While the anti-aging market continues to grow each year, habits that won’t burn a hole in our pockets remain the best ways to boost our longevity. Read on to learn what you should and shouldn’t do in order to maintain a youthful appearance and boost your health to match it!

Protect Your Skin

Our skin is the first thing others notice about us, and it can undeniably speak a lot about our age. But it doesn’t have to be that way. One habit that can keep your complexion looking fresh and supple is applying sunscreen year-round. The sun’s harmful UV rays damage our skin and can even cause cancer. Putting on sunscreen every day has been shown to mitigate these risks.

Rethink Your Diet

What we eat reflects on our appearance. Too much sugar can actually damage your skin, making you look older. On the other hand, vitamin-rich vegetables increase collagen production, which helps maintain your skin’s elasticity.

Keep Your Alcohol Consumption Moderate

Another way you may be inadvertently damaging your skin is by indulging in alcoholic beverages. Alcohol dehydrates your skin and deprives it of essential vitamins. This can lead to dryness, sagging, and wrinkles. The effects get more pronounced with age since you’re more prone to dehydration as you get older. Needless to say, alcohol also wreaks havoc on your body in other ways that can affect your appearance.

Quit Smoking

Smoking can add years to one’s appearance. It affects your skin in multiple ways: it interferes with your blood circulation, causes wrinkles, and decreases your skin elasticity. Over time, your teeth may turn yellow, making you look older. The sooner you stop smoking, the better chance your body has to repair the damage.

Instead of spending a fortune on anti-aging skin care, keep these pieces of advice in mind and maintain your youthful appearance by practicing good habits.