Getting older is not an excuse to start looking dowdy. There are people who keep their looks without resorting to drastic surgery procedures and pump their faces so full of botox. Here are a few tips on how to age gracefully.

Keep your face moisturized. Older people tend to have drier skin. Do not wash your face more than necessary. Once in the morning and once in the evening will do. Use cleansing milk instead of soap. In the morning, you can also massage cold cream into your skin. Be sure to take more care during winter as the cold temperature and harsh winds may cause havoc to your skin. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and eat food with lots of proteins. Moisture and minerals can help keep those wrinkles at bay.

So what if you have gray hair? It’s a natural part of the aging process. Avoid those hair dyes as much as possible – they can result to hair loss. I’m sure you’d rather be salt-and-peppered than bald.

Speaking of hair. Ask your stylist for advice, but I’m sure he or she would agree that a shorter and softer cut would suit the more mature woman. But no matter what hairstyle you sport, nothing beats well-groomed tresses.

Exercise. Take a walk around the neighborhood, go swimming in the community pool, or take dance classes, whatever. Just try and engage in regular physical activities. Watch your posture too. You might be alarmed to find your back stooping lower as more and more years go by, but exercise and calcium can keep osteoporosis away.

Act and dress your age. This also goes for make-up. Nothing is worse than seeing a more mature woman looking like a sixteen year old. Go for classy and elegant rather than hip and cool.

And most importantly, smile.