Why Do Some People Look Younger Than Their Age?
The fascinating connection between biological ageing, everyday choices and skin longevity.
Have you ever met someone, discovered their age, and thought, “Hang on a minute… there's no way you're that old!”
And then there's the opposite.
Two people can be born in the same year, celebrate the same number of birthdays, yet somehow look years apart.
Why?
Is it good genes? Expensive skincare? A little help from cosmetic treatments? Or could something much more interesting be happening beneath the surface?
Well, here's where things get fascinating.
Your birthday tells us how long you've been alive. But it doesn't necessarily tell us how well your body is ageing.
And yes, that includes your skin.
Two Different Clocks, One Body
We all have a chronological age. That's the easy one. It's simply the number of years we've been alive.
Unfortunately, we haven't figured out how to negotiate with the calendar!
But scientists are increasingly interested in another concept: biological age.
Think of two cars manufactured in the same year.
One has been regularly serviced, carefully maintained and driven sensibly. The other has been pushed hard, rarely serviced and exposed to harsh conditions.
They're technically the same age, but their condition could be very different.
Our bodies are infinitely more complicated than cars, of course, but the comparison helps explain something important.
Ageing isn't simply about the passage of time. It's also about what happens to our cells, tissues and organs along the way.
Scientists are developing ways to estimate aspects of biological ageing by studying changes in our cells and how our bodies function.
These measurements are still evolving, and there isn't one perfect test that can tell us our body's true biological age.
Nevertheless, the research is revealing something worth paying attention to.
People don't necessarily age at the same biological pace.
And some of the factors influencing that process are within our control.
Your Genes May Deal the Cards, But They Don't Play the Entire Game
We've all heard someone say, “My mother had beautiful skin at 80. Hopefully I've inherited her genes!”
And perhaps they have.
Genetics certainly plays a role in how our skin and body age.
But there's another fascinating area of science called epigenetics.
Don't worry, we're not about to turn this into a biology lecture!
Imagine your DNA is an enormous instruction book.
You were born with that book, and it contains instructions that help your body function.
Epigenetics is part of the system that helps regulate how those instructions are used.
The interesting thing is that environmental exposures, ageing and certain lifestyle factors can influence some of these regulatory processes.
This doesn't mean you can rewrite your DNA by eating blueberries or taking an expensive supplement.
It means the relationship between our genes, our environment and our health is far more dynamic than we once imagined.
And that's a pretty exciting thought.
So, What Are We Doing Every Day That Might Influence How We Age?
Here's where I think the conversation becomes really interesting.
We often spend considerable time choosing the right cleanser, moisturiser or serum.
But how much thought do we give to what we're doing for the body underneath that skin?
Let's look at a few everyday examples.
That Glass of Wine
I know. Nobody wants their relaxing Friday-night glass of wine dragged into a skincare conversation!
But alcohol is worth discussing.
Regular or excessive alcohol consumption can affect sleep, liver health, blood pressure and overall wellbeing. It may also contribute to skin problems through inflammation, disturbed sleep and changes in hydration.
That doesn't mean one glass of wine suddenly adds five years to your face.
It does mean that how much and how often we drink matters for long-term health.
Smoking: The Skin Doesn't Get a Free Pass
Smoking is one of the clearest examples of how lifestyle can influence visible ageing.
It exposes the body to harmful chemicals, contributes to oxidative stress and affects blood vessels and tissue repair.
In the skin, smoking is associated with premature wrinkles, reduced elasticity and changes in collagen.
And importantly, the effects aren't limited to the face.
The cardiovascular system, lungs and many other organs are affected too.
Our skin is part of the same body experiencing those exposures.
The Sunshine We Love So Much
Living in Australia, we know sunshine is part of our lifestyle.
But ultraviolet radiation is a major contributor to premature skin ageing.
Over time, UV exposure can damage skin-cell DNA and the structural proteins that help maintain firmness and elasticity.
The result can include pigmentation, wrinkles, rougher texture and reduced skin resilience.
And there's a much more serious consideration: skin cancer.
Interestingly, UV exposure can make our skin look biologically older even when the rest of our body is ageing differently.
We'll explore sun protection and environmental damage in much more detail in our next article.
What About Food?
Here's something I find particularly interesting.
We tend to think of food in terms of weight, calories or perhaps cholesterol.
But nutrition also provides the building blocks our body needs for maintenance and repair.
Protein supplies amino acids needed for tissue structure. Vitamin C plays an important role in normal collagen formation. Essential fatty acids contribute to healthy cell function.
And dietary patterns rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, nuts and healthy fats are associated with better long-term health outcomes.
There's growing research into how dietary patterns relate to biological ageing, although that doesn't mean any particular food can turn back our biological clock.
The important point is much simpler.
Your skin doesn't live on skincare alone.
