• Deborah Szekely is 102 years old and works three days a week.
• She attributes her fitness and plump skin to her lifestyle.
• She shared the things she does that have helped her reduce wrinkles and sun spots.

Looking at her, you wouldn’t guess Deborah Szekely he is 102 years old. Three days a week, the centenarian works at the spa resort in Baja California, Mexico, which she founded with her husband in 1940 — and she doesn’t plan to stop until nature tells her to, she said CNBC Make It earlier this year.

It also seems to have avoided the loss of skin plumpness and sun spots that often occur with age.

With people living longer than ever, the anti-aging products market is growing rapidly: it is expected to be worth $41.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $60 billion by 2030, according to market research firm Research and Markets.

But Szekely’s secret to good skin don’t spend hundreds of dollars on creams that promise to turn back time. Instead, she credits her lifestyle and a few simple skin care products. This coincides with research: A 2023 review of evidence published in the journal Cosmetics found that a good diet, exercise and enough sleep appear to help skin health as people age. Research also suggests that the way skin ages is affected by genes, which are beyond our control.

Business Insider spoke with Szekely to find out how she kept it leather in such good condition.

Eating “fresh, healthy foods.”

“I give all the credit to a good diet and regular exercise. It’s really important to keep moving. Even now, at 102, I walk a mile every day,” Szekely said.

A review of studies published earlier this year in the journal JMIR Dermatology suggested that regular exercise can reduce age-related skin changes such as wrinkles and dry skin.

Diet can also play a role.

Szekely said she eats mostly “fresh, healthy foods,” which she believes has contributed to great skin. She does not eat highly processed foods that contain more than three ingredients.

A 2020 review of studies published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology suggested that a whole, plant-based diet could help prevent skin aging. The authors argued that this could be because it reduces the number of carcinogens people ingest and lengthens telomeres, which are the DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that shorten over time and cause markers of aging at the cellular level.

Sunscreen is the best way to prevent skin aging

Szekely also has a simple daily skincare routine.

“Here’s my secret: You have to clean all the makeup off your face before you sleep,” she said.

Her biggest skin care recommendation for young people who want good skin is to wear sunscreen. She wears a moisturizer that contains sunscreen every day.

Dr. Derek V. Chan, a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist based in Manhattan, previously told BI that sunscreen is “by far the most important part” of a anti-aging skin care routine. Using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day can help protect against the aging effects of ultraviolet light, he said.

Much of Szekely’s advice is consistent with what her fellow centenarians have previously shared with BI when it comes to maintaining health, fitness and skin quality later in life.

A 101-year-old man named William, who did not go by his last name, said his secrets to staying healthy after 100 he eats healthy, stays active and has a long and varied career.

And Toshiko Eto has practice without wrinkles at 80which she attributes to eating fermented foods as well as her skin care routine.

Dr. Tina Alster, a dermatologist and director of the Institute for Laser Dermatologic Surgery in Washington, told BI at the time that genetics and sun protection are “probably the two most important factors” in keeping Eto’s skin looking so youthful.