📌 What you’ll learn
- The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic ageing
- Why skipping sunscreen matters most
- How smoking, late nights, sugar and no exercise affect skin
- 5 small changes you can start today
Two people can both be 40, yet one looks younger than her age and the other looks older. Apart from genes, a big part of the difference comes from daily habits.
Skin ageing roughly comes in two kinds:
- Intrinsic ageing: happens naturally as we get older.
- Extrinsic ageing: caused by our environment and habits.
We can’t control our age, but a big part of extrinsic ageing is linked to habits, and habits can change. This post rounds up the 5 most common habits that make skin age faster — the ones with the most research behind them.
1. Skipping sunscreen: the biggest one
If you can change only one habit, make it sun protection.
A 2013 study looked at 298 French women and concluded that, of the visible signs of ageing on the face, about 80% may be linked to UV rays — especially spots and uneven skin tone, with fine lines also involved. (The women in this study were white Europeans, so the figure for Asians may not be the same, but the direction is very clear.)
Many people only use sunscreen when they go to the beach or on holiday. But we live near the equator, and UV is here 365 days a year: cloudy days, sitting by a window, walking to the MRT, driving — you still get sun.
- Every morning, make sunscreen the last step of your skincare. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends a broad-spectrum, SPF30 or higher, water-resistant sunscreen, applied daily to exposed skin.
- If you’re outdoors for a long time, remember to reapply.
- Add a hat or umbrella for more complete protection.
For how to choose sunscreen, read How to choose sunscreen; for which step it goes in, read Skincare order.
2. Smoking
The American Academy of Dermatology is very clear: smoking greatly speeds up skin ageing, bringing more wrinkles and a dull, lifeless complexion.
The good news: many people feel their skin looks healthier after they quit. It’s never too late to start.
3. Late nights and poor sleep
“Beauty sleep” is not just an old saying. A 2015 study in a dermatology journal compared 60 women and found that those with chronic poor sleep had higher skin-ageing scores, and their skin’s protective layer (barrier) recovered more slowly after damage. Good sleepers had about 30% better barrier recovery.
Rather than applying lots of layers at night, try going to bed earlier first. The drama and the phone can wait till tomorrow. A regular routine is the cheapest skincare there is.
4. Too much sugar and processed food
We have so much good food here: kopi and teh with condensed milk, bubble tea, a piece of kuih after a meal… Too much sweet stuff can show on your skin too.
The American Academy of Dermatology mentions that some research suggests eating too much sugar or refined carbs may make skin age faster; on the other hand, eating more fresh vegetables and fruit may help reduce sun damage to the skin.
One reason is “glycation”: excess sugar in the body binds with proteins and forms substances called AGEs (advanced glycation end products), which make the once-elastic fibres in the skin stiffer.
You don’t have to quit sugar completely. Start small: switch your kopi to siew dai (less sweet) or kosong (no sugar), pick less sugar for bubble tea, and don’t have dessert every day.
5. Not exercising
Exercise is better for skin than many people think. McMaster University in Canada did a small study and found that people over 40 who exercised regularly had skin structure closer to that of younger people.
This study was small, and more research is needed to confirm it. But exercise clearly helps circulation, sleep and overall health, so for your skin it can only help, not hurt. When it’s hot, go for a walk in the park in the early morning or evening, when the sun is not so strong.
What about skincare products?
The 5 things above are all more fundamental than “which product to use”. Skincare is a bonus, as long as you use it the right way: get the basics — cleansing, moisturising, sun protection — right first, then add other products based on your needs.
If you want to take more care of fine lines and dullness, read What is Morning C, Night A? to learn how to use vitamin C and retinol.
5 small changes to start today
- ☐ Apply sunscreen every morning, not just when going out to play
- ☐ If you smoke, start planning to quit
- ☐ Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual
- ☐ Switch kopi, teh and bubble tea to less sweet or no sugar
- ☐ Exercise at least 3 times a week, 30 minutes each time
No need to do them all at once — just pick the easiest one to start.
- 6A Multi-Effect Brightening Protection Cream: the last step of the morning routine. A moisturising SPF20, suited to everyday outings like going to work or the market. People with drier skin who sit in aircond all day will like it.
- 6B Whitening Repair Sun Cream: a light SPF25 with a tint, suitable for people who get oily easily. 6A and 6B are both for daily use; if you’re outdoors for a long time, please use a separate SPF30 or higher sunscreen, plus a hat or umbrella.
- No.7 Revitalizing Firming Cream: a retinol night cream for evening use, helping old dead skin cells turn over and making skin look firmer. While using it, always wear sunscreen in the day; if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, please ask your doctor first.
- Rejuvenating C Powder: a powdered vitamin C derivative + tranexamic acid, helping improve dullness, suitable for people who want to care for uneven skin tone. If you use it in the morning, always finish with sunscreen.
Products aren’t a must. Choose based on your own skin; if you’re not sure, ask me first.
FAQ
Q: I’m older and only starting to care now. Is it too late?
Not too late. Quitting smoking, sleeping earlier, less sugar, exercise, daily sunscreen — these help whenever you start. No need to do them all at once; just pick one to begin.
Q: If I’m at home or in the office all day, do I still need sunscreen?
Yes. Sitting by a window, driving, going out to tapau lunch — you still get sun, and sun damage builds up over the years. Indoors, reapplying about every 3–4 hours is enough.
Q: Can very expensive skincare cancel out late nights and smoking?
Don’t think of it that way. Daily habits are more fundamental than skincare. Skincare is a bonus — get the basics like sleep and sunscreen right first, and then skincare can do its job.
- Flament F. et al. Effect of the sun on visible clinical signs of aging in Caucasian skin. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (2013)
- Oyetakin-White P. et al. Does poor sleep quality affect skin ageing? Clinical and Experimental Dermatology (2015)
- American Academy of Dermatology – 11 ways to reduce premature skin aging
Want to know how to care for your skin?
Tell me about your situation, no pressure 😊
※ This website is run by Derrick, an independent IT’S BEATTIYA distributor, and is not the official website of the IT’S BEATTIYA company. This article shares general skincare knowledge. Cosmetic results vary from person to person and cannot replace medical advice; if your skin reacts abnormally, stop using the product and consult a dermatologist.
