5 Non-Surgical Ways to Look Younger at 40

Do you remember the day you realized you had jumped from young to middle age? Whether you’re still in your late 30’s or a few years into your 40’s, things begin to change. You start to feel different and you start to look more mature as you age, which can be a disheartening reality to some. It probably surprised you one morning when you looked in the mirror and saw lines that you were quite certain weren’t there the day before. A pair of pants that made your backside look great the last time you wore them no longer fit the way you remembered them to. Sure, adjusting to aging takes some time, but it shouldn’t be glazed over that a major positive of aging is the wisdom you take along with you. There are some things you can do to look younger at 40 and to maintain your youth while aging gracefully.

1. Focus on Body Improvement

Maybe you dye your hair and use creams to keep your face looking youthful. You should also have a body that matches. There are some really simple practices and procedures you can do to obtain and maintain a fit and youthful body. Some people start with a non-surgical procedure to eliminate stubborn fat.^[1] This often provides the motivation to further improve the body by toning and strengthening it. Having a fit body and working hard to keep it also has its advantages for your skin and your energy level.

If you haven’t been eating breakfast your whole adult life, it’s time to start. Eating breakfast can prevent unwanted weight gain as you boost your metabolism, which starts to slow down as you get older. Exercise boosts your human growth hormones, which is what you’d be paying for with facial injections to look younger. Adding a strength training routine to your workout regimen shores up your bones and prevents injuries. Not only will you feel and look stronger, you also circulate oxygen to your skin, which makes it look youthful and radiant.

Exercise of any kind is going to boost the collagen production process, making your skin appear younger. It also prevents free radical damage, which is a contributor to looking older. You’ll sleep better so you avoid those dark circles under your eyes. You prevent your body skin from sagging when you maintain your muscle.

2. Kick Stress to the Curb

Stress sucks and here’s one more reason why: it ages you. When you’re stressed out, your heart beats abnormally and that causes unhealthy changes in your body’s system. Less oxygen is going to the brain so you don’t think as quickly, your libido suffers, and cells die much faster. Chronic stress for a long period of time can cause an increase in cortisol, which breaks down collagen. Collagen is what allows skin to regenerate, making it supple and healthy. All of these things can make you look and feel older than you are. Life is stressful for most of us but the key to overcoming stress is more about managing it than trying to rearrange your life to avoid it.

To combat stress, the main advice suggested by professionals in the beauty and health industry is to use breathing techniques.^[2] This practice can put your heart into a healthier rhythm and relax you during times of stress. If you already have your own go-to method you use to relax, make sure you dedicate at least ten minutes every day to the practice. For a breathing exercise, try breathing in through your nose for 4 counts, hold the breath for 4 counts, release the breath for 5 counts. Pause again at the bottom of the breath for 4 counts before breathing in again. This does wonders for instantly relaxing you, as well as activating the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the pelvis. This exercise relaxes the muscles, heart, airways, blood vessels, and gastrointestinal tract.

3. The Power of Illusion

A quick fix to looking years younger is to opt for a fringe bang or side swept bang. Bangs are a great way to hide the little lines on the forehead. They also bring focus to the parts of your face that don’t face aging as quickly, like your cheekbones and lips. Learn to spoil your hair with products that offer extra moisture and damage control.

Illusion is everything, so if you’re not feeling comfortable with certain aspects of your body, you can always fake it until you make it. Women have been doing this since the beginning of time. So get yourself some Spanx and a bra that provides some extra lift. If looking at yourself makes you feel old, do whatever it takes to make you feel good.

4. Pamper Your Face

The face is the main telltale sign of age so it’s important to put a lot of focus on pampering it in order to look young well after 40. It takes dual action to conquer aging skin. Your diet and exercise have as much to do with how your face looks as the treatments you use.

Anti-aging foods include, but are not limited to, watermelon, pomegranates, blueberries, lobster, kale, and eggs. Also, if you smoke it’s really time to quit.^[3] Nicotine causes blood vessels to get smaller on the surface of your hands and face, impairing the flow of blood. When that happens, your skin doesn’t get enough oxygen or nutrients that would normally help you look younger.

Here are some beauty tips on pampering your face the right way:

• Buy a cleanser that is designed for your skin and contains alpha hydroxy acids. AHAs stimulate cell turnaround and assist in priming your skin for better absorption of moisturizing products.
• Exfoliate your skin regularly to remove dead skin cells and reveal an instant glow.
• Regularly use an anti-aging serum and leave it on overnight. Anti-aging serums often contain antioxidants like resveratrol and Vitamin C and D. They diminish inflammation that are caused by free radicals, thereby evening out your skin tone and getting rid of puffiness.
• Moisturize daily with one that includes SPF. This will stop any further damage to your skin caused by UVA and UVB rays. For night use, get a night cream that moisturizes your skin deeply.

5. Maintain a High Level of Bliss

Looking young at 40 means having a life that you intended on. While it probably wasn’t an easy road, you’ve made it to an age where you’re wise enough to drop destructive habits. Peace and happiness in your life is one of the surefire ways you can combat signs of aging. Finding ways to cultivate happiness will give you more energy and your life will be filled with more meaning, which is an excellent side effect.

Some ways to keep a high level of bliss include:

• Staying social by doing fun activities with friends that bring fulfillment.
• Trying new things to prevent stagnancy and boredom.
• Getting 6-8 hours of sleep every night.

There are plenty of ways to slow down the aging process from the inside out. Be diligent about nurturing your skin, working out regularly, and having fun. Don’t let your age get you down, it really is just a number.

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