look younger secrets that work

7/29/2019 Look Younger Secrets That Work

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Look Younger Secrets that Work

Start With Primer

If you're old enough for laugh lines, a skin care makeover can give you a fresher, youngerlook. Our skin dries and thins with age, so products used five years ago may look quite

matronly today. A better routine calls for skin primer, according to Robin Rylant, acelebrity makeup artist who's worked with Celine Dion. A high-quality primer fills in

small wrinkles, making them less visible.

Forgo Thick Foundation

If you still slather foundation directly over aging skin, you're likely adding years to your

look. That thick top coat tends to break into deep cracks, which look far worse than the

fine lines you're tried to hide. Instead, apply moisturizer, primer, then a light liquid

foundation for additional skin-plumping moisture. Ryland suggests tapping it in gentlywith a sponge, rather than rubbing it in.

Avoid Clown Eyes

Applying flattering eye makeup requires precision. Unfortunately, eyesight tends todecline with age. "If you don't see as well, you may not get the makeup on correctly,"

Ryant says. The results can include clownish amounts of eye shadow or crooked eyeliner.

The solution: "Get yourself a good magnifying mirror."

Enhance the Shape of the Eye

As we age, the eyelids tend to droop, so the goal is to draw attention away from the lid

and toward the actual eye. Eyeliner is the key. Apply it in a thin streak along the linewhere the lashes begin, top and bottom. This will enhance the shape of your eye and

create the illusion of thicker lashes. Use soft shades and a light touch when applying eye

shadow.

Put Eyebrows Back On

"Eyebrows are extremely important because they frame the face," Ryant says. But the

brows tend to grow thinner and grayer with age. To "put eyebrows back on," Ryant

recommends using eyebrow pencil that complements your hair color. Placing powderover the pencil will help it stay put. Some people choose to have eyebrows permanently

tattooed, but the FDA and Consumer Reports has raised safety concerns about this

practice.


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Don't Let the Lips 'Bleed'

Few things draw attention to wrinkles like bleeding lip color. This happens becauselipstick is a cream, and it tends to slip into any low spaces -- including the lines around

your lips. To keep color from traveling, use moisturizer, then coat the lips with

foundation before applying lipstick.

Plump Up the Lips

Ryant offers three steps for creating plumper, younger-looking lips. Begin by coating the

lips with foundation. Next, line the lips and fill them in completely with pencil. Finally,

use a lipstick brush to apply a lip-plumping lipstick. Ryant sees good results, thoughConsumer Reports suggests the plumping may be modest. Choose a color with enough

pigment to enhance the lips without being over-the-top bright.

Keep Lips Moist

Even the best quality makeup will have a tough time concealing dry, flaky lips. For this

reason, it's essential to moisturize often. Lip balms with shea butter, petroleum jelly, or

vitamin E work well, says Ryant. Look for a product with sunscreen to protect against thesun's drying effect. If you use extended-wear lipstick, be sure to let the stain dry

completely before applying lip balm.

Whiten Stained Teeth

Whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains so your teeth look about one shade

lighter. To go deeper, try peroxide-based whitening gels or strips. These products bleach

the enamel of your teeth to change your natural tooth color. For the most dramatic results,an in-office treatment with your dentist can make the teeth visibly whiter in less than anhour. Several treatments may be needed to get the desired shade.

Rejuvenate Tired Eyes

If your eyes look tired, the most obvious solution may be to get more rest. Sleep triggersthe release of hormones that help the skin remain thicker and more elastic. To reduce eye

puffiness, cut back on salt and stay well hydrated. You can also try soothing swollen eyes

with cool cucumber slices or moist tea bags.

Reduce Dark Circles

Getting enough sleep can also minimize dark circles under the eyes. But in some people,

the discoloration comes from too much pigmentation in the skin. In that case, creamscontaining lightening agents such as retinol, hydroquinone, green tea, or vitamin C may

help. To camouflage dark circles, use a concealer one shade lighter than your skin and

yellowish in tone.


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Wear Sunglasses

Sunglasses do triple-duty in the quest to look younger. A good pair will protect thedelicate skin around the eyes from sun damage. It will also keep you from squinting, a

motion that can create additional wrinkles over time. Finally, sunglasses may help delay

cataracts, cloudy areas on the eyes' lenses that can diminish your vision. Long-termexposure to the sun's UV rays can increase the risk for cataracts.

Boost Thinning Hair

You can give thinning hair the illusion of more body with some simple styling tricks. Use

a large round brush to lift the hair and add volume. To set the style, use the cool buttonon your hairdryer. Styling with hot rollers is another good option. If you're looking for a

low-maintenance way to add body, Ryant suggests a perm.

Don't Fret Over Grays

There's currently a trend toward embracing gray hair. To make the most of this look,

Ryant recommends using a good conditioner and shine enhancer to keep the gray rich. If

your skin is very pale, light gray or white hair could make you look washed out. In thatcase, you might want to punch up your hair color. There are effective over-the-counter

dyes for covering gray. Just remember that they should never be used on the eyebrows or

lashes.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation gets rid of dead, dry skin cells to reveal the fresher skin underneath. You can

use a washcloth, along with an exfoliating cleanser, to gently scrub your face and body.Exfoliating regularly will help remove dull, flaky skin. But be careful not to scrub toohard or you could leave the skin raw and irritated.

Target Wrinkles With Retinoids

These chemical relatives of vitamin A can reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles for amore youthful look. Creams that require a prescription have the best track record,

including tretinoin, tarazotene, and their brand-name versions. A less potent, OTC form is

available too, called retinol. The best results come from regular use over several weeks ormonths. All can cause redness, irritation, peeling, and can make your skin more

Fight Crow's Feet With AHAs

Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are found in fruits, sugar cane, milk, and other foods.When applied topically, they exfoliate and remove the outer layer of dead skin cells,

which may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The results may be

most apparent in the thin skin around the eyes. Mild skin irritation and redness can occur,

and your skin may be extra sensitive to the sun while using AHAs.


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Don't Smoke

One of the surest ways to protect against skin damage is to avoid cigarettes. Studies oftwins suggest smokers have skin that is more wrinkled and up to 40% thinner than

nonsmokers. Researchers believe tobacco smoke releases an enzyme that breaks down

collagen and elastin, compounds that are vital to the skin's structure and elasticity.

Use a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

You probably know that sunscreen can ward off wrinkles by blocking the sun's harmful

rays. But did you know that SPF refers only to protection against ultraviolet B rays? It

turns out that ultraviolet A rays may play a larger role in causing wrinkles. To block bothUVA and UVB rays, look for a broad-spectrum or multi-spectrum sunscreen.

For More Dramatic Results ...

If your home-care regimen doesn't give you the look you want, cosmetic procedures canyield more dramatic results. A dermatologist can plump up laugh lines with injectable

fillers. Those derived from the botulinum toxin are popular for the brow area, and are not

toxic, despite the name. Chemical peels and dermabrasion can soften fine lines and agespots. And laser resurfacing is effective for reducing wrinkles and discoloration.

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