Look Younger, Instantly!

Every time you meet someone new, they subconsciously scan your face for signs of your age. (Don’t feel bad: you do it, too.) There are a couple of dead giveaways that can betray a birthday, but even if you aren’t old enough to start subscribing to AARP magazine, you might be accidentally adding years to your appearance. And while you can’t turn back time, you can look much younger by making a few changes to your grooming regimen.

Gray hair: Before you start panicking, let me say that the silver that’s peeking through at your temples lends you a distinguished air. One option is to embrace this natural look, and appreciate how your silver foxiness will soon give you some heft at the office. But if you think that age 28 is too young to start sporting grays, try adding more pepper to your salt. Unless you’d like to look like 70’s-era Elvis, don’t attempt to use a DIY all-over color kit (at least for your first foray). Make an appointment with a stylist who will gradually add lowlights (the opposite of your girlfriend’s highlights) to targeted areas.

Wrinkles: If your forehead is becoming a map of all the years you’ve spent at the beach, it’s not to late to slam on the brakes and soften the damage that’s been done. Use a moisturizer with SPF every morning and a richer lotion at night, when skin becomes dehydrated. Finally, a high-sugar diet can generate harmful molecules called advanced glycation end products. These damage collagen in the skin and contribute to premature wrinkles. So no more cookies with your 3 p.m. coffee, kiddo! Click here for the best wrinkle-fighting products on the market.

Crow’s feet/puffy eyes: Vices aren’t doing your eyes any favors. Smoking diminishes circulation, which contributes to wrinkles, and late nights can cause blood to pool under eyes, creating dark circles. Plus, too much sodium and booze can make your eyes puffy from retaining fluids. So cut back on the excess but sleep on an extra pillow to keep the fluid from pooling around your eyes, creating bags. As an emergency fix, try placing cold cucumber slices on your eyes for 15 minutes before you leave the house. Cucumbers contain an astringent that may help to constrict blood vessels around the eye. They also have a cooling effect on inflamed skin.

Yellow teeth: Coffee, red wine and berries can make your teeth look dingy, which in turn means old. But eating other types of fruits and vegetables—such as apples, celery, raw carrots, broccoli and other crunchy greens—can actually exfoliate the stains on your smile. To obtain an even deeper white, try whitening toothpaste and kits—but first, discover the truth about three popular smile brighteners.