How to Stay Young Looking After 40

Stay young looking after the age of 40 by taking care of your skin, adopting healthier habits, and freshening up your style. Invest in sunscreen, moisturizing night cream, and retinoids to keep your skin looking youthful. Sleep well, exercise, drink water, and eat healthy to keep your body in tip-top shape. Update your style by coloring your hair, whitening your teeth, and improving your wardrobe.

Taking Care of Your Skin

Wear sunscreen every day.

To keep your skin looking young, use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. This UV protection will help to prevent fine lines, age spots, and skin discoloration. Opt for a lotion or moisturizer with broad spectrum protection, meaning that it will prevent skin damage from both UVA and UVB rays.

Apply sunscreen to bare skin at least 15 minutes before going outdoors.

Purchase a lip balm with SPF to protect your lips from sun damage.

Always apply makeup after applying sunscreen. Some makeup includes SPF protection in it.

Use a rich, moisturizing night cream.

If you buy an all-purpose moisturizer with SPF in it, purchase a separate moisturizing cream to apply generously to your bare face before bed when you will not need UV protection. Get advice from a product consultant at a beauty supply store or research online reviews to choose a moisturizer that is right for your skin. Look for ingredients that target your specific skin type, such as:

Ceramides, glycerin, and mineral oil for dry skin

Lavender oil, rose oil, or green tea extract for sensitive skin

Hyaluronic acid or glycerin for oily or combination skin

Use retinoids to fight fine lines.

Retinoids, derivatives of vitamin A, increase your skin's production of collagen and regulate skin cells, leaving skin looking more youthful. Buy a mild retinoid cream from a department store or beauty supply store, or visit a dermatologist to get a prescription for a stronger retinoid treatment. Prescription retinoids may be rougher on skin for the first few weeks of use (e.g., causing redness or peeling skin), but will ultimately produce faster and more noticeable results.

Ease into using retinoid creams or lotions by applying a pea-sized amount at night for 2-3 nights before using it as you normally would a day or night moisturizer. If the formula is too harsh for your skin, try a milder formula of retinoid moisturizer.

Adopting Healthy Habits

Get 7-9 hours of sleep a night.

To stay young looking, make sure to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night.Fatigue can cause your body to release extra cortisol, a stress hormone that breaks down the elasticity of your skin. Getting enough sleep will also prevent puffy eyes and a general worn-down look, which can both be aging.

Eat all-natural, healthy foods.

To look younger after 40, make a conscious effort to eat foods that are not processed or high in saturated fat, sugar, or sodium.Many food additives can cause skin inflammation and may have an aging effect on your body. Choose to infuse your diet with antioxidant-rich foods, such as:

Kale, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables

Salmon and other fatty fish

Beans, lentils, and peas

Tomatoes

Carrots

Apricots

Blueberries

Nuts

Drink water or other hydrating drinks.

Staying hydrated is important to help skin looking supple and young.As a general rule, men should drink about 3 liters (13 cups) of fluids per day, while women should drink about 2.2 liters (9 cups). Be sure to drink water before, during, and after exercise to compensate for lost fluids.

Drink water before you are thirsty to stay hydrated.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

Exercise can contribute to a youthful appearance by boosting circulation, firming skin, reducing stress, and eliminating excess body fat. Do at least 30 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise (i.e. anything that gets your heart rate up to 50 to 60 percent higher than its resting rate) per day, 5 days a week to elicit results.This rate of exercise, if maintained, can decrease cellular aging in your body by nine years.

Resistance training, such as weight lifting or body weight exercises, can help you keep your bones strong and your posture straight.

Stretching will also help you keep a good posture.

Reduce stress in your life.

Stress can speed up the aging process. Learning to relax can help you feel and look younger. Try to identify what is causing the most stress in your life. See if you can reduce or eliminate it. If not, try to find time each day for self care. You can:

Learn to meditate.

Take up a hobby, such as journaling or painting.

Go for a walk.

Take a short nap.

Use minimalist, youthful makeup.

Looking overly made up can actually make you look older, so aim for a minimalist, fresh makeup look. Apply a light tinted moisturizer and a small amount of concealer to hide age spots and dark circles. Make your eyes look bigger (and therefore younger) by curling your eyelashes and applying a black mascara. A soft rose color on lips and cheeks will give you a youthful glow.

Remember to always remove your makeup at night to keep your skin looking healthy.

Color your hair.

Coloring your hair will not only cover grays but also brighten your look, particularly if you opt for a lighter shade or soft, natural highlights. For the best results, visit a salon to have your hair colored. If your budget does not allow for a salon experience, purchase a semi-permanent, ammonia-free hair dye at your local pharmacy, which will allow you to practice coloring your hair and experiment with different shades with less commitment.

Semi-permanent hair dye will generally last for several washes, depending on the brand and the darkness of the color you choose.

Whiten your teeth.

Yellowing teeth are a part of aging and will make you look older regardless of whether you have youthful skin and style. Invest in whitening toothpaste with enzymes and micro-abrasive ingredients, or talk to your dentist about more intensive options like bleaching. In addition, cut back on things that can cause tooth discoloration, such as:

Coffee

Tea

Fruit juices

Cigarettes

Soda

Red wine

Invest in a better quality, better fitting wardrobe.

To stay looking younger after 40, concentrate on buying clothes that fit well and complement your body rather than following trends. Go for classic, tailored pieces (e.g. a simple, sophisticated black blazer and fitted white shirt) and leave behind more casual, carefree attire (e.g., beach inspired t-shirts and shorts) which may appear inappropriately young and highlight your age. Avoid any clothing that is too loose or too tight, both of which can age your appearance.