In an age of Instagram, online dating apps and Snapchat filters, there has never been more pressure to look a certain way, and for women, in particular, this societal pressure has only made the ageing process even more daunting. But it needn't be.
While an age-defying potion continues to elude us, these 30 tips on looking young in your 50s and beyond are the next best thing.
1. Grapes
Don't worry, we're not going to list a supposed bunch of "superfoods" but we thought we'd remind you of the importance of fruit, and a great fruit which has many anti-ageing properties is the humble grape.
Packed full of anthocyanins, which have arthritis-fighting properties, these age-defying wonders boost collagen in the retina, helping prevent saggy eyes and wrinkles.
2. Mushrooms
From fruit to veg, mushrooms may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're someone who wants to have color in their hair well beyond your 50s, you might want to start getting used to them.
In a journal called Biological Trace Elemental Research, graying individuals were found to have notably lower copper levels than a control group. As your body needs copper to produce the necessary pigments for your skin and hair, it's important you incorporate them into your diet. A good place to start is the shiitake mushroom, which contains just 40 calories.
3. Yoga
The meditative benefits of yoga are enormous, and there are so many different kinds, be it flow, Bikram, and Hatha to name but a few. First and foremost, a core exercise routine, yoga can take you through a spiritual awakening all while making you look and feel ten years younger.
Do it on the beach. Join a group class. Even if you do it by yourself at home, you'll be sure to reap many benefits from these challenging but healing exercises.
4. Exfoliate
Exfoliation has its purpose- and it serves a great one. But you don't need to overdo it either as that can cause significant skin damage. However, done well and consistently (two or three times a week) and those dead cells on the surface of your skin will be a thing of the past.
Coupled with a regular skin routine, and a good exfoliate will make skin smoother and offer a more youthful glow.
5. Meditation
Sceptics may dismiss meditation as nothing short of common phenomena but the benefits, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, are plain to see. You have to be patient, but if you find yourself meditating regularly- even if it's just 1 minute a day- you'll notice your breathing, and overall awareness improve.
As your breathing becomes more consistent with a stress-free and content human being, all that tension and worry that has damaged your skin and spawned adult acne will be a thing of the past.
6. Floss
We are often told as children to brush our teeth both in the morning and before we go to bed, but how many of us were told to floss? If your local dentist is any good, they'll persuade you to floss daily- and for many good reasons.
The toothbrush’s bristles alone won't reach areas of the teeth where food particles get trapped. Left to their own devices and these particles can cause severe damage to the tooth, so to eliminate these scraps, it is essential that you engage with a daily flossing routine.
7. Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen on a daily basis- come rain or shine- is essential to ageing well and maintaining a youthful appearance free from wrinkles and sun-damage. Depending on the strength of your sunscreen and your natural skin tone, it' advised that you don't spend any longer than 2 hours in the sun.
Doing so for longer will cause nothing but damage to the skin, as well as increase your chances of skin cancer.
8. Rewards
Celebrating those little achievements will make you feel good and form a positive connection to exercising so remember to reward yourself as long as it is not food or drink.
A simple thing is crossing off a calendar or listed items. It may sound silly but just the fact of seeing what you have to do disappear will make you feel like you have to keep going.
9. Exercise Goals
Why do you want to be exercising in the first place? Is it to just be fitter in general or to lose weight. Perhaps you want to build muscle or are training for a marathon. Whatever it is, set yourself a long-term goal to work towards and keep that focus in mind.
Now you know why you're doing this, break that overall goal down into smaller, more manageable targets such as jog for x minutes or x distance, or some such achievable little thing. By providing yourself with these tiny little motivations and then building towards something bigger, you are far more likely to achieve.
10. Dermapem microneedling
Collagen induction therapy, otherwise known as microneedling, is a cosmetic procedure that celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie swear by.
It involves frequently puncturing the skin with small, sterile needles to promote collagen the same way a scab would heal a cut. While treatments typically range within the $300 mark, a series of 6 sessions, 4 weeks apart, is recommended if you want to see the best results.
For people with acne scars, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation and active acne, this treatment has been known to work wonders to help restore skin to its former glory.
11.Sheet masks
Maybe guys aren't going to be as easily won over by these as women, but whatever your gender, sheet masks are brilliant at keeping away the appearances of fine lines and wrinkles and boosting a healthy complexion and glow.
The face-shaped sheet fabrics are rich in nutrition and contain a solution called serum. Coming in a variety of materials, sheet masks, which celebrities often use before a public appearance, can simply be worn for 10-20 minutes before being discarded.
12. Moisturizer
You should moisturize every day- especially if you have naturally dry skin. Not only does moisturizer promote a youthful glow, some also contain sunscreen, which is vital in protecting the skin and reducing visible signs of ageing.
Best of all, it allows you to feel fresh and rejuvenated and allows other products to absorb faster. For best results, apply shortly after splashing water on your face.
13. Eye cream
Our eyes are often the first area of the face to show clear signs of distress and wear, so it's essential you get equated with a good eye cream in your mid-20s.
The best ones often contain vitamin C which promotes a natural glow and reduced purple puffiness and lines under the eyes.
14. Regular exercise
Veering away from products, one of the most important facets of a healthy lifestyle is undoubtedly exercising on a regular basis. If you want to look slim and feel good about yourself, there's no better way than by getting off your bum and hitting your local gym.
