“Everything in moderation” is an important reminder — especially if you’re trying to level up your skincare game and you tend to focus more on the products that you use and the foods that you eat. It’s easy to forget that what we drink matters, as well. Maybe you make yourself a coffee in the morning, and then grab another one on the way to work, and possibly sip an espresso after dinner as well. Suddenly, your coffee habit isn’t just keeping you awake, it could also be drying out your skin and affecting its texture and quality. The same goes for alcohol or any of the many delicious, sugary beverages we can so easily find at our local Starbucks and grocery stores.
Plain and simple: some of the drinks you love could be dehydrating your skin. And because moisture is so important for healthy looking skin, especially as we age, taking the drinks you enjoy daily into account matters a great deal. Here are some of the most super-dehydrating drinks to avoid (or drink in moderation) because they can cause wrinkles and skin damage.
Coffee
We hate to keep harping on coffee, but we may as well start there. Everyone’s favorite morning pick-me-up is fine — in moderation. But when you begin to get used to drinking several cups a day, a few things can occur that affect your skin. For starters, the high acidity in coffee can interfere with your skin’s oil production, and if you are prone to acne, this can cause breakouts; whereas, those with dry skin may find their skin experiences even more dryness and flakiness.
Coffee can also lead to inflammation and redness in the skin. It can restrict blood circulation, giving you a less even complexion. If you use dairy in your coffee, this too can aggravate acne-prone skin. There are other health reasons why loading up on too much caffeine each day is a bad idea, including an increased risk in heart disease.
In short: there are a number of reasons why it’s a smart idea to cut down your caffeine consumption.
Sugary Beverages
So many of the coffee beverages we know and love actually contain as much or more sugar than candy. And, even if you’ve kicked your coffee habit, replacing coffee with fun, fruity drinks that are filled with sugar isn’t a worthy substitute. Sugar breaks down collagen in the skin. And it’s that collagen that you need and want to keep your skin supple, smooth, and glowing. When your collagen breaks down, your skin also becomes more vulnerable to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging. It’s natural to want to sip a cold, tasty drink sometimes, but keeping sugary beverages to a minimum is a good idea.
Alcohol
You may love to celebrate with a glass of bubbly or a beer, but the sad truth is that no amount of alcohol is good for your skin. Alcohol is dehydrating, which can cause your skin to look sallow and develop fine lines. This water loss can also result in you losing other key vitamins and nutrients that your body and skin need to stay healthy. Drinking alcohol causes inflammation (hello, red, sensitive skin) and, to boot: it contains sugar that, as previously mentioned, breaks down the collagen in your skin. If you’re adding sugary mixes to alcohol, the effects of this are even more dramatic.
Drink More Water
We are all going to slip up at times and drink the delicious sugary beverage. Some of us will want to celebrate with alcohol or have a coffee at night, too, once in awhile. But instead of punishing yourself, be proactive by drinking more water during those times to flush out the sugar and caffeine that can lead to dehydration. Make it a priority to drink several glasses of water each day to keep your skin hydrated and to help flush out toxins from your system. Your body will thank you — and so will your glowing skin.
