People tend to associate good looks with outer beauty: young-looking skin and a nice body. But we at Bright Side believe that it should also be related to good health, vitality, and lifestyle. We want you to always feel young inside and out, and that’s why we decided to share these common mistakes one should avoid in order to live a long and happy life.
1. Not getting enough sleep
If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll definitely see that reflected in your face: among other benefits, sleeping stimulates the flow of oxygen in your skin. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, people who have a good night’s sleep are more attractive and healthy than those who don’t get enough rest at night.
Research conducted by Case Western Reserve University indicates that the amount of sleep has a significant effect on the functionality of the skin and its aging process. The optimal amount of sleep is 7-8 hours.
2. Adopting a sedentary lifestyle
We’re not saying you should spend your whole life in the gym, but 30 minutes of moderate exercise (walking on a daily basis also counts) will help you live a long and healthy life. Recent studies have shown that people who exercise often live 10-13 years longer than inactive people.
3. Constantly being under too much stress
According to studies conducted at the University of California, if you let too much stress be a part of your life, soon it will negatively affect your health, making you feel and look old. So don’t let stress hold you back: relax, take a deep breath, and solve one problem at a time.
4. Sleeping with makeup on
When you leave your makeup on, it causes dry skin, triggers skin rashes, and makes your eyelashes fall out.
Clean your skin every night, and use moisturizing skin care products. This will keep your skin healthy and slow the aging process. Use products that protect your skin against UV radiation.
5. Using sunscreen only when you go to the beach
Using SPF sunscreens only when you go to the beach or pool is actually a very common mistake, especially during the summer season. It’s necessary to wear sunscreen even if it’s cloudy. When you’re outdoors, regardless of the season, you’re exposed to UV rays all the time. Keep in mind that UV rays cause wrinkles and other signs of premature aging.
6. Not paying attention to facial care
What is the most common place on your face for those first wrinkles to appear? Exactly! Around your eyes. So start thinking of proper skin care products now. It should be moisturizing and contain hyaluronic acid and vitamins A or E. Read the label on the jar carefully: it usually has information stating that the product should be used for that particular eye area.
7. Consuming soft drinks
The high sugar and calorie content of soft drinks contribute greatly to the aging process. One of the studies conducted at the University of California has shown that consuming soda speeds up the aging process of DNA. Luckily we have a lot of other healthy options to choose from: drinking water, natural juices, smoothies, and so on.
8. Ignoring good nutrition
Improve your diet plan, and keep in mind that not all fats are bad for our skin. You should add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, but don’t forget about salmon, sardines, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and extra virgin olive oil.
Adopting such healthy eating habits can really make you feel better and even prolong your life.
9. Smoking
We all know that smoking is bad for our health in many ways. Besides damaging your body and internal organs, it also directly affects your skin — changing its color, accelerating the aging process, covering the pores, and depleting your cells of oxygen.
According to David Spiegelhalter, statistician and professor, smoking 2 cigarettes a day reduces your life by 30 minutes. So each day you smoke a pack, you’re taking 5 hours off your life.
