Age and Beauty

The idea that your beauty fades as you age is a misconception that many over 50 experience. This notion is false — you can preserve your beauty for years to come with good health habits. These beauty tips for healthy aging can help you maintain the overall appearance and health of your skin, hair and nails.

  • Written by
    Lindsey Crossmier

    Lindsey Crossmier

    Financial Writer

    Lindsey Crossmier is an accomplished writer with experience working for The Florida Review and Bookstar PR. As a financial writer, she covers Medicare, life insurance and dental insurance topics for RetireGuide. Research-based data drives her work.

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  • Edited By
    Savannah Pittle
    Savannah Pittle, senior financial editor for RetireGuide

    Savannah Pittle

    Senior Financial Editor

    Savannah Pittle is a professional writer and content editor with over 16 years of professional experience across multiple industries. She has ghostwritten for entrepreneurs and industry leaders and been published in mediums such as The Huffington Post, Southern Living and Interior Appeal Magazine.

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    Robin Schiltz, C.D.S.
    Robin Schlitz, RetireGuide Reviewer

    Robin Schiltz, C.D.S.

    Senior Safety Expert

    Robin Schiltz is a certified Senior Home Safety Specialist and a certified CARES® Dementia Specialist™. In addition, Robin is the co-owner of Senior Safety Advice, an online platform that provides well-researched information and solutions for caregivers and seniors. Robin is an experienced writer in the financial and senior care industries.

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  • Published: June 17, 2022
  • Updated: May 23, 2023
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 7 Cited Research Articles
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How to Cite RetireGuide.com's Article

APA Crossmier, L. (2023, May 23). Age and Beauty. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/retirement-life-leisure/healthy-aging/beauty/

MLA Crossmier, Lindsey. "Age and Beauty." RetireGuide.com, 23 May 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/retirement-life-leisure/healthy-aging/beauty/.

Chicago Crossmier, Lindsey. "Age and Beauty." RetireGuide.com. Last modified May 23, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/retirement-life-leisure/healthy-aging/beauty/.

Maintaining Your Beauty Over 50

As you grow older, your healthy aging habits directly impact the appearance of your hair, skin and nails. Simple daily practices like avoiding the sun, drinking enough water and moisturizing can help preserve your natural beauty.

If you need ideas for creating a maintenance routine to keep yourself looking your best during your retirement years, explore our top tips and techniques to revive your skin, hair and nails and maintain your healthy glow.

How you maintain your beauty as you age is within your control. A healthy regimen of care for your skin, hair and nails should be followed to maintain a healthy and vibrant look. Consulting with your doctor or beauty specialists for the right products for your needs is important.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

Wrinkles and dark spots are a natural part of aging most will experience after 50. While they are nothing to be embarrassed about, there are anti-aging skin care products that can help you achieve an even skin tone and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. If you want more dramatic results, you can also look into cosmetic procedures like Botox® and Restylane® — or you might even opt to go under the knife for a facelift.

But there are easy changes you can make before undergoing such drastic procedures. According to the National Library of Medicine, an easy way to reduce the effects of aging skin is to cut back on sun exposure and smoking. These two factors have detrimental results on the health and appearance of your skin and can cause spider veins and loss of elasticity.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association suggests sunscreen and moisturizers to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. To be effective, your sunscreen should have at least 30 SPF. Trying to increase your collagen intake, either with lotions or supplements, will further improve the appearance of your skin as collagen is responsible for the skin’s elasticity and smoothness.

And there are other skin care products and treatments that can help deter or fade signs of aging. Dermatologists recommend trying one new product at a time to avoid a harsh reaction. Keep in mind that products typically take several months to make a difference — any anti-aging skin care product that promises overnight results is making a false claim.

