6 Nighttime Habits That Make You Look Older

Why it's making you look older: Retinol (the gold standard among anti-aging ingredients) can be irritating. Because it penetrates even deeper into damp skin, you may experience increased tenderness or feel it more sharply, says Nazarian. You're less likely to use it consistently if you can't stand the way it makes your skin feel; and, if you don't apply it regularly, you won't see the benefits.

The fix: If you're new (or even new-ish) to retinol, make sure your skin is dry before you apply it. Only seasoned retinol users should consider using it on damp skin.