Beauty has no age. You can feel and look marvelous regardless of the year on your birth certificate. The secret to ageless beauty is simple: Appreciate how your 20-something self looked like, but start taking stellar care of yourself today. 

Self-care can seem like a trendy buzzword, but the root of it is that everyone needs to take care of themselves. Self-care isn’t selfish, and it doesn’t have to take hours to implement. You can make caring for yourself easy and effortless by creating simple self-care routines and implementing beautifying daily healthy habits.

Remember, you can’t give from an empty cup, especially if you are a busy mom caring for others. Make time to refill your cup not just on Mother’s Day, but every day. You’ll age well, look fantastic, and have an abundance of energy to care for all those you love. Plus, the people in your life will thank you.

Here are six ways to increase longevity and enhance ageless beauty.

Skin Care

Your skin—all 20 square feet of it—is the largest organ in your body. This extraordinary organ has numerous functions from temperature regulation and production of vitamin D to protection, so treat it with TLC. To keep your skin healthy use a mild soap like Mild by Nature Raw Shea Butter. To create a barrier that seals in moisture and keeps skin moist, slather on a wonderful body moisturizer such as Sierra Bees Honey Almond Body Butter after you step out of the tub or shower.

For best results, gently pat your skin dry, but leave it slightly damp before massaging in lotion. While hot showers feel great, they can dry out your skin, so keep the water temperature a bit cooler. Store your lotion in the shower, so you remember to use it. To moisturize your hair and scalp apply a few drops of argan oil such as Acure Radically Rejuvenating Rose Argan Oil.

To put your best face forward, develop a regular skincare routine that works for you. Here are the essentials. Morning and evening, wash your face with a rich, nourishing cream cleanser such as Eva Naturals Anti-Aging Glycolic Acid Facial Cleanser or Azelique Age Refining Cleanser. Then apply a hydrating toner like Tree To Tub, followed by an anti-aging facial serum like Yeouth. Next, apply a moisturizer for your skin type such as PrescriptSkin, and an anti-aging eye cream that addresses visible signs of aging like dark circles and fine lines such as UpCircle eye cream. To reduce puffiness, use a massaging beauty roller in the morning. You can also use an anti-wrinkle face cream at night like Eucerin Q10 Anti-wrinkle Face Cream.

Look for products that contain retinol. A type of retinoid made from vitamin A, when applied topically retinol can increase the production of elastin and collagen which may help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and enlarged pores.

Exfoliate once or twice a week with a mild scrub like Sympli Beautiful Coconut Smoothing Micro Polish. You’ll remove dead skin cells, increase circulation, and get a glowing complexion.

To best support your facial skin, change up your routine. Use more hydrating products in the winter and lighter products in the warmer months. 

Sun Protection

Wearing sunscreen 365 days a year is a must if you want to prevent skin damage or worse. Dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection with an SPF of 30 or higher such as one from Thinkbaby. Broad or full-spectrum products offer protection from both UVA (long-wavelength ultraviolet light) and UVB (short-wavelength ultraviolet light). UVA can cause sunburn, while UVB can cause wrinkles and age spots.

Don’t forget your lips. They are vulnerable to sunburn, too. To protect them, apply a lip balm or lipstick that contains an SPF of 30 or higher, like Blistex Five Star Lip Protection. In addition, wear a hat and sunglasses, and limit sun exposure, especially when the sun’s rays are strongest—between 10 am and 4 pm. 

Healthy Lifestyle

Filling your plate with vibrant, plant foods that are packed with antioxidants will increase longevity and create a beautiful, glowing complexion. Beautifying power foods include leafy greens (spinach, kale, watercress), nuts (they are rich in vitamin E, which is important for healing skin), berries, orange vegetables (like carrots and sweet potatoes), legumes, and whole grains. 

Several supplements can promote longevity and help you age well. Topping the list is curcumin, which is found in the spice turmeric. Studies suggest that taking collagen, one of the body’s most abundant proteins, can improve skin hydration, elasticity, and skin density. Vitamin C, which is essential for both immune function and healthy skin, is another important nutrient to include in your anti-aging arsenal.

Go easy on sweets, fried and fast foods, red meat, cheese, butter, and alcohol, as they all can adversely impact your health, mood, and appearance. Start making healthy substitutions. For example, swap fruit for cookies, cakes, and candy and use olive oil instead of butter. For specific meal plan suggestions, check out the Mediterranean or DASH diets.

Making time to move your body is one of the best things you can do to look good and live longer. Not only does working out tone your body, but it also oxygenates your skin and boosts circulation, so you glow. In addition, exercise supports collagen production and reduces stress, which is a big beauty bonus, especially to your hair which can become brittle and even fall out from too much angst.

