It’s seems a bit strange looking back, but I was much more sensitive about my age when I turned 40 than I was when I turned 50. (I wonder if it’s like that for everyone, or if I’ve just personally mellowed out a bit?) However, even though I’m more at peace with my age now than I have been in the past, I would still rather avoid looking any older than I actually am!
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And since I’m positive that I’m not the only one who feels this way, I think that today’s post will be useful for all of us! :-) Because there are plenty of sneaky culprits that are capable of making you look older than you’d like. But with the help of the tips in this post, you can rest assured that none of these culprits is past you unnoticed!
And for more great tips about caring for aging skin, be sure to check out my eBook Aging Gracefully! You can buy it in my shop, or get it for free if you’re an OGT Plus member!
7 Sneaky Things That Make You Look Older
1. Redness & Inflammation
As if redness and inflammation from sun exposure and rosacea weren’t already bad enough, it turns out that these symptoms can also amplify signs of aging! Inflamed skin can cause wrinkles to appear deeper than they really are, and make your skin tone appear uneven.
The simplest ways to avoid redness and inflammation are using gentle skincare products and always, ALWAYS protecting your skin from the sun! Find a good daily moisturizer with sun protection (SPF 30 or higher, preferably) and use it every day, not just when it’s sunny out.
2. Dry Hands
Moisture is crucial for keeping skin looking firm and and vibrant, especially when it comes to your hands. The thin skin on our hands doesn’t produce as much natural moisture as the rest of our skin. So our hands are already prone to dryness, and we often make it worse through sun exposure, repeated washings, and wear and tear.
To keep your hands nice and soft, make sure to moisturize them daily. When you apply your moisturizer with SPF in the morning, apply some to the backs of your hands to protect them from the sun. And before you go to bed, slather on a rich hand cream or body butter. (Grab the recipe for my favorite homemade body butter below!)
Related: How To Make The Perfect Body Butter For Your Unique Skin
3. Droopy Eyes
Dark circles, bags, and fine lines around your eyes can all make you look older (or at least make you look tired or unwell.) To combat these issues, apply an anti-aging eye cream every night to keep the sensitive skin around your eyes moisturized.
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4. Saggy Neck
The skin on our necks is thin, and thin skin tends to lose its elasticity more quickly. Personally, watching the skin on my neck start to droop and sag was really disheartening. So I started looking for solutions online, and ended up learning about some simple neck exercises and skincare products that can help lift saggy neck skin.
I ended up writing a full post on the topic of neck skin, which you can check out at the link below! :-)
Related: 7 Tips For Coping With One Of The Most Annoying Parts Of Aging
5. Improper Cleansing
Failing to cleanse your face thoroughly can lead to clogged pores and sensitive skin. And on the other end of the spectrum, scrubbing your face overzealously or with harsh products can dry out your skin and amplify wrinkles. So it’s important to find that sweet spot between too clean and not clean enough!
If you haven’t already done so, I suggest trying a gentle oil-based cleanser. These tend to be better for aging skin because they remove makeup and impurities without stripping the skin of its natural moisture.
6. Makeup Mistakes
I don’t pretend to a makeup expert by any means, but I do know that makeup can either help or hinder your anti-aging efforts in a big way! Over the last few years, I’ve picked up a lot of useful tips that have helped me avoid the makeup mistakes that can make you look older than you’d like. Learn how to avoid those makeup mistakes by reading my post at the link below!
Related: 9 Surprising Ways Your Makeup Is Making You Look Older
7. Bad Habits
While skincare and makeup both play significant roles when it comes to appearance, there are plenty of other factors that can make you look older than you’d like to! And many of those take the form of simple lifestyle choices.
Because your body produces stress hormones in response to stressful conditions (like work stress, mental health issues, lack of sleep, etc.), and those hormones can actually speed up the aging process! Learn more about the choices you make that can contribute to aging at the link below.
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Related: These 13 Bad Habits Make You Age Faster
Do you have a favorite anti-aging product, tip, or treatment that you use?
One of the best things to do after 50 is to stop wearing eyeliner on the lower lashes. I couldn’t believe what a difference it made. the eyeliner accentuates the wrinkles. Yes, hair that is too long and out of style is another one. Posture is important and stylish clothes .
I have almost never worn eyeliner or mascara on my lower lashes because they are rather long and it always smeared. I only use it when I get really made up for a concert or anniversary. I got a great reverse bob haircut when I turned 50. Before that it was just hanging there or up in a pony tail. I have kept that style for nearly 3 years.
