Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #25: Start With Inner Beauty, Add Outer Beauty

It's been said that our personalities show our beauty to the world, but looking the best we can on the outside will only add to the overall package. As we age, noticeable changes take place on the face and neck and we're at the mercy of many factors, including sun, diet, genetics, lifestyle, harsh weather and our own bad habits.

For example, smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable. According to Stopsmokingtoday.com, as early as the mid-nineteenth century it was observed that smoking could cause visible changes in a person's complexion, such as wrinkles, loss of elasticity and rough, reddened or orange complexion.

Overexposure to the sun is another way to accelerate the aging process. A very high percentage of age-associated cosmetic skin problems can be attributed to the sun. Chronic overexposure changes the texture of the skin and weakens the elasticity. The outer layer of skin, or epidermis, thickens and becomes leathery. Wrinkles, furrows, easy bruising, brown spots, pre-cancerous lesions and even skin cancer can result from sun exposure. The good news is, because photoaging of the skin is cumulative, it's never too late for a person to start a sun protection program.

So, what can we do to make our faces more beautiful despite all the factors that are working against us?

Aging Backwards Beauty Tips

1) Start with a good skin care program. Olay has an entire line of Age-Defying products that, when used together, can have a positive effect on the skin. There are also some interesting articles to read, like "Learn How to Break the Cycle of Dry Skin" and "Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Aging and How to Fight Both."

2) Consider Microcurrent Facial Sculpting. Beautiful Image Facial & Body Sculpting offers a microcurrent machine that "delivers a broader range of microcurrent than any competitive technology on the market," according to the company's Web site. With Microcurrent Facial Sculpting, the body is literally being recharged back to its more youthful electrical state, as though a draining battery were plugged into a charger. With each treatment, ATP levels (adenosine triphosphate, the chemical fuel of the human cell) are stockpiled or stored, which is why Microcurrent Facial Treatment results are cumulative and become better as a series of treatments progresses. I saw a difference in the first treatment. To buy your own Beautiful Image machine, click here. To find out about getting treatments in your area, click here.

3) Choose the right makeup. As we age, we tend to want to cover up the crow's feet, deep creases and age spots that appear on our faces. Caking on makeup is the very thing that will make any woman look older than she is. For aging skin, we should actually use a lighter touch when it comes to cosmetics. Per-Fekt Skin Perfection Gel lets you reveal your natural beauty rather than hide behind your makeup. It glides on smoothly, then turns to an air-brushed look, disguising enlarged pored, fine lines and wrinkles. You can use it alone or with your current foundation. You can even layer it to achieve just the right finish for any age. You may also want to consider age-appropriate makeup like A Younger U Cosmetics, which is specially formulated for mature skin.

4) Use a humidifier. During the winter, heaters draw the moisture out of the air and the skin. Using a room humidifier can help keep your skin from drying out.

5) Try something new. It's not necessary to keep up with every fashion trend and fad, but try not to fall into the rut of always using the same type, style and colors of makeup. For a quick and easy way to make changes, look at fashion magazines and Web sites to see what's new.

6) Lose the fuzz. Unwanted facial hair growth is very common among women over age 35. Consider laser hair removal, waxing, electrolysis or bleaching to regain that youthful, supple, hair-free look.

7) Switch to cream blush. According to Bruce Grayson, Hollywood "makeup artist to the stars" and head of the Primetime Emmys' Makeup Department, using cream blush gives a much more natural look than powder, especially on mature skin. Bruce likes Nars The Multiple and Clinique Touch Blush.

So, give your inner beauty an extra boost by putting your most beautiful face forward.