How To Look Great After 40

I’ve had a 4 at the beginning of my age for <ahem> quite a while now. It’s long enough that I dread the ‘how old are you’ question so it’s always a compliment when I’m asked what my ‘secret’ is for how to look great after 40. Truth is, there isn’t really a secret. It is a lot easier than you might imagine to look great after 40. Here are some simple tips to help.

Be Aware of What You Eat
What you are putting into your body makes a big difference to how you look. Nutrient dense foods and healthy fats are really important – avocados are your friend as are small amounts of good olive oil. Not only are healthy fats good for your insides, they are good for your skin, hair and nails. Avoid dieting, just try to eat healthily.

Drink Lots of Water
Drink more water than any other beverage. Again, it’s good for the inside and outside of your body including your hair, skin and nails.

Moisturize
Good skin really is the very best cosmetic. Cleanse and moisturize your skin twice daily using the very best moisturizer that you can. If you still experience breakouts (this is common after 40), choose a lighter lotion formula. I use Crème de la Mer. I hate how expensive it is (I save up and buy it in the duty free!) but it does work for me. I also have a Caci facial once every 4 to 5 weeks.

A good eye cream is an absolute necessity. I’ve been using eye cream twice daily since I was 25. It’s never too late to start. Gently pat a small amount into the skin under the eyes, don’t tug or pull.

Don’t forget to moisturize your body daily too, paying special attention to the décolleté (neck and cleavage). It’s one of the first places that can give your age away.

Exercise
Yes, your body will change after you hit the big 4-0 but that’s not an excuse to stop moving. Often aches and pains are more a result of a lack of activity than too much of it. In consultation with your doctor and other health professionals, find activities that help keep your heart and body healthy. I love brisk walking (interspersed with a bit of jogging from time to time), Pilates and Ashtanga yoga (a very dynamic form of yoga).

Keep Up With Trends But Don’t Be a Slave To Them
Getting stuck in a beauty rut can make you look dated so it’s important to make beauty trends work for you. For example, this season’s glittery shadows are not flattering for me as an all over the eyelid look – but a little flash of sparkle in the inner corner or middle of my eyelid keeps me up to date. Watch the trends and adapt them to suit you.

Don’t Cut Your Hair Unless You Want To
If your long locks look great don’t feel you have to cut them just because you’ve reached ‘a certain age’. If you do have short hair, make sure your hair stylist cuts your hair to suit you and your face shape, not the numbers in your age.

Colour is your friend – and so is a good colourist. Thanks to mine, my hair is nearly the exact blond it used to be when I was younger. The odd white hair just looks like a highlight. There are lots of shampoos on the market for hair that may need more moisture or that is experiencing the aging process. (I use Paul Mitchell’s Awapui Wild Ginger line to keep my hair looking healthy.) I also have my hair trimmed every five weeks to keep the ends tidy.

Dress to Suit You
Fashion is for everyone and style is ageless. If you see something you love and it looks great on you, wear it and enjoy it. Adapt trends to suit your own personal style. Struggling to find your style? Enlist a friend whose style you admire to help you!

My most important tip? Be yourself. Don’t get caught in the trap of making choices based on someone else’s perception of what you should be doing ‘at your age’. Being happy is one of the best ways to look wonderful no matter how old you are!

If you enjoyed this article you may enjoy How To Feel Great After 40.