Recently, I've incorporated anti-aging into my daily routine! After all, our skin is the largest organ that we have and the only one that we wear on the outside! Sadly, I realized that I have not taken care of my skin properly, and I've made a lot of mistakes (but that's a story for another blog post)! 

I did a lot of research and talked to some skin-care-veterans, trying to figure out the best route to healthy skin aging: At what age should I begin adding anti-aging into my routine? Can I reverse skin damage that I already have? Which is the most beneficial/least harmful way to go about all of this? ETC.

I came up with some good information, but I also found a lot of contradictory information. Then I thought... Who better to look to than some of the people in the public eye who seem to be doing it well!? DUH! Seeing proof is always the most believable and interesting to gawk at (o-o)!

v READ to the bottom for the rest of the story & what you can do! v

*Disclaimer: some of these celebrities may not be completely natural or have had minor work or treatments done, but according to my understanding they all seem to still look like the younger versions of themselves, and they also seem to preach a healthy, natural lifestyle! I'm sure some of them have had botox or other treatments.

30-SOMETHINGS:

1. KATE HUDSON

(Has spoken about her dedication to consistent fitness and health. She also has a athletic wear line that is supposed to be suitable for all shapes and sizes.)

2. LIV TYLER

(Aging naturally and beautifully! She is not without signs of age, but she is clearly keeping up with skin care and health!)

3. SHAKIRA SHAKIRA

(This Colombian singer has two children and still looks like she did when she was first spotted on the scene! I would assume this is mostly due to her dancing and normal lifestyle. She seems to never have worn too much makeup either, which could be one of the things that helped her stay youthful.)

4. ALICIA SILVERSTONE

(*You might want to check out this vegan, mother-of-one's book, The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide.Do you think she still looks like her character, Cher from Clueless? A couple of her former co-stars are aging pretty well too! Ex. Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash, etc.)

5. ANGELINA JOLIE

(*I would like to note that Angelina Jolie is considered to be one of the MOST beautiful women in the world, and sometimes the most. She had a Double Mastectomy done a couple of years ago as a preventative measure for her health. The lack of vanity, bravery and focus on health is admirable to see in a women with such praise for her physical "perfection." I hope her efforts to prevent illness have inspired other women (and men) to get checkups and testing done.)

6. CHARLIZE THERON

 40-Somethings:

7. PENELOPE CRUZ

8. EVA MENDES

9. PHARREL WILLIAMS (*42-YEARS-OLD NOW*) *Not my picture

(How does he look the same? I have NO idea. He's the immortal, vampire of Hollywood. I believe he has good genes and a good routine. He has said that maintenance and awareness are important. He mentioned washing his face with cold water to close his pores and seeing a dermatologist. Maintaining what you have. Also, I believe his spirit and mentality have kept him young and stress-free. He's probably one of the most spiritual, kind hearted and 'happy' people in Hollywood. I find him to be such an inspiration and mentor. He's all about accepting and knowing who you are and being okay with being an individual. He's also married to his best friend, and that might play a role in keeping him young and happy.)

10. GABRIELLE UNION

The photograph on the left is from 7th Heaven... Remember that? She has an athlete husband and works out a lot. She must have good genes also!

11. JARED LETO

(Jared Leto has been a vegan for 20 years and credits his diet and lifestyle for his ageless appearance. He does yoga, gets enough sleep and he doesn't drink alcohol. He believes in getting adequate rest and not messing up your schedule with lots of traveling.)

12. JENNIFER LOPEZ (AKA JENNY FROM THE BLOCK, JLO)

(J-Lo says she's not afraid to sweat and exercise, she watches portion sizes, tries to stay in a positive mood, gets rest, and has never drank or smoked! She's had twins too... Not fair! She also has dedication to keeping up with her cosmetic beauty routine. She keeps her curves and doesn't look too thin, which can make a person look older. She's also an amazing and dedicated dancer. Oh, and Tracey Anderson helps too...)

13. GWEN STEFANI

14. JENNIFER ANISTON

(Jennifer Aniston is a strong, sassy woman! After so many years of being tortured by the paparazzi and media, she has remained dedicated to her craft and seems happier than ever. She is engaged to the incredible, Justin Theroux (He's worked with David Lynch... My film school dreams!). Justin also looks pretty good for 43-years-old! Did anyone see him in The Leftovers? Amazing. Aniston works out, drinks lots of water, eats really well, but not too strict, she gets rest, and has a few other secrets! First of all, her father is Greek and she said that even in his old age and in her grandmother's old age at 95, neither of them barely had a wrinkle. Jenn also focuses on her famous Rachel hair. Hair can really improve your overall look, as hair ages also. She's careful about what she puts in her hair, and she has a hair routine. She also says that there's many ways for women to preserve or enhance with new technology and treatments, such as: "LED light therapy, good lasers that tighten the muscles, and massages for your face—and don’t forget great creams!" She also learned from Gloria Steinem not to touch your face! Jenn is also an advocate for aging and acceptance, and looks up to women who are proud of their age and wants women to be represented at all ages (and not just for anti-aging ads!))

