These 4 Things Will Instantly Make You Look 10 Years Younger

With age, comes wisdom. But who says beauty can’t come along too? There is beauty in all ages, just as there is in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just as 20-somethings need to maintain their looks, after 40, there’s no reason why we should neglect ours. Doing things that will help us feel good about ourselves is healthy for our self-esteem and the confidence we carry while interacting with others.

I’m in my 40’s and I’ve learned several minor beauty secrets that will do a lot to enhance our mature beauty. It’s all about looking natural, lovely, and gracefully sexy. And it doesn’t have to break the bank.

I’m here to share these 4 helpful tips that will have people wondering what your age truly is.

Hair

If you have enough greys like me, coloring your hair will instantly restore your youthful look. Greys tend to make us looked washed out and sickly. Coloring it will brighten your face.

I opted for my natural hair-color, and every 4 weeks, I only do a root touch-up to prevent over processing my hair. You can find good brands in common retailers and drug stores like Walmart or CVS, at affordable prices. Whole Foods is a good place to find natural and organic hair color if you want to avoid all the chemicals. There are also temporary options in which the hair color fades within a certain number of washes.

It’s also important to maintain one’s hair moisturized. Using a hair conditioner regularly will help keep it silky. I also like using a ‘hair mask’ I buy at Trader Joe’s which has a thicker consistency for sealing in moisture even more. I typically use the hair mask once a week. And there’s also a leave-in conditioner that can be applied on the hair (wet or dry) after your shower.

Makeup

When I was younger, one of my favorite go-to looks was the smoky eye for nights out. As I got older, I noticed that it wasn’t working for me anymore. Smoking out my upper and lower lids with dark shades were making me look tired and worn out.

A better alternative I use now is a smoky eye with lighter shadows. The smoking out technique is still flattering but the lighter color palette revives my face.

Another modification I did to my makeup was to wear less of it. Wearing too much foundation after 40 accentuates any fine lines. I’ve also completely eliminated wearing setting powder under my eyes for the same reason.

I only place a small amount of light Maybelline liquid concealer under my eyes concentrating most of it in the inside corner and then gently patting it outwards with my ring finger.

As we age, there is a decrease in elastin molecules and collagen production which causes our lips to lose firmness and fullness. One easy way to counteract that loss is to maintain moisture in our lips. I like applying medicated lip balm whenever my lips feel dry.

I only use lipsticks that are creamy and lighter colors. I never use matte lipsticks because they will dry out your lips as well as settle into the cracks magnifying them further.

I also like applying lip-plumping gloss over my creamy lipstick. The high gloss and light colors make the lips appear to be fuller.

Teeth

Maintaining our dental health is always important, but as we age, we tend to have more discoloration in our teeth, making it appear as if we’ve neglected them.

Besides brushing with a Sonicare electric toothbrush and whitening toothpaste, bleaching will also help brighten your teeth. There are several bleaching options available. The most aggressive is going to be the Zoom whitening treatment at your dentist’s office. Zoom uses LED light with hydrogen peroxide gel to whiten your teeth by about 5 shades in 45 minutes. This treatment will cost you about $750 for one session.

But don’t worry, there are less expensive options! I didn’t want to spend that much, and my teeth are also very sensitive, so I chose to go with a passive, more affordable at-home treatment. I bought the Crest whitening strips at Amazon which gives you 20 treatments (for top and bottom) for about $45. I left the strips on while I watched TV for an hour each day, and by the time I got through all 20 treatments, my teeth looked significantly whiter.

Clothing

Just because we’re over 40 doesn’t mean we have to dress like we’re 90. We can still look appropriately hot without trying to look like teenagers.

I find that choosing clothes that are form-fitting (not tight), are the most flattering. When clothing doesn’t fit right, it isn’t flattering on anyone regardless of age.

Older women sometimes tend to want to hide behind baggy clothes for some reason; one is a little extra weight. But full-figured women look just as fabulous with well-tailored garments. There’s no need to go for the next larger size. Outfits should be fitted in the right areas like in the upper waist. A-line dresses are flattering on any shape or size.

Trends come and go so fast, it’s not worth investing in outfits that will be dated in a couple of seasons. That’s why I like buying pieces that are classic, timeless, and age-appropriate.

A basic black blazer, fitted jeans, and a white V-neck tee-shirt, for example, are good staples to have in your closet. You can pair them with cute ballet flats during the day, or black heels to meet with friends for dinner.

For date night Saturday, a black spaghetti strap dress with heels is sexy. The great thing about the little black dress is it leaves you room to adorn it with pretty much any kind of accessory to give it a pop.

Don’t be afraid of color! Find which colors are the most complimentary to your skin tone and add some colorful pieces to your wardrobe to mix in with your basics.

Take-Away

Remember it’s not about changing who we are or pretending we’re 21 again. It’s about embracing the beauty that comes with age by caring for it and showcasing it well.

My tips are only suggestions, but there are no set rules. Ultimately, it’s whatever makes you feel good about yourself that matters.

After all, there is nothing that makes us more beautiful than being confident, kind, and happy.