Natural Beauty Tips for Women Over 50

A few fine lines, a hint of gray. The normal changes of aging are inevitable. But with skin rejuvenation products, nonsurgical facial treatments, and hair care products, it's easy for women over 50 to enhance their natural beauty.

What Happens to Skin and Hair as We Age

The effects of sun exposure, smoking, diet, and heredity become evident on our skin as we get older. Stress, gravity, and obesity also affect how well skin looks. And as we age, our skin doesn't produce new cells as quickly as it used to. Skin gradually becomes less elastic and prone to dryness.

Something similar happens to cells that give our hair its color, too. Hair pigment cells become less efficient at renewing themselves, which makes hair gray.

8 Natural Beauty Tips for Your Skin

A few simple steps are all you need to care for your skin as you get older. These natural beauty tips can get you started.

1. If you smoke, stop. Research shows that smoking prematurely ages your skin.
2. Just say no to sunbathing and tanning salons. Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest. If you must be outside, wear a protective hat, long-sleeved shirt, and sunglasses. Freckles, age spots, and blotchy complexions are linked to sun exposure.
3. Wear sunscreen religiously. Use products with SPF 15 or higher, and both UVB and UVA protection. Damage to the skin from excess or unprotected sun exposure is known as "photoaging." These changes can include fine wrinkles and an uneven skin tone.
4. Check skin often for skin cancer. If there are changes that worry you, call your doctor right away. Older, fair-skinned people are at high risk, and must have a yearly check.
5. Soothe dry skin. Use a humidifier. Use moisturizing soaps and lotions. See your doctor if you still have problems.
6. Eat right and hydrate. Good nutrition helps the body repair skin. Drinking lots of water helps hydrate skin from the inside out.
7. Try anti-aging products. For women over 50, over-the-counter creams and lotions may enhance natural beauty by rejuvenating your skin. Pentapeptides (a chemical compound in many new products) may help prompt skin cells to produce more collagen, which is the support structure that gives skin a firmer look. Prescription treatments and retinoid creams are also options.
8. Know about skin treatments. Botox injections can ease wrinkles in the upper third of the face. Chemical peels are effective in removing fine lines and smoothing skin, especially around the eyes and mouth. Wrinkle fillers can plump up your skin and erase lines. Microdermabrasion erases ultrafine lines, rejuvenates your complexion, and improves skin tone and color. Laser resurfacing is another technique; it allows doctors to improve sun-damaged skin, scars, and other facial problems.