It’s been said that our personalities show our real beauty to the world, but looking the best we can on the outside can certainly add to the overall package. As we age, noticeable changes take place on the face, neck, chest and hands, and we’re at the mercy of many factors such as sun, diet, genetics, lifestyle, harsh weather, and our own bad habits.

For example, smoking ages you and shortens life expectancy by seven to 10 years.¹ According to Stopsmokingtoday.com,² as early as the mid-nineteenth century it was observed that smoking could cause visible changes in a person’s complexion, such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity and rough, reddened or orange complexion.

Overexposure to the sun is another way to accelerate the aging process. A very high percentage of age-associated cosmetic skin problems can be attributed to the sun. Chronic overexposure changes the texture of the skin and weakens the elasticity.

The outer layer of skin, or epidermis, thickens and becomes leathery. Wrinkles, furrows, easy bruising, brown spots, pre-cancerous lesions and even skin cancer can result from sun exposure. The good news is, because photo aging of the skin is cumulative,³ it’s never too late for a person to start a sun protection program.

The holiday season is a time to celebrate with family, friends and co-workers. Everyone wants to look and feel great, so, how can that be accomplished despite all the factors that are working against us?

Aging Backwards Holiday Beauty Tips

1. Start with a good skin care program.  There are numerous skincare lines with all natural ingredients that will keep your “largest organ,” your skin, looking youthful and vibrant. Look for products that address your particular skin type, whether it’s oily, dry, normal, or combination skin.
2. Choose the right makeup. As we age, we tend to want to cover up the crow’s feet, deep creases and age spots that appear on our faces. Caking on makeup is the very thing that will make any woman look older than she is. For aging skin, we should actually use a lighter touch when it comes to cosmetics, according to Bruce Grayson, Hollywood “;makeup artist to the stars”; and head of the Primetime Emmys’ Makeup Department.³. Use a humidifier. During the winter, heaters draw the moisture out of the air and the skin. Using a room humidifier can help keep your skin from drying out.
3. Try something new. It’s not necessary to keep up with every fashion trend and fad, but try not to fall into the rut of always using the same type, style and colors of makeup. For a quick and easy way to make changes, look at fashion magazines and web sites to see what’s new.
4. Lose the fuzz. Unwanted facial hair growth is very common among women over age 35.⁴ Consider laser hair removal, waxing, electrolysis, shaving or bleaching to regain that youthful, supple, hair-free look.

So, this holiday season, give your inner beauty an extra boost by putting your most beautiful face forward.

References

1. Arto Y.et al.  Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(18):1968-1974.
2. http://stopsmokingtoday.com/
3. Gary J. et al. Arch Dermatol. 2002;138:1462-1470.
4. http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/women/9911/29/excess.facial.hair.wmd/

[Ed. note: Jackie Silver is aging backwards. She shares her secrets, tips, and shortcuts in her new book, Aging Backwards: Secrets to Staying Young, on her web site, AgingBackwards.com, on the syndicated TV show, Daytime, on Clear Channel radio's Mix 100.7, and as a sought-after speaker. For more information, click here.]

This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs which offers alternative health solutions for mind, body and soul.