Mornin’! I’m back in Arkansas for the week, so that felt like the proper greeting. I’ve missed the rolling hills, my hilarious family and neighbors, and gravy. I still really need to get some gravy, for some reason.

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👶 How to Look and Feel Youthful (Without Pretending You’re 22)

I can’t believe I’m 30. And frankly, when someone else says they can’t believe it either, it feels good. 💁🏼‍♂️

We all want to age well. Not by pretending we’re 20 years younger, but by looking and feeling vibrant, healthy, and confident as the years go by.

And while genetics, luck, and mindset all play their roles, there are things you can do—especially when it comes to your face, skin, and the subtle signals your body sends out to the world around you. Here’s a no-nonsense guide to keeping that youthful glow, rooted in science (and sanity).

Understand What’s Really Changing

It’s not just wrinkles or sagging skin. Starting in your 40s, bone density declines—even in your face. The structure of your cheeks, jaw, and eye sockets shifts over time, which is why features can appear more hollow or tired even if your skin is smooth.

And the facial fat that keeps us looking plump and youthful actually doesn’t come back if you ever regain weight after weight loss, unlike the other areas of our body. Cruel biology, I know!

It probably goes without saying that stress—and the inflammation caused by it—ages you. Ever seen presidents’ before and after pics? Enough said.

The sun, gravity, and simply using our bodies eventually results in some wear and tear. To be honest, we weren’t really meant to be living this long, relative to most of human history. And evolutionarily, there’s no real biological advantage to look hot after like your 20s. You might’ve been a grandparent by your 30s!

The solution isn’t panic; it’s support. Healthy movement, strength training, and good nutrition help slow bone loss. And a smart skincare routine can protect and maintain the tissues around it.

We all age, and that’s a beautiful thing. No one can escape it (looking at you, Bryan Johnson 👀), and no one needs to. There is, however, a certain level of confidence and joy that can come from feeling good, vibrant, and youthful in your own skin. And if it adds joy and possibly even years to your life, it’s worth discussing here at Move to Improve.

Build a Skincare Routine That Works (Not Just Sells)

Here’s the order of operations most experts recommend—and the “why” behind each:

Morning:

1. Gentle Glycerin-Based Cleanser – Cleans without stripping your natural oils.

2. Vitamin C Serum – Boosts collagen, brightens tone, and shields skin from daily damage as a powerful antioxidant.

3. Moisturizing lotion – If you need it, this will help you retain water and stay plump and hydrated, not dry and cracky.

4. Daily Sunscreen (Non-Negotiable) – Opt for mineral over chemical when possible. Chemical sunscreens can break down within hours and may create reactive oxygen species when exposed to UV, which ironically can damage cells further. Mineral sunscreens (zinc/titanium) block more reliably, and they do come in tinted versions that blend better (I love Thinkdaily’s tinted facial sunscreen).

   • Remember:

     • UVA = Aging (penetrates deep, breaks down collagen and elastin)

     • UVB = Burns

     • Visible and infrared light can also contribute to pigmentation and may even accelerate facial fat atrophy (bad thing for appearance) and bone remodeling beneath the skin.

Evening:

1. Cleanser – Again, something gentle.

2. Serum – Antioxidant or hydrating, depending on your skin needs.

3. Moisturizing lotion – again, depending on whether anything else you use is moisturizing (like your retinoid), I’d suggest some nighttime hydration as well.

4. Retinoid – The powerhouse for keeping collagen production strong and ramping up skin turnover (a good thing).

   • Level A: Retinol (starter, good for prevention and younger skin)

   • Level B: Retinaldehyde (a step up, more potent, can still be bought OTC)

   • Level C: Retinoic Acid (the industry gold standard, probably more ideal for mid-40s+ to actively maintain collagen)

   • Start in winter (skin is less light-sensitive), and use sparingly: lower eyelids daily, upper eyelids once a week, neck twice a week.

   • Always apply products thinnest (like serums) first to thickest (like retinoid/sunscreen) last.

Bonus Rules:

• Pat, don’t rub, your face—especially when drying. Be gentle on your facial skin in everyday life and try to avoid harsh friction.

