Simple Ways to Retain a Youthful Look

By Anna Lynn C. Sibal

We women, in one way or another, wish to look young all our lives. Whether you pin the blame on our upbringing, the media or our youth-oriented society, the thing is that we do indeed desire to retain our youthful looks for as long as we can. That is why cosmetic surgery and the cosmetic industry in general are making loads of money. Many women and even men are willing to spend a tremendous amount just to keep their faces and bodies looking young.

But did you know that retaining a youthful look is quite simple and that you do not have to break the bank just to achieve it? It is just as easy as taking care of your self and deciding for yourself to make a few changes in your habits and lifestyle.

Taking care of your self from the outside.

The one part of the body that easily reveals our age is our skin. Having dry, stretched skin with wrinkles, fine lines and spots makes a person look old. One way of keeping our skin looking young is to make a habit of moisturizing the skin at least twice a day once in the morning and once at night, before you go to bed. Keeping the skin moisturized makes our skin feel soft and smooth and plumps up the fine lines. The act of rubbing the skin with the moisturizer also helps improve blood circulation to the skin.

There are specifically formulated moisturizing products targeted to suit the different areas of our skin. A face cream is for the face and the face alone. It should not be used for the hands or the body. A hand and body lotion is for the hands and the body only; they should not be used for the face. There are different products designed particularly for the neck, the foot, and the eyelids. This may seem tedious, but different areas of the skin have different moisture requirements. Use these products to feed your skin with moisture.

Remember as well that oily skin needs oil-free products, while dry skin needs extra moisture.
Also, try to keep out of the sun as much as you can. The sun's ultraviolet rays harm the skin; not only does constant exposure induce the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, but it also causes ailments such as skin cancer. If you have to go out, make sure you are protected. Use a hat and sunglasses. Your skin products should also have SPF.

Makeup also helps. Dab a concealer over the pimples, the dark circles under the eyes, and whatever skin blemishes that you have. After that, apply a light foundation, then a touch of the bronzer and a little lipstick. Take care not to put on too much makeup; too much makeup makes us look older instead of younger.

Don't forget your hair. All the effort that goes into taking care of the skin will all be wasted if the hair is not given enough attention as well. Keep your roots touched up if you have dyed hair. You may also want to frame your face with highlighted locks to add light to your face. Keep your hair clean, soft and well-groomed.

Taking care of your from the inside.

What is inside is reflected on the outside. To have a youthful, glowing look, we have to take care of the inside of our bodies too. And that is done by eating right so our bodies get the right nutrients, by exercising right so our muscles would be toned and flexible, and by drinking a lot of water to wash out the waste and toxins from our body. Another thing that you should do is to minimize or even eliminate the consumption of alcohol. You should also quit smoking. Visit the dentist regularly as well to keep your teeth white, strong and healthy.

Whether the fountain of youth is real or not, what matters is that we women should learn to take better care of ourselves. In learning how to take better care of ourselves, we have already found our own fountain of youth.