Top Tips

So we have hardly turned fifty when we imagine that all the perks of youth have disappeared and think we are heading for sixty at the speed of sound, losing our looks on the way.

That idea may be embraced by other women but I think it’s possible to make the most of yourself whatever your age. So we are older and can’t turn back the clocks but here are a few tips to try.

Skincare is really important, soap and water and a bit of moisturiser used to be fine for our mothers and grandmothers (both of mine had fabulous skin) but science has come a long way to help banish the bags and wrinkles that will occur whether you like it or not.

However the power of advertising should not be overlooked. It makes women rush off and buy a product that promises eternal youth. I have finally found a moisturiser that works for me, but it is trial and error until you find one that suits you.

Make-up is a minefield of disaster but we Golden Oldies have to take care. Less is more here. Ditch the full on look and make it minimal. So minimal that people won’t notice that your glowing skin and bright eyes come from bottles or sprays.

Make sure your foundation is the right colour for your skin and that your eye shadow is a gentle colour. Take care when using foundation – if it is too heavy and it will cling to your wrinkles and none of us want that! A natural look is what you are aiming for – if in doubt it is possible for you to go to a large store where the sales women are only too happy to give you a make-over. Alright they are trying to sell their products but if that helps you look gorgeous what is the problem?

I read that men look at women’s hair and shoes first. I think there are other parts of a woman that attract men’s attention first, but that is just my experience!

Forget the shoes – we are not all Imelda Marcos and many of us choose comfort over style. The obsession about what celebrities wear is daft in my opinion. I do confess that I have several pairs of stilettos tucked away in the wardrobe but I find I only wear them if I am going somewhere which does not involve a lot of walking, nor standing.

Hair is a different matter. It is considered a woman’s crowning glory. However it must be maintained by trips to the hairdresser every month or so and that can be very costly. If you have the courage to dump all your hair dyes as I did and join the Grey Brigade you will find that you can look just as wonderful as before.

But why do most people think that at a certain age women should have short hair- not shoulder length or longer? I admit that I do have short hair – not because I am listening to other people’s thoughts on the subject but because it is easier to maintain!

Diet is always a topic of discussion and there is no doubt that eating healthily makes all of us look and feel better. When you are on holiday in the Mediterranean take a glance at the women who live there. They seem less wrinkly which is mostly because they avoid sitting in the sun and have a really good diet. It just involves ditching the junk food and eating plenty of fish and fresh fruit and vegetables cooked with liberal amounts of olive oil. I have tried this and felt so much fitter that I intend to eat like this forever. I am constantly urging friends to try this way of eating and after a week or so most say they feel and look better.

So those are my tips for we Golden Oldies. I am sure that you have your own.

Perhaps you could share them with us?