女人就要年轻

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It seems like we're on an endless search for the secret to looking younger. But not everyone is ready to go under the knife or run to their nearest plastic surgeon for a Botox injection. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you achieve a more youthful look without visiting a doctor.

Wear less makeup, not more!

Too much makeup adds years to your face. Instead of using heavy foundation for "coverage," opt for a lighter formulation like a cream-to-powder foundation. Global Goddess makes a great cream-to-powder foundation that evens out skin without the look of heavy makeup. I also like foundations that mix in a drop of a light-reflecting product to brighten the skin, such as Revlon Skinlights foundation and Yves Saint Laurent Radiant Touch.

Avoid heavy powders. They tend to add texture, make the skin look dry and accentuate lines. To sidestep such aging effects, set your makeup with a finely milled loose powder that is translucent. Chanel makes a great silky loose powder, as does Laura Mercier.

Liquid liners are a beauty don't! They can look cakey on less-than-firm skin. Try a pencil that can be blended for a softer look. Or apply shadow with an angled makeup brush for an even softer frame around the eye.

Steer clear of makeup that's heavily frosted or too metallic. Frosts and metallic colors accentuate every little line and imperfection on the face!

As we get older, we tend to get lines around the lips, which can cause lipstick to bleed. Use a lip liner to seal lipstick as well as shape the lips. Neutral colors are best. Also, avoid high gloss lipsticks, as they tend to bleed quicker than cream formulas. Instead, go with a dewy moisturizing lipstick. For extra staying power, dab a concealer brush in a drop of foundation and trace your lips with it. This does double duty, creating a seal around the lips as well as highlighting the area around your lips, which makes lips look more defined.

Frame your face with your eyebrows

One of the fastest ways to give yourself a face-lift is through your eyebrows. Tweeze your brows to create an arch, then fill in brows with a soft powder or powder brow pencil. Avoid eyeliner! I know it may seem like a quick fix, but it can give you a hard look.

Invest in a good brow gel too. If you battle gray eyebrow hairs, colored brow gel is a super touch-up tool that not only hides gray but keeps your brows in place.

Hydrate and take good care of your skin

The women of Scandinavia know the secret to youthful skin can be found in water. They start and finish their day with 15 to 20 splashes of ice-cold water on their faces and drink at least one liter of spring water daily. This helps to hydrate skin and regulate its functioning. Keeping your skin hydrated is one of the quickest and healthiest ways to look younger. To that end, cut back on caffeine, tobacco and alcohol, all of which dehydrate your skin.

Products can also add necessary moisture to skin. I recommend using a good hydrating face mask once a week. This helps increase moisture and plump up fine lines. It also helps makeup blend evenly into skin. Also use a good facial moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. For extra benefits, apply a moisturizer with alpha and beta hydroxy acids or a vitamin C serum to exfoliate dull, dry skin. A good eye cream eliminates dehydration lines around the eyes -- and nighttime isn't the only time it can be used: One of my favorite makeup tips is to mix concealer with a drop of eye cream. This helps not only to avoid a heavy makeup look but to soften any lines around the eye area.

Whether you drink the recommended 64 ounces of water a day or use products to amp up your skin's water content, you'll notice a difference in your skin -- a dewy glow -- almost immediately.

Other tricks and tips

For other ways to seemingly turn back the hands of time in no time, try a few of the following:

·  Add highlights to the hair around your face to brighten your look and add a healthy glow.

·  Perk up tired-looking peepers. One of the simplest ways to look younger is to rid yourself of the red of bloodshot eyes. Clear up redness with Visine or try navy blue eyeliner instead of black or brown to instantly brighten the whites of your eyes.

·  Whiten your teeth. Yellow teeth make you look older. With so many tooth whiteners on the market, it's easy to get a more radiant, younger-looking smile.

·  Wear white. White brings a youthful essence to your look and creates a halo of light around you. Lighter and brighter is the way to go!

So there you have it. If you're not ready to go under the knife, just follow these quick and simple tips to take years off your face.