It's easy to look young -- or at least not old -- if you have a lot of money for professional hair color, Botox treatments and spa visits. But just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't look forever young. You just need to know how.
Looks do matter. "Unfortunately, that's how we judge people. We do live in a very superficial society where decisions are made in an instant," Charla Krupp, author of How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better, told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "Women can't afford to look old. Professionally, the older we get in this society, the more invisible we get, because this society is youth obsessed."
Looking young isn't easy. It takes work. But it doesn't have to take a lot of money. For example, Krupp is a big fan of comparatively inexpensive beauty products, such as Olay moisturizers and makeup from L'Oreal Paris and Cover Girl, as well as Clairol hair color.
Charla Krupp's 10 tips to look younger -- or at least, not look old:
1. Cut your hair with bangs, but not blunt ones. Avoid helmet hair, barrettes, clips, scrunchies, braids and ribbons.
2. Highlight your hair two shades lighter than your natural color.
3. Never use heavy black eyeliner and glittery eye shadow. Instead, opt for a primer under-foundation, cream blush instead of powder blush and shimmery pink lip colors instead of dark crimson. (Both powder blush and dark lipsticks emphasize fine lines.)
4. Get rid of the mommy jeans. Wear dark, form-fitting jeans.
5. Don't overmatch your outfits, shoes and handbags.
6. Wear skirts that fall at or below the knee.
7. Don't wear too much jewelry and accessories.
8. Instead of those old, poor-fitting undergarments, buy shapewear that will lift, smooth, shape and minimize your figure.
9. Wear low, comfortable heels instead of flat shoes. Flats and sneakers make you look older.
10. Avoid busy prints because they are hard to wear and not flattering. Choose clothing that shows off your shape no matter what size you are.
