A Natural Part Of Life
Aging is a natural part of life, and there's nothing wrong with embracing the passage of time. It’s simply a part of growing older. However, no one wants to look older than they really are.
Many common habits, whether intentional or not, can make people appear older than they feel. We're here to highlight a few of these habits that can have an aging effect, so you can be mindful of how they might impact your appearance.
A Major Trend
Big, voluminous hair was a major trend in the '80s, with hairspray being the go-to product to keep that height in place. Today, though, it’s easy to go overboard with volume, often leading to an overdone look.
Moderating volume can actually have its benefits, as too much can add years to your appearance. For a more natural, voluminous look, try drying your hair upside down instead of relying on hairspray. If you do need to use hairspray, consider pairing it with a straightener, like John Frieda’s Frizz Ease 3-Day Flat Iron Heat Protectant Spray, which provides protection while enhancing volume.
A Youthful Look
Having hair that falls just past your shoulders can give you a youthful look, but excessively long hair can have the opposite effect. When your hair extends beyond your waist, it can appear heavy and flat, which may create a more dated or unflattering look.
If you're aiming for volume and a fresh appearance, consider adding curls to your hair. A curling iron, like Conair’s Curling Iron, is an excellent tool to achieve those soft, bouncy curls. It’s perfect for creating a playful, princess-like style that enhances your natural beauty.
Enhancing An Outfit
Jewelry should enhance your outfit, not overpower it. While bold pieces can be eye-catching, they often detract from your overall look and can come across as outdated.
Gone are the days when expensive jewelry was worn solely as a status symbol. Today, less is more. Instead of flashy, attention-grabbing pieces, opt for understated elegance. A simple yet stylish accessory like the EasyHaute chain necklace is the perfect choice for a modern, sophisticated touch.
Spray On Tan
When it comes to fashion, most people can agree on one thing: spray-on fake tan is not a good look. While a natural tan can give off a sun-kissed glow, the artificial version just doesn’t have the same appeal.
A synthetic tan often looks overly orange or streaky, making it clear that it’s not the real deal. Instead of reaching for the spray bottle, opt for a more natural approach. For a subtle, budget-friendly glow, consider using Jergens Natural Glow lotion—it gives a sun-kissed look without the artificial appearance.
Eyebrow Styles
Over-plucked eyebrows are a definite throwback to the early 2000s, a time when celebrities like Pink and Christina Aguilera made them popular. While this trend once ruled the beauty scene, it's best left in the past and shouldn't make a comeback.
Today, fuller and more natural eyebrows are the preferred style. Of course, not everyone is a fan of this trend, and that’s perfectly okay. The key is to avoid excessive plucking, as it can age your appearance. If you do accidentally overpluck, you can always turn to Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow definer to restore a more defined, natural look.
Soft Heus
Pastels can look beautiful when styled the right way, and they’re definitely in vogue right now. These soft hues pair well with many outfits, making them versatile for different occasions.
However, to avoid looking washed out or older than you are, it’s important to balance pastels with darker shades. Pairing pastel tops with dark pants, for example, creates a more flattering contrast and keeps the overall look fresh and youthful.
Cover Up
While we understand the desire to cover up, opting for a skirt that reaches your ankles might not be the best choice, especially for shorter individuals. These skirts can disrupt the proportion of your legs to your body, often creating an unflattering silhouette.
If you're set on wearing one, there are ways to make it work. Pair it with heels and a fitted top to balance the look. Avoid running shoes and oversized tops, as they can detract from the outfit's overall appeal. And if you're looking for something trendy, consider trying the CAMEL CROWN Women's Casual Skort—it's a stylish option that's made a strong comeback.
Natural Features
Makeup is a wonderful way to enhance our natural features and bring out our beauty. However, overdoing it can have the opposite effect, drawing attention to flaws instead of concealing them.
Excessive makeup can make spots more visible and give the skin a heavy, unnatural look. It may even accentuate pores, leaving the face looking less refined. A light touch of foundation can work wonders, but if you’ve applied too much, using Neutrogena Gentle Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover can help you start fresh without irritation.
An Exposed Neck
Turtlenecks are a go-to for staying warm in cold weather, but it’s best not to rely on them all the time. Embrace the beauty of a exposed neck—it can make a huge difference in how you feel and look.
Covering your neck doesn’t mean you can’t still look youthful and chic. A sleek hairstyle and a touch of makeup can make all the difference, but be careful not to overdo it with heavy makeup or too much volume, as it may age your appearance. In warmer months, flaunt your collarbones with a stylish tank top to enhance your look and confidence.
