stress.
I didn’t realize how much your face can change after one or two nights of good sleep until I started paying attention. Sleep improves your skin complexion, brightness of your eyes, and overall energy you carry. Working on your nighttime routines and sleep hygiene can really help you look and feel younger.
Read also: 8 Bad Habits That Make You Age Quickly Without You Realizing It
2. Drinking Enough Water
Honestly, not drinking enough water is one of those sneaky things that ages you faster than you realize. When your body doesn’t have enough water, your skin can look dry, tired, lackluster, and lose elasticity. Fine lines also become more prominent when you’re dehydrated.
Think of water as moisturizer from the inside out. Hydrated skin will always look fuller and more alive than dried out skin. Drinking enough water can help your skin retain elasticity, promote healthy circulation, and allow your body to flush out toxins much easier. Even your lips and eyes look more hydrated when you’re drinking enough H2O. You don’t need to survive off of water alone, but it does matter.
So many people spend thousands of dollars trying to “fix” dull skin when the problem was dehydration all along. Drinking less coffee, alcohol, and sugary drinks can help if you struggle with this. Combining hydration with a nutrient dense diet will also show on your skin.
Read also: 12 Reasons Why Older Men Like Younger Women
3. Handling Stress Better
When I talk about stress, I don’t mean the occasional rush you get from running errands on a busy day. Long term stressful thoughts and emotions are what can age you rapidly. You can sometimes even tell someone’s age by looking into their eyes and seeing how they carry themselves.
Chronic stress causes your body to produce higher amounts of cortisol, the stress hormone. Over time, cortisol can lead to acne, breakouts, inflammation, wrinkle promoting tension, fatigue, hair loss, and more. Stress also wrecks havoc on your sleep schedules and diet, which indirectly ages you as well.
You don’t have to live a stress free life, though I wish we all could, but learning how to control your emotions will help more than you think. Exercise, journaling, prayer, meditation, deep breathing, taking digital breaks, and practicing gratitude are all great ways to slow your body down. Building better stress management skills can really show on your face.
Read also: How to Calm Stress in Just 3 Minutes
4. Wearing Clothes That Fit Well
Another thing I wish people would understand is that dressing young doesn’t mean wearing your clothes super tight or like you’re thirteen. When I say wearing clothes that fit you well, I mean clothing that compliments your shape and enhances your natural features.
Baggy, oversized, shapeless, frumpy, or old clothing can make you appear older whether you realize it or not. Having clothing that has clean cuts, fits your frame, and balances your proportions will make you instantly look younger. Wearing clothes that fit your body also makes you exude more confidence. Confidence is always sexy and keeps you looking young.
I’m not saying go out and buy an entire new wardrobe. But if you have any clothes that are visibly outdated or don’t fit you properly, get rid of them. You don’t have to follow every trend, but keeping your clothing updated will help you look modern.
5. Taking Care of Your Skin
Throw away that 10 step Instagram skincare routine you spent way too much money on. Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Simple things such as washing your face with a gentle cleanser, moisturizing regularly, applying sunscreen, changing your pillowcase often, and limiting harsh face washes can improve your complexion over time. Sun damage is huge when it comes to premature wrinkles and aging.
Skin that is well taken care of will naturally make you look younger than skin that isn’t. You don’t have to wear makeup every day, but making sure you’re cleansing your face from pollution, dirt, and sweat is key. The better you treat your skin, the better it will repay you with youthfulness.
6. Smiling
You know how some people look mad all of the time? Or like they just woke up unhappy? Your facial expressions really do play a big part in your appearance.
Smiling brightens your face up instantly. Not only will smiling make you look younger, but it’ll make you appear more welcoming and inviting. People are naturally drawn to others who smile and exude positive energy. Smiling doesn’t mean forcing fake giggles all day long. It means allowing yourself to be happy and experience joy whenever you can. Let go of that chip on your shoulder and smile more.
7. Having Good Posture
Bad posture is one of those things that really ages you. How often do you catch yourself looking at someone and thinking how tired they look? Probably because they’re hunched over looking at their phone.
Good posture can change your whole appearance. It opens up your body, allows you to breathe better, and you’ll look more alert and awake. I’ve noticed such a big difference in the way I look when I practice better posture throughout my day. When you sit up straight, you look younger.
Sitting at a desk all day can really do a number on your posture. Make sure you take breaks, stretch, and practice good posture as much as possible.
8. Keeping Your Hair Fresh
Hair can also play a factor in how old you look. Having dry, brittle, damaged, or dated hairstyles can make you appear older than you really are.
Changing your hair up and keeping it fresh can make such a big difference in your overall appearance. Make sure you’re getting regular trimmings to avoid split ends, using moisturizing products, and trying hairstyles that enhance your features. There’s nothing wrong with changing up your look and trying fun hairstyles as often as you’d like.
Color also plays a big role when it comes to aging. If your hair is over processed or has extremely harsh brassy tones, it can make you look older. There’s nothing wrong with adding color to your hair, but I would stick to cooler toned shades or find a salon that can create a natural looking result.
