Going for a Younger Look

Excerpts from a very interesting article by Liz Brody, "5 Simple Tricks to Looking Younger":

(1) Skin
Try creams and lotions. Cleanse gently, moisturize daily, swear by SPF 30, and think about an anti-aging cream. Vitamins C and A seem to stand out. In drugstore creams, look for L-ascorbic acid and retinol. At the prescription level, retinoids (like Retin A) have the most science behind them.

(2) Makeup
Try "let there be light" instead of make-up and hide. To hide the bags, dab a light-reflecting cover-up, and don't use powder unless it's loose and finely milled. "If you've never curled your lashes, now is the time to start," says Hollywood makeup artist Kerry Herta . "The compact has to go. Replace it with a liquid foundation." Try a tinted moisturizer. The whole idea is to keep a luminosity to the skin rather than to mattify it. The look of youth is radiance. Brash lipstick can backfire; you'll look younger with soft colors and a little gloss on top".

(3) Hair
Try a touch of shine instead of dyeing darker. Also the cut and a few well-placed highlights can counter facial sagging according to Terrence Michael Renk, a stylist at J Beverly Hills who works in TV and film.

(4) Clothes
It's all about the right pieces."You'll look chic and younger", she says Charla Krupp, author of How Not to Look Old , "in white pants and high heels, or a simple dress". And then"a lot of bangles, a big thick watch, tons of teeny elasticized bracelets." Eyewear can make a big difference, too. Shake up the pedicure. "Put lavender on your toes. Blue, black...grey is really in."

(5) The Body
"You need to continue to train the brain circuits responsible for movement," says Michael Gonzalez-Wallace, creator of the Super Body, Super Brain program. That means, instead of just walking or jogging, which you do automatically, you should periodically throw in a balance or coordination challenge: Walk backward, play basketball, take a ballet class, stand on one foot with your eyes closed. "Try one new activity a week, You just need a few minutes."

Stephanie Dolgoff, author of My Formerly Hot Life says, "Dying your hair or filling in a frown line can definitely give you a little boost. But don't expect looking younger to make you happy.

A smile is an instant face lift.


Source: Liz Brody's blog post