Call it career-driven: You have no problem putting in those extra hours at the office to impress your boss and set yourself apart from the crowd. But the last thing you want is for all that stress to leave you looking tired and prematurely aged. It’s time to couple your admirable ambition with a few proactive tips for delaying the signs of aging, so you can look as fresh-faced as that first day you walked into the office. After all, the only thing as motivating as success might be a complexion that looks as radiant as you feel.

1. Take a break to hydrate

Ever notice how dry the recycled air in your office can be? The easy answer might be to drink more water, but while staying hydrated is great for your body, the benefits don’t necessarily extend to your skin. As dermatologist Katie Rodan tells Real Simple, “Humans aren’t like plants. Our skin doesn’t perk up when we consume water.”

Instead, Real Simple points to both diet and topical products as being helpful in preventing dehydrated skin. According to Dr. Leslie Baumann, “Diet can play a role in strengthening your skin’s ability to maintain moisture.” Baumann recommends foods rich in essential fatty acids, such as olive oil, nuts and fish. Or, if it’s too hard to change your diet while you’re at work, keep a bottle of Perricone MD Omega 3 Dietary Supplement in your desk drawer.

The best cure for parched skin? Moisturizer. “A quarter-size dollop of lotion will do much more for your skin than drinking a quart of water,” Rodan says. Key ingredients to look for in products are stearic acid, ceramides and cholesterol. Try a dab of a rich moisturizer like CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or ATOPALM Intensive Moisturizing Cream throughout the day. 

2.  Protect skin from UV damage

The large window in your office might be a status symbol, but if it’s next to your desk, you’re being bombarded daily with skin-aging UVA rays. Even if you don’t spend time outdoors, sunlight easily passes through glass, so make sure to apply sunscreen under your makeup every morning for skin protection. Try a light formula with a high, broad-spectrum SPF like La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid or SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical Defense SPF 50, which won’t leave a film on your skin or disturb your makeup.

3. Stay awake (without the sugar)

You’re feeling sleepy – and the office kitchen is loaded with baked goodies yet again. Don’t be fooled into caving for skin-unfriendly goodies that are packed with refined sugar. “When our blood sugar goes up rapidly and continually, the sugar can actually attach to the collagen in our skin, making it stiff and inflexible,” Dr. Nicholas Perricone, MD, tells Medicine Net. This process, called glycation, damages the protein structure of your skin and leads to wrinkles. According to Dr. Perricone, “When your collagen is cross-linked by sugar, you end up with stiff and sagging skin. I believe that 50 percent of aging of the skin is the result of this glycation reaction.”

Instead of loading up on sugar to get through that afternoon meeting, treat yourself to a healthy snack that’ll not only benefit your skin, but also sustain energy without that eventual sugar crash. Medicine Net suggests a combination of complex carbohydrates and protein – try low-fat cheese and crackers.

4. Take a breather

On a busy day, it’s easy to get so caught up in work that you don’t so much as glance at the clock – or take a deep breath – for hours. Your body might show signs of built-up stress and tension before you’re even aware of your busy lifestyle. When stress increases, more of the body’s stress hormone, called cortisol, is produced, which in turn can boost oil production and lead to acne, as well as speed up the aging process.

Keep stress – and your skin – under control by taking frequent breaks (in a quiet place, if possible) to allow yourself a moment to unwind and take some deep breaths. Try aromatherapy scents like lavender and chamomile to calm your nerves and ease your stressed-out mind. Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Lavender Body Spray is an easy way to bring the benefits of aromatherapy to the office.
  
5. Save those eyes

Have you noticed yourself frequently squinting to see the computer screen or to look at the projector during a big meeting? It might be time to see your eye doctor. A visit to the optometrist might take a few hours of productivity from your day, but keeping your eyesight in check can prevent signs of premature aging like crow’s feet and expression lines that are caused by squinting.

You can also switch to a larger font on your computer screen to further ease your vision. And every 20 minutes, shift your vision to an object across the room or out the window for 20 seconds to encourage circulation, focus and prevent unnecessary strain.

After all the hours you’ve put in at the office, you owe it to yourself to give your own health and well-being some attention. Sometimes skin improvements are as simple as taking that extra five minutes to reapply your moisturizer or taking a quick walk around the office complex to de-stress. Just remember that taking care of your skin is a natural part of taking care of yourself, from head to toe.

See also:

Office Beauty Handbook: Skincare Guide to a Professional Appearance in the Workplace

At-Home Waxing: An Inexpensive Alternative for Busy Working Women

Workplace Beauty for the Polished Professional: 6 Beauty Products to Keep at Your Office

The Busy Working Girl's Guide to Fabulous Skin