In a society obsessed with defying the effects of aging and maintaining a youthful appearance, skin care techniques and practices seem more talked about than ever. From tailored ads to the beauty influencers we keep bumping into while scrolling down our social media feeds, we are constantly exposed to the many ways to slow down the passage of time.
A viral Reddit post by u/likerunninginadream, which has amassed 16,000-plus comments since it was shared on August 10, provided individuals who pride themselves on maintaining a youthful glow with the opportunity to share their “secrets” to looking effortlessly young.
Many of their tips overlapped, with the most common including wearing sunscreen, avoiding alcohol and drugs, eating vegetables, managing stress and retaining facial weight, highlighting both timeless advice and modern insights.
Newsweek asked four skin care experts for their takes on the tried and tested tips.
Sunscreen: The Daily Essential
Dr. Roger Kapoor, a Harvard-trained dermatologist and senior executive vice president at Beloit Health System, is pleased to see the critical role of sunscreen being discussed online.
“Sunscreen protects your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun,” Kapoor told Newsweek. “It helps prevent sunburn [and] cumulative damage and reduces the risk of skin cancer, all of which contribute to premature aging.”
Eha Urbsalu, the founder of the natural skincare line Viking Beauty Secrets, agrees. The beauty entrepreneur added that while some sun exposure is healthy, too much can do more harm than good.
“Although, it’s important to get some sun exposure, when your skin is exposed to sunlight—specifically UVB rays—it synthesizes vitamin D,” Urbsalu told Newsweek. “This vitamin is essential for various bodily functions, including the absorption of calcium, which is vital for bone health.
“Vitamin D also plays a role in skin cell growth, repair, and metabolism, helping maintain a healthy skin barrier.”
Avoiding Alcohol and Drugs
The Reddit thread also highlighted the importance of avoiding alcohol and drugs, a point that Kapoor reinforced.
“Alcohol is a diuretic, leading to dehydration,” Kapoor, who holds an MBA from Oxford University, said. “Dehydrated skin tends to look dull and dry and can develop fine lines and wrinkles more easily.”
Dr. Donald Yoo, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, concurred that excessive alcohol intake and drug use can suck the moisture out of one’s skin, leaving it dry, thin and aged.
“Youthful skin is well-hydrated skin, rich in collagen and hyaluronic acid, which retains water,” Yoo told Newsweek.
Kapoor added: “Alcohol can also cause inflammation, leading to redness, puffiness, and flare-ups such as rosacea or acne.”
Nutrition: The Role of Vegetables
A well-balanced diet rich in vegetables, long known to offer invaluable health benefits, plays another crucial role in keeping us looking younger.
“Vegetables are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and beta-carotene, which are vital for skin elasticity and cell renewal,” Kapoor said. “They help keep the skin hydrated, plump, and youthful, and support the body’s natural detoxification processes.”
Urbsalu, based in New York, added that carrots are an easy-to-find vegetable high in beta-carotene.
“Beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, helps repair skin tissue and protects against sun damage,” she said. “It also promotes an even skin tone and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
The Dangers of Smoking
Dermatologist Kapoor also pointed out the detrimental effects of smoking, another “do not do” which had been mentioned multiple times in the viral thread. Smoking can lead to premature wrinkling and sagging due to the damage it does to one’s collagen and elastin levels.
“There’s nothing good about this addiction,” he said. “Smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the skin, depriving the skin of oxygen and essential nutrients necessary for skin repair and renewal.”
Sleep and Hydration
Proper hydration and sufficient sleep are also pivotal elements of maintaining youthful skin.
“Hydrated skin looks plumper, smoother, and more radiant,” Kapoor said. “This is because, during sleep, the body enters repair mode, promoting collagen production and helping to fix damage from environmental stressors.”
Insufficient sleep, on the other hand, can cause blood vessels under the eyes to dilate, leading to dark circles and puffiness and a more aged appearance. Adequate sleep can help prevent these signs of fatigue and contribute to a youthful look.
The dermatologist added that drinking enough water, while known for many other health benefits, can also contribute to a dewy, youthful appearance.
Properly hydrated skin maintains better elasticity, which helps prevent sagging and keeps one’s skin looking firm and youthful. Water also helps flush out toxins from the body through the kidneys and urinary system.
