The reflection you’re seeing in the mirror today might be a little different than the one you saw in March—to be fair, we’ve seen some things this year. If you’re feeling like you got hit over the head with an aging stick, it’s OK, you’re not alone. The aesthetic experts we spoke to said there are a multitude of reasons why you might be looking and feeling a little older these days, but thankfully we still have time to turn it around before the year ends. 

Video Vanity
In the last five months, “Zoom” went from a word we know to mean speed up, to the new way we communicate with each other on the regular. If one thing is for sure, Zoom is speedily making more people around the world self conscious about their appearance. “People are spending more time than ever doing their work through a virtual platform. It’s quite simply a matter of having the opportunity to see one’s image during video conferences,” says San Antonio, TX dermatologist Vivian Bucay, MD. “Add stress, changes in sleeping habits and diet, lighting issues, and bad camera angles, and you have the perfect recipe for an increased demand for minimally invasive procedures for perceived aging.”

Stress Effect
According to Bloomfield Hills, MI dermatologist Linda C. Honet, we may all be experiencing a great amount of stress due to the COVID era we’re living in, but for some it can manifest in our looks. “As if this stress in and of itself isn’t enough, it’s showing up on our faces,” she says. “We are frowning more, smiling less and feeling emotions we’ve never felt before for a very extended period of time, and there seems to be no end in sight.”

Added wrinkles, sagging and lackluster skin can give you an overall more aged look in a short matter of time. “Simplistically speaking, the release of cortisol increases the circulating sugars in our bodies and results in these sugars binding proteins like collagen in the skin, making it less functional,” adds Dr. Honet.  “Stress can even affect the skin barrier function, resulting in increased dryness and crepiness on the surface of the skin.”

Gray Hair 
If you’ve found yourself covered in gray, it’s probably due to a dip in how frequently you’re having your hair treated. “Considering that people are probably going longer without coloring their hair, they are noticing a lot more grays,” says Nine Zero One hairstylist Sarah Klein. “When you are used to coloring every four to six weeks, you often don’t realize how gray you are or even see new grays that have appeared. So, having a longer time in between appointments is definitely going to be eye opening for those who are used to the consistent coverage.”

This doesn’t mean you are producing more grays than before says Klein, it just means they are more visible. “This is a tough time for everyone for all different reasons, but I think we this can be a great time to embrace your natural beauty. Try not to stress about it and if it becomes too much to handle, there are some temporary root sprays that can help cover the grays or I suggest even contacting your hairstylist and see if they can provide you with an at home professional hair coloring kit.”

Soft Bodies
While stay-at-home orders and gym shutdowns around the country led to a more homebody lifestyle, it also led to more stress eating and less physical movement. “The combined effects of less exercise and daily movement result in loss of lean muscle mass, reduced circulation and a sluggish lymphatic system,” says holistic nutritionist Jennifer Hanway.  “Add in a diet higher in sugar, carbs and alcohol—sugar is one of the key dietary drivers of premature aging of the skin—the combined stressors of this new normal, and a lack of restful, restorative sleep, it would definitely result in anyone looking older.” 

While turning it around may seem challenging, Hanway says it’s important and empowering to understand that by improving just one part of our holistic health routine will synergistically improve the rest. “Eating a healthier diet will improve energy levels, meaning we feel more motivated to workout, which in turn leads to reduced stress levels, which results in better sleep.”

Pressing Pause
Prospect, KY dermatologist Tami Buss Cassis, MD adds that the break in getting beautifying treatments can also create an accelerated aging affect. “When we were shut down for almost eight weeks, we were only allowed to do emergency appointments. That gap really made people aware maintenance is very real and important! If you don’t maintain your personal health, fitness and beauty routines, the person you are slowly becoming due to the aging process will stare right back at you on that FaceTime call.”

To turn back the clock, the experts we spoke to say the secret is in the bounce back. Every aging concern you see in the mirror can be addressed one by one to get you feeling back to normal.  “Our bodies make us resilient as a human race,” says Dr. Honet “And remember, if you’re feeling a little older, a little Botox, a little filler here and there and a little self-care are a good thing. Looking good makes you feel good, and each and every one of us needs to feel something to feel good about right now.”

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