7 foods that silently age your skin, according to an anti-aging expert

We all want that healthy, glowing skin that looks fresh no matter what our age is—but here’s the tricky part: it’s not just about skincare products or fancy treatments. What you put on your plate every day plays a huge role in how your skin ages. In fact, some foods we casually snack on or sip with friends are secretly speeding up fine lines, dullness, and sagging. They don’t scream “bad for your skin” the way greasy fast food might, but they’re quietly working against you.

Why is this important to know?
The intake of added sugar is increasing these days. For example, as per a Harvard report, on average, Americans consume about 17 teaspoons (roughly 68 grams) of added sugar every day. This equates to approximately 270 calories from added sugars daily—much higher than the recommended limits set by experts. Leading sources of this added sugar are sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and sweet snacks.

Edson Brandao, a 58 year old biohacker took to Instagram to share 7 foods that silently damages our skin and pushes it towards early aging.

"Watch out some everyday treats might be working against you. Sneaky skin agers like sugar, soda, and ice cream don’t just taste sweet… they can accelerate wrinkles and steal your radiance," he warns his followers.

Ice cream breaks down collagen
Ice cream may be comforting, but it’s secretly rough on your skin. All that sugar creates something called advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which break down collagen and elastin—the proteins that keep your skin firm and bouncy. Without them, skin gets saggy and fine lines pop up faster. Plus, the dairy can trigger inflammation or acne for some people, leaving skin looking less clear. The combo of sugar and dairy is like a double hit to your glow, making ice cream more of a wrinkle-creator than a beauty booster.

Cola dehydrates your skin
Cola feels refreshing, but it’s actually dehydrating your skin. The high caffeine content acts like a diuretic, meaning it makes your body lose water faster. Dehydrated skin looks dull, tired, and more prone to fine lines. On top of that, cola is loaded with sugar, which damages collagen, speeding up wrinkles and sagging. The acidity can also weaken your teeth, taking away from your overall youthful look. Basically, every sip gives you a quick energy rush but quietly steals your skin’s bounce and brightness. Swap it out with sparkling water if you want glow instead of dryness.

Fruit juices have added sugar
Even though fruit juice sounds healthy, most store-bought versions are loaded with sugar—sometimes as much as soda! That sugar spikes your blood glucose, leading to glycation, which weakens collagen and elastin. Over time, skin loses firmness and elasticity, showing wrinkles sooner. To make things worse, fruit juice lacks the fiber of whole fruit, so you’re just getting a big sugar dump without the benefits. This sugar rush also creates inflammation, which can worsen acne or redness. While fresh juice in moderation is fine, guzzling it daily can definitely fast-track dullness, sagging, and premature skin aging.

Margarine reduce skin hydration
Margarine used to be marketed as the “healthy” butter swap, but it’s actually loaded with trans fats. These fats can stiffen cell membranes and reduce skin hydration, leaving you with dry, rough-looking skin. Even worse, they may damage collagen, which is your skin’s natural scaffolding. Without strong collagen, fine lines and sagging show up faster. Some studies even connect trans fats with increased inflammation, which makes skin more vulnerable to breakouts and redness. So, while margarine might spread smoothly on toast, it’s not doing your face any favors—it’s more like spreading wrinkles over time.

Artificial sweeteners can cause inflammation
Artificial sweeteners might seem like a smart sugar hack, but they can mess with your skin in sneaky ways. They confuse your body, triggering insulin responses even without actual sugar, which can lead to inflammation. That inflammation shows up on your skin as dullness, breakouts, or redness. Some studies also suggest sweeteners can mess with gut health, and since your gut is tied to your skin, that imbalance may speed up aging. While they don’t directly cause glycation like real sugar, they still mess with your skin’s natural balance, making your complexion look less smooth and youthful over time.

Muffins weaken collagen
Muffins might look innocent (especially the blueberry ones that scream “healthy”), but they’re really little sugar bombs. The refined flour and sugar combo spikes blood sugar, leading to glycation that weakens collagen. That means skin starts sagging earlier, with wrinkles creeping in faster. Plus, most muffins are made with unhealthy oils that add to inflammation, making skin dull and puffy. What feels like a cozy morning treat is really a hit to your skin’s glow. Eat them often enough, and your skin will show it—trading radiance for tiredness. Basically, muffins are dessert in disguise, and your face knows it.

Alcohol dehydrates the skin
Alcohol might make you feel relaxed, but your skin pays the price. It’s a powerful dehydrator, which leaves your skin looking dry, flat, and more lined. Dehydrated skin shows wrinkles more easily and loses that fresh glow. Alcohol also inflames your skin, which can worsen redness, puffiness, or conditions like rosacea. Over time, it messes with vitamin A levels too—an essential nutrient for skin repair. Without enough of it, your skin struggles to renew itself, so signs of aging show up faster. A glass here and there is fine, but too much drinking leaves your face looking older, sooner.

"Give your skin the love it deserves by ditching these culprits and choosing nourishment that works for you—not against you. Radiance starts from within," the biohacker urges.