Women who look younger than their age usually follow these 15 surprising habits

Some women seem to age more slowly than everyone around them, and genetics may not be the whole explanation.

Not too clean

That uber-clean tight feeling you sometimes get isn’t always a good thing. Many women with youthful-looking skin steer clear of harsh cleansers and over-scrubbing that can deplete the skin’s natural oils and irritate the skin barrier. While gentle cleansing might not feel as rewarding, preserving your skin barrier can help your skin remain smoother and less irritated.

Before stepping out

They grab sunglasses on those average bright days too, and it’s not just because they look cool. Sunglasses mean less squinting, and if they offer adequate UV protection, they shield the sensitive skin around the eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Cumulative sun exposure plays a major role in the skin aging we can see, so this small habit can add up over the years.

Below the wrist

It’s easy to focus solely on the face and forget all about your hands. Women who age well take their sunscreen and moisturizer all the way down to their hands, instead of ending at the jaw. Hands also experience years of sun exposure, and discoloration, dryness, and texture can eventually age them.

No quick fixes

Yo-yo dieting and repeated weight loss and gain of large amounts of weight can impact more than just your dress size. Women who hover at a relatively consistent, healthy weight don’t experience the fluctuations that can cause your face to change from full to thin and change your skin’s appearance. They aren’t trying to fit into that dress before every major holiday.

A little lower

Your skin care routine should extend past your chin. Many apply sunscreen, moisturizer, and other appropriate products down their neck and onto their upper chest. After all, they receive a lot of exposure to the environment but are often neglected. If you continue the treatment of these areas years later, the transition from your face to neck will appear much smoother.

Even on cloudy days

Granted, this may be the least shocking item on the list, but it’s one of the most significant. Ultraviolet rays play a major role in wrinkles, sunspots, and other premature skin aging. Cumulative exposure can happen just from your day-to-day activities, even on cloudy days.

When skin-conscious women use sunscreen, they’re not trying to undo years of damage down the road; they’re preventing some of that damage from occurring in the first place.

Non-negotiable hours

They don’t regularly deprive themselves of sleep just because there’s always one more episode to binge watch or one more task to complete. Skimping on sleep can result in dark circles around your eyes in no time, not to mention duller skin. Getting enough sleep also promotes normal physical repair. Of course, appearing rested won’t make wrinkles disappear overnight, but it can significantly impact your apparent age.

More than cardio

A youthful appearance isn’t just about smooth skin. Muscle strength can impact your posture, movement, and balance, as well as how your clothes fit. Resistance training becomes increasingly important as you age because adults will naturally lose muscle mass as they get older if they don’t take steps to prevent it.

Never frozen in time

Rather than wearing precisely the same hairstyle, color, or cut they picked out 20 years ago, they tweak the style as their face ages, hair texture evolves, and lifestyles change. But that doesn’t mean following every trend that comes along. It could be as simple as a softer cut, fresher-looking color, or updated length that helps the overall look feel modern instead of stuck in the past.

Hands off

Rubbing eyes compulsively, picking at acne, and pulling skin roughly cause unnecessary irritation. Women with healthy skin habits can be boringly obsessive about it: light application, clean hands, and less fiddling with fixing every little flaw. Sometimes less is more when it comes to doing things to your face.

The usual choice

They aren’t guzzling expensive detox beverages to stay young. They just drink adequate fluids throughout the day, and don’t let soda and alcohol substitute for water all day long. Hydration is no magic fountain of youth, but dehydration will make you look, and sometimes feel, older.

Something on the calendar

Some women who appear astonishingly young continue to be curious and socially active into their later years. They make plans, keep friends, learn new things, travel when they can, volunteer, work on projects or have reasons to get out of the house. None of it makes their skin young, but vitality, involvement and excitement heavily impact how others perceive your age.

No need to pretend

Ironically, trying to mimic every fashion trend/style, makeup and beauty trend targeted at much younger women actually highlights age. Women who look naturally young tend to choose current styles that simply work for them without trying to look like a younger person. Dressing modern and dressing young are two different things.

It shows when they smile

Did you know that your teeth can subtly alter the appearance of your entire face? Practicing good oral hygiene, regular dental cleanings, and fixing obvious dental issues can allow you to keep your smile looking healthier year after year.

From across the room

One of the biggest age giveaways isn’t wrinkles. Body carriage, gait, balance and ease of movement all affect how old someone looks across a room. Keeping physically fit and maintaining strength and mobility will help you retain the surety of movement that people associate with youth.

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