Looking naturally gorgeous is a breeze at age 50 and beyond — just follow these 10 simple tips.
1. masquerade. Is your face feeling flabby? Treat yourself to a facial mask at least once a week to tighten your skin.
2. grey’s anatomy. Just because you have grey hair doesn’t mean you have to settle for a solid dye job. If you don’t want to colour your whole head of hair every six to eight weeks, keep highlights in mind.
3. thin is not in. If your hair is thinning, talk to your health care practitioner as you could be losing hair because of vitamin or dietary deficiencies. Also, consider ginkgo biloba* herbal supplements, which can help increase blood flow to the scalp.
4. lighten up. Yellow teeth can easily make you look 10 years older. Try substituting some of your favourite dark treats with items that won’t stain your teeth. For example, instead of cola, try ginger ale. Or try spinach, broccoli, or cauliflower instead of beets.
5. go nuts. Snack on some walnuts throughout the day. Walnuts not only contain omega-3 fatty acids, but also vitamin E*, which is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from the free radical damage that causes wrinkles.
6. moisture surge. As you get older, your skin doesn’t produce new cells as quickly, which is why your skin is probably drier than it was in your 30s. Always moisturize your face and body, and read the labels for soothing ingredients such as shea butter* and aloe vera*. Even break open vitamin E, A* or C* gel caps and add them to your moisturizers. And don’t forget your fish oil supplements, which are famous for reducing the formation of wrinkles.
7. shield yourself. Sunscreen can do wonders for your skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it only takes a couple of minutes of daily sun exposure to change the look and texture of your skin.
8. under-eye agers. Maybe you’ve noticed that the circles under your eyes have gotten darker with age. Here’s one easy tip to make them less obvious — drink less alcohol. Drinking alcohol can dehydrate and thin out the skin, making eye circles stand out even more.
9. clean up the cobwebs. Spider veins running up your legs? Then eat more fruits rich in bioflavonoids*, such as blueberries and raspberries, which can help strengthen your blood vessels.
10. relax. There’s no doubt that stress makes any woman look older than her age. So talk to your naturopathic doctor about facial yoga — a series of toning exercises for your
facial muscles — to increase blood circulation and relax your muscles. To get you started, try this to develop your facial muscle tone:
- Gently twist your body and face to one side.
- Lift your cheek and press your lips together towards the same side your body is twisting.
- On the opposite side of your face, try relaxing the muscles.
- Repeat on the other side.
Bonus Tip
As some women get older, they tend to gain weight around their midsections. If this is you, then play dress-up. Wear v-neck tops and dark colours to draw attention away from your belly. Put on accessories that are proportionate to your body size.
