Aerosol sunscreens
If you’re wearing sunscreen, you’re on the right track toward preventing signs of aging, but it’s important to be smart about the type of sunscreen you use. Many spray or aerosol sunscreens contain a hormone disruptor, which prevents the reproductive system from working properly, warns Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York. “It specifically targets the function of the endocrine system, which regulates major glands that work with the nervous system and circulatory system,” she says. “If estrogen or testosterone levels are not optimal, growth, tissue, reproduction, sexual and sleep functions could all be disrupted.” Darden recommends Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen, $10-$48, which is for great coverage and is lightly moisturizing too.
Products that contain alcohol
Many of the beauty products you put on your hair, face and body contain alcohols that are not only bad for your skin but have damaging effects. “Take a look at the ingredients list in many of your go-to beauty products and you might notice chemicals such as SD alcohol, methanol and isopropyl alcohol, all of which are alcohol,” says Hillary Kline, a Minneapolis-based makeup artist. “They are all ingredients that are super drying—plus, they will strip away the skin’s natural oils, which can make you look older.”
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Exfoliators
When it comes to exfoliating, you don’t want too much of a good thing. “When you use a physical bead or grain exfoliator, it can remove too many layers and damage the skin's natural barrier responsible for locking in moisture,” warns David Pollock, independent beauty chemist who has formulated beauty products for brands like Smashbox, Bliss and SkinCeuticals. “Over-exfoliating can cause your skin to become drier, thinner and more sensitive.” That’s why most exfoliating products come with instructions that recommend using no more than one to two times a week at most.
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Products with little-to-no SPF
You know the importance of wearing sunscreen, but are you using products that contain SPF (aside from the sunscreen you slather on when you go to the beach)? Sunscreens that do not have a high enough SPF can also contribute to aging—it’s really that simple. “If you’re not protecting your skin, you are susceptible to sun damage, which contributes to aging,” says Darden. “It breaks down the collagen in your skin, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin.” Even a low SPF is not going to provide the coverage you need to protect your skin, which is why she recommends an SPF of 30 and above.
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Bar soap
Bar soap might seem like the most basic form of cleansing, but it can actually age your skin if you’re not choosing carefully. “The problem with bar soap is that it has a high pH of 9+, which is significantly higher than our acidic skin that ranges from 4.5 to 5.5,” Pollock says. “When our skin is out of this healthy range, it produces excess sebum in an attempt to try and restore its natural pH.” He recommends using a body wash or gel instead.
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