We've already mentioned the importance of having exercise goals, but nothing beats actually getting out in the world and being active. Whether it's weight training, running, or whatever else takes your fancy, remaining active boosts our serotonin levels and injects positive thoughts into our brains. Who wouldn't want that?!
15. Water
While we may be stating the obvious here, water is the best and only drink you should be consuming on a daily basis. Forget teeth-staining coffee. Avoid teeth-ruining sodas and misleading smoothie products. Water is the only drink that balances all of the body fluids and helps our skin stay fresh and glowing.
In short, you can buy all the beauty products you like, but if you want youthful skin and that seemingly all-too-elusive radiant complexion, water is the way forward.
16. Softening Lotion
Another unisex product on our list, GQ recently produced a video highlighting the best products male models use on their face to enhance their ethereal features and softening lotion was one of them.
Used before moisturizer, the lotion adds a faint glow and creates a more even skin tone over time.
17. Posture
How many times did your teacher tell you to sit up straight in class? A lot, probably. But kids aren't the only slouchers. In the modern-day world of office work, we have all become accustomed to slumping over our screens and forgetting to straighten our backs and shoulders when walking.
Not only will you add a few inches to your height, but you'll also look more confident.
18. Green Goodness
Again, we don't mean to sound like your teacher, but it's important to eat five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day (including grapes, of course). Preferably, we'd prefer you to eat the stuff in a solid form as opposed to a liquidated version because smoothies and their ilk tend to ruin your teeth as they contain a lot of sugar.
However, if you struggle with food and are a fussy eater, then pick up a green smoothie and drink it with a straw.
19. Concealer
Concealer is a go-to product for women wishing to hide an unruly spot or a puffy pair of eyes. We know, it's a bit of a cheat, but as you're doing new, healthy things, it's best to fake it till you make it, right?
So if you want to look fresh on a night out without showing those ageing spots, then don't be afraid to use it!
20. Get The Right Haircut
Opinions around women's hairstyles have long been subjective. Everyone is different, and while some may swear by a clean and easy-to-maintain bob cut, others would be hard-pressed to do away with their luscious locks.
However, for those that are unsure about what works best but still want a hairdo that goes with their more senior age, look no further than an age-beating bob-cut. It complements facial structures and can even be blended with a bit of length by opting for a shoulder-length/ chin-length cut.
21. Always Take The Small Option
Did you know that bigger packages of snack are likely to contain 44% more calories? While this may seem obvious, consumers tend to go for the fiber options because they think the jump in size isn't that big- but it is.
So be careful and opt for the smaller packages, or divide the contents of the bigger bags and consume over time.
22. Suck
Another dietary hack that works wonders is sucking on a mint. While chewing on a piece of gum can make us feel hungry, sucking a mint can have the opposite effect and ward away those pesky cravings that have us reaching for the cookie jar.
So next time you see a freshly baked cookie, don't say you haven't been warned!
23. Wash Your Face
It sounds so simple but few of us do it. Sure, we all jump in the shower in the morning but few take the time to properly scrub and pay attention to our face.
Give it the time and attention it deserves and you can remove blemishes just by attention and care and you really should do it at least once a day.
If you do it just before bed it can also have benefits on your skin tone and removes the pollutants picked up from throughout the day.
24. Avoid Over Drying Your Skin
Certain products can actually dry your skin out leaving it damaged and lacking firmness and vital nutrients. Avoid alcohol-based astringents and moisturizers immediately after washing and be careful of the chemical content of your products. It all adds up so make sure you don't use too much.
If your skin does become too dry it can look aged before its time.
25. Be Careful What Products You Use
Using products to aid your skin is quite a common practice but few people actually check the products against their skin and often just assume the advertising and marketing materials are telling them the whole truth. Think about your skin type and tone and work out what it is sensitive to for the best results.
Some products use harmful chemicals including Paraben, Phthalates, Propylene glycol, and Sodium lauryl sulfate which can damage the skin, get into the bloodstream and have been linked to cancer.
26. Eat more chunky soup
Chunky soup? Doesn't that contain loads of calories? Nope, not as many as pureed soup, at least.
In fact, people eating soup with large vegetable pieces felt fuller and ate 20% less than those who consumed a traditional puréed soup composed of the same ingredients.
27. Incorporate fish into your diet
Omega-3 fatty acids are important dietary requirements, and you can find this in an array of fish including tuna, mackerel, cod, and salmon.
A study even found that overweight people who undertook a reduced calorie diet and included fish every day in their meals lost about 20% more weight than those on a fish-free diet.
28. No Alcohol
Alcohol is all well and good when you're young and free, but get past 30 and you'll notice that your hangovers become two and three-day ordeals. Even social drinking has a dehydrating effect on the body and tampers with our ability to store the appropriate fats.
It also has noticeable adverse physical effects, that being an inflammatory impact on the body.
29. Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea is the go-to drink for tea lovers who don't want to have any caffeine in their system past a particular time of the day. It contains aspalathin, a C-linked dihydrochalcone glucoside that has been clinically proven to reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger.
The drink also includes polyphenols, a micronutrient that protects against premature ageing.
30. Invest In A Light Stim
One of the main reasons the ageing process has such an adverse impact on our appearance is because facial collagen production slows down, leading to wrinkles and loose skin.
However, invest in one of these LED lights, and your body will stimulate collagen as though you were a fresh-faced graduate. It's also FDA approved.so you don't have to worry about being ripped off.
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LIFESTYLE