Protecting your skin with UV sunscreen is the most crucial step you can take to stay youthful, according to Dr Jennifer Owens of the Reborne Longevity clinic in London. She emphasises that consistent daily UV protection can prevent up to 90% of visible skin ageing caused by sun exposure.
Mind Your Fashion Choices
Avoid incorporating questionable logos in your fashion, advises fashion columnist Jess Cartner-Morley. Using English or French slogans carelessly on clothing could be as distasteful as outdated home décor sayings.
Improve Your Posture
Celebrity personal trainer Nick Finney suggests standing upright to appear leaner and more youthful. Age tends to cause a decline in posture, but strengthening your back muscles can improve it. Exercises like Romanian deadlifts and horizontal rows are helpful for this purpose.
Enhance Your Smile
Sali Hughes highlights the importance of dental care in maintaining a youthful appearance. Dentist Dr Jenni Rawes adds that teeth naturally darken with age as the enamel wears. Regular hygienist visits and teeth whitening treatments can significantly rejuvenate one’s smile, with whitening treatments costing around £375.
Reconsider Your Clothing Practices
According to fashion editor Morwenna Ferrier, ironing and tucking in clothing are outdated customs. Embracing natural fabric creases and untucked garments is more in line with modern style.
Dress with Tailored Precision
Simon Chilvers points out the significant impact of well-fitted trousers and shoes on a man’s wardrobe. Both should be chosen carefully to complement one’s age rather than following fleeting fashion trends.
Accept Long Hair
Long hair isn’t restricted to the young, states Hughes. Hair stylist George Northwood agrees, suggesting that hair condition and style relevance matter more than length for age-appropriateness.
Address Skin Pigmentation
Dr Jennifer Owens notes that uneven skin tone ages you more than wrinkles. Home treatments, UV protection, and professional procedures like microneedling can reverse sun damage effects over time.
Simplify Your Handbag
Cartner-Morley recommends downsizing your handbag, as younger individuals prefer minimal bags. The essentials of a modern life often require nothing more than a phone.
Modernise Your Tech Accessories
Avoid wallet-style phone cases, advises Chloe Mac Donnell, and instead opt for sleek, stylish coverings that reflect contemporary tastes.
Embrace Fashion Freedom
Derek Guy encourages men over 40 to continue expressing themselves through bold style choices, challenging traditional age-associated clothing norms.
Update Makeup
A fresh look can be easily achieved by swapping outdated cosmetics for modern products, states Hughes. Ferrier echoes that subtle makeup changes can reflect current trends without aging you.
Consider Botox Wisely
While Botox can be effective, Owens warns against overuse. Excessive treatment weakens facial muscles, potentially leading to an older appearance.
Focus on Strength, Not Thinness
Building muscle can counteract an aging, baggy appearance, says Finney. Resistance training adds a toned, defined look to one’s physique.
Confidently Embrace Baldness
Mac Donnell advises opting for a shaved head if balding. It’s a more assertive look than clinging to thinning hair. Greying hair can also be embraced for its natural appeal.
Final Thoughts
Avoid constantly mentioning age, suggests Mac Donnell. It’s unnecessary and might come across as negative. Celebrities like Madonna, who maintain youthful attitudes, serve as a model.
Reporting based on coverage first published by theguardian.com.