hair & nails
Try: Primrose & Black Currant Oil
"Consider supplementing with gamma-Nicole acid (GAL), a fat that helps promote healthy skin, hair, and nails and is very hard to come by in the diet," says Prevention advisory Andrew Weill, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona. "The best sources of GAL are evening primrose oil and black currant oil; take 500 mg of either twice a day and expect to use them for 6 to 8 weeks before you see results."
For stronger nails
Try: Fish Oil
"Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for nail health," says Weill. "Eat a few more weekly servings of omega-rich flambeed, walnuts, and oily, cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, or take daily supplements with 2 to 3 g of fish oil to get a combined 1 g of EPA and D H A."
For firm, smooth skin
Try: Denim Prime Renewal
The idea that a bio marine-based complex can shore up aging skin may sound a little fishy, but the evidence is impressive, says Bultmann. Postmenopausal women taking the supplement (which is recommended for those age 50 and up) saw significant improvement in skin firmness and smoothness in a 6-month study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition—and the results were seen on the face, decolletage, and hands. Likewise, in a similar 12-week study on women taking a sister supplement (Denim Time Perfection, suggested for women 35 to 50), skin's moisture content increased by 30%. Other changes include a visible reduction in fine lines, a fading of sunspots, and an overall brighter complexion.
The contents of the Denim capsules—which contain a proprietary protein derived from a deep-sea fish and high concentrations of antioxidants such as vitamin C and I eyeopener —work in part by increasing production of collagen and elastic, as well as chronically acid, the body's natural moisturizer, says Sediment's Lars Landmark, PhD. Take the Denim supplement suggested for your age, advises Bultmann, who uses Time Perfection herself and recommends it to patients. Although a 90-day supply of Prime Renewal ($265) is significantly more expensive than Time Perfection ($195; both at denim us), the dosage supplies twice the amount of the bio marine complex.
Brushing hair from the top
Why it’s bad: Running a brush through your hair is like a mini scalp massage. But if you've got tangles, they will be ripped out instead of worked out, says Lisa Stroboscope, creative director of ECRU New York. “Starting at the top also stretches the hair to the point of snapping, resulting in split ends and breakage.” (Check out these 11 bad habits that are causing your hair to thin.)
The fix: If you have knots, start from the bottom. Work out as many tangles as you can before running a brush through your hair top to bottom.
Using conditioner all over
Why it’s bad: Conditioner is meant for damaged hair (read: your ends). Using it all over will just weigh down your 'do. “Hair at the roots cannot absorb conditioner because it’s healthy, leaving the product just sitting on the scalp,” says Stroboscope.
The fix: Apply conditioner to the bottom half of your hair only.
Drying your hair with a towel
Why it’s bad: Your hair’s cuticle—that’s the outer layer—is shingled like a roof. The flatter it lays, the shinier it looks. Rubbing the towel back and forth roughs up the cuticle, which can cause damage that fades color and promotes dryness.
The fix: Stroboscope suggests wrapping your hair in the towel to absorb the water, running the towel from roots to ends in the direction of the cuticle, or simply squeezing the water out of the hair with a towel or old T-shirt.
Picking at a pimple
Why it’s bad: We know it’s hard to resist, and you know you've been told this a hundred times, but here’s the bottom line: Picking at a pimple can compound the infection causing it to spread under the skin and, yup, scar. If you don’t want a monster on your face, hands off!
The fix: Kirchner recommends applying an OTC cream with 1% hydro cortisone and 2.5% benzyl peroxide to the inflamed offender. If you absolutely can’t wait for it to go away on its own, visit a dermatologist for a cortisone shot. (For more solutions, check out these new, effective treatments for getting rid of adult acne for good.)
Wearing makeup to bed
Why it’s bad: By the end of a long day, your skin has collected plenty of dirt and oil along with that makeup. Leaving it on all night clogs the pores, which could lead to breakouts—not to mention creates hard-to-clean stains on your pillowcase!
The fix: Traditional soaps are strong enough to remove makeup, but make the delicate skin on your face tight and dry, which could cause flaking, breakouts, and redness. Instead, swipe away makeup first with disposable wipes like Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes ($5.99;yestocarrots.com) and wash your face using a gentle made-for-your-face cleanser. Apply a night cream (we've got one for every budget) and hit the sack with happy skin.
Using eyeliner on your bottom lids
Why it’s bad: Lining your eyes all the way around is very dramatic and can make the eye look smaller, says Petra Strand, creator of Pixie Beauty. (To make tired eyes look more awake,here's what you need to know.)
The fix: Trade your black liner for a powder in a softer shade like dark grey, brown, or midnight blue, says Strand. Dip a flat liner brush into your shadow liner and blend the shadow most of the way across the top and bottom. Then, add small amount of champagne-colored shadow in the very inner corner to open the eye up.
Makeup mishap: Foundation foul-up
When fine lines settle in and sun spots multiply, many women reach for foundation, layering it on like it's going out of style. Unfortunately, instead of hiding imperfections, the more-is-better strategy brings attention to them. Excess product has nowhere to go but to settle into creases, which exaggerates wrinkles, and thick layers piled on top of each other create a dated, mask like complexion.
