How to Look 40 in Your 50s

Carefully applied makeup can take years off your looks.

Although a large majority of women choose to age gracefully, many other women prefer to ignore the date on their birth certificate. Instead, they elect to slow the aging process by battling facial wrinkles and covering up telltale gray hair. Today's anti-aging creams combined with good makeup, proper nutrition, sleep and exercise can help many women appear at least ten years younger. So, unless you want to, there is no reason to accept nature's definition of what 50 years old should look like.

Things You'll Need

• Water bottle
• Anti-aging face cream and moisturizer
• Teeth-whitening product
• Permanent hair color

Instructions

1. Exercise regularly. According to Mayo Clinic, regular exercise helps you to feel and look younger. In addition to improving your fitness and stamina, activities such as swimming, walking, biking and rowing also reduce stress levels which in turn can help you to retain your youthful glow. Exercise also lowers blood pressure and builds body strength which is important to maintain as you age.

2. Drink lots of water so that your skin stays hydrated. If you don't drink enough water your skin will become dry and flaky; hydrated skin appears younger looking.

3. Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. If you are overweight, shed those extra pounds as obesity is not only unhealthy, but can make you appear older than you actually are.

4. Get plenty of sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, women in their 50s require between seven and nine hours of sleep nightly. Sleep helps regulate your metabolism and keeps you from developing dark circles and puffiness around your eyes.

5. Use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. Few things make you age faster than the sun's harmful rays. If you can't avoid the sun, use sun-block, wear protective clothing and be sure to keep your skin moisturized.

6. Quit smoking. Not only is smoking hazardous to your health, but it causes premature aging. The more you smoke; the more wrinkles you will have.

7. 

   Visit your hair stylist often to maintain a younger appearance.

   Find a great hair stylist. Many women in their 50s have gray hair which can make them look their age. Cover those gray hairs by having them highlighted or colored. Ask your stylist to help keep you looking younger with a trendy cut and be sure to visit the salon every six to eight weeks.

8. Whiten your teeth. Years of drinking coffee and tea can darken your teeth. Have your teeth bleached by your dentist or purchase some whitening strips for a dazzling young smile.

9. Use anti-aging face creams, cleansers and moisturizers. A daily regime using age-appropriate products will help keep people from guessing how old you really are.

Tips & Warnings

• Most women in their 40s don't dress like twenty-year-olds and neither should you. Dress in fun, bright clothes that make you feel great, but leave the short shorts and skintight mini-dresses to the twenty-year-olds.

References

• Mayo Clinic: The Secret's Out: Exercise May Help You Look, Feel Younger
• Simply Anti Aging: Drinking Water Hydrates Your Skin
• Mayo Clinic: How to Age Without Getting Old
• National Sleep Foundation: How Much Sleep Do We Really Need
• Mayo Clinic: Is it True That Smoking Causes Wrinkles

Resources

• Cool Health Tips: 20 Tips to Look Young and Healthy