15 Useful Habits That Can Harm Your Appearance

The way we look at a certain age strongly depends on genetics. But this is not the only factor — we can significantly affect the aging process ourselves.

1. A ponytail is your favorite hairstyle

© Castle Rock Entertainment
When you pull your hair tight at the roots, it can lead to a receding hairline and baldness in the future. To save your hair, it’s better to replace ponytails with looser styles.

2. You drink too much milk

© IFC Films
Of course, no one says you should completely refuse milk. However, it’s still useful to be aware of the unpleasant consequences of excessive milk consumption. Milk contains androgens that provoke a more active oil gland function. As a result, it produces more sebum, which clogs pores and makes the skin look greasy and tired.

3. You apply sunscreen only to your face

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Many women have already become used to applying sunscreen all year round, but they forget about their hands. Meanwhile, hands are the most sensitive to aging and fat loss, which makes the veins more visible. In addition, UV rays cover hand skin with age spots and wrinkles. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your hands, especially if you’re driving. And remember to use it in summer, especially on the neck and chest area.

4. You like sitting with your legs crossed

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Varicose veins on the legs are a direct result of blood vessel compression and circulatory disorders. By the way, the “crossed legs” pose is fraught with blood stagnation in the pelvic area, which is particularly harmful to women (and extremely harmful for pregnant women). It won’t be easy to control yourself, but you can buy a comfortable computer chair and make a habit of putting your feet on a stand when sitting or on the arm of a couch when lying at home.

5. You brush your hair when it’s wet

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This makes the hair ends split, and it’s a common mistake in hair care. To avoid extra hair damage, first dry your hair a little with a towel (don’t rub), then start to blow-dry, and only after that should you brush and start styling.

6. You pluck your eyebrows before applying makeup

© Happy Madison Productions
If you decide to shape your eyebrows with tweezers, do it in the evening after washing your face. This way you’ll reduce the risk of bacteria entering and avoid irritation around the eyebrows, which you’ll then have to hide with a concealer.

7. You use styling tools on the highest temperature

© 20th Century Fox
When hair is exposed to high temperatures (whether it’s a hair dryer, a curling iron, or a flat iron), you create tiny bubbles inside the hair shaft. These bubbles make the hair dry and fragile. To avoid this, keep the dryer at a distance of 15 cm from the hair, be sure to use heat protectants, and set the temperature to medium.

8. You like rubbing your eyes

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This bad habit damages your eyelashes: they become fragile and fall out. You can also harm the skin under the eyes — it turns red and makes you look tired. Replace eye rubbing with a “20-20-20″method: look away for 20 seconds every twenty minutes.

9. You bear grudges

© Universal Studios
A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine in 2005 showed that there’s a connection between forgiveness and physical health. And if you cannot stop bearing grudges, they can add a couple of extra years to your appearance. The fact is, the stress hormone (cortisol) accumulates in your body with offenses. It promotes weight gain, increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and, as a result, increases the risk of diabetes.

10. You have a habit of touching your face

© Mediapro
You don’t notice placing your hand on your cheek, scratching your nose, rubbing your chin. It brings double damage: constant skin stretching leads to early wrinkles, and if you do it with dirty hands you can get an infection and get covered with acne. The only thing that can help you to get rid of this habit is self-control.

11. You powder your face too often

© Columbia Pictures
The worst thing you can do to your skin is powder it a hundred times a day when noticing an oily shine. And it’s not about how this layer of powder looks on your face — it simply clogs your pores. What to do? Use blotting paper first. If it doesn’t help, then you can apply some powder.

12. You carry the whole universe in your handbag

© 20th Century Fox
If your bag is filled with everything you need, including an umbrella, a first aid kit, a spare pair of shoes, and a thick book, your posture might suffer. So don’t forget to shift the bag from hand to hand, or move it from one shoulder to the other.

13. You apply too much nourishing cream

© Columbia Pictures
Even the best cream can harm if you use too much of it. Don’t apply a thick layer of cream — skin cannot breathe under such a mask, and thus may cause swelling, dark circles under the eyes, and an unhealthy face color. Remove excessive cream with a tissue.

14. You run way too much

© Mirage Enterprises
According to doctors, a fanatical attitude to this kind of physical activity can only accelerate skin aging. If it’s a light morning jog, then, of course, it’s nothing but useful.

15. You adore fresh juice

© Columbia Pictures
Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants that fight free radicals. But juices contain too much fructose — sugar molecules travel through the bloodstream to all the cells in your body, binding with fats and proteins. When sugar binds to collagen (which gives elasticity to the skin), it starts a glycation process, which leads to wrinkle formation. Fall in love with fresh cabbage juice instead! Green vegetables contain the highest amount of antioxidants and zinc, which prevents wrinkles.

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