The vast majority of us are easily swayed by ads for creams and lotions promising to keep our skin young and wrinkle-free for as long as possible.
But actually, when it comes to age-proofing your face, it might not be enough just to slather ourselves in expensive face cream. Especially if you are fond of your nightly glass (or two!) of wine… unfortunately.
Just take a look at Jennifer Lopez, ladies. Who is 47, but looks as if she hasn’t even celebrated her 30th birthday yet. Her skin is pretty much flawless and almost entirely wrinkle-free, and let’s be honest, she almost manages to look better now than she did 15 years ago.
How does she do it? Well, not by celebrating her fame and riches with alcohol, it seems.
In a video Jennifer posted on Instagram a few months back, her sister tries to sell her on a night out partying, but the star doesn’t budge. “When I go out drinking with my friends, it’s the best day of my week,” her sister says in the video. “She’s trying to convince me why I should start drinking,” J.Lo says to the camera.
The mum-of-two has repeatedly said she doesn’t drink any alcohol, telling Instyle magazine:
“I think that ruins your skin. Of course, during celebratory toasts, everybody’s like, ‘You can’t toast with water!’ So I’ll toast with alcohol and just take a sip.”
Me and the brilliant @kanygarcia Yo y la talentosa @kanygarcia #funtimes #musica #amor #amigas
A photo posted by Jennifer Lopez (@jlo) on
And when it comes to keeping your skin young, it seems Jennifer could be on to something with her healthy habit, as alcohol most definitively has a negative impact on your face.
This is what Miami-based dermatologist Jill S. Waibel told Women’s Health magazine:
“The consumption of alcohol is one of the most common triggers for rosacea flare-ups, causing skin to be inflamed, red, and sensitive,” she says, explaining that it causes your blood vessels to dilate, resulting in flushed skin that can even be painful.
The main damage alcohol does to our skin is dehydration, and dehydrated skin will show up wrinkles and fine lines far quicker than skin that is well hydrated and nourished.
“Hydration is key when it comes to maintaining healthy skin,” agrees Waibel, who recommends sipping water alongside any alcoholic drink you might be indulging in to balance it out.
And keep in mind that when it comes to things that damage your skin, sugar (which most alcohol is full of) is up there too. Sugar damages to collagen fibres in your skin, making it lose its firmness and plumpness faster, which can really add years to your looks.
The solution? If you don’t want to quit drinking altogether (and, let’s face it, who does?), at least try to limit your drinking to maximum two drinks a week, and stick to drinks that are low in sugar.
