When it comes to looking older, your skin takes a lot of blame. While wrinkles, age spots and a loss of elasticity in the skin all play a part in making you look older, changes to a number of other features on your face, and elsewhere, also add a few years to your appearance.
Creating balance is an important part of treating the aging face. If you are considering a facelift or eyelid surgery to correct some of the signs of aging, you might also want consider treating some other features, to create a harmonious, youthful look.
Your Teeth
As you get older, your teeth get older too, and in some cases, they show it. Yellowed, stained teeth can add several years to your look. Fortunately, there are a few ways to combat that and make your teeth whiter.
One way to give your teeth a more youthful look is to adjust your makeup. Go for colors with blue undertones, which work against the yellow on your teeth. A berry colored lipstick is one option, for example. The colors you wear on your eyes can also work with or against your teeth. Blue or green eyeshadows can help make teeth look whiter, while warmer colors, such as a chocolate brown or gold, will enhance the yellowness of the teeth.
How you treat your teeth will make a difference too. Smoking isn’t just bad for the health of your skin. It also stains your teeth, adding years to your appearance. Your diet plays a part, too. Eat more vegetables and fruits, not only for their nutritional benefits, but because they can help scrub your teeth and remove stains.
Your Nails and Hands
Your face and neck aren’t the only area to age. Your hands can also reveal your age. In fact, since many people focus so much on the changes on their face, it is often the hands that act as a giveaway. Luckily, there are ways to fight the signs of aging on the hands. An injectable filler made of hyaluronic acid can add volume to the hands, making veins less prominent. Skin resurfacing can help remove any age spots or areas of hyperpigmentation on the hands, too.
A quick, simple way to make your hands look more youthful is to paint your nails. A study conducted in England by plastic surgeons found that nearly half of people surveyed thought that people were younger when their nails were painted. Choose a light color with a bit of shimmer for the best effect. The shimmer will reflect the light, making your nails look smoother and youthful.
Your Hair
Hair changes in several ways as you get older. Perhaps the most obvious visual change is the color. Gray or even white hair will add years to your look. You can correct any color issues with your hair by dying it back to its natural color and by adding highlights to it. A highlight that is two shades lighter than your natural shade will not only blast away the gray. It will help brighten your hair and your complexion, creating a younger look.
The condition of your hair also changes with age. While you may have had thick hair in your teens, 20s and 30s, as you’ve gotten older, it might have become thinner. Along with becoming thinner, you might have some degree of hair loss. One way to cover up thinning hair is to change your haircut or style. Your stylist can work with you to pick a cut that creates the illusion of volume.
Your Eyebrows
If you followed 1990s trends, your eyebrows might still be suffering the effects. While barely there brows used to be all the rage, they also play a part in adding a few years to your look. A pair of thick, bold brows creates contrast on the face while a sparse pair cause your features to blend in and can add a few years to your look, even if your skin is smooth.
If you have naturally thin brows, you can create a thicker set with a bit of makeup. Fill in any openings in your brow with powder using a brow or mascara brush. Work with the natural shape of your brow. Exaggerating the arch will just make you look surprised or upset.
Dr. Jessica Kulak is a face specialist practicing at the Naderi Center in Maryland and Virginia. She’s available to answer any questions you might have about aging on the skin and elsewhere. Call (301) 222-2020 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kulak in Maryland or (703) 481-0002 for an appointment in Virginia.
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