Last week, I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror after one of those nights where Milo woke up three times and I’d fallen asleep with my face planted in Ellie’s craft supplies. The leftover glitter was not doing me any favors.
But beyond the temporary chaos, I noticed something else. Despite being in my thirties and trying to live this whole natural, low-tox lifestyle, there were lines around my eyes that seemed deeper than they should be.
And it got me thinking about all the little things we do—or don’t do—that age us faster than we’d like.
Here’s the thing: I’m not about chasing some impossible standard of ageless perfection. But I am interested in feeling vibrant and healthy, in aging gracefully rather than prematurely. And it turns out, a lot of what ages our skin has less to do with expensive creams and more to do with daily habits.
So let’s talk about nine behaviors that might be adding years to your appearance—and what you can actually do about them.
1) Skipping sun protection like it’s optional
I’ll be honest: when I was younger, I thought sunscreen was something you put on at the beach. That’s it. Regular Thursday morning? Nah.
Turns out, about 80 percent of skin aging on the face can be attributed to UV exposure. That’s huge.
Now I keep a bottle by the back door because we’re outside so much—garden time with Ellie, sandbox sessions with Milo, trips to the farmers’ market. Every single time, sunscreen goes on. Even on cloudy days.
I use a mineral-based option that doesn’t have synthetic fragrances (those give me headaches), and I make it part of our morning routine. The kids think of it like brushing teeth now—just something we do.
And here’s the kicker: UV rays don’t just cause wrinkles. They break down collagen and elastin, making skin sag and stretch. They create dark spots. They increase your risk for skin cancer.
If you do nothing else on this list, do this one. Protect your skin from the sun. Every. Single. Day.
2) Sleeping with makeup on
Remember those nights in your twenties when you’d crawl into bed without washing your face and wake up feeling fine?
Yeah, those days are over.
When you leave makeup on overnight, all those chemicals and irritants your skin was exposed to during the day get sealed in.
Your skin can’t breathe. It can’t repair itself properly. And over time, this adds up to premature aging.
I don’t wear much makeup these days—mostly because I’m home with the kids and it feels pointless. But on the rare occasions I do put some on for a workshop or a coffee date with friends, I’m religious about washing it off before bed.
Even if you don’t wear makeup, though, you should still wash your face at night. Dirt, environmental toxins, and bacteria build up throughout the day. A gentle cleanse before bed gives your skin a chance to actually regenerate while you sleep.
3) Not getting enough quality sleep
Speaking of sleep—I know, I know. Easy for me to say “get more sleep” when I have a two-year-old who thinks 5:30 AM is a reasonable wake-up time.
But here’s what I’ve learned: it’s not just about quantity. It’s about quality.
Poor sleep quality is associated with accelerated signs of aging and delayed recovery from environmental stressors. When you’re chronically sleep-deprived, your body produces more cortisol, which breaks down collagen.
For me, this means protecting whatever sleep I do get. Matt and I keep our bedroom screen-free. I do some gentle stretching before bed. We have blackout curtains. And on nights when the kids actually sleep through, I try not to stay up scrolling on my phone.
Some nights are just survival mode, and that’s okay. But making sleep a priority—even just improving the quality of the hours you do get—makes a real difference in how your skin looks and heals.
4) Smoking or vaping
I’m going to keep this one short because most of us know smoking is bad for basically everything.
But did you know that smokers at age 40 can have skin that resembles that of nonsmoking 70-year-olds? The nicotine reduces blood flow to your skin. The carbon monoxide displaces oxygen. You end up with a sallow, discolored complexion, plus deeper wrinkles—especially around the mouth.
And vaping? It’s not much better. Both expose your body to free radicals while depleting vitamins A and C, which your skin needs to produce collagen and elastin.
If you’re trying to quit, talk to your doctor about support options. Your skin will thank you, and so will the rest of your body.
5) Loading up on sugar and processed foods
This one hits close to home because I love baking with the kids. Saturday morning pancakes with Matt are a sacred tradition around here.
But there’s a difference between occasional treats and a diet loaded with refined sugar and processed foods.
