6 Habits that are Ruining Your Skin

When you think of good skin, does your first thought come to what you're putting on it? Cleansers, serums, moisturizers, sunscreen - they all can make a big difference in your skin's appearance, but it goes deeper than that!

We all know that a daily skin care regimen can make a huge impact on the health of our skin. But when it comes to skin health, it's important to remember that our skin is our body’s largest organ. Many of the habits we do on a daily basis can affect our skin’s health—even if that habit has nothing to do with our skin!

There are quite a few daily habits that have detrimental effects on our skin. If you want flawless skin, make sure your habits aren’t silently undermining you! Here are 6 habits that could be ruining your skin.

Smoking

There is no excuse for not knowing this by now, but smoking has absolutely no benefits whatsoever. (Duh!) However, many people still make this lifestyle choice every day, and are consequently severely damaging their skin. Smoking is one of the best ways to get wrinkles—lots and lots of wrinkles. It doesn’t matter how many anti-aging creams you use, if you smoke, you are going to get more wrinkles than if you didn’t smoke, period. Smoking, even socially, can cause premature aging.

Not Wearing Sunglasses      

Sunglasses aren’t just for sunny days! Grab them even when the clouds are out - in the long run, it is what’s best for your skin (and eyes)! Sunglasses protect your eyes and the skin around them from UV rays, which can even penetrate through cloud cover, damaging your skin on sunny and overcast days alike. Wearing sunglasses will also prevent you from squinting. Squinting causes premature wrinkles and crows feet to form around the eyes. Get a good pair of trendy sunglasses that say 100% UV protection on them and wear them! (How to get rid of crows feet)

Not Drinking Enough Water

Water is essential for a healthy body and not getting enough can leave you dehydrated, which can affect many parts of your well-being. Drinking enough water will keep you hydrated and feeling healthy, but you will also look healthier. Adequate water consumption helps keep the skin plump and youthful, as well as healthy because it flushes away all of the toxins we consume on a daily basis. Did you see this article with before and after pictures showing how much one month of regular water consumption changed this woman's skin? Drink up!

Not Wearing Sunscreen

SPF is absolutely essential for healthy skin. You need to wear SPF every day—it doesn’t matter if you get your SPF from your moisturizer, a foundation or BB cream, or from a separate sunscreen. You need it on sunny days, cloudy days, and every day in between. Exposure to the sun’s rays, much like exposure to cigarette smoke, causes premature aging and wrinkles. You can also get sun spots, which can be hard to fade. Choose a foundation or BB cream with an SPF of at least 30. Don’t forget to protect the skin on your lips too with an SPF lip balm!  But the most important thing to remember is that you have to reapply every two hours. One dose in the morning won't cut it all day. (I never burn - do I still need sunscreen?)

Eating Too Much Sugar

Sugar has been shown to damage collagen and other cells that help keep skin looking young and healthy. A diet rich in sugar is really bad for your body as well. It’s fine to enjoy some sugar in moderation, but resist that urge for late night sugary snacks and drinks. Cut out as much sugar as you can and eat more fruits and vegetables. This will keep your skin healthy and young, as well as your body.  (About.com's Sugar-Free Cooking site)

Excessive or Routine Drinking

Alcohol is fine when consumed in moderation, however, drinking too much of it is bad for your body and your skin. Drinking alcohol dehydrates the skin, and like anything that is dehydrated, wrinkles and fine lines are more prominent. People who drink are also more likely to suffer with red skin due to the blood vessels enlarging.  Wrinkles and red skin? Not worth the nightly glass of wine! Limit yourself to drinking only socially, and your skin will definitely thank you!

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Link  http://skincare.about.com/b/2013/12/16/6-habits-that-are-ruining-your-skin.htm