People who seem to have struck a better deal with time rarely swear by miracle serums or secret treatments. Instead, they quietly avoid the everyday habits that speed up ageing. These aren’t dramatic lifestyle overhauls—just small subtractions, practised consistently, that make all the difference over the years.

1. They don’t live on sugar

Those who look vibrant in their sixties treat sugar as an occasional treat, not a daily companion. It’s not about swearing off dessert, but about breaking the modern pattern of sugar in every drink, every sauce, every “healthy” snack.

Sugar triggers a process called glycation, which essentially stiffens the collagen in your skin. Think of it as caramelising from the inside—not a golden crust, but wrinkles and sagging.

The youthfully ageing are label-readers. They know pasta sauce doesn’t need spoonful of sugar, and that fruit is far sweeter than anything “fruit-flavoured” from a packet.

2. They don’t worship the sun

Many people spent the 1980s basking in baby oil in search of the perfect tan. Their skin now often shows it—leathery and weathered. Meanwhile, their sun-smart peers could easily pass for younger relatives.

This isn’t vanity; it’s science. UV damage builds up like debt—easy to ignore at first, but costly later. Hats, shade, and sunscreen aren’t fads; they’re preservation tools far cheaper than any anti-ageing cream.

3. They don’t say yes to cigarettes

Today it seems obvious, but those now in their sixties grew up when smoking was sophisticated—even doctor-approved. Those who resisted, or quit early, gave their skin a lifelong gift.

Smoking narrows blood vessels, damages collagen, and creates deep lines that no lipstick or cream can cover. Dermatologists even have a term—“smoker’s face”—because the changes are that distinct and long-lasting.

4. They don’t fall for extreme diets

The youthful-looking sixty-somethings weren’t hopping from grapefruit cleanses to cabbage soup plans. They knew—long before the science confirmed it—that yo-yo dieting ages the face more than carrying a few stable extra pounds ever could.

Rapid weight loss stretches the skin, then weight regain stretches it again. This constant “accordion effect” breaks down elasticity. The healthier approach? Stable, balanced meals and steady habits.

5. They don’t sacrifice sleep

While some wore late nights as badges of honour, others quietly honoured bedtime. Those who prioritised sleep protected their skin and slowed ageing at a cellular level.

Chronic sleep deprivation raises cortisol (which breaks down collagen) and lowers growth hormone (which repairs skin). The result isn’t just tiredness—it’s accelerated ageing.

6. They don’t let stress run the show

Career-chasing, round-the-clock work, constant emails—it shows. Chronic stress literally shortens your telomeres, the protective caps on your DNA. The result? Inflammation, puffiness, redness, and skin that looks worn out.

Those who’ve aged gracefully learned to switch off. Work stayed at work, emails waited until morning, and “success” didn’t come at the expense of sustainability.

7. They don’t live on beige foods

Rows of beige—bread, crackers, biscuits, pasta—fill most supermarket aisles. But those who age well stocked up instead on colour: dark greens, bright oranges, deep reds.

Colour in food signals antioxidants, which fight free radicals that break down collagen and speed up ageing. Real, vibrant food beats processed beige every time.

8. They don’t stop moving

The best-preserved sixty-somethings aren’t necessarily marathon runners—they just never stopped moving. Walking to the shop, taking the stairs, even dancing in the kitchen all kept muscles active and circulation strong.

Movement keeps gravity at bay. Sedentary living, on the other hand, lets everything sag.

9. They don’t cling to anger

Some people rehearse old arguments for decades, wearing their bitterness on their faces. Chronic anger etches deep lines and fuels stress hormones that accelerate ageing.

Those who look younger chose to forgive, not necessarily for others but for themselves. Letting go, it seems, is one of the most effective beauty treatments of all.

10. They don’t chase youth desperately

Ironically, the youngest-looking people aren’t the ones frantically trying to appear young. They’re not overdoing cosmetic procedures or dressing like teenagers. Instead, they embrace their age gracefully, and that authenticity radiates far more youth than any attempted disguise.

Final Thoughts

Looking youthful at sixty isn’t about finding secret formulas—it’s about avoiding the obvious pitfalls we’ve normalised. The ones who seem to age in slow motion aren’t pressing down on the accelerator with sugar, stress, or sleeplessness, while hoping a cream can act as the brake.

The lesson? Sometimes the most powerful anti-ageing strategy is simply to step off the gas.