The Real Truth About Looking Younger

Updated 10/8/17. I think we can all agree that no one wants to get wrinkles. Who wants to look older especially when you don’t feel it? You may already be going to great lengths to try to lessen lines and wrinkles above and beyond your regular skin care routine by getting professional treatments like lasers, Botox, dermal fillers and chemical peels. While all of those procedures certainly can play a part in reducing or completely removing the signs of aging, I think the first step before deciding a course of action is to determine what you really want in regards to your skin’s appearance. Sometimes, professional procedures can drastically alter the appearance of the skin… and it’s not always for the better.

For those concerned with wrinkles, I ask you to think about this: Is it the actual wrinkles that are bothering you or is your goal simply to have an overall younger appearance? I ask because there is a big difference between the two. Wrinkles are a fact of life. Not having wrinkles, especially well into your 40s and beyond, just isn’t normal. Therefore, to put all of your efforts on having a completely wrinkle-free complexion won’t ever look natural once you’ve hit a certain point in your life. What you might consider striving for instead, is to see how you can work it so you get THIS reaction when you tell someone your age: “No way! You look amazing! I thought you were a lot younger!” I think that if you can get that reaction from people, then you’re doing all the right things.

So, how do you get this reaction? It has way more to do with your overall appearance then it does trying to get rid of every little wrinkle and crinkle. A lack of wrinkles isn’t a mark of success, and looking incredible for your age is not just about skin. It’s also about your clothing choices, hairstyle, attitude, diet, inner glow, happiness, and the bounce in your step. The world takes all of this into consideration when they see you; they aren’t focused exclusively on your skin like you are when you look in the magnifying mirror. People see BIG PICTURE.

For example, the late Joan Rivers, the poster child for taking extreme measures to look younger, didn’t have wrinkles because she took every extreme measure to remove every single one of them. She was in her 70s, and trying to have the skin of a 20-something. Is this a good look that people often complimented her on? No, I don’t think so. This is definitely not the look I encourage people to strive for—and sadly, so many do.

Personally, I always want to look 8-10 years younger. I think that this is reasonable and doable and I don’t need to go to any extremes to achieve this. A while back, in an effort to look and feel more youthful, I changed my hair color to a very soft pastel pink (see a photo of my hair and my personal trick for aging smartly!). My image consultant friend Bethany tweeted me and said “Bravo on the hair color change! To never change anything about one’s image is a fast-track to looking dated.” I love that. The key to looking younger is to change it up. And I’m actually going to get bangs cut in November for the first time in years.

I’m 48 now, but most people think I’m in my late-30s, and I’m very happy with it. I actually just attended my 30th high school reunion last night and that’s always when the passage of time looks you right in the face. I was quite pleased at how many compliments I got as well as many people whispering in my ear about how I looked younger than anyone there. I have these 7 secrets that I swear by that should get you focused on the big picture and the real truth about looking younger. (Hint, never dress your age!)

So, go get happy, find your passion, change up your hair, makeup, and clothes, and take great care of your skin and body. DON’T go filler and Botox crazy and DO whatever makes you feel great, adventurous and alive because it will surely show in your appearance in a positive way. Also, be sure to rejoice when someone tells you that you look amazing for your age!

Finally, DO use products for your skin type. Wear sunscreen daily and use a retinol or retoinoid product at night like Advanced Resurfacing Serum. If you’re new to retinol or retinoids, read my beginner’s guide now.

Read: How Will Your Skin Age? Predict The Future Of Your Skin

Which skin care products are best for you? See our nine skin types or take the Skin Type Quiz and get products recommended.

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Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”