I do not mind being my age.  I’m not in love with the number, but that’s all it really is.  Sometimes people say that I don’t actually look forty-two (Yay!), and that’s kind of cool.  Being fit and in good shape and having good skin (endeavors I put lots of effort into) are the biggest part of that perception.  As is a happy attitude and peaceful, low stress life.  But I’ve been thinking about some of the other things that ladies of a certain age do that add to the illusion of appearing younger than they are.  I came up with a few and so figured I’d share.

Hair:

Cover the gray.  I hate to say it, but gray hair ages you.  Period.

Add light.  With hair, he older you get, the lighter you should go.  Consider highlights in shades 1-2 shades lighter than your base color to add lightness around your face.

Keep it shiny!  Shine looks like health, and health equates to youth.

Consider bangs.  They will draw attention to your eyes as well as hide forehead wrinkles (and melasma!)

Skin:

Protect your skin:  Sun exposure is a hugely aging, so always wear sunscreen.

Maintain a healthy body weight.  Carry a few more lbs. than maybe you’d like to keep your face full.  A thin and gaunt face looks old.

Wrinkles, dark spots, marionette lines, etc – I’m not saying that your face must be perfect, but if something is bugging you, go see a dermatologist to find out about the many non-invasive options available these days.  You won’t believe it.

Make up:

Wear light rather than dark lipstick, which make lips look fuller (full and plump looks youthful).

Keep foundation, blush, and bronzer sheer to avoid looking cakey and dry (which looks grandma-like).

Use shiny eye shadow sparingly to avoid drawing attention to wrinkles and lines.

Use mascara to darken and thicken the look of your lashes to really make your eyes sparkle.

Keep brows full and groomed.

Clothing:

Clothing can age you or make you look younger and cooler than you are or can make you look desperate and ridiculous.  It can make you look heavier and frumpy or slim you down and accentuate the positive.  Accessories too.  What you wear is a loaded subject and too big to tackle here, so I think next week I’ll give it it’s own post, but for now, here a few thoughts:

Avoid matchy-matchy, like a suit, head to toe designer, matching shoes and bag, etc.

Avoid panty lines at all costs and wear a properly fitting bra!

Wear heels sometimes.  They make your look more polished and pulled together, and assuming you know how to walk in them; you’ll feel a little more dressed up and supermodel-like.  Always a good thing.

So, yeah, along with feeling totally awesome every day, my only physical discomfort being sore glutes from the work over I got from Jodi the day before, I really like looking good too (did you guys know that about me?).  I am not interested in looking like my daughters, but looking the very best I can?  You bet.

Ok, your turn.  Please share and let us know what you do that keep people guessing your real age.

It is a rarity nowadays to speak to any woman who isn’t on some sort of diet.  Low carb, no carb, South Beach, cookie, Blood Type—you name it, they’re on it!  There is no shortage of deprivation and suffering amongst us women!  But there is a very serious shortage of information out there of how to diet to be beautiful.  Face it, when you get to the end of your diet, don’t you want to look good, too?

I have dieted many women in my short 15 year career.  I honestly can put that number in the thousands and still be very accurate.   Over the years I have seen more and more of a sense of desperation among woman:  an “At all cost” approach to dieting.  It really disturbs me simply because when you get to that stage your sense of judgment goes out the window.  When did this become so prevalent?

I don’t know about you but when I reach my diet destination, not only do I want to be the size I desire to be, but I also want to be healthy and beautiful at the same time.  Dieting, however, is not very healthy and you are lucky if you come out of it without a major case of wrinkles, loose skin and brittle hair–or even worse, hormone issues.   What’s missing in our diet adventures that causes us to look like a vagabond when we declare “scale victory”?  I would have to say attention to detail.

The foods you choose (or do not choose) can have more of an impact on your diet experience than the actual diet itself.  I hear so many people going back and forth over carbohydrates and whether they should have grains vs. potatoes but that has so little to do with you looking hot at the end.  And let’s be honest here, how many women really want to suffer through a diet only to come out haggard and beastly?  Why bother?  I would much rather be fat, happy and gorgeous then skinny, deprived and wretched!  Heck—if that was my only choice I would say bring on the Krispy Kreme!  Hair must be shiny, skin has to be dewy, nails long and healthy—and my cycle better be regular! 

I will be talking about this A LOT!  So many foods to cover, so many diets to pick apart…all with one thing in common:  beauty!  You need to look good mama!  And looking good is not about facial features or the prettiest girl in the classroom.  Beauty is about health—inside and out.  Hormones that work properly so that your hair, skin and nails shine;  healthy teeth and bones so they last a long time; make up that compliments your skin and preserves the environment.   Ladies, it’s time to get fit AND gorgeous!!  WOOP WOOP!