NEVER CHANGING YOUR HAIR
Many people believe in the phrase, “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it”, but this shouldn’t apply to hair. Hair is actually our most important accessory, and if it always looks the same, it gets old and uninteresting.
Not only that, but wearing your hair in the same style for years is typical of older people, while experimenting with your look is associated with youthfulness. Even doing something as simple as putting it up in a ponytail one day and in a bun the next day and then wearing it down after that can make a big difference in how you present yourself. If you want a quick hair change, try a hair straightener or a curling iron. But why not both?
DARK LIPSTICK
Dark lipstick can either make or break a look. If you manage to pull it off, you’ll look absolutely incredible, but if you don’t know how to do it, you’ll do more harm than good. The first thing you have to do is make sure you choose a shade that looks good with your skin tone.
Dark lipstick looks the best with cool tones such as grey, white, and black. Also, it tends to be the focus of your whole look, so having flashy clothes with patterns and too much jewelry will derail the look right away. Keep it simple! Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick is our go to for a simple and subtle chic.
WEARING TOO MUCH JEWELRY
Like we’ve said before, jewelry is meant to complement you, not take over the spotlight. Wearing big, chunky jewelry is just as bad as wearing too much jewelry. As Coco Chanel once said:
“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” Choose your accessories carefully and pick whatever enhances your outfit the best. Wearing a bracelet, earrings, a necklace, rings, and sunglasses all at once is probably going to backfire. If you like the way Coco Chanel thinks, she has an autobiography!
FLORAL PATTERNS
If floral patterns could talk, they would scream, “Grandma!”. While there are some patterns that do work and can make you look delicate and classy, the rule is that most floral patterns make you look older.
The key to doing them right is to keep them simple and not overdoing it. The colors of the patterns also play a big role in how they look, so that you can test them like this: if the pattern looks like it works on a tablecloth, then don’t wear it. Try black, it’s always in fashion!
SHINY PANTYHOSE
Pantyhose used to be one of those things that women did not leave the house without. It used to be unthinkable to wear a dress or a skirt without pantyhose, but times have changed, and quite frankly, people look better without them.
Because it is an old trend that mostly elderly women continue to follow, tan, shiny pantyhose just age you. If you really like tights or you want to fight the cold while wearing a dress, opt for opaque styles or dark tights such as black or blue. They compliment a dress alot better.
HEAVY EYELINER
Eyeliner is one of the best inventions of humankind. It makes you look awake, sexy, and fearless. However, too much eyeliner actually makes you look more tired and older, and here’s why.
Too much eyeliner weighs your face down. Not only that, but after a few hours, it starts to smudge, and nothing looks worse than having faded, smudged eyeliner on your face. Unless you are Avril Lavigne, this look is not for you. Maybelline has a light eyeliner that in moderation compliments any face!
GRANDMA HANDBAGS
While there is no definition for it in the dictionary, we all know what a grandma handbag looks like: small, stiff, sometimes with a loud floral pattern or just a neutral color. There is a very thin line between a chic purse and the infamous grandma handbag.
If you’re willing to walk that fine line, tread carefully. Relaxed styles tend to be more youthful, but if that’s not really your thing, just avoid stiff handbags with patterns at all costs. Also, make sure the rest of your outfit is youthful, at least. The Michael Kors Crossbody is exactly what we have in mind when it comes to a chic purse.
BROOCHES
Much like pantyhose, brooches used to be a staple of every woman’s wardrobe. They used to be statement pieces that made someone look classy, but nowadays, they just make people look old.
It is good to bring back vintage stuff every once in a while, but brooches have not made a comeback since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. You can keep them in a jewelry box in case they miraculously make a comeback someday, though. If you insist on accessorizing, try out a simple bracelet, it’ll look elegant on any wrist.
CAPRIS
High-water pants and capris are pretty trendy right now, but that does not mean they are flattering. When the weather gets warm, many people go for these kinds of pants rather than shorts because they don’t want to show their legs.
Your legs are not something you should be ashamed of, no matter what they look like. At the end of the day, these types of pants are unflattering and do not really help you out when you’re burning up in the middle of the summer. Don’t be afraid to show your legs! Here are some capris that still show a little leg!
WEARING COLORS THAT DON’T SUIT YOU
We all have to face the harsh truth at some point that we can’t rock every color on the rainbow, and this has a lot to do with our skin tone. Through trial and error, you should figure out which colors bring out your beauty and which ones cause the opposite effect.
One way you can determine your skin tone is to see how your skin reacts to the sun. If you get sunburned easily, then you may have cool undertones, and if not, then you may have warm undertones. Cool skin looks better in blues and greens, while warm skin goes better with reds and golds. If you’re going for casual, a black T-shirt can never look bad on anyone.
