5 Simple Skincare Habits to Prevent Premature Aging
Do you ever catch a glimpse in the mirror and notice fine lines or wrinkles showing up earlier than you expected? The first signs of aging skin often appear around the eyes or across the forehead, leaving many of us thinking it’s just part of “getting older.” But here’s the truth: only 20% of skin aging is caused by natural age. The other 80% comes from external factors like sun exposure, pollution, and lifestyle choices.
That means you have way more control over how your skin looks and feels than you might realize. By making a few simple changes, you can protect your skin, delay wrinkles, and maintain a youthful, radiant glow for years to come.
In this post, I’ll share 5 proven skincare habits to protect your skin from premature aging and the best part is, you can start them today.
Wash your face morning and night.
Drink enough water
Exfoliate your skin
Use an eye cream
Use a broad spectrum SPF
You don’t need a 10-step routine
A good cleanser and moisturizer are a perfect place to start
Wash your face morning and night.
Cleansing your skin twice daily is one of the most effective anti-aging steps you can take. Throughout the day, your face collects dirt, oil, sweat, and makeup residue. Skipping your evening cleanse means all that buildup stays on your skin overnight, clogging pores and preventing your skin from properly repairing itself.
Think of it like brushing your teeth consistent care prevents long-term damage. Washing your face helps keep your skin fresh, balanced, and better prepared to absorb your moisturizer and treatments.
Stay Hydrated by Drinking Enough Water
Healthy, hydrated skin starts from within. Since our bodies are more than 60% water, not drinking enough can quickly show up on our skin as dryness, dullness, or fine lines.
Experts now recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water daily. For example, if you weigh 160 pounds, aim for 80 ounces.
Tips for drinking more water:
Carry a reusable water bottle everywhere.
Infuse water with fruit or herbs for natural flavor.
Set hourly reminders on your phone.
Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge.
Staying hydrated supports your overall health while giving your skin that plump, youthful look.
Exfoliate your skin
Exfoliation is the secret to smoother, brighter skin. Your skin naturally sheds dead cells, but sometimes they linger, causing a dull, rough appearance. By exfoliating, you gently remove this buildup, allowing fresh new skin to shine through.
Benefits of exfoliation include:
Softer, smoother skin
Reduced appearance of fine lines
Better absorption of skincare products
You can exfoliate at home with gentle scrubs, chemical exfoliators, or dermatologist-recommended products. Just be sure to choose one that fits your skin type and avoid over-exfoliating, which can cause irritation.
Use an eye cream
You may have noticed that as we age, we start to form those lines around our eyes. They can start to form years before we think or even want them. Because who wants those crows feet? You're probably wondering why we get them anyway. Especially so early.
The skin around our eyes is only 1/4th of the thickness vs the rest of the skin on our face. Think of that eye area like tissue paper. It’s very thin, fragile and delicate. This area also has fewer oil glands so it lacks hydration.
It also lacks hydration because a lot of moisturizers say, “avoid the eye area.” A facial moisturizer isn’t formulated to be used in this area of your face. Many women use the same moisturizer for their eyes that is used on the rest of their face. Unfortunately, that can leave the eyes looking puffy.
So I suggest adding an eye cream to your daily skincare routine. You can start this at any age. The sooner the better, but it’s never too late to start. This gives your eyes a boost of the hydration it needs.
How to apply eye cream:
Apply a small pea size on your ring finger
Then gently pat, NOT RUB, along the bone surrounding your eyes. Yes, even your eyebrow. It’s all connected and it starts from the top.
Once it’s applied let it dry and absorb before applying eye makeup
Use after washing your face morning & night
Because around our eyes show the first signs of aging, adding an eye cream can delay that process. We want hydrated grape eyes, not raisin eyes.
Get an award winning, Good Housekeeping Seal of approval eye cream
Protect Your Skin with SPF
If there’s one step you absolutely cannot skip, it’s broad-spectrum sunscreen. Sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging, including wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark spots. Even on cloudy days—or indoors—your skin is exposed to harmful UVA and UVB rays.
UVB rays: Cause sunburns and surface-level damage.
UVA rays: Penetrate deeper into the skin, leading to wrinkles and long-term damage (even from indoor lighting and screens).
Dermatologists recommend wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every single day. Make it part of your morning skincare routine, just like brushing your teeth.
Take Control of Your Skin’s Future
Remember, only 20% of aging skin is due to natural age. The other 80% is in your control. By creating healthy skincare habits today: washing your face, staying hydrated, exfoliating, using an eye cream, and applying SPF daily. You’re protecting your skin for years to come.
It’s never too late (or too early) to start caring for your skin. Small, consistent steps make the biggest difference.
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