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There was a time not all that long ago when figuring out how to look younger was synonymous with how to look beautiful. Luckily, we've moved past the point where everyone is expected to aspire to looking forever 22, with a myriad of women proving that you can be gorgeous at every age. That said, looking your best as you mature can require a little know-how; after all, skin and hair change as we age, and the techniques and products you need to both care for and highlight them have to adapt as well.
“Aging gracefully is a mentality—it's acknowledging there are things you can’t change, but accepting that there are things you can do to improve the effects of intrinsic aging and deter extrinsic aging,” says dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. To find out what you need to do to look your best, brightest, and yes, most youthful, we gathered the best advice from experts including Engelman, celebrity aesthetician Joanna Czech, makeup artist Jillian Dempsey, hairstylist Paul Labrecque, and more to keep you wowing everyone as the decades go on.
Incorporate facial massage.
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"Whether you are worried about tightening your jawline, lifting and sculpting your cheekbones or preventing aging around the eye area, facial massage should be incorporated into your regular routine. Massage creates blood flow and brings more oxygen to the tissue. The jawline is really a cumulative loss of elasticity and it does not age more quickly. In order to effect change in this area, I recommend daily massage. Concentrate on the cheek muscles which when can help lift the jawline."—Joanna Czech, celebrity skincare expert and aesthetician
MORE: The Best Facial Massage Tools
Don't neglect your neck.
"The lipidic layer is reduced 30-40% on the neck and décolleté, so it shows age faster. Our jawline creates the perfect borderline between the sebaceous glands. The most important thing to do is treat your neck and décolleté as part of your face and part of your body, so that it gets double treatment. Also, massage these areas. They will help support lift in the face as well. You really don’t need special creams and serums for these areas—your regular moisturizer will do. Focus on them day and night."—Joanna Czech, celebrity skincare expert and aesthetician
MORE: The Best Creams to Tighten and Lift the Neck
Add vitamin C to your routine.
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"Vitamin C is a great supporter for production of collagen and elastin. I prefer stable forms of Vitamin C as they do not create sun sensitivity and are less irritating for the skin. I recommend using them day and night. Serums are the most potent form after cleansing and toning and before moisturizer."—Joanna Czech, celebrity skincare expert and aesthetician
MORE: The Best Vitamin C Serums for Brighter, Tighter Skin
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Be sparing with foundation.
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"The trick with foundation is to not use more than you need to. If you have large areas of skin which is clear, such as your cheeks and forehead, you should leave it with just a little coverage or just skincare. Then, spot correct in the areas where you have discoloration or redness."—Monika Blunder, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty
MORE: The Best Foundations for Dry Skin
Switch to a lip tint.
SHOP NOW Charlotte Tilbury Tinted Love Lip & Cheek Stain, $34
SHOP NOW Tower28 ShineOn Jelly Lip Gloss, $15
"I am all about staining lips with a lipstick or a tint and then adding fullness and sheen with a gloss. Natural tones are always my preference for this."—Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey
Use lipsticks with hydrating formulas.
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"As lips age, lines become more prominent. Dark shades can 'bleed' and exaggerate lines around the lips. Avoid these shades and look for formulas that have moisturizing ingredients to hydrate and condition lips, instead of dry them out. Go with nudes, pinks, peachy-nudes, rose, and even light berry tones for a softer look."—Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey Beauty
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Place highlighter in very specific areas.
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"Warmer tones of highlighter with sheen and light reflection generally work better as we age. Apply it to you upper cheek bones and the décolletage area, not your whole face."—Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey.
Avoid matte formula foundations.
"The goal for youthful skin is to mimic healthy, hydrated and radiant skin—so finding a foundation and concealer that has that finish will look more natural, rather than matte, is ideal. You can totally sheer down and dew out a matte foundation with moisturizer, though. If you do so, be sure to use a water based moisturizer if your foundation is water based, or an oil as a base if your foundation is oil based."—Monika Blunder, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty.
MORE: The Best Foundations for Mature Skin
Swap out your liquid liner and jet black eye pencils.
