We tapped in dermatologists, doctors, dietitians, and more for the best tips to help you look and feel your best. by Kayla Blanton
Getting older isn’t what it used to be—women are embracing natural gray hair, fine lines, and life’s other big changes with more enthusiasm than ever. They call it: aging gracefully. We love to see it, of course, but it’s not always a walk in the park. Being hit with the realization that you can’t run as fast as you once could can be a hard pill to swallow, and, *squints*, when did these fonts get so small? Not to mention, just because some find skipping Botox empowering doesn’t mean beauty standards have (poof!) disappeared. It’s a push and pull, aging is. And the least you can do for your journey is find practices that support you through it; that keep you healthy, confident, and grounded. And guess what? Those habits don’t all have to be (in fact, we recommend most of them aren’t) about the way you look. Most of us can probably agree that, as you get older, looking good comes with feeling good, and feeling good comes in many forms. To help you strike this ever-changing balance and, most importantly, enjoy life as it comes, we reached out to dermatologists, dietitians, doctors, and more for some pro self-care tips to make the aging process easier—from what to eat to when to see a doctor to how to change your makeup routine and more. Take what you need from these recommendations, and go make the coming years your own.
1Wear SPF
“My number one tip for aging gracefully is SPF,” says Aaron Barry, celebrity makeup and hair artist. “No matter your age, gender, race or skin type, sun damage accelerates the aging process.” More importantly, it increases risk of skin cancer. “You can now even prep your skin for makeup with SPF primers,” Barry adds. “I like to use the Thrive Causemetics Sunproof 3-in-1 Priming Sunscreen with SPF 37 at the beginning of my makeup application. Not only does it create the perfect base for foundations but it’s hydrating, controls oil, and most importantly, protects the skin from harmful UV rays.” If you’d rather have a regular ‘ole sunscreen, check out our best sunscreen round-up. 2Visit Your OB-GYN Annually Women over 50 should see their OB-GYN annually, says JoAnn Pinkerton, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Midlife Health Center at the University of Virginia Health System. And they should make sure to see one who is knowledgable about perimenopause and the menopausal transition. In addition, Pinkerton recommends getting mammograms every one to two years, making sure your pap smear is up to date, getting a colon cancer screening, and regularly getting your blood pressure and lipid levels tested. With your doctor, review significant family history of breast, ovarian, uterine or colon cancer, she adds, as well as heart disease, stroke, or blood clotting. All of these practices and protocols will help you remain healthy and ideally, prevent or catch chronic illness if it ever occurs.
3Lift and Lighten Eye Makeup “People often follow the natural eye contour when applying eye shadow which can create a droop,” explains Barry. “To lift the eye, I use the outer corner of the brow as my guide, and blend eyeshadow up and out towards the outer corner of the brow. This creates a lifted and a lengthened eye shape.” On top of that, Barry recommends staying away from heavy eyeliner. He says it can “look harsh and draws attention to drooping lower lids.” Instead, he suggests tight lining the upper lid by applying liner to the upper inner lash line. It’s not stark, but “still frames and defines the eye,” he says.
4Watch Your Cholesterol Dr. Pinkerton warns that fluctuating estrogen levels may lead to an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, and can therefore increase risk of heart disease.
5Use Volumizing, Moisturizing Hair Products “It is super important to remember that the hair that we had in our 20s is not the hair that we have as we transition into our 50s and beyond,” explains Aloxxi stylist Jessica Wall Innella. She adds that you may experience changes such as thinning and dryness, both of which can be remedied by the right products. “For an amazing mousse that will provide soft hold and lift minus the stickiness, my go to product is Maxxam’s Kiss,” says Shab Reslan, HairClub hair health expert and trichologist. “For a super light-weight thickening spray formulated to be sprayed liberally throughout the hair, I love Neuma Blow Out Mist.” For a good moisturizing, low-maintenance treatment, Innella recommends Aloxxi’s Essential 7 Oil Leave-In Conditioning Cream.
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