I agree with Connie’s comments. I want to add a bit more specificity to it. I think one’s haircut is a big “aging” mistake many women make. They keep the style they had when they think they looked their best…most get stuck in their 30s. It’s usually too long, and if they lighten their hair it can be too light, and a style that is not up-to-date. The next big mistake is eye make-up that is too dark and too heavy. (Especially those who are blond or red-headed.) Women should lighten their make-up as they age, and forget the thick… Read more »
I think these things are very aging: (1) Hair that is too long and uneven; it drags instead of bounces. A few inches removed makes all the difference. (2) Eyeliner that is too dark, application isn’t thin enough, and encircles the eye with the same width. (3) Bright blue eye shadow (4) Yellow teeth or even worse missing teeth – Implants are wonderful.
My mom was talking to a friend awhile back. The friend works with people who,are needy.She said a lot of times if people are missing teeth it’s due to Meth.It will make people’s teeth fall out.
Not all people with missing teeth or yellow teeth are due to Meth. Medications can cause yellow teeth, eating too much citrus can strip away enamel and yellow the teeth. Certain illnesses can cause loose teeth and if the person cannot afford care, of course they fall out.
Yellowing of teeth and falling out often just or normally happens with age. The teeth suffer fractures from wear and tear, and of course yellowing is due to or contributed to what we eat and drink, but even so, it happens with age. I just find it sad that these days we are all wanting to stay looking 20 and are pressured by society to keep looking young and we can’t just live with or accept the natural ageing process, although some do but it just isn’t the norm anymore.
I agree, but yellowing teeth is an issue to having them whitened, damaging the enamel, and it’s painful. People have to be able to afford certain procedures too. But the other things you noted we can avoid. Jillee’s panda eyes bother me so much, especially given her beauty, it’s just way too harsh to have strong black rings around her eyes, that goes for anybody really, but with her colouring it’s not good. I’d love an eye lift and need it but an’t afford it, and I have changed how I do my eye make up based on a recent… Read more »
Celiac has ruined my once beautiful teeth. Dry mouth has made it worse. I have so many fillings. Everytime I go to the dentist another one is chipped, cracked or needs to be pulled. $3,000 per implant is a killer and a ridiculous amount of money. I am almost ready to get dentures.
The skincare combo of retinoids in the PM and Vitamin C and sunscreen in the AM is scientifically proven to reduce aging in skin. I use these along with water, vitamin supplements, exercise and adequate sleep as my anti aging formula.
Sunscreen ingredients are very questionable –depends whose scientific evidence you read. I avoid it and use coconut oil instead (skin cancer in the tropics is very rare!). What’s even more rare is finding makeup (liquid foundation) that does NOT contain it!
Google ‘sunscreen articles dr. mercola’ to read more.
I’m having huge issues sleeping, peri-menopausal maybe, doctor has no idea
It’s not these ones but rather these.
Posture for sure, gray hair, bifocals/trifocals.
Years ago I read about things that make you look older. 1) tooth color 2) hair style, if you’re older don’t wear young women’s cuts 3) glasses 4) shoes 5) wearing inappropriate age clothing 6) posture
I am 64 now. In the past month I have noticed some mega changes to my skin. Most of the changes I attribute to what I have eaten or not included in my clean eating protocol. My skin ages when I eat sweets, bread and lamb. I look my best and healthiest when I eat raw vegetables and fruit. My skin care is simple. I never use essential oils on my face or neck. To whiten under my eyes, I find organic grape seed oil works magic. On my face depending on the season, I use organic argan oil, hemp… Read more »
Olga, thanks for these great tips! :-)
One of the best things I have done is switch my makeup. I have stopped trying to look years younger and have embraced my age. I use Boom Makeup and it is meant for aging skin. The celebrate aging skin, It is three simple sticks and I can do my makeup in 2 mins and I have never looked better. Jillie, thank you for your super informative blog!
Deborah May, I will certainly be looking for that brand, could use an aging targeted make up and then that time savings….a BINGO hopefully.
A poor posture could be added to the list. Sloughing, head bent down, shuffling your feet when walking all make you look older. All of these could be corrected somewhat. When your mother told you to stand up straight it apply now as much as it did then.
Most people suffer with osteoporosis, and curvature of the pine can’t be changed unless you have spinal surgery. The things your mentioning often occur due to medical issues in age