#YOLO—“You Only Live Once”, is probably one of the most used urban acronym in the tweet, snap and post generation of today. But unlike its Latin predecessor “Carpe Diem” which is largely positive, YOLO instigates one to enjoy life even if that entails taking risks, almost like a dumbass’s excuse for partaking in something absurdly stupid. If you really want to life live to the fullest, you should start making sound investments early by exploring career paths, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, as well as laying the all-important groundwork for preventative skincare. The skin sins of your youth can take time to manifest themselves, at which point they’re much harder or more expensive to ‘undo’. Here are 8 things you ought to do at age 25 to make you feel great at 50, to confidently #IWokeUpLikeThis for as many years down the road as you wish!
#1 Quit smoking
Don’t smoke. Period. If you’ve started, kick the habit immediately. Most of us are pretty clued-up on the dangers of smoking when it comes to our health, but did you know that the habit could also wreck havoc to your looks? Cigarette smoking is arguably the single most damaging culprit of premature aging that we have control over. Let’s face it. Most of us started the habit because all the cool girls had a stolen puff or two at break time and we wanted so much to be ‘in’. A smoker’s skin is sallow, her teeth are typically yellow and there are tell-tale wrinkles around her mouth, not to mention that you’re literally burning and puffing away hard earned money which can be put to much better use.
#2 Wear a sunscreen
Prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun and its harmful UV rays contributes to wrinkles, pigmentation, broken capillaries and dehydrated skin. You might not see them now, but the long term repercussions of sun worshipping will hit you hard when the time comes round. Besides, chances are guys who spend that much time bronzing their buffed bodies are probably batting for their own camp or more likely, excellent boyfriend but not husband material. Remember it’s not just our faces that need protection. More often than not, it’s our necks that give away our actual age; so dabbing on a broad spectrum sunscreen a little down south will go a long way in keeping your skin soft, supple and blemish-free many summers from now.
Must-do: try a UV protecting cleanser that leaves an invisible ionic veil that protects against UV after cleansing. It may be a small swap each morning but the cumulative benefits could be the difference between looking smokin’ hot or like a leather handbag when you are 50.
#3 Stop eating crap
You can make a lot of money in your 20s,30s or whenever to buy the whole world when you’re at age 50 or beyond, but you cannot buy your health. Lifestyle related diseases such as Hypertension, Diabetes and Coronary Heart Diseases are closely linked to dietary indiscretions laden with simple sugar, unhealthy fats and heavily processed. Healthy eating doesn’t necessary equate to bland and boring pickings and there’s a truckload of options out there that rival gourmet cuisines for you to indulge with careful planning!
Must-try: Detox your body and reset your systems with a 1-day urban cleanse, simple enough for you to do at home. Regular urban detoxes will ensure your cravings are kept in check and your body age in the slowest possible way.
Read More: 5 Insta-Remedies to Keep Your Complexion in the Clear
#4 Apple of the eye
How many of you 20-somethings think that eye creams are a total rip off or waste of time? If you aren’t already doing so, it’s time to give your peepers that extra TLC if you want to keep them looking youthful well into your 50s.The skin around the eyes is the thinnest and most delicate part of your face. With a lack of surrounding supporting structures and further worsened by a paucity of sebaceous or oil glands, these areas tend to get a lot drier compared to the rest of the face, leading to fine lines and wrinkling.
Must-try: Eye Fabulosity is an in-house “eye-cial”from SW1 Spa,specially designed to tackle dark eye circles and puffy eyes, both common signs of aging that tend to appear early in life. This peeper-perfecting treatment which can be performed as an add-on or standalone therapy begins with a wrinkle-removing pumpkin enzyme peel to kick-start your under-eye skin recharge, followed by an ‘Eye Sonic Therapy’, a painless procedure which infuses hyaluronic acid into the skin more effectively than manual application, promoting healthy, hydrated, and younger-looking under-eyes, to allow them to twinkle and sparkle, unscathed by time.
Read More: 5 Ways to Keep Your Eyes Looking Bigger
#5 Boost your collagen stores
Complexions will remain supple and dewy looking as long as they are well hydrated and supported by a healthy lattice of collagen. Like putting money aside in your bank, if you start building up your collagen stores early in life, signs of aging will be bolstered and kept at bay for a longer period of time.
Must-try: Give your skin a wakeup call with Quattro Toning, a gentle yet effective way to boost your collagen stores to road block pesky signs of dermal aging. Besides improving skin tone and texture, Laser Toning also combats pigmentation, fine lines and dullness. For tired saggy faces, or wrinkly eyelids and eyebags requiring a radical overhaul sans surgery, the new Thermage system engages radio frequency waves to tighten and lift your face and eyelids with no downtime and long-lasting results.
Read More: The Light Way to Staying Forever Young
#6 Maintain family ties
Even if you have very complicated relationships with your parents or siblings, and sometimes even hate one another, do not give up on family ties and work or maintaining or repairing them.
No matter how divided they seem to be, blood is always thicker than water, and in due time, you’ll appreciate the importance and beauty of it.
Read More: 5 Easy Ways to Make Your Hair Grow Faster
#7 Collect memories, not things
You’re the sum of your experiences so live, savour and enjoy life instead of being a slave to material possessions. Memories won’t depreciate in value with time and they won’t go up in a fire or get washed away. Happiness is what matters far more than worldly possessions so collect memories, not things to make you feel great when you reminiscence on the paths you’ve chosen.
Read More: The Insider’s Guide to Beauty Hacks for Glowing Skin