It depends on the health and nutritional support of the body it belongs to.
Sleep: The Beauty Treatment We Keep Postponing
We've all had those mornings when we look in the mirror after a terrible night's sleep and think, “Goodness, what happened overnight?”
Our face can look tired, dull or puffy.
But sleep isn't simply about looking refreshed the following morning.
It's involved in immune regulation, metabolism, hormonal function and many of the processes that help maintain our health.
Chronic poor sleep is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, and research is exploring its relationship with skin ageing and barrier function.
No, sleeping eight hours won't magically erase deep wrinkles.
But consistently good sleep supports something much more valuable: the body's ability to function well.
And Don't Forget to Move
Here's one that doesn't get enough attention in skincare conversations.
Exercise.
Regular physical activity supports cardiovascular health, muscle strength, metabolic function and healthy ageing.
Resistance training becomes particularly important as we get older because maintaining muscle helps preserve strength, mobility and independence.
Emerging research is also investigating how exercise influences cellular ageing and skin physiology.
We're still learning about those connections.
But we already have strong reasons to stay active, whether that's walking, swimming, gardening, dancing or lifting weights.
And perhaps that's the real beauty of it.
Something that helps us feel stronger and healthier may also support the conditions our skin needs to function well.
Can Scientists Actually Measure How Fast We're Ageing?
Now we're entering one of the most intriguing areas of longevity research.
Scientists have developed tools called epigenetic clocks.
These examine patterns of chemical markers associated with DNA to estimate certain aspects of ageing.
Some research has found connections between these measurements and lifestyle factors, disease risks and health outcomes.
Sounds fascinating, doesn't it?
But there's an important catch.
These tests are not yet reliable enough to tell an individual exactly how old their body is or prove that a particular supplement, diet or treatment has reversed ageing.
Different tests may measure different things, and results can be influenced by factors unrelated to long-term changes in health.
So although the science is promising, we shouldn't confuse an interesting laboratory measurement with a guaranteed picture of our future health.
Personally, I find the research exciting.
But I find something else even more encouraging.
We don't need to wait for a perfect biological-age test to start making choices that support healthier ageing.
So, What Does All This Have to Do With Skin Longevity?
Quite a lot, actually.
When we talk about skin longevity, we're not simply talking about having fewer wrinkles.
We're talking about helping our skin remain healthy, functional and resilient as we get older.
Our skin is a living organ.
It protects us from the outside world, helps regulate temperature, supports sensation and participates in immune defence.
And like every other organ, it changes with age.
Collagen production and organisation change. Skin can become thinner or drier. Elasticity may decrease. Healing can take longer.
Hormonal changes, particularly around menopause, can also have a significant influence.
But chronological ageing is only part of the picture.
Years of sun exposure, smoking, environmental conditions, nutrition and other aspects of our health can influence how our skin ages.
This is why two people of the same age may have very different skin quality.
It's also why I believe we need to look beyond the surface when talking about skin improvement.
My Perspective as an Aesthetic Nurse
Over the years, I've become increasingly interested in the relationship between overall health and the way our faces age.
And one thing I believe strongly is that good skin health doesn't begin and end in a treatment room.
Of course, skincare and professional aesthetic treatments can have their place.
But they cannot replace healthy everyday habits, and they certainly cannot address every process involved in ageing.
When someone asks me what they can do to improve their skin, I think it's worth looking at the bigger picture.
How are they sleeping? Are they protecting their skin from the sun? Are they eating well? Are they looking after their general health?
Not because we need to live perfectly.
None of us does!
But because the choices we make consistently over time can influence how well our bodies function as we get older.
And I think that's a far more empowering conversation than simply asking how we can make a wrinkle disappear.
Perhaps We've Been Asking the Wrong Question
For years, the beauty industry has encouraged us to ask:
“How can I look younger?”
But perhaps there's a better question.
“How can I stay healthier, stronger and more resilient as I get older—and help my skin do the same?”
Ageing is inevitable. And there's nothing wrong with looking our age.
But the way we care for ourselves along the journey matters.
We can't choose our genes, and we can't stop the birthday candles from adding up.
What we can do is give our bodies—and our skin—the best possible support along the way.
And that, to me, is what skin longevity is really about.
Next in our Skin Longevity Series:
What's Really Ageing Your Skin Every Day?
We'll explore what sunshine, pollution, everyday products and environmental exposures can do to our skin—and, more importantly, what actually helps protect it.
Because sometimes the most valuable thing we can do for our skin isn't another treatment.
It's understanding what we're protecting it from.
Anita Bellerose RN
AB's Cosmetic Clinic | Melbourne
Helping you make informed choices about skin health and ageing well.
Further reading:
Epigenetic Clocks in Skin Ageing (2025)
Endocrine Controls of Skin Aging (2025)
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