To have fantastic skin, using the right cosmetic products or resorting to aesthetic medicine isn't enough! There is a direct link between our skin and our lifestyle that many of us ignore.

There are no shortcuts

The new generation of dermocosmetic products can help a lot, but we mustn't forget that healthy skin is also a reflection of the body's overall well-being.

You'll find that there are bad habits which greatly affect the regular functioning of your skin, making it dull and lifeless.

So, aside from cosmetics and beauty treatments, how can we adopt an anti-wrinkle lifestyle?

The answer is simple: it takes some simple adjustments to our lifestyle to have benefits on the skin's metabolism, density and hydration. Some habits will naturally be easier to change than others, but it's important to keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle doesn't only have positive repercussions on our appearance but also on our health, and helps us prevent many diseases.

 So together let's find out the 7 habits for healthy and beautiful skin.

1. Avoid drinking spirits.
   Alcoholic beverages are a major cause of premature skin ageing. Don't panic – this doesn't mean you have to say goodbye to your Spritz, Mojito and Cosmopolitan forever and devote yourself to a life of just water and juices. However, it's best to be aware of everything that happens to our body when we consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, preventing the reabsorption of water, promotes the dilation of blood vessels, with consequent erythema and irritation, and slows down cell turnover. Do you need any more reasons to reduce your number of drinks, perhaps in favour of a good glass of red wine with antioxidant properties?

2. Expose yourself to the sun in moderation.
   It's no secret that excessive exposure to sunlight has a harmful effect on the skin. UVA and UVB rays cause oxidative stress, increasing the production of free radicals, and cause premature skin ageing. It's therefore imperative to always use sunscreen with a minimum factor of SPF30 and, for truly effective anti-ageing prevention, a winning move is to apply an antioxidant serum first.

3. Diet
   Nutrition is a recurring topic, but it's often overlooked when it comes to beauty. Without proper nutrition, not even the best face creams or the top cosmetic surgeons can guarantee you lasting results.
   You should know that the refined sugar found in sweets damages collagen, which is an important protein responsible for the skin's tone and well-being. The same goes for refined flours. Lactose and gluten are also to be avoided if you're intolerant to them. Instead, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants, which are the most powerful weapon that food offers us against free radicals. Give the green light to whole grains, legumes, dried fruit and fish which, thanks to the presence of Omega-3, can reduce inflammation in the surface layers of the skin.

4. Sleep
   You might not believe it, but getting enough sleep can improve your appearance – and without any effort! Sleep is what really recharges the body, and as such brings with it numerous benefits: it bolsters the immune system, reduces stress and, last but not least, regenerates skin cells at a much faster rate than when you're awake.
   If you don't sleep at least 7 hours, the body begins to produce cortisol, the stress hormone, which in the long run damages collagen and compromises the integrity of the skin.

5. Exercise
   Yes, to look beautiful, you have to get sweaty! Doing at least 30 minutes a day of moderate aerobic physical activity increases tissue oxygenation, reduces insulin levels, and, of course, helps you lose weight.

6. Relax
   Stress and chronic anxiety also negatively affect our appearance through the production of cortisol, which damages the skin. Setting aside as little as 15 minutes a day to meditate, do yoga or just relax drastically reduces the blood levels of this hormone.

7. Quit smoking
   We've left this point to last because we know it's the most difficult. If you're a smoker, you already know that smoking is seriously harmful to your health and have probably tried to quit once or twice without success. However, you need to know that smoking also accelerates skin ageing, and this new awareness may give you more motivation to quit smoking once and for all. In fact, smoking reduces the skin's supply of oxygen and blood circulation, lending it an aged appearance.