With age comes life experience and wisdom, and there’s a lot I’ve learned that has made me a happier and more self-assured person than I was when I was younger! But unfortunately, with age also comes wrinkles and a plethora of new aches and pains. Although some of the less glamorous aspects of aging are inevitable, they don’t have to change what you see in the mirror!
There are all sorts of visual cues we use to determine someone’s age, and the many of the cues that can make you look “old” are perfectly preventable! Today, I’m honing in on these little details that are all too easy to overlook, but that rarely go unnoticed by others.
Incorporate these 9 simple grooming tips into your grooming routine to avoid those visual cues that tell others you may be out-of-date, out-of-touch, or just plain out-of-it!
9 Grooming Mistakes That Make You Look Old
1. Dirty Shoes
Shoes are made to be worn outside, so they’re bound to get a little dirty. But pairing extremely worn or excessively dirty shoes with a stylish outfit can ruin the effect of an otherwise put-together look!
To clean up suede shoes or boots, gently brush them with a suede brush. For leather shoes, cleaning them up can be as simple as using a damp paper towel to wipe away dust and dirt. Polishing leather shoes is more time intensive, so make that a seasonal practice.
Seasonal shifts are a perfect time to evaluate the state of your footwear since you’re already moving things in and out of storage.
2. Pet Hair & Lint
We’ve all been hanging out at home a lot lately, which means many of have made peace with being covered in a certain amount of dog or cat hair. But pet hair and lint aren’t the accessories you want if you’re trying to look professional or put-together!
Before you step out the door, give yourself a once-over with a lint roller to pick up errant pet hair, human hair, or fuzzy bits. Make sure to get your shoulders, along your arms and legs, and down your backside.
If you’re wearing a coat, hat, or scarf, give those the same treatment. If you’re in a pinch or can’t find your lint roller, a piece of packing tape rolled around your hand works just as well!
3. Pilling Sweaters
Sweater weather is finally here! Make sure you’re looking chic, not frumpy, in your favorite sweaters by using a simple little tool like this to buzz off sweater pills in seconds. Even the finest wool can pill, but a quick, careful shave will make even your oldest sweaters look brand new!
4. Chipped Nails
While we’ve all had to make sacrifices in terms of our usual mani/pedi appointments this year, remember that no nail polish makes a better impression than chipped nail polish. I’ve been doing at-home manicures lately, but when I do go to the salon, I often bring along my own bottle of polish so I can touch up any chips that happen to develop in the following weeks.
Whether you prefer to DIY or have your nails done professionally, you can make your nail color last longer with these helpful tips.
5. Overpowering Perfume
While perfume doesn’t necessarily impact how you look, it can make a powerful impression on those around you—and not always in a good way! Wearing an overpowering amount of perfume sends the message that you may not be particularly self-aware (even if it’s a simple case of having worn a certain perfume for so long that you’ve become desensitized to it!)
Instead, make sure you’re not suffocating the people around you by applying your perfume lightly. Consider using a mister for easy, even application, or use only a half-squirt from your favorite bottle.
6. Lipstick On Your Teeth
If this one doesn’t scream “old,” I don’t know what does! While makeup wearers of any age can wind up with lipstick on their teeth, it can draw attention away from a put-together look in the blink of an eye.
Luckily, this faux pas is actually pretty easy to prevent! After applying your lipstick, take a clean finger and put it in your mouth, then purse your lips around it and pull it out. This will remove any excess lipstick on the inside of your lips that could easily transfer to your teeth.
For more beauty hacks like this, including how to set your lipstick, check out this post.
7. Missed Hairs
Hair grows all over our faces, but some of it may be longer, thicker, or more noticeable than others. And missing those long, scraggly hairs on your chin or cheeks while plucking is certain to project an older image than you’d like!
To make sure you’re not missing any glaringly obvious hairs while shaving or plucking, use a lighted magnification mirror (like my favorite one here), and a good quality pair of tweezers. Take your time while looking for errant hairs on your cheeks, chin, neck, and even inside your nostrils.
A lighted mirror will make it easy to see those pesky long hairs, so you can get rid of them and proceed with confidence!
8. Dry Hands
They say dry, wrinkled hands are often the first tell-tale sign of aging. Between sun exposure, years of hands-on work (like digging in the garden and dishwashing), and thinning skin, it’s no wondering our hands start looking dry and wrinkly!
But you can keep your hands looking youthful by moisturizing them regularly. Try my DIY “miracle” hydrating cream!
9. Bad Posture
Sitting and standing up straight not only helps you look younger, it also helps keep you alert and awake—both signs of youth and energy! Plus, it’s a good workout for your core too!
Try to focus on keeping your shoulders back and your head level with the ground. You’ll feel more confident and experience less back pain over time! And to learn about other posture mistakes you might be making and how to fix them, check out this blog post.
Do you have other anti-aging beauty or behavior tips?
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