Look Younger – Start Slide Show

Who among us relishes the idea of getting old? Although it’s true that embracing our changing appearance is a healthy position to take, an excessive amount of wrinkles, saggy skin, and paunchiness can be an unnecessary bummer. The good news is that there are plenty of steps we can take—with nutrition, exercise and skin care, just to name a few—that’ll not only stop the effect of time on our bodies but even roll back the clock a few years. Below are 50 such strategies for looking more youthful in what should be your best decade yet. And for more healthy living advice, be sure to Steal The Secrets of Ageless Superstar Athletes. 

Use sunscreen

Being exposed to sunlight does have health benefits. It can help regulate the production of melatonin, and we humans are are rather good at converting rays into vitamin D, a nutrient that a supermajority of Americans are deficient in, particularly those living in northern states. That said, ultraviolet (UV) rays break down skin fibers, which cause it to sag and lose elasticity (not to mention lead to melanoma). If you’re going to be spending time outside, use a sunblock with an SPF of at least 30, and wear a hat with a brim that casts a shadow over your face. Oh, and speaking of your face? Don’t miss the 13 Astonishing Things Your Face Shape Says About You. 

Tame your guy-brows

As you get older, your brows can get, well, a little woolly. This change can happen slowly, making it harder to recognize (and leaving you scratching your head when people start offering you their seats on public transit). Resist the temptation to shape them yourself. Instead, ask your barber to do a trim during your regular visits. And while you’re at it, have him take care of excess ear and nose hair too. Don’t be shy—he’s used to it. Or grab one of these 10 High-Tech Grooming Gadgets You Need Now to stay perfectly manscaped.

Get more sleep

When your co-workers tell you that you look tired, they really mean that you look bad, old or both. Next time you’re at the water cooler, hand them a tall glass of STFU by having snoozed your way to a more youthful, vibrant appearance. Studies indicate that seven to eight hours of shut-eye is optimal, and it’ll make you look younger, happier and more attractive. Talk about an easy route to reeling back the years. (And extending them: According to a study published in the Journal of Sleep Research, getting less than six hours of sleep a night comes with a 10% increase in risk of death!) Is where you live affecting your sleep levels? Take a look at the 50 Most Sleepless Cities in America.

Eat oysters

In addition to being a great source of muscle-protective protein, oysters are a prime source of zinc. “This mineral helps convert vitamin A, a vital nutrient for eye health, into a usable form and transport it through blood, says Chip Goehring, Board President of the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF). “Recent studies also suggest that zinc can slow the progression of macular degeneration,” he adds. How’s that for a pearl of wisdom?

Change how you frame your face

Our faces appear to lengthen as we age. One way to forestall looking like an old codger is to foreshorten your look and make your face appear more rounded (read: youthful). Crewnecks make the face look more rounded than V-necks. For the same reason, when you’re dressing casually, wear button-collared shirts rather than a wide-spread collar. They narrow the face.

Shave off a few years

Sure, stubble, a moustache or a beard can lend you a rugged air but forgoing a clean shave isn’t ideal if you’re trying to look more youthful. A recent British study showed men with facial hair looked about 10 years older than they actually were. But that’s not the only reason you should shave to look young. Taking a razor to your face sloughs off dead skin cells and helps stimulate collagen production, making your face appear younger. For those wanting to stop looking like Father Time, This Haircut Will Shave 10 Years Off Your Age.

Eat flax seeds

Flax offer a payload of omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and iron out fine lines. A study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that participants who downed about half a teaspoon of omega-3s in six weeks experienced significantly less irritation and redness (thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties), along with better-hydrated skin.

Dress your age

Passing 40 can “inspire” us to dress younger. Bad move. “Dressing younger only serves to highlight your advancing years,” says Alex Wilcox, co-proprietor of New York men’s clothing store Lord Willy’s. “You end up looking like a old head on a young body. This in contrast to dressing classic — albeit with a few playful little touches — which tends to do the opposite.” For ideas on establishing the right look, follow these 25 Rules of Office Style.

Stand up straighter

Another quick, simple way to appear younger is to stand up straight, pull your shoulders back and tighten your core. Experts say you’ll appear 10 pounds lighter and will be perceived as healthier, more confident, alert, and more youthful. It’s also a hedge against back pain.

Smile more

A 2011 study demonstrated that happy-looking people are perceived to be younger (compared to pictures of the very same people sporting a neutral or angry expression). In the study, 154 adults guessed the age of 171 male and female faces. Researchers discovered that the age of happy or smiling faces was likely to be underestimated by an average of about two years! Need some motivation? Check out these 25 Ways to be Happier Now!