Have you ever looked at someone with beautiful skin and thought, She must have good genes?

Maybe her mother had beautiful skin too. Maybe she seems to have sailed through life without giving skincare much thought.

And then there’s the other side of that comparison.

Maybe you grew up in a family where wrinkles, dark spots or dry skin seemed to arrive early. Or perhaps you look back at your own history and wish sunscreen had played a slightly bigger role. Maybe skincare simply wasn't something you thought much about until recently.

It's easy to assume the trajectory has already been decided.

But skin aging is much more complicated (and much more optimistic) than that.

So, is good skin genetic? 

Genetics influence how your skin ages, but they aren't the only factor. Research, including studies of identical twins, shows that sun exposure, smoking and other lifestyle and environmental factors can contribute to visible differences in skin aging even among people with nearly identical genes. Consistent sun protection, appropriate skincare and healthy lifestyle choices can therefore influence how your skin looks and functions over time.

Is Good Skin Genetic?

There is undoubtedly a genetic component to how our skin ages.

Our genes can influence characteristics such as skin structure, pigmentation, antioxidant capacity and how our skin responds to environmental stress. Researchers describe this as part of intrinsic aging; the natural biological aging process influenced by genetics, cellular metabolism and the passage of time.

But alongside intrinsic aging is extrinsic aging: changes influenced by the world around us and how we live in it.

UV exposure is a major factor, but researchers studying what's known as the skin aging exposome also look at factors including pollution, smoking, nutrition and other environmental and lifestyle exposures accumulated throughout our lives.

In other words, your DNA matters.

But so does what happens to your skin along the way.

And there may be no better demonstration of this than identical twins.

Same genes. Different skin.

A fascinating study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery examined 186 pairs of identical twins.

Identical twins provide researchers with a particularly interesting opportunity: people with essentially the same genetic makeup can have different lifestyles and environmental exposures.

Researchers photographed the twins and looked at factors associated with differences in their perceived facial age.

Despite their shared genetics, differences emerged.

Greater sun exposure was associated with an older appearance, as were outdoor activities without adequate sun protection. Smoking was also associated with an older appearance, with longer smoking histories linked to greater differences.

Another large Danish twin study came to an equally interesting conclusion. Researchers studying more than 1,800 twins over age 70 reported that approximately 40% of the variation in perceived age was attributable to non-genetic factors.

That doesn't mean genetics account for 60% of how everyone's skin will age. Or that lifestyle can override inherited characteristics. Skin aging is far too complex for a simple formula like that.

What it does tell us is something much more useful:

Our genetics are not our destiny.

The choices that seem small today can add up.

Most of us aren't making decisions about how our skin will look 20 years from now when we put on sunscreen in the morning.

We're simply putting on sunscreen.

Or washing our face before bed.

Or applying moisturizer when our skin feels dry.

Or eating well, getting some sleep and taking care of our overall health.

Individually, these actions don't feel particularly significant. But skin is with us for a lifetime, and our repeated habits become part of its story.

Sun protection is perhaps the clearest example. The American Academy of Dermatology calls sun protection the foundation of an effective skin-aging care plan because UV exposure accelerates skin aging; a process known as photoaging. It also recommends daily moisturization, gentle cleansing, a healthy diet and adequate sleep as part of healthy skin care.

And skincare products can play a role too.

Good skincare is about supporting your skin: cleansing without stripping it, maintaining hydration and the skin barrier, protecting against UV exposure, and using well-researched ingredients to address the concerns that matter to you.

Key word there is: YOU! And as always, consistency is queen!

But suddenly our skin changes again.

For women, there's another important piece of the story: hormones.

During perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen can affect collagen, elasticity, moisture and other aspects of skin physiology.

That means the skin you've always had may suddenly behave differently.

You may have had naturally oily skin for decades and suddenly find it dry. Products you've used for years may no longer feel like enough. Fine lines may become more noticeable, or your skin may simply feel less resilient than it once did.

While this can be both frustrating and overwhelming, its not evidence of bad choices or a sign to throw in the towel.

It's evidence that skin changes and our cue that the way we care for it needs to change too.

What if you haven't taken great care of your skin?

Maybe you're reading all of this thinking:

That's wonderful. I wish someone had told me when I was 25. 

Perhaps you spent years tanning. You weren't particularly consistent with sunscreen. You bought skincare occasionally but never really developed a routine. Or you were busy taking care of children, careers, parents and everyone else, and your skin wasn't exactly at the top of the list.

You can't change those years.

But the good news is that you don't need to! Caring for your skin isn't an all-or-nothing proposition.

The skin aging process reflects both intrinsic biology and ongoing environmental and lifestyle influences. Research continues to explore just how modifiable aspects of skin aging may be, but the evidence is clear enough on one important point: the choices and exposures that happen throughout our lives matter.

Which means the choices you make now matter too.

• You can start protecting your skin from UV exposure today.

• You can begin using a gentle cleanser instead of something that leaves your skin feeling tight.

• You can moisturize consistently.

• You can choose skincare based on what your skin needs now rather than what worked ten years ago.

And you can support your skin through the same lifestyle choices that support the rest of you: good nutrition, adequate sleep and caring for your overall health.

You don't need a complicated routine. You don't need a bathroom cabinet overflowing with products. And you certainly don't need to make up for every skincare decision you wish you'd made differently.

You need a good plan and enough consistency to give it time to work.

Your skin's story is still being written.

Some women undoubtedly win a little more in the genetic lottery than others.

But perhaps we've given genetics too much credit.

The skin we see at 50, 60, 70 and beyond isn't simply the skin we inherited. It's the result of genetics interacting with decades of hormones, environment, sun exposure, lifestyle and care.

Some of that is beyond our control. But a surprising amount isn't.

So if you're only beginning to take your skincare seriously now, don't look backward and wish you'd started sooner.

Start here and now!

Because good skin isn't simply something you're lucky enough to inherit. It's also something you can choose to care for, starting today.