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Want To Age Like Fine Wine? These 6 Habits Will Help ‘Stimulate’ Collagen And Reduce Inflammation

May 3, 2025 by Mariam Qayum

 
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Aging is a natural part of life, but how we age can often be influenced by the habits we adopt. While genetics certainly play a role, certain lifestyle choices can help maintain our youthful glow and vitality as we get older. Just like fine wine improves with age, there are habits that can help us age gracefully, from boosting collagen production to enhancing skin elasticity and overall wellness. By incorporating simple yet effective habits into our daily routines, we can support our skin and body in a way that helps us feel—and look—our best as the years go by.

Nevette Ramos, an aesthetician, recently shared the top six ways that can help with aging like fine wine. These simple but highly effective habits include avoiding carcinogens, getting regular facials, and more. Read on to discover all six!

1. Eating antioxidants

Antioxidants help you age better by protecting your body from oxidative stress, which is a major contributor to visible signs of aging and chronic diseases.

Ramos says, “Eating antioxidants (like berries, leafy greens, and nuts) helps fight free radicals that cause premature aging. What you eat shows up on your skin — choose wisely.”

2. Staying hydrated

Staying hydrated plays a crucial role in helping you age better by supporting both your skin and overall health. Proper hydration keeps skin cells plump and elastic, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dullness. It also helps maintain the skin’s barrier function, which protects against environmental damage and irritation.

“Staying hydrated keeps your skin plump, smooth, and radiant. That water bottle? It’s your skin’s BFF,” says Ramos.

3. Getting regular facials

Getting regular facials can help you age better by deeply cleansing, exfoliating, and nourishing your skin—promoting a healthier, more radiant complexion over time. Facials boost blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, which encourages cell turnover and collagen production, two key factors in maintaining firm, youthful-looking skin.

Ramos adds, “Getting regular facials deeply cleanses, boosts collagen, and supports your skin’s natural renewal. It’s not a luxury, it’s maintenance.”

4. Wearing hats in the sun

Wearing hats (such as wide-brimmed ones) in the sun helps you age better by providing crucial protection from harmful UV rays, which are one of the top causes of premature aging. Sun exposure breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin, leading to wrinkles, sagging, sun spots, and a rougher texture—especially on areas like the face, neck, and chest.

“Wearing hats in the sun and protecting your face from UV rays is the easiest way to prevent sun spots, fine lines, and collagen breakdown,” Ramos explains.

5. Red light therapy

Red light therapy helps you age better by stimulating collagen and elastin production deep within the skin, which leads to firmer, smoother, and more youthful-looking skin over time. The red and near-infrared wavelengths penetrate the skin to energize cells and increase blood flow, which enhances healing, reduces inflammation, and improves skin tone and texture.

“Red light therapy supports cellular regeneration, reduces inflammation, and stimulates collagen — yes, it actually works,” she notes.

6. Avoiding carcinogens

While carcinogens are terrible for your overall health, they can also produce visible effects on the skin.

"Avoiding carcinogens (like smoking or toxic ingredients) is a non-negotiable. Protecting your health is protecting your skin," Ramos says.

Carcinogens, found in things like cigarette smoke, heavily processed foods, certain beauty products, and environmental pollutants, can accelerate oxidative stress and DNA damage, both of which degrade skin quality and overall health over time.

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