This is how your skin ages

And this is how you stop that

It hit me incredibly hard. Just suddenly from one day to the next. With wide eyes, totally shocked, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. What did I see? A lunar landscape of crater-like pores and fine lines that I had never noticed before. What happened here? And secretly I knew it too. Those few incredibly fun nights out, those hours on the terrace with actually too little sunscreen, and that delicious sea salt caramel chocolate bar from Tony’s Chocolonely that I stuffed in my mouth all at once. Yes, yes, yes, I know: that dolce vita is not good for your skin if you don't know how to compensate. And that's what I'm going to work hard on in the coming weeks. Do you recognize yourself in this situation? Don’t worry. There is a solution for every problem. And this is how you solve all your skin aging issues.

1. The sun

‘Yeah, duh,’ I hear you say. Call it what you want, but 80% of skin problems is caused by the environment. And guess which factor is the worst? Yep, you got it. So no matter how annoying applying sunscreen is (because it sticks, smells, and soon I'll have a thick white stripe on my forehead because I didn't apply it properly); just.do.it. There are special sunscreens for your face that are less sticky. And buy a small tube that you can easily throw in your bag and take everywhere. No more excuses, darling.

2. Little sleep

Hey, did you know that this beauty sleep really exists? That we all become a bit prettier and healthier when we get enough sleep? That seems to be true here as well. Your skin looks younger and more radiant after a good night's sleep. Another excuse to stay under the covers longer. I’ll just turn over for another hour. I’m out. Do you find it hard to fall asleep? Read these tips then just a moment.

3. Alcohol

Sorry ladies (and secretly also gentlemen), alcohol is not your BFF when it comes to a radiant skin. It damages the texture and changes the color of your skin. Alcohol also often leads to little sleep, and what did we just learn about that? Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to give up alcohol, are you crazy. But drink in moderation. And make sure there’s a killer cleanse waiting for you the next day. A little cucumber mask on your eyes also works wonders. Bring on those cocktails.

4. Too much sugar

Yes, I have to disappoint you again. Besides that favorite drink of yours, your favorite snacks are also not the cure for baby-soft skin. But not only snacks contain a lot of sugar, they often sneak into foods you wouldn't expect. Just follow a lesson from Simone about these sneaky frenemies. A healthy amount of sugar? Thirty grams per day. About 4 teaspoons, then. If you’re thinking: my goodness, I’m way above that (like I am), then you can slowly start checking which sugars you can miss. Do you really need two scoops of sugar in your cappuccino, for example?

5. Too much facial cleansing

Too much of anything is never good. And cleansing your face too often damages the protective outer layer of your skin. The best thing to do is to cleanse thoroughly twice a day. Once in the morning before applying your makeup, and once in the evening when you take it off.

6. Smoking

Sorry smokers, but as you probably know, smoking is one of the biggest culprits of a rapidly aging skin. It causes you to get fine lines in your face faster than non-smokers. Those lines can even knock on your door 10 to 15 years earlier. But quitting smoking is hard. A phone call to your doctor is already a big step in the right direction.

So ladies, by following these tips, your skin will soon be as soft and young as a baby’s butt. I’m putting myself on a strict diet (my god, 4 teaspoons of sugar. How?!?) and going out with a dollop of sunscreen. Hopefully, those wrinkles and craters will be a bit less in a few weeks and I’ll be completely selfie ready again. Are you joining me?

Written by: Danique van Leeuwenstijn