Anti-Aging Skin Products
Retinoids
Prescription retinoid creams reduce dark age spots, soften rough skin patches and reduce wrinkles by increasing collagen production. Doctors recommend starting to use a retinoid cream slowly, typically once a week for new users. Always use sunscreen after using retinoid cream because it makes your skin sensitive to light. You can also consider using a retinoid cream as an overnight cream.
Vitamin C Serums
According to researchers at Harvard Medical School, vitamin C can slow skin aging and improve the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. Because it’s an antioxidant, vitamin C fights toxins that can damage your skin. Be patient, and you should start seeing visible results after three months of use.
Petroleum Jelly
Slugging, an anti-aging beauty trend from South Korea, recently became popular in America. Slugging is the use of a petroleum product, like Vaseline, on your face overnight. While some coat their entire faces in Vaseline, you can opt to put the Vaseline only on your dry areas. This should be the last step of your nightly routine, after any serums and lotions.

Products recommended to you by your doctor or dermatologist will likely have a larger impact on your beauty than store-bought creams and lotions.

Did You Know?
When shopping for over-the-counter beauty products, the phrase “clinically proven” does not always mean the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested or approved the product. Try finding a product with the phrase “dermatologist reviewed” instead. This guarantees that a dermatologist reviewed the clinical data and ingredients before manufacturers brought the product to the market.

Hair Color and Texture As You Age

It’s natural for your hair to gradually gray and become brittle or thin with age. Keeping your hair a shorter length can help to deter hair loss since you won’t be combing through long tangles. Using the right products and avoiding unnecessary heat can help keep your hair’s strength and shine.

Unfortunately, many hair products contain ingredients that may contribute to hair loss and thinning. Check your shampoo and conditioner bottles — if they contain any of the ingredients listed below, ‌consider a safer alternative.

Hair Product Ingredients Linked to Hair Loss and Thinning
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
  • Sodium chloride
  • Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
  • Formaldehyde
  • Methylparaben
  • Propylparaben
  • Diethanolamine (DEA)
  • Triethanolamine (TEA)
  • Alcohol
Source: AARP

Graying hair is a big beauty concern of those over 50. While you can opt to color your hair regularly, it’s difficult for many aging Americans to maintain and grays typically leave a stark line in your hair once the follicles grow out.

Many have embraced their grays, choosing a gray blending technique at the salon. This process blends your grays with darker colors, often with a face-framing gray section. Not only does it enhance your natural beauty, but it is also low maintenance. Reducing how often you color your hair is better for its overall health and strength.

Black woman with curly grey hairstyle

Aging Nails

Once you’re over 50, it’s not uncommon for your nails to become brittle, soft and thin. Several simple changes and products can improve the overall strength and look of your nails.

If you notice your nails becoming soft, the skin is likely being over-moisturized or exposed to harmful chemicals like cleaning products or nail polish remover. Wearing rubber gloves when cleaning and taking a break from nail polish and remover will allow your nails time to recover.

For brittle and thin nails that constantly break, you can contact your doctor for a prescription-strength nail hardener, such as Nuvail. Nuvail is a thin layer of solution applied to your nails, keeping them strong and healthy. Once the Nuvail is dried, you can apply your favorite nail polish on top for a fresh finish.

Last Modified: May 23, 2023

7 Cited Research Articles

  1. Harvard Medical School. (2022, March 3). Do Retinoids Really Reduce Wrinkles? Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/do-retinoids-really-reduce-wrinkles
  2. Nathan, N. & Patel, P. (2021, November 10). Why Is Topical Vitamin C Important for Skin Health? Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-topical-vitamin-c-important-for-skin-health-202111102635
  3. Johnson, L. (2014, February 11). Is Your Shampoo Causing Hair Loss? Try These Tips from a Specialist. Retrieved from https://blog.aarp.org/be-your-best/is-your-shampoo-causing-hair-loss-try-these-tips-from-a-specialist
  4. Kennedy C. et al. (2003). Effect of Smoking and Sun on the Aging Skin. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12648216/
  5. The American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). How to Select Anti-aging Skin Care Products. Retrieved from https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/anti-aging/selecting-anti-aging-products
  6. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. (n.d.). Brittle Splitting Nails. Retrieved from https://www.aocd.org/page/BrittleSplittingNail
  7. Nuvail. (n.d.). How to Apply Nuvail. Retrieved from https://nuvail-rx.com/how-to-use-nuvail/