16 easy ways to look younger
<p><strong>Wear the right glasses</strong></p>
<p>According to a survey conducted by Jacksonville University researchers, wearing glasses in general increases how old people think you are. For those who need to wear them, investing in a nice pair that frame your face could take years off your look. Cat’s eye frames are especially known to make people look younger by lifting the face, while aviators negatively focus attention downward.</p>
<p><strong>Swap out your orthopaedic shoes</strong></p>
<p>Sacrificing style for comfort by wearing orthopaedics is an easy way to look older, but you can have both, by choosing a pair of stylish, on-trend but oh-so-comfy trainers.</p>
<p><strong>Wear the right bra</strong></p>
<p>An appropriately fitted bra is essential, no matter your age. Finding the right fit not only provides comfort, but also has a slimming effect, according to Best Health. An ill-fitting bra with straps that dig into the skin or too-tight cups that cause flesh to bubble up can make you look as though you’re wearing old, outdated, or super-worn garments.</p>
<p><strong>Work on your posture</strong></p>
<p>Not only can poor posture lead to headaches, neck pain, and breathing problems but it can also make you look older, the Mayo Clinic reports. Slouching in your chair or hunching over your computer are just two ways you might already be practising bad posture. Sitting up straight and checking your posture throughout the day are two easy ways to look younger and more confident.</p>
<p><strong>Exercise more</strong></p>
<p>Exercising more can contribute to things that help you look younger, such as your mood and sleep (more on that later). Working out actually slows down ageing on a cellular level. According to a study published in the journal Preventative Medicine, people who do regular, vigorous exercise have longer telomeres – shorter ones are related to various age-related diseases. Looks-wise, exercising keeps skin younger, and it may also reverse some skin ageing in people who are new to regular exercise, the New York Times reports. But if you’re exercising outdoors, be sure to use sunscreen.</p>
<p><strong>Get enough sleep</strong></p>
<p>Beauty sleep isn’t just a buzzy phrase; Cosmopolitan reports that getting too-little sleep leads to a dry complexion, breakouts, redness, and dreaded dark circles – all of which add years to your looks. Surgeon, Dr Chester Griffiths also advises having a set sleep schedule. “Regulate sleep patterns and prepare for bed with a 15-minute pre-sleep routine to close the day,” Dr Griffiths says. He also advises removing electronics from the bedroom to make sure they don’t interfere with your sleep quality.</p>
<p><strong>Sleep on your back</strong></p>
<p>Yes, getting enough shut-eye is important, but how you’re sleeping is just as key. Sleeping on your side or your stomach promotes skin damage, wrinkles, and sometimes results in indentations in the skin that mimic wrinkles. Sleeping on your back promotes less face swelling, fewer fine lines, and helps your body relax, enhancing the cell turnover that gets rid of dead skin cells, according to Dermstore.</p>
<p><strong>Stay hydrated</strong></p>
<p>Dehydration makes you look older by drying your skin, thus making you look tired. Carry a reusable water bottle so you can always stay hydrated. The daily general recommended amount of water for women is eight cups of total water, from all beverages according to the Australian Government Department of Health. For men, the average is 10 cups per day.</p>
<p><strong>Moisturise your skin</strong></p>
<p>As people age, skin becomes thinner and loses the ability to retain moisture. That’s why adding a moisturiser to your routine is so important, much as hydrating by drinking water is good for your body. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre, moisturisers help prevent tearing and bruising, and they temporarily stretch the skin, reducing the look of wrinkles for a short time.</p>
<p><strong>Wear sunscreen</strong></p>
<p>It’s never too late to protect your skin with sunscreen, according to cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr Eugene Elliot. “You can’t change what you were dealt with genetically, but you can take control of other factors which help you stay younger looking,” Dr Elliot says. His favourite sunblocks are mechanical, contain zero zinc or titanium oxide, and block the UV damaging rays effectively with frequent application. Not only can wearing sunscreen prevent ageing, but a study sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson Skin Research Center found that people who applied a daily moisturiser with SPF 30 for a year saw significant improvements in hyperpigmentation, texture, and skin clarity. Make sure to cover any exposed skin, such as your neck, hands, and chest – not just your face!</p>
<p><strong>Hone in on your nutrition</strong></p>
<p>Although eating nutritious foods might seem like generic advice, a balanced diet is a mainstay in healthy living for a few reasons. Eating certain foods or vitamins, however, could be more beneficial than others when it comes to looking more youthful. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, for example, found that people with a higher Vitamin C intake had fewer wrinkles and less dryness no matter their age. Spices such as cinnamon, chilli powder, and ginger are associated with better-looking skin thanks to an increase in collagen (essential for skin firmness and elasticity), reduction in age-related skin cell changes, and anti-inflammation that may help prevent age spots, per Healthline.</p>
<p><strong>Drink less alcohol</strong></p>
<p>Overindulging in alcohol negatively affects the body in a few ways, and even on a cellular level, some studies have found. Again, it comes down to dehydration. Alcohol dehydrates you, which makes your skin look dull and dry and depletes iron levels which could trigger hair loss, too, according to the BBC.</p>
<p><strong>Whiten your teeth</strong></p>
<p>As people age, tooth enamel fades and yellow dentin found underneath shows through, according to Medical News Today. This yellow hue is an obvious sign of ageing and is easily remedied with safe teeth whitening. Remedies such as whitening trays, white strips, whitening toothpaste, and even a DIY mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide could do the trick, per Healthline.</p>
<p><strong>Change up your hair</strong></p>
<p>If you’ve been sporting the same ‘do for years, it might be time for an update. The change could be as simple as switching up your part, or it could involve a serious cut, colour, and style alteration. Some styling mistakes to watch out for are ballerina buns, severe centre parts, and stiff locks that might age you, according to Prevention. Some better and quick options to bring your hair up to speed include side-swept bangs, honey highlights, and romantic waves.</p>
<p><strong>Have more sex</strong></p>
<p>Getting frisky at least once a week not only helps you live longer but, according to some research, can also make you look up to seven years younger. According to HuffPost, Dr David Weeks, a clinical psychologist, found in his research that people who looked younger than their age were having 50 per cent more sex than those who looked older. A satisfying, healthy sex life is a contributing factor that increases overall quality of life and is a good predictor of general wellbeing, too.</p>
<p><strong>Focus on de-stressing</strong></p>
<p>Stress has some pretty negative impacts on your health including a higher risk of depression, fatigue, anxiety, and even heart disease, according to The Jed Foundation. That’s part of the reason why Dr Griffiths recommends finding impactful and enjoyable ways to de-stress. This could include everything from meditation and breathing routines to focusing on relationships with friends and family. Stress not only puts people in a bad mood, but also makes you seem older thanks to its negative contributions to wrinkles, under eye circles, and even hair loss, Medical Daily reports. More research also shows that chronic stress leads to shorter telomeres, which age you, according to Harvard Medical School.</p>
<p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>
<p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/culture/16-easy-ways-to-look-younger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p>
