Daily sun protection is top priority. The Canadian Dermatology Association recommends a minimum of SPF 30 in a broad-spectrum formula to protect skin from both UVB (rays that burn and cause cancer) and UVA (rays that age skin and cause cancer). Sun damage typically shows up a decade after exposure. You have been warned. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Cooling Water-Lotion Sunscreen SPF30 ($46), at drug stores and mass-market retailers. READ MORE: The 8 hottest beauty buys for April

Whatever your reason for working out — a strong heart, 10K training or to win that Rihanna look-alike contest — exercise brings an important added benefit: It changes skin’s composition. Research from McMaster University in Ontario has shown that people who take part in endurance exercise have markedly healthier and thicker skin than those who don’t. READ MORE: Makeup you can wear to the gym (seriously)

Don’t discount genetics, advises Torgerson. “Those with thin, fair skin show wrinkles caused by muscle movement the earliest,” he says. “Those with dark skin show wrinkles later, but they can have uneven tone or hyperpigmentation instead.” That’s because skin with lots of melanin reacts to inflammation caused by injury by producing more pigment in an effort to protect itself. READ MORE: 8 hacks that will change your brow game

Collagen production accelerates while you sleep. If you don’t get more than a few hours, not enough collagen is produced to replace that which has been broken down by the day’s inflammation. (Inflammation contributes to breakouts and increased skin sensitivity.) READ MORE: You only need 5 beauty products to get Bella Hadid’s red carpet look

When you are in your 20s, skin issues may arise due to lifestyle (parties, alcohol…you know the drill); your focus should be on prevention (i.e., regular use of sunscreen). By the time you are in your 40s, major changes are at work. “This is when skin really shows the effects of chronic sun exposure, gravity and facial movement,” says Dr. Jaggi Rao, a derm in Edmonton. “Skin’s elasticity decreases, and collagen isn’t as robust.” Your focus should be on repair. READ MORE: 25 beauty memes we will never get enough of

Retinol (a form of vitamin A, available both over the counter and with a prescription) is a long-time derm fave. “It’s safe and effective,” says Rao, who calls it a “go-to” because it reduces surface pigmentation and oil production and builds collagen (thereby reducing fine lines, pore size and scars). READ MORE: 12 beauty products that contain It-ingredient charcoal

“So many people are looking for a quick fix and lose their judgment in the quest for eternal youth,” says Harold Lancer, an L.A.-based celeb-fave dermatologist who advises “No one but your dermatologist should perform a procedure that penetrates your skin.” If you’re thinking about invasive options like cosmetic fillers or Botox, be sure to go board certified. (Visit your provincial college of physicians and surgeons, and use the doctor-search function to check qualifications.) “If someone is pushing a treatment a bit too much or pushing you out of your comfort zone, maybe that’s a sign,” warns Torgerson. “If it’s way too expensive — or way too cheap! — maybe that’s a sign too. [And once you begin treatments], if you start to feel in any way that you don’t look like yourself, slow down and re-evaluate.” READ MORE: The right way to use multiple active skincare ingredients at a time