There are plenty of things you can do to look younger. But you need to be careful – there’s a big difference between looking more youthful and trying too hard to look young.
Get it wrong, and you could look like you’re having a mid-life crisis – no one wants to be THAT guy. Ladies like a man who dresses and acts appropriately for his age – not one that tries to keep up with the latest teenage trends.
Today I’ll help you understand how to look younger without slipping into the style of a middle-aged man-child. FYI – it’s not just about the clothes you wear!
#1. Have Purpose In Life
Nothing makes a man look older than a lousy attitude to their age.
You’ve probably seen these guys moping around with a negative attitude; they feel that everything has conspired against them and their life’s over. They’re 42 years old, and they think their best years are behind them.
Guys, that’s a bunch of BS. If you want to know how to look younger – stop acting like you’re already in the grave!
We are going to live longer than any generation before us. If you’re 40 years old and take care of yourself, you’ve probably got another 40 great years. Think about that – you’re only halfway there!
If you haven’t done so already, I want you to create a plan for the rest of your life. Be optimistic, break through barriers and plan out a kick-ass future in the years to come.
There’s no better way to show youthful energy than demonstrating your optimistic outlook on the years ahead. You might not achieve everything you set out to – but it’s better to overestimate and not achieve everything than it is to underestimate and go nowhere.
#2. Take Care Of Your Skin
How do you know a guy is in his 50s?
Wrinkles, right? The older we get, the wrinklier our skin becomes. Although you can’t stop this process altogether, you can slow it down with a carefully planned skin care routine.
At the very least, make sure you’re using a daily moisturizer. Your skin starts to dry out as you get older, making it more prone to wrinkles. A quick way to learn how to look younger is to research your skin type and start applying a moisturizer. If you can find one with a retinoid like retinol, even better – it’s one of the few ingredients with solid evidence behind it for fine lines.
Once a week, use a gentle exfoliating scrub to clear away dead skin. If you want to go further, a dermatologist can do microdermabrasion or a light chemical peel – you’ll see the difference in your skin’s texture within a few sessions. Here’s my full anti-aging routine for men.
Top Tip: Use an SPF moisturizer whenever possible! Sun damage is one of the biggest causes of wrinkles and age spots. UV rays damage skin cells and dry out the skin – an SPF moisturizer can help prevent this.
#3. Only Wear Clothes You Love
At the age of 40+, you should have the available cash to restock your outdated wardrobe.
A youthful man is a confident man – and a man can’t feel confident in clothing that he doesn’t love. Every item in your wardrobe should inspire you to go outside looking like a million bucks – only when you’ve achieved this level of confidence will you know how to look younger.
Whatever your go-to outfit might be, it should be like a suit of armor when you wear it – even if it’s just a walk to the store for milk and eggs.
Disclaimer: DO NOT TRY TO DRESS LIKE YOUNGER PEOPLE. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see older guys make when trying to look younger, and it ALWAYS backfires. Stick to timeless pieces over fast fashion, steer clear of the clothing mistakes that make men look older, and you won’t go far wrong.
#4. Take Care Of Your Teeth
One of the first things people notice about others is their teeth. Knowing how to look young is all about keeping up that dental hygiene!
On a date? You can bet she will look at your mouth and your teeth to decide whether you’re hygienic enough for her to want to kiss. If you’ve got bad teeth with unhealthy gums – it’ll show your age and ruin your chances.
Your teeth get weaker when you get older, so go to the dentist every six months. Make sure they remove that plaque, check your gums and resolve any oral issues before they become a real problem.
Some guys might choose to whiten their teeth. Although this isn’t a substitute for regular dentistry, it can help to boost your confidence. Just be careful not to go too far! Your teeth shouldn’t glow in the dark.
If you’ve got chipped or badly stained teeth, ask your dentist about bonding or veneers. It’s an investment – but you use your smile every single day. Just make sure the result looks natural.
#5. Make Gray Hair Work For You
As you age, your hair starts to gray. Plenty of men panic and reach for the box dye. Don’t.
Embrace the gray. A well-cut head of gray or salt-and-pepper hair reads as confidence. Jet-black dye on a 55-year-old looks flat and fake, and it makes the lines on your face stand out more – the opposite of what you wanted.
Here’s the upside nobody tells you: gray hair opens up new colors. Navy, burgundy, charcoal, forest green and crisp white all look sharper next to gray than they did next to your old hair color. Use them near your face.
Keep the cut short and tidy – especially if you’re thinning – and see a good barber every three to four weeks. If you do want to color, keep it subtle: blend the gray instead of covering it with one solid shade. Here’s how to color men’s hair so it still looks natural, and here are hairstyles that make men look younger.
Bonus: Watch What You Eat And Drink
You can’t out-dress a bad diet. Too much alcohol and sugar shows up on your face first – puffy eyes, dull skin, a softer jawline.
Drink more water, cut back on the beer, eat more vegetables and protein, and get seven to eight hours of sleep. Do that for a month and you’ll see it in the mirror before anyone notices it in your clothes.
Today we covered:
Bonus: Watch What You Eat And Drink
Looking younger isn’t about dressing younger. For the full picture, read the mistakes older guys make trying to look young and how to dress for your age.
The post How to Look Younger as You Age (Without Trying Too Hard) appeared first on Real Men Real Style.