Sugar prevents collagen fibers from repairing themselves, which is critical for keeping skin firm. When you eat a lot of glucose and fructose, they interact with proteins in your skin to form something called advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These make skin drier, duller, and more vulnerable to sun damage.
I try to focus on whole foods—lots of vegetables from our garden, fruit from the farmers’ market, eggs, good-quality proteins. We keep treats in the rotation because I’m not about restriction, but they’re not the foundation of what we eat.
And honestly? When I’m eating well, I can see it in my skin. It’s brighter, more resilient, less prone to those random breakouts.
6) Stressing yourself into the ground
Chronic stress is one of those invisible ageifiers that we don’t talk about enough.
When you’re constantly stressed, your body pumps out cortisol, which suppresses your immune system and breaks down collagen. Cortisol suppresses telomerase activation in immune system cells, which basically means your cells age faster.
Plus, all that forehead furrowing? Those worry lines become permanent over time.
I deal with anxiety that sometimes manifests as overthinking and obsessively checking that doors are locked. It’s something I’m working on. But I’ve learned that managing stress isn’t selfish—it’s necessary.
For me, that means morning time outside before the kids wake up. It means setting boundaries with family about parenting choices. It means asking Matt for help instead of trying to do everything myself.
Find what helps you decompress. Nature walks. Breathwork. Creative outlets. Whatever it is, make it non-negotiable.
7) Over-exfoliating or using harsh products
There’s this idea that if your skin is red or peeling, it means your skincare is “working.”
But here’s the truth: irritation ages your skin.
I learned this the hard way when I was trying to be all natural and started using a DIY scrub with salt that was way too harsh. My skin looked worse, not better.
If you’re using products that cause burning, stinging, or redness, that’s a sign you’re overdoing it. Continuous irritation makes skin look older. And scrubbing your face aggressively? That damages the skin barrier.
These days, I keep it simple: a gentle cleanser, a good moisturizer, and sunscreen. Sometimes I’ll add a little jojoba oil at night. That’s it.
Less is often more when it comes to skincare.
8) Neglecting to moisturize
Dry skin shows wrinkles more prominently. It’s just a fact.
When I transitioned to more natural products, I was so focused on avoiding toxins that I sometimes forgot the basics. But keeping your skin hydrated is one of the simplest things you can do to maintain a youthful appearance.
I make a simple body butter with shea butter and coconut oil that I keep in a jar by the bathroom sink. After washing my face, I apply moisturizer while my skin is still slightly damp—it helps seal in the moisture.
Even if you have oily skin, you still need to moisturize. Your skin might actually be overproducing oil because it’s dehydrated.
Find something that works for you—whether that’s a lightweight lotion or something richer—and use it consistently.
9) Constant screen time without protection
This is a tough one because screens are everywhere. I work from my laptop. The kids occasionally watch something educational when I need to make dinner in peace. Matt’s scrolling the news in the evening.
But blue light from screens doesn’t just mess with your sleep and mental health. It also causes oxidative stress in your skin, leading to pigmentation, fine lines, and uneven texture.
I’m not going to tell you to throw out all your devices. That’s not realistic, especially for those of us who work from home.
But I do try to limit unnecessary screen time—for me and the kids. We have device-free hours in the evening. When I’m working during the day, I take regular breaks to step outside or move around.
And using skincare products with antioxidants can help combat some of the damage from blue light exposure.
Conclusion
Look, I’m still figuring all this out. Some days I nail the sunscreen and sleep and healthy eating. Other days I’m surviving on cold pancakes and haven’t washed my face until bedtime.
Progress, not perfection, right?
But what I’ve realized is that aging gracefully isn’t about expensive treatments or fighting the inevitable. It’s about taking care of yourself in simple, consistent ways. It’s about recognizing that your skin is telling you something about how you’re living.
The nine behaviors we talked about—they’re all within your control. You can start protecting your skin from the sun today. You can wash your face tonight. You can choose to prioritize sleep, reduce stress, eat more whole foods.
You don’t have to change everything at once. Pick one thing. Master it. Then add another.
Your future self will thank you for the small choices you make now. And honestly? When you’re taking better care of yourself, it shows—not just in your skin, but in your energy, your mood, your whole presence.
So here’s to aging with grace, intention, and a whole lot of self-compassion.
