Doctor Reveals The Hidden Thing That Makes You Look YEARS Older Faster Than You Realise

with his 2.6million followers, broke down his anti-ageing philosophy, offering a refreshingly simple take in an industry often obsessed with quick fixes and cosmetic tweaks.

Chronic stress is known to increase inflammation in the body, disrupt hormones and impair skin repair – a perfect storm for accelerated ageing.

While Dr Barrett doesn’t delve into mechanisms in the clip, his advice aligns with a growing body of research linking long-term stress to dull skin, fine lines and faster breakdown of collagen.

In contrast, the thing that slows ageing most isn’t found in a clinic or a jar, but rather how our bodies rest and regenerate overnight, and Dr Barrett’s advice is backed by science.

A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that sleep-deprived people appear less healthy, less attractive and tired compared to when they are well rested, suggesting our faces visibly reflect sleep debt.

During deep sleep, the body ramps up cell repair, collagen production and blood flow to the skin. If you miss it regularly, your skin will show it.

Dr Barrett groups sleep alongside what he calls the ‘basic stuff’ like the small habits in our everyday lives that quietly make the biggest difference over time.

Some of those health-related habits also include regularly exercising, applying sunscreen daily, staying out of direct sunlight and not smoking.

UV exposure is one of the leading causes of premature skin ageing, breaking down collagen and accelerating pigmentation and fine lines.

Daily sunscreen use remains one of the most proven ways to slow visible ageing – and in Australia, it’s far than just a cosmetic choice.

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, sun exposure remains the leading cause of premature wrinkles, pigmentation and collagen breakdown, while also posing a serious health risk.

According to Cancer Australia, the Cancer Council and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, with hundreds of thousands of new cases recorded each year, the vast majority being non-melanoma skin cancers.

It’s a sobering reality that underscores why dermatologists and plastic surgeons alike continue to describe sunscreen as the closest thing we have to a daily anti-ageing insurance policy, protecting not just how the skin looks, but long-term health as well.

And there’s another lifestyle habit he’s adamant people should quit for both skin and overall health: smoking.

Smoking not only damages blood vessels and reduces oxygen delivery to the skin, but also accelerates wrinkle formation, particularly around the mouth and eyes.

Dr Barrett is also clear that he would cut out as much sugar as he could from his diet to protect the skin long term.

Backed by research published in the National Library of Medicine, high sugar intake contributes to a process called glycation, where sugar molecules bind to collagen and elastin fibres, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs).

These make skin stiffer, weaker and less able to repair itself, which is a key driver of visible ageing.

While Dr Barrett emphasises lifestyle first, he does believe certain supplements can play a supportive role too, particularly when it comes to cellular ageing.

When asked about his personal ‘secret weapon’ and a product he couldn’t live without, he clarified that ‘N.A.D’ and ‘NMN’ were important actives to note.

NAD⁺ (short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every cell of the body. Often described as a cellular ‘battery,’ it plays a critical role in energy production, DNA repair and inflammation regulation, which are all essential for maintaining healthy, resilient skin.

The NAD⁺ levels in our own bodies naturally decline with age, which means cells have less energy to repair damage and renew themselves.

While it’s not a miracle cure, supporting NAD⁺ levels through lifestyle, supplementation or skincare is increasingly being explored in longevity and skin science.

And while these supplements have existed for years, topical skincare has only recently caught up. As the molecule is large and unstable, many products use precursor ingredients such as NMN (as mentioned by Dr Barrett), NR or niacinamide, which the skin can convert into NAD⁺.

Advances in formulation and delivery systems have made NAD⁺-focused skincare a growing part of the beauty–wellness crossover, particularly as consumers shift toward ‘healthy ageing’ rather than aggressive anti-ageing.

The goal isn’t to turn back the clock, but to help skin function like it did when NAD⁺ levels were naturally higher.

Dr Barrett’s message cuts through the noise to instead educate his audience and clientele that ageing well isn’t about chasing one magic product.