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Want to freshen up your look and turn back the clock a few years? Here we offer four ways you can look younger without having to undergo the knife or break the bank. We aren’t saying a little nip and tuck is a bad thing. Some plastic surgeons might suggest improving these areas to ensure you get the most from your cosmetic procedures.
Nourish Your Skin
Nothing can make you feel older than some lines or dark spots on your face. It could be that you have dry skin, which emphasizes lines and wrinkles. You can tighten your skin and reduce wrinkles and lines without surgery.
Protect against harmful UV rays: Regardless of your age, race, or gender, you should wear sunscreen to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful UV rays. MD Anderson Cancer Center recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher applied 30 minutes before heading outside. We all know of the strong link between UV rays and skin cancer, but did you know the sun also prematurely ages skin by causing dry, leathery skin, wrinkles, and “liver” spots?
Exfoliate routinely: Dry skin flakes can clog pores and make your skin look and feel uneven and blotchy. Exfoliating every few days or once a week can eliminate those dead skin cells and freshen your skin. Men who shave regularly exfoliate without knowing it!
Cleanse gently: Soap dries out your skin, even ones that contain moisturizers. Using a gentle soap-free facial cleanser twice a day can help your skin retain moisture.
Moisturize: Skin has different needs at different stages of our lives. Visit your dermatologist or licensed skin care specialist to find out what products are best for your age. In general, skincare routines should include (Source: Self):
- In your 20s: Prevention, prevention, prevention. We can’t say it enough: Prevention now can help reduce having skin issues later down the road. Use a moisturizer with sunscreen and an over-the-counter retinol to support collagen production.
- In your 30s: While you should continue your defense, it’s time to add some restorative ingredients to your moisturizer. For example, use a moisturizer with sunscreen, antioxidants, and prescription-strength retinol (speak with a dermatologist).
- In your 40s: Keep up with sunscreen use and add peptides to stimulate collagen production. It may also be time to up your retinol and add eye cream with emollients.
- 50 and older: Continue using an SPF-fortified sunscreen. Look for a moisturizer that contains ceramide to help moisturize skin and prevent wrinkles.
Brighten Your Smile
The color of our teeth is a good indicator of one’s age. As we age, tooth enamel wears away, leaving our teeth more prone to stains. For tobacco users, your tooth discoloration is likely greater. Also, some foods and beverages, red wine, coffee, tea, and some fruits are known to stain teeth.
Adding a tooth whitening gel to your oral care routine can restore youthfulness to your smile. Instead of settling on just any teeth whitening gel, look for one that also remineralizes your tooth enamel. This protects your teeth from decay and defends them against stains.
Rinsing after drinking and eating can also up your oral care. Regardless of where you dine, take 30-seconds (at the table or in the bathroom) to swish some water around in your mouth to remove stain-promoting ingredients, sugars and chemicals that can wear down your enamel.
Get a Good Night’s Rest
You can always tell when someone lacks sleep, even after just one night. A restless night can leave you with sullen eyes wondering who’s that looking back at you in the mirror!
The American Academy of Sleep Physicians, citing a study that found one night of insufficient sleep can make your cells age faster, recommends adults get a minimum of seven hours of sleep. Another study reported in Science Daily links poor sleep and skin aging.
If you have insomnia, or you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you should consult your doctor to help rule out underlying health issues that contribute to sleep disruption.
Of course, you won’t have any problem finding books, apps, programs, and devices designed to aid better sleep. Before spending money on any of these try these tips for getting better sleep:
- Eliminate caffeine after noon
- Don’t drink alcohol within two hours of going to bed
- Stop watching TV at least an hour before going to bed
- Exercise at least 20 minutes every day
- Drink plenty of water
- Make your pets sleep in their own bed
- Use earplugs if you have a snorer nearby
Use Age Appropriate Makeup
Although many beauty experts suggest that women “over a certain age” should avoid using powder eyeshadows, black eyeliner, and glittery colors, you should wear what you want if it makes you feel comfortable and confident.
With that said, makeup done well can knock years off your age. Done wrong, it can add years.
If you are unsure about your makeup routine try out a professional makeup session from a licensed aesthetician or skincare specialist who knows which products are safe and effective for age-related concerns. You can find these professionals most often in dermatologist offices.
Compiled from several sources, here are some makeup tips for women over 40:
- Focus on your eyebrows, but avoid the colored-in look.
- Use a primer under your foundation, and update the shade as your skin tone changes due to aging.
- Go easy on the concealer so it doesn’t buildup in wrinkles, accentuating them.
- Use natural tones for eye makeup.
- Avoid heavy eyeliner under your eyes.