Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. My niece recently visited me and brought family photos from holidays of yesteryear. They were sweet memories, but oh my, how it made me aware of how much I have aged. I hate to admit it, but I am very concerned about this. How can I take care of my looks without appearing overly made-up? I just need a little direction.
A. I have to start from the inside first, and that means my attitude. My attitude is very important, and I work hard at maintaining a healthy one, at that! That means I really have to monitor my thinking. I have caught myself thinking negatively, and that can escalate if I am not careful. So, I work hard at keeping a positive attitude, trying to find the best in every situation. Eating right and getting enough sleep is also very important. I know when I donāt eat properly, my skin feels and looks different. When I drink water and eat healthy, I look better and feel better.
The other important factor is exercise and paying attention to posture. There are many exercises you can find online that promote great posture and are specific to seniors. At 78, my friendās mother, who does Zumba religiously, gives me pointers about my posture. I have to laugh and ask myself if Iāll ever grow up! Ask your doctor for some recommendations, too.
Next, I have learned that cosmetics are wonderful friends, but if I am not careful, I can overdo it, thinking I am helping my looks, when in fact, I am doing the opposite. The saying āless is moreā rings true here.
Here are a few common beauty mistakes that older women must avoid:
ā¢ Incorrect use of foundation:
Avoid using an excess of foundation and opt for a foundation that is hydrating and non-greasy.
ā¢ Not using moisturizers:
Keeping hydrated is not always enough to keep skin looking moist. It is recommended that seniors use skin moisturizers to avoid dry or irritated skin.
ā¢ Face powder:
With age, you can use less face powder. Avoid using it in areas of your face marked by fine lines, as it will cause skin to look dry.
ā¢ Blushers:
As we age, we need to tone down the colors we use, especially on the cheeks. If you wore deeper shades in your younger years, try switching to a neutral tone. This will give a healthy, natural glow to your skin and wonāt look like you are trying too hard. Natural is best, and it complements our natural changes.
ā¢ Hair color:
Be careful with hair color choices. If you color your hair professionally, speak with your stylist about your color choices. Perhaps there is a way to blend gray tones with your natural hair color with just a few highlights. If you color your hair in your natural tone, it can be much too dark for the rest of your look. Remember, going lighter and shorter promotes a very together and polished look.
ā¢ Nails:
If you glance at some of the fashion magazines, you can see that short, manicured nails are in style and have been for quite some time. Dark colors are very popular right now, but remember: those colors may not work for some of us. Stay true to light and neutral colors. Keep the nails manicured, and re-think the long, pointed style that worked in the past.
Remember, our best look begins on the inside. The outside is just the icing on the ācake.ā
ā¢ Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
