Look More Youthful and Radiant by Adopting These Daily Habits
Looking radiant and put-together isn’t just
nice for special occasions, as it can really boost your confidence and
make you feel ready to face the day, even if you’re just planning to
spend it in pajamas. This is especially true when we get older and
feeling effortlessly beautiful becomes a bit tougher. Don’t get us
wrong, we strongly believe that there’s nothing wrong with being older
and looking your age.
At the same time, we can all need a
pick-me-up from time to time, and having the habits in place that will
make you feel better about your appearance never hurts, to say the
least. Below, we list 10 everyday habits that can help you feel and look
your best, which to most comes down to looking more radiant and
youthful.
1. Use the same skincare you use on your face on the neck and hands
People often spend a lot of time and money
to care for their faces but tend to neglect other key areas of the body
that are just as telling of one’s age. For example, one study conducted
in 2006 revealed that people can tell a woman’s age by looking only at
her hands.
Other areas that can show your age are your neck and decollete area. So,
if you’re not wearing turtlenecks and gloves all the time (which most
of us don’t) it only makes sense to extend our anti-aging skincare
routine down the neck, chest, and hands.
When it comes to hand care in particular, dermatologists and
aestheticians also point out that it’s a great habit to apply hand cream
with SPF during the daytime, as it will reduce the appearance of
sunspots on the hands over time while also preventing the development of
new ones.
2. Sleep on your back
Gravity is not our friend if our goal is to
appear younger. Luckily, we can trick it, at least in some cases. One
such case is your sleeping position. When you sleep on your side, you’re
pushing your face against the pillow, and in the morning, you’ll likely
observe that the wrinkles on the side you were sleeping appear more
visible.
Sleeping on your back accomplishes the opposite effect - the gravity
helps lift and smooth out the facial skin in your sleep, and you’ll wake
up looking more refreshed. In addition, sleeping on your back as
opposed to the side or belly will also help prevent swelling by
promoting lymphatic drainage, so if you want to enhance your beauty
sleep, definitely try out sleeping on your back.
3. Experiment with nail colors
One trick that will make your hands appear
younger is a nice clean manicure. In fact, one research article showed
that participants who looked at pictures of hands with nail polish and
natural nails consistently rated the hands with the nail polish as being
younger.
What color and style should you choose?
It’s best to have a neutral clean nail shape, but you can experiment
with the color as much as you’d like. In fact, bright, deep, and even
neon colors can look as chic as the classic nude-colored nails,
according to stylists and manicurists.
4. Eat antioxidant-rich foods
Of course, we can’t look radiant and
youthful when we don’t feel well, so you must eat healthy to look
healthy. One group of nutrients we’d like to bring your attention to are
antioxidant-rich foods, which are present in all kinds of plant-based
foods, from vitamin A-rich carrots and tomatoes to berries and leafy
greens rich in anthocyanins and resveratrol.
All these antioxidants will help you fight off harmful free radicals and
prevent them from damaging your cells, especially the skin.
Antioxidants are also very good for resisting environmental damage,
including UV damage from the sun, so eating plenty of fruit and veggies
will help protect your skin from premature signs of aging, such as deep
wrinkles and sunspots.
5. Pick the right undergarments
While many people think that wearing nice
underwear is only meant for special occasions, you’d be surprised at how
much a well-fitting undergarment, be it a bra, panties, or a slip,
could really improve the look of your overall silhouette and clothing.
The above-mentioned misconception is evidenced by the fact that as much
as 80% of women are wearing a bra of the wrong size. This sounds about
right and is hardly surprising since there is a vast variety of body
shapes and an equal amount of lingerie styles to meet those different
requirements of coverage and support. To feel more confident and
comfortable, we recommend experimenting with different fits and styles
or getting fitted professionally at a lingerie store.
6. Relax and give yourself some " me" time
When we feel exhausted, anxious, and
stressed out, it shows. On one hand, we simply don’t have the time to
get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and take care of ourselves in
high-stress periods, or at least we think that we don’t and start
neglecting our appearance and diet.
On the other hand, stress on its own can manifest itself through
anything from acne and skin redness, to dark circles under the eyes, and
even hair loss. Therefore, taking care of your psychological well being
and giving yourself time to spend on hobbies, meditation, or any other
activity that relaxes you is also an investment in your appearance as
well.
7. Care for your hair
It doesn’t matter if you like your hair
long or love a pixie cut, if you’re embracing your gray hair or dyeing
it, the most important part is to invest in your hair and maintain the
hairstyle you chose on a regular basis. After all, our hairstyle is one
of the most powerful and constant accessories, one that can either
flatter our face shape and express our personality or do the absolute
opposite.
Whatever your preferred style is, make sure to always care for your hair
and go to the hair salon on a regular basis, if possible. This is
especially important as we grow older, as the hair texture becomes
coarser and more unruly with age, and we need a smart and tailored
haircut and a hair care regimen to address those issues.
8. Add a splash of color to your wardrobe
No, we’re not saying that you should
abandon all neutral colors and start wearing rainbow-colored outfits, or
that you should dress head to toe in one color. By all means, keep all
those staple tan, beige, black, and gray clothes, but try embracing
color accents in your wardrobe, too, be it a colorful scarf, a bright
shirt peeking through from a gray or tan cardigan, or colorful
accessories.
These colorful items will not only lift your mood, but they will also
add some interest into your wardrobe and will make it fresher and yes,
more youthful.
9. Stay away from teeth-staining foods
According to dentists, yellow or discolored
teeth can make a person look older and less attractive. So by taking
good care of your pearly whites, you’ll also be making yourself look
younger, no matter your age or gender. Unfortunately, brushing and
flossing are often not enough to maintain a bright smile, as the foods
we eat often darken and stain our teeth.
Some of the foods that can do so are red wine, coffee, dark soda, tea,
and even dark-colored sauces and dressings, such as soy sauce or
balsamic vinegar. Fortunately, the solution is simple - just rinse your
mouth with water after eating or drinking these items, and you’ll be
able to maintain a charming smile for years.
10. Wear less makeup - but do your brows
There is a common misconception that women
of a certain age need to pile on more makeup to compensate for the
less-desirable wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. This is just not true, as
the layers upon layers of foundation and other makeup products will
only accentuate those problems by creasing, highlighting dry patches and
discoloration.
Instead, we recommend you work in thin layers and place foundation and
concealer strategically only in the areas that need it, which is usually
the under-eyes, around the mouth and nose, and the T-zone.
That said, the often overlooked part of your face that you should spend
more time on are your eyebrows. Grooming and lightly defining the
outline of the brows and filling in any sparse spots with a pencil that
matches the color of your brows will help frame your face and add
structure, which can compensate and balance out the slight drooping of
the eyes and wrinkles according to makeup artists.