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Aging: it’s inevitable. Every woman is going to age, but not every woman will age well. Maybe you can’t escape minimal fine lines and sun spots, but you can still have a radiant outlook on life and an impeccable style. Some women are pretty secretive about how they look young for their age, but thankfully, there are women who are not so tight-lipped about how they’ve aged gracefully. Keep reading to learn the secrets of women who age well!
1. They Don’t Rely on Heavy Plastic Surgery
Aging is natural, and that’s going to happen to all of us…. I just want to always look like myself, even if that’s an older version of myself. I think when you do too much of that cosmetic stuff, you become somebody else in a way.
Halle Berry, 55
Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery is not always the solution to aging well. Even though procedures like facelifts are designed to turn back the clock, they can also do the opposite. One secret to aging well is to strive for a natural appearance as you age.
Take cues from women who don’t rely on a lot of surgery to stop premature aging. These women do not obsess over altering their looks and they actually look better for it in the long run.
I’m sure you can think of many celebrities that have had too much work done. It’s obvious-and not in a good way. And most women come to regret it too. Courtney Cox (Monica from Friends), said her previous cosmetic injections made her look “really strange” and she would not get the same cosmetic procedures today.
Instead, a woman that ages well improves their looks in non-surgical and non-filler ways. They do treatments like chemical peels to remove the outer layer of old skin so the new skin that is replaced is smoother and less wrinkled.
When done right, by a dermatologist or esthetician, the end result is a natural and non-surgical way to have radiant skin!
2. They Have a Healthy Lifestyle
Aging is out of your control. How you handle it, though, is in your hands.
Diane Von Furstenberg, 75
A major component of aging well is a healthy lifestyle. And one of the best ways of leading a healthy lifestyle is with a nutrient-rich diet. Whole grains, lean proteins, fresh fruits, and vegetables play a big role in how you age.
A comprehensive study by Harvard Medical school shows that this type of diet can help you age well by lowering your chances of getting heart disease. And of course, a balanced diet will help you reach a healthy weight and have glowing skin from the inside out.
3. They Have an Effective Beauty Routine
Aging gracefully is about no heavy makeup, and not too much powder because it gets into the wrinkles…You don’t have to look like an old fuddy-duddy, but I believe it was Chanel who said, ‘Nothing makes a woman look so old as trying desperately hard to look young’.
Iris Apfel, 100
On top of a healthy diet, the secret of women who age well is an effective beauty routine. The saying, “You are what you eat,” also applies to your beauty routine. You are what you put on your skin when it comes to aging gracefully. Switching up your skincare routine is important as you reach the next decade of your life.
First and foremost, you need to wear sunscreen every day (even if it’s not sunny outside). A good SPF moisturizer will make a big difference on your skin if you use it consistently. Besides the obvious protection from skin cancer, it will also prevent those pesky brown spots, wrinkles, and large pores.
Women who age well would also recommend a thick moisturizer with hyaluronic acid. This key ingredient will help keep your menopause skin plump and resilient. Serums with retinol and Vitamin C are also great for evening out your skin tone and boosting cell turnover.
Related post: 5 Best Anti-Aging Skincare Products to Restore Your Youthful Glow
4. They Have a Good Sense of Style
The age of a woman is not important: you can be wonderful in your 20’s, amazing in your 40’s, and stay fabulous for the rest of your life.
Coco Chanel
Women who age gracefully do not bat an eye at spending their money on classic and chic clothes. They have great options in their closet to keep them looking elegant all year round.
These mature women also avoid clothes and footwear that will age them. If they do not need to wear orthopedic shoes, then they wear stylish and comfy shoes like ballet flats instead.
You also won’t find them shopping at the same place as younger people. Instead of shopping for trendy clothes targeted at young generations, they prioritize classic clothing instead.
5. They Prioritize Their Beauty Sleep
Having peace, happiness, and healthiness is my definition of beauty. And you can’t have any of that without sleep.
Beyonce Knowles, 40
Beauty sleep is vital for women who age well. Not getting enough sleep can cause your blood pressure to rise and high blood pressure can actually lead to dull skin and wrinkles.
Plus, if you are not getting enough sleep, the stress hormone in your body called “cortisol” will be released. This stress hormone breaks down collagen (structure in your skin) and causes the skin to become saggy.