TWEED
While tweed is trying to make a comeback, it makes most people look old and washed down. If you’re one of the very few people who look good in it, then congrats! But in reality, there’s a high chance that you belong to the general population.
While it gives a chic, elegant vibe, this fabric is too heavy to look youthful. Flowy, relaxed fabric is far more flattering and, most importantly, comfortable. Remember, you can look elegant and young at the same time. If you insist on wearing tweed, at least try something trendy and new, like a tweed blouse.
TOO MUCH BLUSH
Blush is meant to brighten your look, especially if you’re really pale. Unfortunately, many people forget that they are only supposed to use a little bit of blush to create a subtle, rosy look and end up looking sunburned.
Too much blush is usually associated with looking older because older people love packing on the blush – and we can’t blame them because they are following the trends of their time! If you want to stay current and youthful, blush down and grab the highlighter instead. JOSMON Liquid Highlighter is easy to apply and won’t leave you disappointed!
OUTDATED EYEWEAR
Look, just because you need your glasses every day for probably the rest of your life, it doesn’t mean you must stick to the same frames forever. Eyewear also evolves with time, and trends come and go, so a good way to stay youthful is to stay up-to-date with the trends.
Nowadays, simple, thin frames are totally in because they don’t take much attention away from the rest of your face. Big, colorful glasses with rhinestones used to be a total hit… 15 years ago. If yours look like that, throw them away! Retro can sometimes be good! Just pick the right ones like rimless oval sunglasses.
USING THE WRONG FOUNDATION
This mistake is nowadays considered almost unforgivable with the rise of beauty and makeup techniques on the internet. The very first thing you have to make sure of when you’re doing your makeup is that your foundation matches your skin tone.
Not only does it have to match, but it has to be blended! Make sure you blend it into your neck so that it looks natural. The key to looking youthful is to go for a natural look, and this definitely does not look natural. Maybelline Fit Me Matte is perfect and easy to blend.
TRACKSUITS
It is true that there was a time when tracksuits were the hottest fashion trend around, and that time was over in 2004. Those who still wear matching tracksuits are either gym teachers or people stuck in the past.
Not only are they outdated, but they weren’t even flattering in the first place. Unless you are 2002 Paris Hilton, ditch the tracksuit right now. And especially, don’t pair it with high heels. Although a crew neck tracksuit can be pulled off if you’re brave enough.
SHOULDER PADS
Shoulder pads are proof that just because something is trendy, it doesn’t mean it is a good idea. While they were a huge trend a few decades ago, shoulder pads make 90% of people look like robots trying to pass off as humans.
If our shoulders were meant to look like that, they would. There’s nothing flattering about having your shoulders be the center of attention, so it is time to leave this awful trend in the past – unless you want to look like a grandma. Rather try a fluid twill short puff sleeve smock for a modern fit.
SUITS THAT DON’T FIT
Wearing a suit can really give you a chic, elegant, classic look, especially for work. However, this comes with a price. Suits must fit your body; otherwise, they just make you look aged and sloppy, and all the chicness is thrown out the window.
This does not mean that relaxed suits don’t work and that all suits have to be tight. The thing is, only one piece has to be relaxed. If the pants are looser, pair them with a fitted blazer and the other way around. Kelyaa makes a beautiful suit with a slim fit that’ll look amazing in the right size.
KITTEN HEELS
Kitten heels were huge back in the day, but now they are the ultimate grandma shoes. These short heels don’t make your legs look longer and just make them look shorter, and the only person who should be allowed to wear them is the Queen of England.
There are more comfortable options out there for those who don’t like stilettos. For example, a blocky, square heel is perfectly comfortable and much more in line with current fashion trends.
RHINESTONES
Much like matching tracksuits and flashy glasses, rhinestones need to be left in the early 2000s. While they used to be a “fun” way to brighten up an outfit, now they look outdated and tacky.
If you want to sparkle up your outfit, don’t bedazzle it. Wear a sparkly top that has glitter instead of rhinestones, or just wear delicate, sparkly jewelry to bring some light into your outfit. Mangopop also makes a sequin top that’s a hundred times better than rhinestones.
BLUE EYESHADOW
OK, this one may be a little controversial, but stick with us. Like many of the items on our list, there’s a right and a wrong way to do blue eyeshadow. First, make sure that the color actually suits you. Second, don’t wear bright lipstick with it because it will be too much.
And most importantly, don’t do it if you don’t have experience with makeup because bright-colored eyeshadow needs to be blended properly. Also, the eyeshadow will be the main attraction of the look, so keep the rest simple. Revlon will always be the king of eyeshadow.