SHOP NOW Jillian Dempsey Khol Eyeliner, $20
"Soft kohl liners are your best bet for framing the eyes, as opposed to liquid and black liners which can be severe. I love a smudgey liner just that reason alone. If you use, say Rich Brown from my line, it has soft, warm hues, that pop your eyes and looks natural with just the right amount of shading for a mature lid."—Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey
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Do a subtle flick for some lift.
"It can vary a bit depending on your eye shape, but a little flick that pulls your eye up and out is always beautiful. For more mature skin, I like to use something soft, like kohl, for the flick as opposed to a liquid liner." Monika Blunder, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty
When applying blush be mindful of placement.
"Where you place your blush varies based on the shape of your face, but placing pigment on the apples of the cheek and blending outward, as opposed to up, can look very youthful and fresh. The goal is to pull the color and shape of your cheeks out slightly, which makes the face look fuller in areas that typically thin out as we age."—Monika Blunder, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Monika Blunder Beauty
MORE: Cream Blushes for a Youthful Glow
Use flesh-toned liner on your water line.
"There are many brightening eyeliners out there, but I always suggest and prefer creamier warm tones over stark white. It's more flattering."—Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey
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Choose a warmer color palette with blush
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"For instant youth, pick warmer more natural shades like corals and pinky nudes. They work with the skintone. Steer clear of harsher hues."—Jillian Dempsey, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Jillian Dempsey
MORE: These Techniques for Applying Blush Will Completely Change Your Appearance
Wear more ponytails.
“Nothing says young and chic like a messy pony, so embrace it if you can. Always use lots of dry shampoo or texture spray to create grit and texture.”—Matt Fugate, Kerastase celebrity hairstylist
MORE: Style Secrets for Women Over 50
Ask your colorist for warm tones.
"I recommend selecting golden and warm tones with varying shades. Avoid ash tones, which can closely resemble grey." —Frederic Moine, celebrity hairstylist
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Fake fuller lips.
SHOP NOW KVD Everlasting Lip Liner, $20
“Find a lip liner that matches your natural lip tone. Gently over draw the bottom lip line and cupid’s bow for a fuller pout. Top the liner with a lip gloss for hydration and a little glimmer.”—Ashlee Glazer, makeup artist and artistic director for Laura Geller Beauty
Wear sunscreen on your face and neck.
SHOP NOW EltaMD UV Daily SPF 40, $32.50
“Many people forget the neck, although it’s one of the first places (along with your under eye area) to show aging. I recommend SPF 25 or above, broad spectrum (UVA and UVB), unperfumed sunscreen. My favorite is Elta MD oil-free formulation SPF 40.” —Dr. Lamees Hamdan, Founder and CEO of Shiffa
MORE: The Best Facial Sunscreens
Consider long bangs.
"Longer bangs are ideal to help mask the aging process since it softens the facial features, emphasizes the eyes and also can discreetly hide fine lines and wrinkles. It’s best to add layers so that there is movement and texture, rather than having stiff, coiffed hair that looks like a helmet."—Frederic Moine, celebrity hairstylist
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Use an acid peel 1-2 times a week.
SHOP NOW Shiffa Tri-Acid Radiance Peel, $70
SHOP NOW Lancer Caviar Lime Acid Peel, $97
SHOP NOW Dr. Dennis Gross Daily Peel, $88
“Consistent use of a good acid peel—one that has both salicylic and glycolic acid—will have cumulative benefits: the longer you use them, the better your skin will look. I always recommend once a week for dry skin and no more than twice a week for combination/normal skin. Following this regimen will help build collagen, erase fine lines and pigmentation, and generally help thicken your skin. Remember: your skin gets thinner with age.”—Dr. Lamees Hamdan, founder and CEO of Shiffa
MORE: The Best At-Home Chemical Peels
Embrace thick brows.
SHOP NOW Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, $23
“Bolder, defined brows give the illusion of a younger face, so definitely invest in a product to helps fill in any gaps along your brow. Look for a formula that’s a cross between a pencil and powder, so you get the soft and natural texture of a powder with the precision of a pencil." —Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty
Roxanne Adamiyatt
Deputy Digital Lifestyle Director
As the deputy digital lifestyle director at Town & Country, Roxanne Adamiyatt covers fashion, beauty, wellness, design and travel.
