Sometimes, I walk around the mall at home and I can’t tell if the women I’m seeing are 70 or 30. Our society might place a little too much emphasis on looking young. It’s hard to avoid the fear of aging with the Neutrogena and Olay commercials that air about every 30 seconds featuring airbrushed celebrities and miraculous before-and-after pictures. So don’t feel in the minority if by you’re 20th birthday, you’re asking for face moisturizer and rejuvenating eye cream.
Get this, though. The typical places you think make you look old, like the wrinkles on your face, might not be the only things worth worrying about. You should also pay specific attention to your neck, hands, and ear lobes, if you really want to “age-proof” your body.
Hands
Thin skin covers the backs of your hands, making them more susceptible to the effects of aging. Now pair that with all the exposure your hands get to sunlight and work. Rhonda Narins, an MD and professor of dermatology at NYU explains, “While we would never consider exposing our face to sun without a sunblock, we often don’t remember to treat our hands to the same protection.” No wonder hands can become veiny, spotty, and look so, well, old. Lucky for you, simply moisturizing your hands and making sure you use sunscreen every day will keep your hands looking young and healthy for a long time.
Neck
Afraid of developing the dreaded turkey-neck? Then give your neck the same TLC you give your face! That means washing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. Just like with your hands, you should also use sunscreen to protect against the aging effects of the sun. If you want to use a rejuvenation product, Amy Burger, a writer for the publication DERMAdoctor, recommends you look for these ingredients:
- Vitamin A
- Glycolic Acid
- Peptide-D58
- N-6 Furfuryladenine
- Copper Peptides
- Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid)
Earlobes
Everyone forgets about their ears, but sagging earlobes can give away age even if you’ve succeeded with everything else. In addition to (you guessed it) using sun protection, be sure to minimize wearing heavy, dangly earrings. They’ll pull down on your ears and increase their length.
Sources:
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/view/body-parts-age-you/
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-beauty/guide/handy-way-to-look-years-younger
http://www.dermadoctor.com/article_Dont-Let-Your-Neck-Show-Your-Age_378.html
Picture sources:
http://caymanaconsulting.co/the-forgotten-body-parts-that-show-your-true-age/
http://makeupandbeauty.com/winter-hand-care-tips/
http://www.funkyjewelry.org/star-favorite-pendant-jewelry-long-earrings.html