A study conducted at McMaster University found that people over 40 who exercised frequently had significantly healthier, younger-looking skin that more closely resembled that of 20- and 30-year-olds than their actual age. Another study of over 122,000 subjects found that people with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness lived longer.

If you smoke, think about quitting. Not only can smoking lower life expectancy, but long-term it can deepen wrinkles, create baggy eyes and a slack jawline, dry out your skin, and result in uneven skin coloration.

Hydrate

On average 60 percent of the human body is water, which is why hydration plays a key role in staying healthy, energized, and looking good. A study published in the Clinical Cosmetic Investigational Dermatology concluded, “it is clear that higher water inputs in regular diet might positively impact normal skin physiology, in particular in those individuals with lower daily water consumptions.” To check for dehydration, lightly pinch some skin on your arm and notice how quickly it bounces back. If you’re dehydrated, it will take longer to return to normal. 

How much water is enough? Shoot for half your body weight in ounces and avoid sweetened drinks. Sugar can increase inflammation and contribute to premature aging because it breaks down collagen and elastin, the proteins that give skin its firmness. 

Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine can stress your adrenal glands, which according to traditional Chinese medicine, hold your life essence. Swap coffee for green tea or mushroom tea like Om Mushroom Master Blend. Green tea contains less caffeine than coffee, and studies show it can increase life expectancy. Drinking mushroom tea, which contains a variety of mushroom species, may have numerous health benefits including boosting the immune system, slowing down dementia, and increasing longevity. 

To make staying hydrated a healthy habit, buy yourself a water bottle and keep it filled and on your desk. You can also flavor your water with calorie-free water drops such as Wisdom Natural SweetLeaf Water Enhancer to make it tastier. 

Sleep Well

Getting seven to eight hours of shut-eye is one of the absolute best beauty treatments. Regular, quality sleep is also key for physical and mental wellbeing. During sleep, your body restores hormonal balance and heals from the wear caused during the day. Research suggests that poor sleep is associated with age-related diseases and conditions such as inflammation and increased oxidative stress.

Skimping on “beauty sleep” can have a negative impact on your appearance and increase the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles. A study in the British Medical Journal concluded that “sleep-deprived people appear less healthy, less attractive, and more tired compared with when they are well-rested.” In addition, poor sleep can have a negative impact on your weight, immune system, mood, and cognitive abilities.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night. There are many things you can do to improve your sleep. Create a bedtime ritual. Turn screens off about an hour prior to bed and engage in relaxing activities such as listening to soothing music, taking a shower, or meditating. Keep your room cool, quiet, and dark. In addition, drinking a cup of chamomile tea prior to bed like Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile or taking a supplement designed to support relaxation and sleep like Natural Factors Sleep Relax with Valerian and Hops can help. 

Regular Relaxation and Pampering

Along with following the first steps above, create a weekly pampering ritual to help you relax. Set the guilt aside. Set an intention this Mother’s Day to enjoy a weekly beauty ritual every single week. 

First, run a hot bath and add your favorite bath salts, bubble bath, or essential oil. Put on your favorite relaxing music and make yourself a cup of Yogi Tea Stress Relief Honey Lavender Tea. While the tea steeps, apply a sheet mask like Dear Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Beauty Sheet Mask. When your bath is ready, get in and take several long, deep breaths. Allow yourself to relax and appreciate the moment. After you soak for 10 minutes, use a loofah bath brush to scrub your whole body and a pumice stone to remove tough skin from your feet. Give yourself permission to soak as long as you like. 

When you get out of the tub, smile and set your sights on being happy, healthy, and comfortable in your skin. You’ll show up radiant and glowing 24/7 every day.

 References:

1. Axelsson, J., Sundelin, T., Ingre, M., Van Someren, E. J., Olsson, A., & Lekander, M. (2010). Beauty sleep: experimental study on the perceived health and attractiveness of sleep deprived people. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 341, c6614. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c6614 
2. Bolke, L., Schlippe, G., Gerß, J., & Voss, W. (2019). A Collagen Supplement Improves Skin Hydration, Elasticity, Roughness, and Density: Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Blind Study. Nutrients, 11(10), 2494. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102494
3. Mandsager, K., Harb, S., Cremer, P., Phelan, D., Nissen, S. E., & Jaber, W. (2018). Association of Cardiorespiratory Fitness With Long-term Mortality Among Adults Undergoing Exercise Treadmill Testing. JAMA network open, 1(6), e183605. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3605 
4. Wang, Xinyan, Fangchao Liu, Jianxin Li, Xueli Yang, Jichun Chen, Jie Cao, Xigui Wu, et al. “Tea Consumption and the Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality: The China-PAR Project.” European Journal of Preventive Cardiology 27, no. 18 (December 2020): 1956–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/2047487319894685.