All About Skin

Tips to Look Younger
By Jessica Prince


1. CHOOSE LIGHTER LIPSTICK
Dark shades can be unflattering on mature skin because lips get thinner with age, explains makeup artist Matin Maulawizada, who works with celebrities like Angelina Jolie. To keep lipstick from looking too severe, choose rosy reds or flesh-colored shades, and stay away from peaches and oranges, which can make teeth appear yellow. We like Lancôme Color Design Lipcolor in Natural Beauty ($22). And remember, swiping on lipstick without other makeup can make you look older than if you wear no makeup at all.

2. BRUSH BLUSH ABOVE YOUR APPLES
For an instant cheek lift, place your blush brush at the highest point of your cheekbone and apply color in a circular motion, advises makeup artist Sandy Linter, who works with Elizabeth Hurley. Go for warm pinks, apricots, or bronzes since they create less contrast and make you look younger. A great option is Kevyn Aucoin Pure Powder Glow in Myracle or Neolita ($37 each).

3. LIFT YOUR EYES WITH PENCIL
Use an eye pencil. Its softness enlarges the eyes more than liquid liners do. To reverse droopy-looking lids, blend liner up at the outer corners with a Q-tip. We like L'Oréal Paris Le Kohl Pencil Smooth Defining Eyeliner in Onyx ($8.49).

4. INVEST IN THE RIGHT CONCEALER
Cover-up can be tricky to apply; many formulas sink into crevices, emphasizing every fine line. To get the most coverage with the least product, try "camouflage," a dryer form of concealer that can take years off of your face, says Maulawizada. It doesn't contain as much oil as regular concealer, so it won't move, and it's better at hiding sun spots. Try Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage ($28).

5. SUPERSIZE YOUR SUNGLASSES
By now you know how damaging the sun can be, so besides coating on sunscreen, shield yourself with chic accessories. Swap your thinly rimmed aviators for oversize frames and you'll get more protection around your eyes, which wrinkle first, says Boston dermatologist Ranella Hirsch. And don't forget a hat: "Buying a five-dollar fedora now will save you $10,000 with me later," adds Hirsch. Throwing on a scarf can also help prevent sun spots in the décolleté area.

6. STOCK UP ON OLIVE OIL
Extra-virgin olive oil contains fatty acids similar to those found in our skin and is an incredibly gentle moisturizer. If you have skin that's dry and sensitive from overloading on harsh face and eye antiagers, bring your skin-care regimen to a halt, says Jessica Wu, an L.A.-based cosmetic dermatologist, and slather on a thin layer of unflavored oil at night instead.

7. BABY YOUR HANDS
Derms agree that hands are a dead age giveaway. To keep them young, apply the same retinoid from your face to your hands and add a layer of Vaseline, says New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf. Wear cotton gloves to bed to keep the treatment in place overnight. Skin looks suppler, and cuticles will benefit too. ä

8. TREAT YOUR FEET
Rough, dry feet make you look older, even in the sexiest shoes. Before working out, apply a thin layer of over-the-counter salicylic acid Keralyt Gel ($20) and a dollop of Vaseline to areas where your skin is thick or scaly, then put on your socks, says Waldorf. The combo keeps calluses and blisters at bay for instantly prettier, younger-looking feet, and it rinses off in the shower.

9. SCHEDULE AN EYE EXAM
When you can't see properly, you squint, overcompensating for the work your eyes should be doing and deepening frown lines, says Hirsch. She adds, "Ninety percent of the time when women in their 30s come in for Botox, I send them to the ophthalmologist because they need a stronger prescription."

10. SHIELD YOUR WINDOWS
Did you know the average commuter gets almost 200 hours of sun exposure each year just driving? And, Hirsch says, "Eighty percent of all sun exposure is through windows." To ward off sun spots, wrinkles, or worse — skin cancer — derms recommend investing in a clear window film such as Solar Gard, which blocks 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays with SPF 285 in your home or car.

11. USE SELF-TANNER WITH CAUTION
Applying self-tanner brings out a glow on even the pastiest skin, but it can also darken and emphasize your sun spots, says Linter. If you have a lot of damage, use a warm foundation shade instead. Makeup artists love Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($59).

12. REVERSE BROWN SPOTS
Lemon juice diluted with water helps fade sun spots on all skin tones, says New York dermatologist Jessica Krant. Since acids can be irritating, apply it before bed with a Q-tip, and gradually increase to twice daily. Stop if your skin gets too light.

13. REFRIGERATE SKIN-CARE PRODUCTS AFTER OPENING THEM
"You'll get more of a lifting effect from your products if they're cold," says New York cosmetic dermatologist Patricia Wexler. A room-temperature depuffing cream can take up to two hours to work versus only 10 minutes when it's been in the fridge. Plus, this technique keeps products fresher longer. Try Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Fastscription Instant De-Puff Eye Gel ($19.50).

14. WEAR ANTIOXIDANT-INFUSED SUNSCREENS
You know SPF 30 is a must. But a formula that contains antioxidants will also reduce oxidative damage and does not need to be reapplied as often. Derms recommend La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Fluid for Face ($27.90).

15. REMOVE MAKEUP BEFORE BED
Duh, right? But this is about more than just avoiding clogged pores. It's extremely important to rid your skin of the environmental pollution you've been exposed to throughout the day and wash away free radicals to avoid the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue, says Wexler. We like St. Ives Fresh Skin Make-up Remover & Facial Cleanser ($3.99).

16. BEEF UP YOUR BROWS
Thick brows are a sign of youth, so filling them in correctly is crucial. Draw in hairs with a ticking motion from bottom to top using a neutral shade. Try Benefit Brow Zings shaping kit ($30). Products like RevitaLash RevitaBrow Conditioner ($110) can also help by boosting brow growth with peptides and botanicals.

17. RETHINK FROWNIES
These adhesive patches really do work, says Wu. Before you go to bed, apply them to areas where you'd get Botox. They keep your facial muscles from contracting and lines from becoming deeper. Try Frownies Facial Pads ($19.95).

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