• Don’t pick at acne or blemishes (you’ll cause scarring or inflammation that ages the skin faster).

• Prioritize deep moisturization as you hit middle age and beyond; hydrated skin reflects light better and stays more resilient.

Brands that are actually worth it in my and professionals’ opinions: CeraVe (when I die, bury me in CeraVe lotion), Geologie (I’ve used daily since 2020), and I’ve heard good things about Avya Skincare, SkinCeuticals, Obagi, and SkinBetter. I’m sure there are plenty of others.

Beyond the Mirror: Posture, Movement, and Mindset

Looking youthful isn’t just a product game. It’s also how you carry yourself.

• Keep your shoulders relaxed and open—good posture alone can make you look five years younger.

• Practice soft eyes and jaw to avoid the unconscious tension that etches lines and makes your face look “harsher.”

• Stay hydrated. Water, foods with high water content, and adequate electrolytes can help you look and feel fresh.

• Keep nutrition locked in. A non-inflammatory diet can go a long way. Try to minimize inflammatory and ultra-processed foods with tons of sugar and starch. Aim to consume antioxidant-rich produce and foods with abundant micronutrients and vitamins.

• Collagen (in the form of a supplement, bone broth, etc.) can also help with skin, hair, and nail health—not to mention possible joint benefits as well.

• Chew—a lot! Our ancestors used to tear into raw meats and veggies with their chompers. Imagine the jaw lines! Today, we cook, soften, and process foods, drastically reducing our need for chewing. Thus, our teeth get crowded, our jaws get smaller, and we become mouth breathers. Chew more and shape up that face.

• Move your body daily, not just for fitness, but for circulation, muscle tone, and energy. Strength training in particular slows bone and muscle loss, which directly impacts how your face and the entire shape of your body look over time.

• And maybe most importantly: adopt a mindset of radiance over rewinding. You don’t need to erase every line. The goal is to look and feel vibrant—not frozen.

Bottom Line

There are probably many other tips that went unmentioned this week, but I didn’t want to publish an entire book. Jade rollers, red light therapy, heat/cold therapy, yoga/facial exercises, and countless others… the list goes on. Do what works for you and find what brings you joy and confidence.

Youthfulness isn’t magic, and it’s not all about genetics or expensive creams. It’s a combination of smart skin science, healthy habits, and how you choose to carry yourself. Care for your skin like it’s part of your health (because it is), and carry your body like it belongs to someone who feels alive.

Do that, and you’ll not only look younger—you’ll feel it, too.

✅ Take Action

Every newsletter's Take Action section will invite you to take small steps to improve your health. Recognizing that we all have different capabilities, I'll offer three different levels of action you can choose to take.

Level 1: Quick Daily Wins (5 Minutes or Less): Pat, don’t rub, when washing and drying your face. Apply a mineral SPF every morning (even in winter). Do a 30-second jaw and temple massage at night to release tension.

Level 2: Weekly Rituals (Small Commitment, Big Results): Start a retinoid routine (2–3 nights per week to start). Add one strength or mobility session to your week (bone + posture support). Do a 5-minute posture reset each morning: stand tall, roll your shoulders back, soft jaw.

Level 3: Long-Term Youthful Habits (The Real Game-Changers): Commit to daily sunscreen + nightly retinoid (with consistency, not perfection). Build a 2–4 day/week strength routine to protect bone density and muscle tone. Track your sleep and stress (both age your skin and energy faster than wrinkles ever could).

This newsletter is brought to you by… me!

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Know someone else who might be? I’d love to get to know you and/or your business and see how we can partner together. Reply to this email!

✍️ Drew's Picks:

• Article inspo: This skincare deep dive podcast was partial inspiration for this week’s newsletter.

• Rebound from a rough night: Strategies for tackling the day when you just didn’t get a good night’s sleep.

• Squat better: Brought to you by the New York Times.

See y’all next week, I hope! Bring a friend—click below :)

Keep moving,

Drew

The content in Move to Improve is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. It is always a good idea to consult with a trusted health professional before making any major lifestyle changes that could have a significant impact on your health. This is not a medical resource, and any opinions and articles are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional. Please think critically and take what I say with a grain of salt (aka don’t sue me).