Aging gracefully doesn’t have to be easier said than done. Here’s how to look good after 40 with just a few simple tweaks (no, but seriously).
Okay, so the whole aging thing bites. (Somebody had to say it.) If it’s not your skin needing a bottle of moisturizer twice a day, it’s the joint pain. If it’s not your face showing (neon flashing) signs that you favor sleeping on your right side, it’s your ass suddenly resembling a deflated balloon. And all throwing shade at the ageless Gwen Stefanis and Jennifer Anistons of the world does is make your frown lines more prominent, so why bother?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching the Real Housewives of Botoxland (commercials), it’s this: The harder you try not to look 40, the more you’re going to look 50. The fact is you already know how to look good after 40, and it starts with three of our favorite words: Keep. It. Simple.
1. Don’t fall into the short haircut trap
This is one stereotype we really need to kick to the curb. There’s no law saying you have to chop all your hair off the second you hit a certain age—in fact, this is the time you should experiment and find your personal “40 and fabulous” signature style. Don’t focus on looking younger—focus on looking like you, which will naturally make you look more youthful and relaxed.
2. Take better care of your skin
Drinking enough water and moisturizing on the reg are two of the best ways to keep your skin looking supple.
3. Wear less makeup
Nope, that’s not a typo. Too much makeup not only makes you look older, but makes you look insecure. If you’ve been wearing the same types of makeup for the last decade, it’s time to switch things up: Find foundations and concealers that complement your changing skin, instead of ones that attempt to morph you into a newer model. For example, take shimmering products for a whirl, which can help brighten skin and give it a dewy glow.
4. Change up your lipstick
If there’s one area that can give away our age in no seconds flat, it’s our teeth and mouth. If you want your teeth to look whiter but don’t have time to hang out with your dentist, opt for wearing red or berry lip colors that have blue undertones, like glossy wine or cherry red—the gloss will give off the impression your teeth are whiter.
5. Invest in a quality night cream
They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing! Finding a night cream that can help put the kibosh on fine lines and wrinkles while you snooze is basically the best way on earth to multitask.
6. Focus on strength-training
It’s not just about how to look good after 40, it’s about how to feel good too—and strength-training is where it’s at. “Working with light weights — even just the resistance of your own body weight — is one of the most important things you can do as you age,” fitness expert Margaret Richard told Good Housekeeping. “Bone density is directly improved by resistance exercise. Plus, if you reduce body fat with cardiovascular exercise, working the muscles underneath will give your skin something to hang on to.”
What are your go-to tips on how to look good after 40?
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