10 Things That Are Making You Look Older

I had a male follower on Instagram (what are they doing there?) tell me I looked great! Then he added the caveat, “for your age”. Okay…so he is a total moron because that kind of backhanded compliment is insulting. It’s a clumsy way of saying I’m old and lucky to look as good as I do.

I have always wanted to look the very best I can for my age and work hard to take care of myself so I can. That doesn’t mean I want to look younger, but I do like to look as youthful as I feel.

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Here are five things I’ve discovered that can make any women look older than she is-

Outdated shoes

I have difficult feet so I keep my shoes for many years. But at a certain point, they’re making me look older, and I’m not talking about their condition. Toe shapes, heels, soles, and heel height all have an impact here. If you can teeter around on stilettos at 75, more power to you! Most of us look like we’re in pain when we wear them so we can’t walk gracefully in them. Choose shoes that allow you to go about your day in comfort and style, or risk looking like you’re trying too hard.

Also – Nine Fashion Mistakes That Make You Look Older Than You Are

Dated hairstyle

Classic hairstyles are classic for a reason…they don’t age you. A classic bob now is pretty similar to the ones worn 20, 30, or even 40 years ago. They do get updated so be aware of the nuances for the current bob. The same goes for a layered cut. The shag was awesome, but be sure you’re wearing the version for this decade. Heavily teased and sprayed styles that conjure up visions of “Mad Men” can be tricky so reexamine your hairstyle every few years to ensure your style doesn’t make you look older than you are.

Also – My Unusual Haircut

Frameless Glasses

They’re super lightweight so very comfy to wear. I have a pair and love them but I’ve relegated them to at-home only wear now because they make me look and more importantly, feel, older than I am. The truth is, glasses never look totally invisible on our face and we shouldn’t expect them to. Frameless glasses add no color and are “discreet” so they add no substance to your look.

Also – How to Choose the Best Eyeglasses

Too Much Or The Wrong Shade Makeup

I love makeup and am not planning to give it up anytime soon but there is a subtle and not so subtle way to wear a smokey eye. You don’t want to look like you’ve been in a fight so be sure to blend, blend, blend and make sure the colors aren’t too strong for your coloring. If you have warm coloring, pink makeup will jump out and make you look out of touch. Some women have never worn much makeup so it’s easy for them to lighten up to the point of wearing no makeup. Other’s will wear makeup until someone pries their lipstick from their cold dead fingers. You should decide what works for you and remember that one woman’s idea of too much makeup will be another woman’s just right.

Also – How To Navigate The Makeup Counter

Wearing Clothes That Don’t Fit Your Current Body

Every woman’s body changes over the course of her life, but at midlife, we tend to get thicker through the midsection. No matter how hard you workout, the shape of your body will be different. Cramming yourself into clothes that fit you ten pounds ago will make you look older than you are. If you opt for oversized garments, be sure a portion of your outfit is tailored enough to show some of your silhouette.

Ill-Fitting Bra

Be sure your bra fits you properly because an ill-fitting one will change the fit of your clothes and cause lumps and bumps where you don’t have them. It can also cause shoulder and neck pain as well as make you slump.

Poor Posture

This is one is a doozy and so easy to fall prey to. As we age we may lose muscle strength in our core which can cause us to slump. Hours of leaning over books or laptops leave us prone to shortened muscles in the front of our chest and lax ones across the back. Yoga and Pilates are excellent ways to improve posture. It also helps to just become aware of how you sit and stand so you can pull yourself up, pull in your tummy, and begin to strengthen those muscles.

Applying Your Blush Too Low

We were all taught to smile then apply our blush to the apples of our cheeks. It’s a great pick-me-up and helps us look fresh and flushed with good health.  As we age, the fat pads on our face (and everywhere else) move south so your blush looks wrong on the apple part. Try applying your blush along your upper cheekbone, an inch or so below your eye, being careful to sweep it outwards which gives you a subtle lift.

Outdated Trends

I’m a fan of adding a touch of trend to keep us looking current but they do have an expiration date so be sure to move on when they’re outdated. The life of a trend is short but as it evolves into a new style direction, it gets subtle tweaks you need to stay aware of.

Dry, Flakey Skin

The older we get, the dryer our skin becomes so crepiness and flaking is a common problem. Our best defense is regular exfoliation, consistent use of a great moisturizer, and making sure we drink enough water. The very best moisturizers contain lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and peptides. Be sure to treat your arms and legs with as much care as you give your complexion because lizard skin on our legs makes us look older than we are.

Also – How to Treat Crepey Skin

What could you add to this list?

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Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.