I’m not saying change your hair to “look young.” I’m saying change your hair if it will make YOU feel happy and rejuvenated.
9. Moving Your Body
Exercise is another one of those things that can impact every category on this list. Whether you’re going to the gym, taking walks, practicing yoga, or going hiking outside, movement is important!
I used to get down on myself for not being a “go hard or go home at the gym” type of person. But once I realized that any movement was better than no movement at all, I changed my mindset.
Exercising helps with better circulation, healthier skin, improved posture, energy, toned muscles, and mental health. When you move your body, you encourage a consistent flow of blood to every cell in your body. This helps feed your skin and allows it to become more glowy on the outside.
Not to mention, when you exercise, your body starts to move differently. You have more energy, better stability, improved posture, and you feel more confident. Everything I mentioned above connects to how old or young you look to others.
10. Eating Nutrient Dense Foods
Have you ever noticed how some people have bad skin, dull hair, low energy, and always look swollen or tired? More than half of the time, it’s due to their diet.
Processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy meals can cause bloating, breakouts, dullness, puffiness, and more. Opting for foods that are nutrient dense will not only help you heal inside but on the outside as well. Some of my favorite skin saving nutrients are antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins, and protein.
You don’t have to be perfect or cut out your favorite foods completely. Just know that the more you fill your body with whole foods, the better you’ll begin to feel and look. Eating cleaner helps your body produce more collagen, repair damage from the inside, and reduce inflammation.
11. Limiting Alcohol and Stopping Smoking
Now this one is pretty self explanatory. There’s a reason smokers age so much faster than nonsmokers.
Smoking dulls your skin, dehydrates you, which we already talked about, and can even slow down collagen production. Just like with lack of water, alcohol is dehydrating, which causes puffiness, redness, and dry skin.
Try your best to avoid these habits if you want to look and feel younger. I’m not perfect by any means, but I promise you’ll see a change once you start limiting these habits.
12. Staying Mentally Young
Some people carry so much emotional weight around with them that they look older than they actually are. Other people tend to glide through life while staying youthful because they choose to.
How you think and process information plays a key role in your youthful appearance. Your mindset will affect your facial expressions, energy, conversations, and overall aura. As long as you stay mentally prepared for whatever life throws your way, you’ll naturally appear younger.
I can’t stress enough how important emotional health is when trying to have a youthful appearance. If you’re always stressed, bitter, angry, and consumed with negative energy, you’ll slowly start to reflect that on the outside.
Stay young at heart and continue to take care of your mental and emotional wellbeing.
13. Surrounding Yourself With Positive People
Last but not least, the energy you surround yourself with can make or break your ageless appearance.
If you’re constantly around negative people or in toxic environments, you’ll naturally bring that energy with you wherever you go. You’ll feel drained, more stressed, and emotionally exhausted.
Surrounding yourself with good people will allow you to feel lighter, happier, and emotionally balanced. When you’re emotionally your best, your outside will reflect that.
You probably noticed how your friend or family member started glowing when they decided to cut that toxic person out of their life. Energy REALLY does transfer between people, so make sure you’re taking care of your mental and emotional health.
Conclusion
More times than not, looking younger is about the little things you do every day. Your skin, hair, posture, clothes, diet, and how you handle daily stress play a major role in how young you perceive yourself and others to look.
Sleeping better, drinking water, exercising, eating cleaner, staying hydrated, and improving your daily skincare habits are just a few ways you can start looking and feeling younger. Become obsessed with feeling your best instead of trying to look a certain way.
You’re young at heart and you know it. Let your inner youth shine through!
FAQ
What naturally makes you look younger?
There are many healthy lifestyle habits that can make you look younger, but here are a few: drinking water, exercising, eating healthy, taking care of your skin, limiting stress, and handling stress.
Will drinking water make me look younger?
Yes! Drinking water will hydrate your skin from the inside out. Staying hydrated helps your skin look more awake, plump, and healthy.
What should you not do if you don’t want to look older?
There are many things, but a few are: smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, not drinking enough water, letting stress consume you, not sleeping enough, and neglecting your skin.
Can stress make you look older?
Absolutely. Stress can cause you to lose sleep, show on your skin through acne and dullness, and deplete your emotions.
Does your diet affect how old you look?
Most definitely! What you put into your body shows on the outside. Eating nutrient dense foods can help you look more vibrant and heal your body from the inside out.
Does exercise make you look younger?
Regular exercise can improve your posture, allow for better blood circulation to your skin, and leave you with more energy.
Can bad posture make you look older?
Yes! Poor posture can make you look slouchy and tired. Good posture allows you to look alert and ready to take on the day.
Does staying hydrated help you look younger?
Yes! Hydration helps your skin look brighter and fuller.
What foods make you look younger?
Foods that are rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and protein will benefit your skin and help you look younger. Some examples are berries, leafy greens, salmon, nuts, avocados, eggs, etc.
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