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Youth, it’s wasted on the young.
You spend your whole childhood and teen years hoping to look older - and then all of a sudden, you’re staring at your grandpa’s doppelganger in the mirror, wondering if you can somehow get in touch with Cher to figure out a way to turn back time.
Sure, men have traditionally been granted slightly more wiggle room when it comes to gracefully aging, thanks to that whole “silver fox” thing.
But no man wants to look like a withered or wrinkled dusty skeleton once they get to their so-called golden years.
Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do on a daily basis now to keep you looking fresh as a daisy and young enough to get unironically carded at the bottle shop for a bit longer.
So unless you’re fortunate enough to be the proud owner of a magical oil painting of yourself that exhibits all the signs of aging as your body stays forever young (à la Dorian Gray), keep on reading for tips to look - and feel - younger.
The right hairstyle can make you look younger
Remember that one dude you knew when you were younger who hadn’t changed his hairstyle since the 1970s?
Maybe it was a teacher, maybe it was your dad’s best mate, but Disco Ron sure made an impression either way. Don’t be like Disco Ron.
A dated haircut is one of the surest ways to prematurely age yourself (definitely not in a good way).
While a luscious shag ‘do may have worked when you were at uni, if you’re wondering how to look younger today, it’s time to give your haircut and hairstyle a much-needed update.
For example, neater and shorter hairstyles that keep things looking clean and tidy (in the front and the back) might look better on you now.
Styling Gel For Thinning Hair
But work with what you’ve got, mate, whether that means finding the best haircut for thinning hair or making a decision about covering or accentuating your grays.
Well-groomed facial hair helps men appear younger
Just like the hair on top of your noggin, the hair on your face should be kept neat and trimmed to make you look more modern man and less mountain man.
When you’re younger, a five o’clock shadow can bring an air of mystery and roguishness - and even add a year or two to those baby-faced youngins.
However, after a certain age, especially once those wiry little gray beard hairs start popping up, that scruffiness starts to look much less intentional, as though Father Time may have fallen asleep in a doorway drunk somewhere.
Whatever you do, if you do keep some semblance of a beard, just make sure it’s well-groomed - maybe even close-cropped - to give yourself a more youthful appearance.
And if you decide to shave everything completely off, we’ve got plenty of amazing all-natural shaving products to help get a smooth, close trim.
Essential Shaving Kit
Do cold showers make you look younger?
A long steamy shower or soak may feel amazing, but it’s drying the heck out of your skin.
What you may not know is that hot water washes off sebum, the skin’s thin natural layer of protective oil that keeps it from drying out.
Dry skin leads to wrinkles and fine lines that make you look older. So don’t turn the water all the way to the hottest setting.
If you’re in desperate need of a shower that feels like a warm, comforting blanket, aim for lukewarm water when you can.
Even better, if you’ve got the knackers for them, cold showers can be all-around amazing for improving circulation (you know, for that glowing skin look), making hair look shiny, and improving your mood all-around.
And once you get out of the shower, it’s time to take care of your skin, which brings us to the next point…
Moisturized skin keeps a youthful look
Your skin is your wrapper, the cover of your book—and while you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can certainly attempt to judge a man’s age by the appearance of his skin.
One of the main factors that leads to the skin’s aging appearance is the natural reduction in collagen that, unfortunately, happens with age. Collagen and elastin production drop significantly every year past the age of 20, with a 50-year-old man producing only 70% of the collagen he once did.
Collagen and elastin make the skin firm and able to snap back into place.
So when the production drops, skin starts to sag and become more delicate.
If you only remember one thing from this article, it should be this: Moisturizing is absolutely essential as you age.
We talked about the sebum protecting your skin, keeping you from looking like a desiccated mummy emerging from the crypt.
Well, we’ve got a men's facial moisturizer with natural ingredients as well as a men's body moisturizer that’s perfect for slathering on after all those invigorating cold showers.
A little exfoliating to slough off all those old dead skin cells is also pretty important and can go a long way when it comes to looking younger by making simple changes to your skincare routine.
A word for the wise: Not all exfoliators are created equal. Always make sure you’re exfoliating properly using a gentle facial scrub for men.
What causes premature aging?
Of course, we’re now going to turn our magnifying glass onto your hectic, messy life and tell you to get yourself together, old man.
You knew this day was coming.
You just can’t keep on eating junk food and drinking to your heart’s content until 3AM for all eternity - unless you’re going for that “well beyond your years” look.
Make a pact with yourself to:
- eat healthily (aka, stop eating junk food)
- limit alcohol consumption
- and quit smoking.
All those things are full of toxins that will age you in the blink of an eye.
But perhaps the most important thing of all is that elusive good night’s sleep.
Studies show that men who didn’t get an ideal seven to nine hours of sleep a night had more fine lines, uneven skin tone, and reduced skin elasticity.
And if you’re not convinced yet, a good night’s sleep also reduces body inflammation, lowers cortisol levels (aka, the stress hormone), and even helps produce more natural human growth hormone, or HGH, the hormone all those old 80s action stars are now taking to get buff and stay young beyond what nature intended.
And also don't forget to establish a skincare routine for mature skin, whether you’re a younger guy just planning ahead or a gent in his forties or fifties and beyond.
Now that we’ve equipped you with these tips on how to look younger, you should be ready for that high school reunion in no time, whether it’s your fifteenth or your fiftieth!
Essential Anti-Aging Kit
