Regardless of how gracefully we want to handle aging, we often find ourselves making heroic efforts to stave it off, starting in early adulthood. Women of all ages (even in their 20s) are spending small fortunes on Botox injections, fillers and plastic surgery. Many others who don’t go to such drastic measures still spend hundreds of dollars a year on anti-aging lotions and potions.

Fortunately, you don’t have to undergo risky and costly injections and surgery or resort to ineffective concoctions to enjoy a more youthful appearance.

Makeup application

Makeup techniques can go a long way toward fine-tuning your features to make you look younger.

To make your eyes look bigger, first line the inside of your lower lid with a white or flesh-colored eyeliner. Then, brighten up your eye area by dabbing pale pink, flesh or oyster color shadow to the inside corners of your eyes. Also, add a couple of more dabs just under your lower lashes moving from the inner corner of your eye to the center.

Next, you’ll want to flare your lashes. First, brush through your lashes as usual with mascara. Then sweep through them again and pull your outer lashes outward and inner lashes inward. Repeat these steps with your lower lashes.

Full lips make you look younger. So invest in a quality, long-lasting lip liner, and line your top and bottom lip. For even fuller lips, line just to the outside of your lip line.

Foundation can do wonders to give you flawless, youthful-looking skin. But your skin type and age may dictate what type works best. On younger skin, sheer coverage is best. On mature skin, foundation can make your lines more noticeable. In that case, opt for a sheer, very lightweight foundation or skip it altogether.

Unless you have very oily skin, skip the face powder because it can make your skin look dry and any lines more noticeable. If you must use powder to control too much shine, apply it only to your oily areas. Look for a translucent pure silica formulation and avoid mica or talc.

Finally, use soft pink or bright coral blush to add color and brighten your face. Avoid bronze tones, which only serve to age your skin. Also, use cream rather than powder blush, since powder makes your skin look dryer. Apply blush along the top of your cheekbones, forehead and center of your chin.

Clothing that compliments

Your clothing can either add years or subtract them from your appearance. Consider the following tricks to make clothing work in your favor.

• Out with the black.

If you’re over 35, banish black above your waist. As you age, black draws attention to your fine lines. For tops and jackets, wear colors that compliment you. Everyone looks great in particular colors, so play those up. This also goes for black-framed eyeglasses. Opt instead for metallics, bright colors or lighter colored frames.

• Keep it stylish, but don’t overdo it.

As you age, dressing trendy from head to toe is hard to pull off without drawing attention to your age. Instead, mix a pair of classic pants and shirt with a trendy sweater. Or, add style to a pair of jeans and a classic top with a pair of fashionable boots (so long as they aren’t bulky). Another option is to choose pieces that are mostly classic but have a stylish flair.

• Shapers aren’t what they used to be.

That’s excellent news. At one time, many women wouldn’t be caught dead wearing the hideous shapewear that existed. But lingerie companies have finally gotten the message. You can find shapewear now that’s both sexy and more comfortable to wear. Shapewear can shave years off your appearance by creating a sleek look.

Health and attitude are everything

Physical and emotional wellness goes a long way toward both looking and feeling younger. A positive outlook on life is beneficial to your physical health, while anger, stress and depression increase your risk of disease. Negative emotions will also reflect in your posture and face. Therefore, make wellness a priority.

Exercise is an essential part of physical and mental wellness and should be a part of your daily routine. A regimen of aerobic exercise for your heart and lungs—and weight lifting for muscle tone and bone health—will help you maintain your youth longer. As an added benefit, exercise also releases endorphins, which elevates your mood.

Remember, good health and a positive attitude have the most significant impact on maintaining a youthful appearance. With these, you’ll glow and emanate radiance. 

Breathe new life into your closet: Host a clothing exchange party