5 Habits That Are Aging Your Skin

 

Even though you may be diligently applying your skin care products, there are plenty of other factors that affect the way our skin ages. Little things you do every day could be having a bigger effect on your appearance than you realize. Here’s a short list of grievances your skin would like you to address.

 

 

Juicing

A high-potency concentration of skin nourishing vitamins and antioxidants in a glass seems like a great idea. Except that it comes with a huge sugar spike that is bad for skin, your health, and your waistline. A glass of juice can have as much sugar as a can of soda. And when you extract the juice, you discard the fiber that helps your body slow the absorption of fructose and protect against glucose spikes. All that sugar excess creates inflammation that damages collagen and elasticity. A high-glycemic diet also acts to elevate hormones, which can aggravate acne.

 

 

Ignoring Your Hands

Age tends to show up on your hands long before it does on your face. Age spots, wrinkles, dryness, and crepey texture are mainly the result of UV exposure. Even the most diligent sunscreen devotees often forget the backs of the hands. To help protect against age-accelerating photodamage, use Vivant’s Day Treatment Lotion SPF 15 every morning before you head out for the day and reapply throughout the day. Wash with ultra-gentle Cleansing Milk to soften and smooth.

 

 

Multi-Tasking

Most of us have way too many plates in the air these days, which means most of us are carrying a fair amount of stress. The skin reacts to stress by activating the endocrine and immune systems, which fire up inflammation and other responses. The effects can include collagen damage, melanogenesis (the initiation of excess pigment), and reduced barrier function. Chronic stress increases DNA damage and interferes with DNA repair leading to lines and wrinkles, increased pigmentation, loss of elasticity and firmness, and dull skin. If you can’t trim your schedule, fit in some time to de-stress. A weekly date with a restorative Algae Soft Mask is a good place to start.

 

 

Too Much Happy In Your Happy Hour

Moderate alcohol consumption has some benefits in the form of stress relief, reduced risk of heart disease, potential protection from Alzheimer’s, but too much will negate any of those wins. Alcohol dehydrates, which can accelerate aging. It also depletes the body of vitamin A, the antioxidant superhero responsible for protecting and renewing cells. Increased blood flow from alcohol causes blood vessels to expand near the surface of the skin triggering redness. When it comes to alcohol, less is more.

 

 

Forgetting Your Sunglasses

The skin around your eyes is delicate and more prone to photo-damage that results in fine lines and wrinkles. Protect this area from damaging UV rays by wearing sunglasses when you’re out. Sunglasses will also help you avoid squinting, one of those repetitive facial expressions (see frowning as well) which creates lines that, over time, become permanent. Use Vivant’s high-performance Wink Eye Rejuvenation Cream with vitamin A, peptides, and caffeine, morning and night to protect and repair.