What Skincare Habits Work at Any Age?
A truck driver who had spent twenty-eight years behind the wheel had far more aged skin on the side of his face next to the window. His case helps explain five skincare habits that work at any age, and debunks a widespread myth about cold water.
Why skin ages even if you don't burn
The truck's side window blocked ultraviolet B radiation, the kind that burns. But it let through much of the ultraviolet A, which breaks down collagen.
The takeaway is clear: you don't have to get sunburned for your skin to age. This fact is the basis for the last of the five habits.
Habit 1: lukewarm water to wash your face
Here's where a myth falls apart. Cold water doesn't close your pores, and hot water doesn't open them. Pores have no muscle, so temperature can't open or close them.
What very hot water does do is strip away the lipids that seal in your skin's moisture. That's why your skin feels tight and looks red afterward.
Cold water constricts blood vessels for a while. That's why it helps reduce morning puffiness under the eyes. For cleansing, lukewarm water is the right choice.
Habit 2: moisturizer while your skin is still damp
When you get out of the shower, apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp, within the first few minutes.
This way, you seal in that water before it evaporates.
Habit 3: pay attention to how you sleep
If you always rest on the same cheek, the pillow creases it every night. Over time, those creases become set.
Sleeping on your back reduces them. Silk pillowcases, on the other hand, have very few studies to back them up.
Habit 4: a retinoid before bed
After sunscreen, retinoids have the most evidence against fine lines and dark spots, especially the prescription versions. They speed up cell turnover and stimulate collagen.
It's best to start with a pea-sized amount, two or three nights a week. Retinoids cause irritation and increase sensitivity to the sun.
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, don't use retinoids. And if a mole changes shape, color or size, see a dermatologist.
Habit 5: sunscreen every morning, not just sometimes
This is the habit with the most evidence. The key isn't the product, but when you use it.
In Nambour, Australia, around nine hundred adults aged 25 to 55 were followed for four and a half years. Half were asked to apply sunscreen every morning. The other half used it whenever they wanted. Aging was measured on the back of the hand.
In the group that used it daily, no increase in aging was detected. In the other group, it was. The difference wasn't between using it or not, but between using it every day or only sometimes.
The routine is simple: broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning on your face, neck and hands, even on cloudy days. UVA passes through clouds just as it passed through the truck window. The most effective anti-aging cream isn't your night cream: it's the one you put on every morning.
Frequently asked questions
Does cold water close your pores?
No. Pores have no muscle, so cold water doesn't close them and hot water doesn't open them; cold water only constricts blood vessels for a while.
Do you need sunscreen when it's cloudy?
Yes. UVA radiation passes through clouds, just as it passes through a car window.
When is the best time to apply moisturizer?
When you get out of the shower, while your skin is still damp and within the first few minutes, to seal in the water before it evaporates.
Can you use retinoids during pregnancy?
No. If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, you should avoid retinoids.
Informative article written with the help of AI tools from the verified script of the video. The video is in Spanish.