While Mark Twain claimed that “wrinkles merely indicate where smiles have been,” turns out they also indicate where you've lived. 

While you already know that age, sun exposure, and smoking cause fine lines, we hate to break it to you, but the climate you're living in may cause wrinkles too. Here’s why.

Dry climates zap moisture from your skin.

If you live in a dry climate, you probably notice that your skin is dry too. When your skin lacks moisture, it’s more likely to lead to wrinkles and fine lines.

Typically, the driest climates occur in the coldest temperatures. That’s because there’s low humidity during chilly months. The lack of the humidity in the air (and that dreadful winter wind!) dries out your skin.

That’s why it’s common to experience red, chapped skin on your lips, face and hands when the weather drops. While this is an immediate symptom of dry climates, it can also cause fine lines in the long run.

That’s why it’s so important to treat your skin now. Moisturizing your skin will help combat the lack of humidity. Use a daily moisturizer, supplement with a thicker nighttime moisturizing cream and/ or face oil, and apply lip balm and hand cream as needed.

Of course, hydrating isn’t all about what you do on the outside. Drinking water can also replenish your skin’s moisture. If you still feel like your skin is dry, try sleeping with a humidifier.

In case you’re wondering if you should pack your bags and move, wait a second. While humid climates won’t steal all the moisture from your skin, you can experience increased oiliness, acne breakouts, and sun damage.   

You don’t have to move to a new city to avoid a skincare woe. Instead, be smart about your skin. If you live in a dry climate, moisturize. If you live in a humid climate, find a cleanser you love that fights back against oily skin. No matter where you live, wear sunscreen—every single day.

Wondering what cities cause wrinkles?

While we know that a dry climate can cause fine lines, that’s not the full story. Sperling’s BestPlaces and RoC Skincare performed a Wrinkle Rating Study to investigate further.

With an analysis of lifestyle, environmental, and occupational factors, the Wrinkle Rating Study found that it’s not as simple as dry climate equals fine lines.

Riverside, California was determined to be the most wrinkle-prone city thanks to its year-round sun and high unemployment rates. In second place, New York City’s fine lines are caused by high stress and long commutes.

Overall, the main factors that contribute to a high wrinkle rating are low winter temperature, elevation, commute time, and sunny days.

Don’t stress over where you live.

When the causes that lead to fine lines aren’t simple, that means there isn’t one simple solution. Sunscreen is always a given, but you should also moisturize, drink water, practice mindfulness, and get lots of sleep.

Even though where you live can cause wrinkles, that doesn’t mean that this is another factor to stress out over when trying to find a place to live. It just means it’s important to be thoughtful about your skincare habits.

PS: Live in a dry or cold climate and looking for a solution for your dry, chapped skin? Check out our cult-favorite Chapped Skin Remedy.