Sometimes we just get into a rut. Our kids are older, we’ve been married awhile, we don’t go out as much as we used to and we are just comfortable home bodies. There are many things a woman can do to make herself look and feel younger.
When you look at yourself in the mirror do you see drab, lifeless hair? Maybe some wrinkles around the mouth and eyes? Jowls beginning by the chin? Does the neck look like a ringed stump? And where did those extra pounds come from? Here’s some tips that may help:
1.) Lightening your hair color can put some spring in your face. Shades of brown are warm and just a couple shades lighter than your original hair color can be very flattering. Avoid dark brown or black. If you are blond you might choose a honey blond color that will give a rosy tint to the skin. Ash or platinum colors will make you look older. Or even a few subtle highlights or low lights around the face. Highlights should stay within two shades of your original color and the low lights one or two shade darker. Getting with your hair stylist professional can give you some options on hair style and color. Pulling hair back away from the face or adding bangs can be a positive change depending on the shape of the face.
2.) Stopping smoking is a great element in the total makeover. It can take that ashen, pale look away and the wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. It can even put a sparkle back in the eyes as the body begins to heal itself. And getting away from second hand smoke can help in the long run as well. Stopping smoking can add years to your life and make you look longer.
3.) Exfoliating, or scrubbing away dead skin cells and dirt particles, helps improve your blood circulation and makes your skin more supple and soft. What you want to do is change over your wash cloth to a loofa massage sponge or just a plain loofa each time you shower over the entire body. It will give your skin a dewier, fresher look. Then blot dry and moisturize all over. Don’t forget heels, elbows and neck. So many women forget these areas, especially the neck. The neck will have rings of wrinkles which can be very aging. Do this daily will help keep your elbows from getting dry in the winter months, keep your heels from getting calluses, And the neck will take on a more youthful appearance.
4.) Facial Massage is something that rejuvenates the skin and improves the circulation. Use oil or a good face/night cream(Neutrogena is a great brand) Some sources suggest that consistently rubbing certain areas of your face in a certain direction will cut down on wrinkles. Of course genetics comes into play here. Rubbing in upward circles motions on your forehead keeps the skin going in the right direction. With fingers you can separate frown lines by rubbing up, not down. Eye lids have very delicate skin so rubbing them the wrong way is just going to add to that droop that happens over time. If you take your thumb and index finger rub outward on the upper lid and inward on the lower lid this will help keep the droop away. Then upward and circular on the cheeks and neck. Massage the delicate wrinkles at the mouth by using the index finger in a round motion on either side.
5.) Make-up is used to bring out your good features and helps to enhance those you feel are not the greatest. Over-use can age you immediately. Better to use lighter colors(that includes lipstick) and stay away from age defining darker shades. Remember less is more when it comes to make-up. Your eyebrows may need some tweaking for they frame your eyes and face. Its a good idea to not go too thin, which makes you look older, or too thick because it looks bushy and masculine. Start thicker at the beginning and then go thinner around the arc. If you tend to have dry lips or lick them a lot carry some Vaseline with you and re-apply every once in a while. It’s a great lip balm.
6.) Exercising is very important to helping your skin be healthy and vibrant. Losing a few pounds will take some puffiness off the face and add to your curves as well. This will give you stamina and help you feel younger. If you are at your required weight for your height and frame you can just exercise 3 or 4 times a week for 30 minutes but if you need to lose a few pounds you should exercise each day and take in less calories.
7.) Water is very important to your health. Each organ in the body needs water and that includes your skin. It also helps to flush out toxins and keep the system running correctly. You will find that when you establish a good water drinking regime your skin will take on a dewy, healthy appearance.
Overall these are very simple tools but over time they can make a positive difference. Taking care of these areas will give you some great satisfaction and you will feel a overwhelming feeling of pride at the change you see when you look in the mirror.