When the signs of ageing start to appear, tweaking your make-up, hairstyle and wardrobe can take years off how you look. Here’s five ways to turn back the effects of time without going under the surgeon’s knife.
• Make-up: Less is more when it comes to make-up. A heavy foundation or pressed powder can make you look older than you actually are, while a tinted moisturiser or lightweight liquid foundation will freshen and flatter lined skin. You could dust a loose translucent powder over the skin to finish, but avoid the eye area. If you have dark circles or sunspots, dot a small amount of concealer on the spots and inner corners of your eyes. A liquid concealer will usually give a better finish. Brown eyeshadows can make your eyes look tired. Choose taupes over browns and steer clear of colours that are too light to cover up discolouration on the lids. Sage and jewel colours are great. Use a powder rather than a pencil to fill in eyebrows, and think pink when it comes to blusher and lipstick. A neutral rose colour will brighten your complexion. Use a nude lip pencil to shape the lips.
• Hair: Fringes can mask a multitude of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. If you’re worried that a fringe will look too harsh, ask a professional stylist to soften the line. Hair tends to get thinner with age so add volume with layers. A soft style that frames the face can be worn in many lengths, however hair that skims the collarbone looks flattering, whatever your years. Go lighter in shade but avoid solid colour, opt for highlights and lowlights instead.
• Clothes: Your neck is one of the first areas to show the signs of ageing. However that shouldn’t mean hiding it away in turtlenecks for the rest of your life. A lightweight scarf that can be repeatedly wrapped around will look great and add colour and detail to an outfit. In comparison, shoulders are slow to age so show them off with a scooped neckline. Belts should be fashionable, not just functional, and will add shape, colour and style. When it comes to colour, black can look harsh against older skin so break it up with soft pastel tones. Update jeans to a straight or bootleg to avoid looking frumpy, and make sure they sit just under your midriff to avoid an unsightly muffin top.
• Stop smoking: Smoking speeds up the skin’s ageing process by depriving it of oxygen and nutrients. Chemicals in cigarettes also damage collagen and elasticity.
• Nutrition: Eating nutritious, vitamin-rich foods will feed your skin with goodness, and the effects will show. Cod liver oil capsules, taken daily, can be beneficial for dry, ageing skin, as well as joints, hair, nails and the digestive system.