15. HALLE BERRY

16. SALMA HAYEK

(Check out her skin care line, Salma Hayek Nuance! It's an affordable, skincare line sold in drugstores. The line was inspired by her grandmother, who created her own skincare products and how her grandmother and mother were so dedicated to skincare. I believe the line is designed to help every woman enhance the nuances that define her individual beauty. I personally have used and do use a few of her products, and I love them! I buy mine at CVS! Let me know if you'd like to know which products I've tried and if you'd like a review.)

17. CINDY CRAWFORD

50-SOMETHINGS: 

18. SANDRA BULLOCK

60-SOMETHINGS: 

19. CHRISTIE BRINKLEY

70-SOMETHINGS: 

20. RAQUEL WELCH

*I created all of these celebrity collages with their respective ages labled on the photographs. I chose photos that were  from red carpets, paparazzi or candids, as to avoid photoshop (I was mostly successful). I also chose the youngest photograph that I could find of each person and the largest resolution/best quality for all photographs.*

So, after spending hours analyzing and compiling images, I came up with this list of 20 famous people who have aged very nicely! These celebrities all seem to be quite healthy and aware of their health. They also seem like they haven't had any major work or surgeries done. (I have NO problems with people who do get surgery-whatever makes you happy!) Although, many of these celebrities do keep up with smaller cosmetic procedures and treatments to catch the aging before it becomes noticeable or as preventative measure. Some of these celebrities get micro amounts of botox with small needles, so it appears to be natural, and it doesn't change their appearance--it just maintains it! My attempt in this post was to show how one could go about anti-aging and getting older in a health-focused/mostly affordable way! There is never reason to feel bad about aging or imperfections. For women, it's not something to be shamed for or to obsess or focus on. Starting to take care of your health and add in moisture and hydration as young as in your 20's will help you maintain your youthful glow for many years!

These stars have a few things up their sleeves:

1. Water... LOTS of water! Other than oxygen this is the best thing for our bodies! Are bodies are made up of a mind boggling amount of water with adult males around 60% and adult females around 55%. (Fat contains less water than lean tissue, which accounts for the difference between males and females.)

2. Always wear sunblock (even on days that aren't sunny) & stay out of the sun! These stars are the first wave of celebrities to really focus on SPF!

3. Moisturize all over, all the time, for all of your life! Buy natural, quality creams!  Moisturize & wear sunblock on your neck, chest and hands! This is so important, as these areas can easily become damaged and show signs of aging over time! For many people, these areas are a tell tale sign of a person's age and internal health! Sun spots and age spots, wrinkling and dehydration can develop in these areas and are just as important as your face!

4. Exercise, consistently and in small bouts--Sweating is good for releasing toxins and gaining energy! Meditation, yoga and pilates are also fantastic for mindfulness, stress reduction, flexibility, pain relief, and toning! Stress can cause premature aging, physical illness and mental health issues among many other things! 

5. Don't drink or drink too much alcohol! Don't do drugs that are not prescribed and monitored by your doctor.

6. A lot of these celebrities are either vegetarian or vegan! Plant based food is proven to slow aging, reverse time, give you energy, and heal ailments! Many people say fruits, vegetables, plant-based, nutrient-rich and organic foods can even heal serious illnesses such as cancer or other bodily ailments. Good digestion will keep our bodies running and strong.

7. Facials and skin care treatments: Of course celebrities have access to the best of the best--especially luxury treatments! For the average person, there's many other routes to go in terms of steam, masks, exfoliation, and the occasional trip to a dermatologist's office for a facial.

8. Go to the doctor and the dermatologist! The things that happen on the outside of your body and the way you feel can be clues to something that's in need of attention internally! Internal health is just as important as what's on the outside--if not more important! As you get older, there is more concern for illness and disease, so you need to keep your perfect machine oiled!

9. Sleep! Get an adequate amount of sleep and then more sleep! Rest is one of the best forms of energy for humans other than sun and food! It's so important to feel energized, alert and youthful! Remember the term 'beauty sleep?' It's true! Getting sleep helps with anti-aging. Not only does sleep keep you in fighting shape mentally and physically, it also aids in looking younger (*cough* bags under eyes) and repairing our bodies. When we sleep our bodies are still doing work. Our nighttime skincare routine's are extremely important, as our skin absorbs and does more work while we're asleep! Your skin will hydrate more overnight when taken care of properly.

10. Which brings me to: DON'T wear makeup to bed! It ages the skin so much and clogs pores! Not to mention, you're missing out on valuable skincare time and anti aging time!

11. Don't pick your skin! Don't touch your skin! Don't tan your skin! NO tanning beds! I'm sure everyone's mothers have told them these things at some point in their life, but it's true! All of these things can cause irreversible damage, infections, wrinkles, clogged pores, sun spots, acne scarring and even skin cancer! 

12. Don't smoke cigarettes! Cigarettes age your skin, your nails, your hair and damage organs, as well as lead to cancer! Not to mention, it's bad for the environment and those around you. You're allowing cigarette companies and advertisers to make money off of putting you and others at the risk for bad health. Pregnancy while smoking can double the chances of congenital abnormalities and cardiac issues. 

