Having young-looking skin always feels good. Whether you’re 20 or 60, you want to have smooth, wrinkle-free, and blemish-free skin. While the state of our skin is often heavily influenced by genetics, there are a few things you can do to help keep your skin looking as young and beautiful as possible.

To keep your skin looking young, you’ll want to avoid the sun. Over time, sun exposure ages your skin. You can still enjoy the great outdoors, just make sure to take proper precautions:

• Skip high-intensity sun hours. The sun is at its strongest (and most damaging) between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If it’s possible, plan your outdoor activities before or after these hours.
• Use sunscreen. It’s not always convenient and it doesn’t always feel nice, but wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 (or higher) before you go out and reapplying it every two hours will protect your exposed skin from damage.
• Cover up. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and long sleeves whenever possible. Covering your skin is usually a much better option than sunscreen, which can wear or wash off.

No matter what you do, skip the tanning bed. The tan may make you look young and sexy now, but it will steal your youth later. If you feel you must have a tan, find a good self-tanner.

Over time, smoking can cause the collagen in your skin (which keeps you looking wrinkle-free and young) to break down, which can make you look old. Burning something near your face and the repetitive facial motions of smoking can also contribute to facial wrinkles. Similarly, drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate your body and leave your skin looking old. If you’re going to drink, be sure to hydrate properly between drinks.

Keeping your skin clean and moisturized will go a lot further than you think in keeping you looking young. Going to bed wearing your makeup (or just dirt from the day) isn’t doing your skin any favors. Your face-washing techniques don’t need to be long or rigorous — remember that gentle is the name of the game. Wash in warm water (not hot) and chose milder cleansers over harsh ones. Pat dry and apply a moisturizer. Moisturize your entire face and neck.

In addition to avoiding things that will hurt your skin, it’s important to take care of your overall health. Exercise. Eat healthy foods. Get enough sleep. These things will not only help you feel better, but will keep you looking young.

Discuss questions or concerns about your skin with your doctor or dermatologist.