Age just a number?

July 7, 2008

They say that 50 is the new 40 and 40 is the new 30 and 30, well you get the picture. So how do we do it? Some choose to use surgical procedures and others follow the good old fashioned rules of water, diet and exercise. But what if you want results now and you don't have thousands to spend on surgical fixes (which aren't necessarily quick)? Here are a few things you can do today to look 10 years younger:

Lighten Your Lipstick. Choose colors that are soft, natural and work with your skin tone. Go with a gloss or sheer color vs. a matte. Mattes make your lips look thinner and deep shades can draw attention to the fine lines around your lips.

Lighten Your Hair Go two shades lighter than your natural hair color - or color when you were a child, if you've already gone grey. Avoid a solid color. Make sure their is some dimension. Soft highlights around your face work well.

Go for the Bang. Yes, those cute little bangs that you sported as a kid, look great and ad youth to a woman. This time around, let them lay more naturally. Either have them angled, graduated or long and straight (think Heidi Klum). Don't apply the curling iron to them - ever!

Reclaim Your Nails. Artificial nails are not only tacky, but they scream old lady. A natural nail is always in and keeping them manicured is the surest way to keep them youthful. Opt for natural shades or sheer pinks. Shape is just as important: do a squared tip with rounded edges. Alone, a square tip looks unnatural and a round tip is dated.

Get Your Spanx On. Not only will you look 10 years younger, you'll 10 lbs. lighter. Spanx are footless pantyhose that help garments lay smoother and hide panty lines and any extra bulges. http://www.spanx.com/

Shorten Your Skirt. If you are wearing your skirt length anywhere around your mid-calf, you risk looking dowdy. Keep in just above or at the middle of the knee.

Cut Back on the Bling. It's no surprise that older women have more jewelery, but that doesn't mean you should wear it all at one time. As with most things, less is more. Two peices of bling is perfect, three borders on excessive. Keep it young by paying attention to what is in-style now or go classic (diamonds). Anything in between will age you.

Clean Out Your Closet. Just because you can fit into the outfit you wore 10 years ago, doesn't mean you'll look like you did then. Dated clothing makes you look dated (aka old). While fashions tend to come back around, they always evolve in some aspect. Keep your clothes modern and you'll be modern too.

posted by: Milena Joy