8 Surprising Habits That Make You Look Older

The habit: Bingeing on hors d'oeuvres like crackers, flatbreads and cookies.

Why it's making you look older: Consuming refined carbohydrates and sugar results in a rapid spike in blood sugar, explains Whitney Bowe, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. The sugar molecules travel through the blood to all the cells in our body, linking up with fats and proteins. When that sugar links to collagen (the protein that gives skin its elasticity) without the presence of an enzyme, a process called glycation occurs, Bowe explains. The resulting collagen-sugar combo is stiffer, and that can lead to wrinkles and compromised circulation to the skin.

The fix: Snack on nuts, yogurt, edamame—all low-glycemic foods that are better for you skin (and the rest of you, too).