Aging Well in Our 60's

How to Look & Feel Younger in Our 60's

It’s everywhere I look, especially during the warm months.  Beautiful, young, flawless women adorn billboards, magazine covers, and every single webpage I peruse.  I never felt intimidated before, as I’m a life-long fitness and health nut.  However, now that I’m 60+, I’m feeling a tad insecure about my appearance.  Those years are beginning to show up in my mirror. 

Besides going under the knife, I’ve found a few less-risky options for all of us who are over a certain age.  Follow along as I share my favorites.

Duck and Cover!

As a California girl, I coveted the sun in my earlier years.  Laying out with oils slathered on my pale skin was as normal as sunscreen is today.  Luckily, I began seeing a reputable dermatologist in my early 30s.  Through the years, I’ve learned how to take better care of my skin. 

One of the best pieces of advice I was given is to wear sunscreen of at least SPF 50.  However, now that I’m much older, my dermatologist has advised that I have to be even more vigilant.  When outside, I wear a wide-brimmed hat as well. 

Do and Diet

What does a bowl of watermelon have to do with a thinner waist and younger-looking skin?  The USDA  reports “Studies have shown that a cup and a half of watermelon contains about 9 to 13 milligrams of lycopene.” Lycopene is an antioxidant that protects the skin.    Watermelon also consists of 97 percent hydrating low-calorie water—great for both weight loss and skin tone.  However, dieting is only half of the younger-looking equation. 

Exercise has always been my fountain of youth and now I have proof.  According to a JAMA Internal Medicine report, “Physical activity is associated with reduced risks of chronic diseases and premature death.”  Besides the obvious health benefits, writers of Prevention magazine profile an “Anti-Aging Workout” that rolls back the biological clock.

Peel off the Years

One drawer in my bathroom looks like an odd chemistry experiment.  Through my dermatologist, I’ve found a few face-saving products.  I alternate between using Finecia to even out my skin tone and Tretinoin to slough off old skin.  Any high-quality Retin-A product will do the trick.

When I first started using Retin-A, my skin grew redder and peeled, making me look even older.  My dermatologist encouraged me to stick with it, adding that a light application of face moisturizer beforehand eases the irritation.  So right she was.  After a few months, my skin was noticeably younger-looking.  After a year of religious application, I look years younger.  It is truly a miracle in a tube.

Don’t Smoke

Luckily, I don’t smoke.  I never really did.  Sure, I dabbled in my teen years, but thankfully, I never developed an addiction toward it.  Study after study of studies report the negative effects of smoking on a person’s health.  However, this study profiled on CNN Health indicates in graphic detail how smoking ages the face as well. 

While we may not be able to control our aging, we can control some of its effects.

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