Give yourself at least 8 hours of sleep and invest in a silk pillowcase and a bedside humidifier to look beautiful and refreshed when you wake up.
Related: Fashion Over 50: Aging With Grace & Embracing the Size You Are Now
6. They Regularly Exercise
It’s important to grow old gracefully, and that’s what I plan to do. I am here to stay. I take care of myself, and I have the discipline to stay fit and have good health until I am very old.
Sigourney Weaver, 72
Have you ever wondered how some women look so amazing in their mature years? They exercise regularly.
As you know, exercising has loads of health benefits, but did you know it can improve the look of your skin too? As you age, your skin loses elasticity. Exercising can help keep your skin healthy, tight, and strong. So if you want healthy-looking skin, consider exercises like pilates, walking, or yoga.
7. They Maintain Meaningful Relationships
What’s helped me is having really good friends I know I can rely on.
Drew Barrymore, 47
Most of us know what keeping negative and toxic relationships can do to our mental state. Simply put, having the wrong people around can cause too much stress in your life.
At any age, but especially as you get older, it’s more important than ever to prioritize creating meaningful relationships with family members and friends. A remarkable amount of data from PLOS Medicine has shown that people with positive social interactions have a 50% chance of living longer than those with bad relationships.
We weren’t made to go at it alone. A lack of meaningful relationships can cause depression and that could play itself out in having sleepless nights, difficulty focusing on simple things, and losing joy in doing activities you once loved.
8. They Prioritize Hair Health Over Hair Color
There was a deep sense of insecurity that I traded the gray streak in for as sort of a badge of honor. Now, I even have a gray clause with Pantene, where I said, ‘You can do whatever you want to my hair but you can’t dye my gray streak.’ It’s a part of me!”
Stacy London, 53
So you’re going gray- who cares?! Okay, it’s a strong possibility that you care, but aging well is not about coloring your hair (unless you do it of your own accord). I know there’s pressure to break out a hair-dying kit as soon as you see that first gray hair, but rest assured, you can still look fabulous with gray hair.
As women get older, sebum production reduces. This leads to hair becoming brittle and the scalp getting dry, so aging well means you prioritize healthy hair over a certain color.
To keep your hair health in good condition, cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize the scalp for a stable skin barrier to prevent hair loss. Using shampoos with no sulfates is also good for your hair as you age. It gives a gentler clean and sulfate-free shampoos won’t cause frizz, dryness, or yellowing of your hair.
9. They Are Open to New Things
I think it’s about how if you still have passion and if you haven’t become cynical and you’ve remained open to life, then no matter how old you are chronologically, you’re still young. Aging is relative.
Jane Fonda, 84
There are many benefits to aging, but one of the biggest ones is that the older you get, the more confident you are in yourself. This is a breath of fresh air compared to your 20s when you feel as if you’re still figuring it all out.
But even though you may be set in your ways, it’s important to still be open to new things. Trying new things doesn’t necessarily mean making lifestyle changes that will sacrifice your whole identity.
Whether it’s embracing new technologies like smart watches or new beauty products with improved formulas, trying new things can actually make your life easier and more convenient.
10. They Take Part in Mentally Stimulating Activities
They’ll say, ‘Oh, Grandma is old, but she doesn’t act old.’ So I feel that doing things like dancing and moving around and pranking and all the fun things that I do has kept me happy.”
Oprah Winfrey, 68
One way to stay young despite your age is to act young. And no, young doesn’t mean immature but instead, youthful. Instead of sticking to your same old routine, break away from the ordinary and engage in activities that will keep your mind fresh.
Not only does this improve your outlook on life, but it also helps with menopausal brain fog. If you have been forgetful lately or find yourself frequently losing your keys, it’s most likely linked to menopause. To try to slow down the brain fog, take part in mentally stimulating activities. This could be journaling, walking your dog, or even pranking your grandkids à la Oprah Winfrey.
There is a lot that goes into aging gracefully. And trying to figure this out alone can be hard. Thankfully, these 10 secrets of women who age well will help you out.
As mentioned earlier, aging well includes wearing chic outfits. So recreate these outfit ideas to update your style!
Up next: Wardrobe Wednesday: Recreating Pinterest Outfits (Over 50 Edition)
