By the time you reach your 30s, you’re suddenly seeking out ways to look younger. And when your 40s, 50s, and 60s roll around, it can feel like a constant battle. Knowing how to offset some of the signs of aging will help you remain confident, vibrant, and healthy for years to come.
Reclaim Some of Your Youthfulness
Aging affects us all differently. Some people feel it in their bodies, but still look young and vivacious on the outside. Others feel great, but show outward signs. Wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots, weight gain, fading eye color, slumping posture…it impacts each of us differently. But regardless of how it’s changing your body, there are some things you can do to push back, create a little resistance, and even reverse certain effects.
It’s important to remember that your body is a living, breathing organism. Left alone, it will decay. Supported by healthy systems, processes, and actions, it will thrive.
Here are a few simple steps you can take to reclaim some of your youthfulness:
- Plump Your Lips With Color
As you age, your lips lose a little bit of their vitality and fullness. But you don’t need injections or procedures to plump them back up. You can give off the impression of having fuller lips with nothing more than a lip liner.
“Find a lip liner that matches your natural lip tone. Gently draw over the bottom lip line and cupid’s bow for a fuller pout,” makeup artist Ashlee Glazer writes. “Top the liner with a lip gloss for hydration and a little glimmer.”
- Present Yourself With Purpose
How you present yourself is just as important as how you look. People remember impressions, and you’ll appear much younger if you’re able to carry yourself with purpose and vibrancy.
When you speak, project your voice and enunciate. You should also speak slower and with more discipline. Quick talkers appear anxious and unsure. Pacing your words makes you seem confident.
Posture is another big factor. The way you carry yourself sets the tone for how people see you – as well as how they respond. Pull your shoulders back and keep your neck straight. Never hunch over or slouch.
- Sleep Position
As you age, your body needs more sleep to rejuvenate and thrive. But it’s equally important to think about how you’re sleeping. Otherwise, all that shut-eye could actually be wreaking havoc on your appearance during waking hours.
“Avoiding facial contact and facial compression while sleeping is the best way to prevent or minimize sleep wrinkles,” YourFacePillow.com advises. To do this, you’re better off using a pillow that helps you sleep on your back
- Exercise Daily
Physical fitness is important for your internal health, as well as your external appearance. Regular exercise increases circulation – promoting vibrancy in your skin and hair – and releases endorphins into your bloodstream (which make you look and feel healthier). Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily.
- Eat a whole foods diet
We all know that a healthy diet is key to losing weight and maintaining a trim figure, but did you know that what you eat also impacts the vitality of your skin and hair.
“When you want hair that looks healthy, you’ve got to start at the basics, and that means eating an adequate amount of protein to maintain normal hair production,” says Kevin Pinski, MD, a Chicago-based dermatologist.
Research also suggests that people who eat three servings of carotenoid-packed produce – like dark leafy greens or broccoli – are perceived as having a healthier and more attractive skin tone.
Fight Back Against Aging
The objective here isn’t to stop aging altogether. Instead, we’re interested in slowing down the aging process and preventing an unnecessary decline in physical appearance. Through proper skincare, diet and nutrition, fashion, and posture, you can give yourself every chance to age with gracefulness and purpose.
