The Secret to Looking Younger
Beauty Tips for Women over 50
Jul 17, 2009 Carol Rzadkiewicz
When a woman’s birthday cake contains 50 or more candles, she might look in the mirror and lament her lost youth. She might also think that being attractive is solely the province of the young.
Just because a woman is no longer young, however, does not mean that she can no longer be attractive. In fact, she can be just as attractive, if not more so, if she learns the “tricks” that some women already know.
Hair Style & Color
One of the worst mistakes an older woman can make is to wear her hair in a “helmet,” meaning teased and sprayed so heavily it looks molded and wouldn’t get mussed in a hurricane. She should instead take a hint from older actresses, for example, Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda, and opt for a hairstyle that’s soft and touchable.
While many women seem to think that longer hair is verboten as they age, this isn’t necessarily true. Although many women look best with shorter hair, length really depends upon personal preference. Again, look at the Hollywood legends, not just Keaton and Fonda, but actresses like Lauren Bacall, who’s 75 and still a knockout. They wear their hair longer; but it isn’t midway down their backs because Rapunzel-length tresses are best reserved for the young.
When it comes to color, some women can go gray and still look fantastic, but most women look better with hair that’s close to but a few shades lighter than their original color. This does not mean, however, that every woman should go blonde. What it means is that women should select a color that flatters their skin tone, and more often than not, lighter shades are more flattering than dark, especially jet black, which usually isn’t flattering on anyone over thirty.
Makeup
As many women age, they either continue using the same makeup as when younger or else shun it entirely. Either approach is the wrong approach. Older women should wear makeup; they just shouldn’t wear as much or the same shades as when younger.
The best foundation for older skin is one that moisturizes, as well as one that isn’t too heavy. Neither should the shade be too light or too dark, nor should it contain glitter. Moreover, after applying foundation, women should emphasize their cheekbones and other facial contours with blush, but the color selected should be peach, rose, or pale mauve, never burgundy or red or chocolate.
As for eyeshadow, women should opt for grays, browns, khakis, or wines, not neon blues, psychedelic greens, or flamingo pinks. And when choosing a lipstick, they should opt for softer shades, not too dark or too bright, as well as a brand that contains moisturizers; and while “lip-plumping agents” can make lips look a bit fuller and more youthful, older women should avoid lining their lips since this tends to accentuate wrinkles around the mouth.
Clothing
Older women should dress their age, but this does not mean they must eschew style. Granted, after a certain age, a woman looks ridiculous in miniskirts and stiletto heels, that is, unless she’s Tina Turner; but women can still look alluring, even sexy, although, as when applying makeup, the overall effect they strive for should be one that is subtle and classy instead of gaudy and tasteless
For one, they should never wear muumuus, except in the comfort and privacy of their homes, nor should they don elastic-waist pants; sweaters adorned with cuddly puppies and/or kittens; or, worse, sweatshirts emblazoned with the logo “World’s Greatest Granny.” In other words, they should avoid any outfit that screams, “Look at me! I’m No Longer Young!”
Many women also make the mistake of shopping only in the “Women’s” section of their favorite stores, but unless size is a contributing factor, they could find much more flattering clothing in the “Misses” section of the same stores. After all, misses fashions tend to look more youthful than women’s fashions, but not too youthful looking except perhaps in pricier upscale shops that cater to a wealthier clientele.
Additional Tips
Although genetics often play a role in how rapidly and how well a woman ages, there are steps any woman can take to help slow the aging process and look younger than her calendar years:
- If overweight, lose weight, because heavier women tend to look older.
- Exercise, since exercise helps one maintain an ideal weight and also improves muscle and skin tone, as well as skin coloring (the glow of health = the glow of youth).
- Eat a balanced diet, ideally one consisting chiefly of vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads, and low-fat proteins.
- Take a daily multivitamin tablet (designed specifically for mature women); calcium, magnesium, and zinc, along with vitamin D-3 (increases bone health); Omega 3 Fish Oil (contributes to heart health by lowering cholesterol); L’Arginine (aids in blood flow and maintaining muscle mass); and Ginkgo Biloba (aids in maintaining memory health).
- Get enough sleep, because lack of sleep negatively impacts both skin and body, resulting in a woman’s looking haggard and, therefore, older.
- Join a club, volunteer for an organization, get a part-time job, or enroll in a class; in other words, become socially active because people who interact with others tend to be more content with life and contented people look younger.
- Use a moisturizer designed for more mature skin, preferably one containing Vitamin A, Omega 6+3, and/or collagen.
Ultimately, the secret to looking younger isn’t really a secret at all. It’s something within every woman’s grasp. She simply has to want it badly enough to take the initiative and make it happen.
How to Look Younger
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