13. Does anyone else think that hair can age and take away from other features on an individual over time? I do. Dull, frizzy, thin and lifeless hair can add age and make someone look less healthy. Hair is a protein filament and part of evolutionary biology--It needs hydration and nourishment the same as the rest of your body. It is considered to be one of the ways to tell someone's age. This goes for eyebrows and eyelashes too! Thicker eyebrows are a sign of youth. You can take natural vitamins (such as Biotin, Women's Multivitamins & Fish Oils, etc.) and eat certain foods to maintain healthy hair! Important hair care routines can make your hair look healthy and shiny! Watch out for dyes with cancer causing ingredients that also strip your hair of it's natural nutrition and protection. Sun can damage your hair also! Wear hats or scarves when sitting in the sun! Weekly hair masks are a good way to get healthy hair! You don't need to buy masks either; there are a ton of DIY recipes! (Let me know if you'd like some!) Moroccan Aragon, coconut and macadamia oils among other oils can help add shine and condition the hair. Personally, I only wash my hair every 3 to 4 days! I will use dry shampoo or other products to keep my hair from looking greasy in between washes. Use less heat on your hair! Let hair dry naturally for as long as possible first, blow-dry with cooler air, don't use hot hair tools often (or at all)! If you do use heat on your hair, get a heat-protectant, hair product. Also research the hair treatments you get done! Some of them are harmful.

*I believe Raquel Welch (number 20 above) wears wigs! I think she has a wig line? I'm not sure! 

14. RETINOL (OTC/drugstore) or RETIN-A (the prescription form of Vitamin A).* This topical, skin care treatment was originally used for fighting acne in the 70s and decades later professionals realized that it had anti-aging properties also! Now Retin-A and Retinol are used to reverse and prevent signs of aging: wrinkles, uneven skin tone, acne scars, dark spots, pigmentation and sun damage! The biggest catch is this ointment cannot be worn without sunblock! It is a must. It's probably better to use retinol at night with sunscreen the next day, unless you use a daytime retinol plus SPF. It's also good to moisturize while using retinols, as they're very strong.  While Retinol is a less intense version of Retin-A (prescription strength), it is still extremely irritating to the skin and may need to be added slowly. The main thing while using these products is to stay out of the sun/wear sunblock, moisturize, use it in moderation and it's wise to use this once you're over the age of 20 and you should speak to a doctor or dermatologist if you're planning on trying this or are having issues with it.

*I believe you should not use this if you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (always talk to your doctor first).

*Retinol and Retin-A are very interesting when it comes to skin care and there's a lot to know even beyond what I wrote above. There's a certain method that works best, and each person is different. If you would like a separate blog post or have any questions on Retinol or Retin-A, please let me know! 

And My Personal Age Inspiration...

Pia Gronning (picture above) is a 65-years-old, Danish Actress and Model. Personally, I think Pia is one of the most gorgeous, inspiring women in the media world and I love everything that her publicity stands for. It's so nice to see a confidant woman who embraces and accepts her age and humanity. I think she's gorgeous and radiates confidence and seems at peace with her appearance. I kind of love natural, gray hair on women! There are a few actresses that are stunning, such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Stacey London, Blythe Danner, Helen Mirren, Diane Keaton, Judie Dench, Meryl Streep and the list goes on. I wonder is the new pastel/grey hair color trend will open up the floor to women letting their hair go silver as they age in the years to come? Richard Gere? Silver fox. Case closed. 

**Above all else, we're all aging and we're all going to go through these NATURAL, interesting changes in life. Don't forget age equals wisdom and signifies a life well lived. There is no reason to feel bad about your age, the way you look, or the "damage" done! We need to focus on the present and stop this age-bashing, because it is a natural, unstoppable, uniform process that EVERYONE goes through! (And that goes for acne too!) No one is immune! The most important aspect is that appearance and energy can indicate someone's health and quality of life.

I hope I pointed out the healthy ways that someone can look and feel good at any age! My hope was to change the focus to overall health and well being, as opposed to adding to the current shaming in society. I considered avoiding this topic, but since it's not going anywhere anytime soon, I figured I should add an informative, positive spin to the discussion!

Age doesn't have to define you as a person, your worth, your mood nor your confidence! Age is something that you can enjoy rather than stress over! Age should not define you or your capabilities! Look at Actresses like Betty White and Susan Sarandon-They don't let age define them! Hopefully aging pushes us towards fulfilling our inner joy and wonder, as opposed to obsessing over the superficial and inevitable. Mindfulness, as mentioned above, can help you enjoy and accept the present moment! 

*Smiling and laughing can add a very youthful energy and beauty to anyone! 

*Agism in the workplace, in relationships, and in Hollywood are places where youth is valued and age is not! There should be room for all ages, races, genders, and preferences in these and every area! Let's represent the real world and everyone in it!

As always, please leave questions, requests and comments below! What do you think of anti-aging and the fixation on youth? What is your foundation of youth? Who are your favorite people who embody and health and agelessness?

You're worth it,

She-IY World

"She does it herself..."