Six things you should do to age gracefully
How to Age Gracefully: Skincare Habits Worth Starting Early
How you look after your skin in your twenties and thirties has a real say in how it looks decades later. The good news is that ageing well isn't about expensive miracles — it's about a handful of consistent, evidence-backed habits started early and kept up. Here are six worth building into your routine. For how collagen fits into the bigger picture, our complete guide to liquid marine collagen is a useful companion read.
1. Wear Sunscreen Every Day
If you do only one thing on this list, make it this. Ultraviolet rays are among the biggest causes of premature skin ageing — they accelerate collagen breakdown, reduce elasticity and drive wrinkles and dark spots, as well as raising skin cancer risk. Daily broad-spectrum SPF, even on cloudy days and in winter, is the single most effective anti-ageing habit there is. It's not glamorous, but the evidence is overwhelming.
2. Don't Smoke
Smoking is bad for your health and especially hard on your skin. The chemicals in cigarette smoke damage collagen and elastin, reduce skin elasticity and bring wrinkles on faster — particularly around the mouth and eyes. Not smoking (or stopping) is one of the most powerful things you can do for how your skin ages.
3. Stay Sensibly Hydrated
Well-hydrated skin generally looks plumper and healthier. There's no need to force down extreme amounts, though — UK guidance suggests around 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day (roughly 1.5 to 2 litres), more in hot weather or when exercising. Drinking beyond your needs won't "flush out toxins" — that's a myth, since your kidneys and liver handle that — but staying adequately hydrated is a sensible, simple habit.
4. Exfoliate Gently
Incorporating an exfoliant — physical or chemical — helps remove dead skin cells to reveal fresher skin underneath. Chemical exfoliants such as glycolic acid (an AHA) are well regarded for smoothing texture and improving the look of fine lines and uneven tone. The key word is gently: over-exfoliating can damage your skin barrier, so a couple of times a week is plenty for most people, and patch-test anything new.
5. Consider a Retinoid
Retinoids — derivatives of vitamin A — are among the most evidence-backed topical anti-ageing ingredients, supporting skin cell turnover and the look of fine lines over time. They can cause irritation when you start, so introduce them slowly, use them at night, and always pair them with daytime sunscreen (they increase sun sensitivity). If you have sensitive skin or are pregnant, check with a pharmacist or GP first, as some retinoids aren't suitable.
6. Support Collagen From Within
Natural collagen production begins to decline from around the mid-twenties, which is part of why skin gradually loses firmness over time. Supplementing early is a reasonable way to support your skin from the inside: a 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis in Nutrients found hydrolysed collagen peptides significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity versus placebo. Kollo provides 10g of Naticol® marine collagen plus vitamins B1, B5, B6, B12 and C and the amino acid l-lysine — and vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. As with all of this, results build over 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use.
The Habits at a Glance
| Habit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Daily sunscreen | The single most effective anti-ageing habit — UV drives collagen breakdown |
| Not smoking | Smoking damages collagen and elastin, speeding visible ageing |
| Sensible hydration | Supports plumper-looking skin; ~6–8 glasses of fluid a day |
| Gentle exfoliation | Smooths texture and tone — don't overdo it |
| Retinoids | Well-evidenced topical for fine lines; introduce slowly, use SPF |
| Collagen support | May support skin hydration and elasticity over 8–12 weeks |
Start Early, Stay Consistent
- Sunscreen first — if you build only one habit, build this one, every day.
- Be gentle — over-exfoliating or rushing retinoids can set your skin back.
- Hydrate sensibly — adequate fluids, not extreme amounts.
- Support from within — a daily collagen sachet, given a full 12 weeks.
- Consistency wins — small habits kept up beat any one-off "miracle" product.
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Shop Now →The Bottom Line
Ageing gracefully isn't about chasing miracles — it's about consistent, sensible habits started early. Sunscreen and not smoking do the heavy lifting, gentle exfoliation and retinoids support skin texture, and a daily collagen habit supports your skin from within. None of it works overnight, but kept up over months and years, these habits genuinely pay off.
If collagen is part of your plan, Kollo's 10g daily sachet makes it easy to stay consistent. Our complete guide to liquid marine collagen covers the detail, and for women thinking about skin and wellness together as the years go on, our women's wellness guide for over 40s brings it all together. Prefer powder? Our complete guide to collagen powder compares the formats.
Kollo Health was co-founded by Jenni Falconer - TV presenter, Smooth Radio breakfast host, ten-time London Marathon runner and host of the RunPod podcast. Read her story and why she created Kollo.