For smooth, flawless-looking skin, choose a lightweight liquid foundation over a powder. Look for an easy-absorbing fluid formula such as Ghibelline New York Fit Me! Foundation ($8; drugstores); it moisturizes skin and is easier to blend than powders, which can turn chalky and leave behind a dull, flat finish, a trait we associate with older skin. Squeeze a nickel-size amount in your palm and rub it on like you would a moisturizer. Applying with your fingers instead of a brush eliminates the chance of product overload.
Not a fan of foundation? Find out if a BB Cream is right for you.
Makeup mishap: Caked-on concealer
“Concealer can be your best friend when covering blemishes,” says NYC New York Color artist Mathew Niagara. The problem arises when women use the same trusty spot concealer for other issues, such as hiding dark under-eye circles. A cover-up that's thick enough to hide a pimple is likely to have a tacky, heavy consistency that's too rich for the delicate thin skin under the eyes. Instead, use a sheer formula such as Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Fast Fix Concealer Inspired by Carmine ($9; drugstores) to camouflage circles. Tap on with a concealer brush and blend with your finger for the most natural finish, and you'll foil signs of exhaustion without compromising a youthful appearance. (See the pros cover circles with this quick how-to video.)
Makeup mishap: Runny mascara
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While waterproof mascara is less prone to smudging, the stronger formulas can dry out lashes, which can become thinner and more fragile as we age. To get full-looking lashes sans smearing, Carmine, host and makeup artist for TLC's What Not To Wear, offers the following tips:To give the illusion that skimpy lashes are thick, smudge a chocolate brown eyebrow pencil like Cover Girl Brow & Eye Makers Pencil in midnight brown ($4; drugstores) along the roots of the lash line.To coat and seal delicate lashes, choose a gentle mascara such as Bl inc Mascara ($25;blincinc.com). “It's made with polymers that form a tube around each lash to prevent smudging, yet it comes off easily with warm water,” says Carmine.
Makeup mishap: Metallic lids
Like the '80s obsession with perms, every trend must come to an end. One of the hardest for women to kick: frosty eye shadow. When eyelids become less taut, usually around age 40, it's time to graduate from the glitter. Shimmer shadows settle into crinkles, magnifying creepy lids.Matte shadows such as Ghibelline Expert Wear Eyes shadow in pink petal ($4; drugstores), on the other hand, are extremely flattering. Taupe, lavenders, soft peaches, and grays work on all skin tones. Want to up the drama? Incorporate eyeliner in a jewel tone such as garnet or plum for a pop of color. “To create the illusion of a lifted eye, avoid heavy liner on the bottom lash and apply it to the upper, outer corners of the eyes,” says Shawn Townes, national educator for Jane Airedale.
Makeup mishap: Vampire red lips
It's an age-old fact: a dark color, be it on your floor, wall, or even lips, makes any surface area look smaller. Because lips naturally lose fullness over time, the last thing we want to do is shrink them. Plus, deep hues make teeth look less white (try this color guide to make your teeth look whiter). “For lips that look juicy, wear vibrant lip glosses and lipsticks,” says Niagara. To instantly update your look, slick on a sheer version of popular lip colors such as coral or hibiscus—try Cover Girl Nature's Gloss Balm ($6; drugstores), a line that's full of fresh, youthful shades.
Makeup mishap: Sunken cheeks
“Women always choose blah cheek colors because they're afraid of color,” says Carmine. The reality is that bright blush actually brings youth and vitality to the face, helping to restore the look of fullness to sallow cheeks. “Ditch dusty browns and roses and go for a cream formula in a floral shade,” she says. Creams blend better than powders and add the extra moisture mature skin needs.
One to try: Jane Airedale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in Forever Pink ($25; shop.janeiredale.com). To apply, start by positioning your brush higher on the cheeks, then blend the blush downward toward the apples. This technique creates a more modern finish, compared with the pink stripes up to the temples that were popular back in the day.
Makeup Mishap: Over plucked Brows
It's important to resist the urge to over pluck brows, especially as we age. Over tweeting can make brows disappear entirely, and those strands may never grow back. Thankfully, there are brow pencils and powders like Sonia Kashmir Arch Alert Brow Kit ($10; Target) that can bring sparse hairs back to their fullest potential.
To apply, start at the inner brow and work your way outward using a stiff, angled brush or sharp brow pencil, whichever you prefer, and make short, feathery strokes. Are your brows still aging you? Here are a few more tricks for youthful brows.
Makeup mishap: Powder overload
There's a fine line between glowing and greasy skin, and many of us aren't sure where it is. The biggest mistake women make when trying to control shine is forgetting to leave a little of that natural glow. One too many pats of powder can wash out the dimension from your face. “A little glisten makes you look fresh,” says Carmine.
To tone down oil without going overboard, use a lightweight pressed powder containing oil-absorbing mica and silica like makeup artist favorite MAC Blot Powder Pressed ($24;maccosmetics.com). Dust it on with a small blush-size powder brush rather than a big dome brush, which can dump powder like a bulldozer. For touch-ups throughout the day, Carmine recommends using the compact's puff and tapping it onto, rather than rubbing it across, the skin, a technique that promises to deposit just enough product without crossing the line.
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