8 Tips on Aging Gracefully
We’re told there are a few things that are inescapable in life. One of them being taxes and the other being death. For the sake of being a bit morbid, most of us hope to grow old before the latter happens. While we all wish our skin could stay firm and supple and our hair can stay lush and long, that’s not always the case. As we get older, we’re plagued with thoughts of wrinkles, sagging skin, hair loss, and more. To be honest, it can seem like a nightmare, but let us help you wake up! Unless you’re living in a sci-fi movie, there’s no way to stop aging, but you can help it happen gracefully. If you’re hoping to look youthful for decades to come, here are 8 tips to help you get there.
Treat Your Skin Well
If there’s one thing that shows your age more than anything, even your driver’s license, it’s your skin. The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and it’s important to treat your skin right! There are numerous ways to do this. One, apply sunscreen daily. Unless you have no plans for leaving your house, you should apply an SPF 30 whether rain or shine. Two, don’t bask in hot showers. While we can agree that it feels great, especially on a cold day, scalding temperatures can damage your skin, so make sure it’s warm, but not hot. Three, moisturize! You have to keep your skin soft and supple and the best way to do that is by applying a moisturizer to your body daily.
Stay Active
When you feel good, you look good – and that’s not all. Staying active is crucial to aging gracefully. Sometimes extra pounds can cause you to look older than you are. As you get older, it’s harder to spend hours in the gym, but you don’t have to! Do daily walks. Take a bike ride. All you need to do is get moving and your body (and age) will reap the benefits.
Eat a Balanced Diet
The key to a beautiful outside is a beautiful inside. This is why a balanced diet is so crucial to how you age. While eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is always great, you also need to cut back on salt. According to the National Institutes of Health, close to 66% percent of Americans over 60 have high blood pressure. It’s easy to think only of internal health, but staying healthy on the inside can help you glow on the outside.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is often underappreciated. We sometimes think that if we get the bare minimum each night, we’ll be fine. While you might be able to function in your professional and personal lives, your skin will take the brunt of it. Trust us, there’s a reason they call it beauty sleep! A lack of sleep can affect your skin in a number of ways. Not only can it cause your skin’s texture to change, but it can even cause a decrease in collagen and an increase in dryness. So before you think of staying up late tonight, you’re better off counting sheep and getting your beauty sleep.
Prevent Hair Loss
Another way that might cause women to look older is when they start experiencing hair loss. While it can be a bit embarrassing, it shouldn’t be. Eighty percent of women between ages 40 and 60 experience hair loss. Just think of yourself as a part of the majority. Many women choose to tackle hair loss after it’s already begun happening, but be proactive! The best way to reverse hair loss is to stop it from happening in the first place. Hair products like the GRO Hair Serum prevents hair loss while strengthening and protecting the root for thicker, fuller hair. Don’t wait until it’s noticeable. Start now!
Reduce Stress
Similar to not getting enough sleep, stress can age you very quickly. Just look at presidential before and after pictures. When you’re stressed, you can easily look 10 years older when you’re trying to look 10 years younger. It’s easy to say the words “reduce stress,” but there are ways to get it done. Take periodic breaks throughout the day. You might even try meditation. In the world of smart phones, there are a number of apps to try. Consider looking into Calm and The Mindfulness App.
Wear Less Makeup
If you think you’re aging, you might want to cover it up with more and more makeup. Think before you do! If you already have fine lines and wrinkles, piling on foundations and powders can make them stand out. In fact, the makeup products can easily sink into these lines and make them look more pronounced. To age a bit more gracefully, cut down on the amount of makeup you use. Instead of layering on multiple products, try to minimize your look and focus on your problem areas.
Drink Water
You need to get in your 8 cups a day! Water is one way to keep your skin beautiful and youthful from the inside. Drinking water is going to allow your skin to stay hydrated and moisturized. It helps increase your skin’s elasticity and also helps prevent those pesky wrinkles and fine lines.
You can’t stop aging, but you can help prevent and delay the signs. While we’ll all get fine lines and wrinkles, these tips can help you cut down the amount. We’ve all spent too much time in the sun, but it can help to start now! Aging shouldn’t have such a negative connotation to some people, and it doesn’t have to be something to dread for you. Instead, follow these 8 tips and you’ll spend your time aging beautifully and gracefully.