“When your body is well hydrated, it is more efficient at removing these toxins, which can contribute to clearer, healthier skin,” Kapoor said.
Yoo echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of a robust skincare routine.
A Consistent Skincare Routine
“A good skincare routine begins with preventing and limiting cumulative actinic damage from the sun, which starts during childhood,” Yoo said. “Sun exposure should be minimized, and SPF 30 should be reapplied every two to three hours.”
He also highlighted the efficacy of tretinoin, a vitamin A derivative, in reducing fine lines and promoting younger-looking skin.
“Vitamin A derivatives like tretinoin work to block inflammatory mediators in the skin and stimulate the formation of collagen, and change the skin biology to promote faster skin turnover,” he said.
“Tretinoin has become a cornerstone of any anti-aging skin care regimen for its efficacy in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and producing younger-looking skin.”
The Role of Natural Skincare
While vitamin-derived creams and topical medications like tretinoin and retinol have increased in popularity, beauty entrepreneur Urbsalu believes that just as much focus should be placed on living a balanced lifestyle that is as stress-free as possible.
“In Northern European countries, we incorporate ‘hygge,’ which works in balance with nature, reducing stress and slowing down aging,” Urbsalu, who grew up in Estonia, said.
She recommends maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier through products rich in natural and organic ingredients before reaching for more intensive remedies.
Kapoor added that chronic stress can “weaken” the skin’s barrier function, making it more prone to dehydration and sensitivity.
“Stress often reduces blood flow to the skin, depriving it of oxygen and essential nutrients,” he said. “It is linked to inflammation, which can exacerbate skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.”
“Lower stress leads to less inflammation.”
The Genetics Factor
While “good” genetics certainly play a role in maintaining youthful skin, as many of those contributing to the viral thread expressed, lifestyle choices significantly influence how genes express themselves.
Shayan Cheraghlou, a dermatologist at New York University’s School of Medicine, affirmed that most of the tips shared in the post are beneficial. However, he cautioned against the belief that facial weight, which some social media users had attributed to leaving them looking younger, can be easily controlled.
“With aging, some of the facial fat pads atrophy, which means they get smaller, while others hypertrophy, which means they get larger,” Cheraghlou told Newsweek. “The change in ratios between these compartments are part of what leads to facial aging.
“This is also a target of facial fillers to replenish lost volume in atrophied fat pads,” he added.
Kapoor has a more positive outlook, arguing that the appearance of a fuller and smoother face can be created outside of using injectables.
“Achieving a cherubic face can be influenced by a combination of weight gain in the face and specific exercises,” he said. “Focus on consuming nutrient-dense foods like avocados, nuts, seeds, and whole grains, which provide healthy fats and carbohydrates, essential for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration.
“Incorporate sources of omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, flaxseeds, and walnuts, as well as monounsaturated fats from avocados, olive oil, and almonds.”
Protein also supports muscle growth and skin health, so the dermatologist recommends including lean meats, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and tofu in one’s diet.
“In addition, facial exercises can help strengthen the muscles beneath the skin, leading to a more toned and fuller appearance,” he said.
In this case, Yoo’s sentiment is more akin to Cheraghou’s. The facial plastic surgeon said that while a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine can help to counteract the effects of aging, wrinkles and skin laxity are “nearly inevitable” for someone beyond their twenties.
The Billion-Dollar Obsession with Youth
While we should all wear our age with a badge of pride, it is no secret that the anti-aging industry is booming, and more people are now concerned about looking older than ever.
In 2024, the global anti-aging market was valued at approximately $76.6 billion, with projections set to surpass $93.1 billion by 2030, according to Statista.
The broader beauty industry is similarly expansive, worth over $511 billion in 2021. This immense financial commitment spotlights society’s relentless quest to uncover the secrets of eternal youth. The anti-aging market is estimated to see a compound annual growth rate of nearly 7 percent until 2027.
The viral Reddit post underscores the timeless quest for youthful skin, repeatedly proving that a combination of good habits and informed skincare choices can make a significant difference.
The post How To Look Younger: Experts Share Ultimate Guide To Skin, Food, and Sleep appeared first on Newsweek.
