Act Your Age . . . Just Don't Look It

You know not to jump off a bridge, whether your friends are doing it or not. Same goes for drinking from any bottle with a skull and crossbones on it.

Those are no-brain-necessary guidelines to living longer.

But some of us may need a reminder of some simple ways that we can not only live longer but look better. Here, in case the heat has addled your brain, are nine easy steps to a younger-looking you.

1. Get a facial. Having a professional facial not only feels good, it's beneficial to your complexion. Schedule a consultation appointment first to see what your skin's needs are, then get on a regular schedule.

Or if you don't have the money, try a face mask for your skin type -- moisturizing masks for normal to dry skin, clarifying clay masks for oily types. Aveeno, Neutrogena and St. Ives all make great masks for less than $10.

2. Stop smoking. Surely you expected this one on the list.

"If you want to look younger, don't smoke," warned Dr. Bruce Bennett with Omni Medical Group.

Smoking can accelerate the normal aging process of your skin and contribute to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking and are irreversible.

Here's how it happens: "Smoking causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin," according to the Mayo Clinic's Web site. "This impairs blood flow to your skin, depleting it of oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin -- fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely."

Plus, you have to worry about repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes and the facial expressions you make when smoking, such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke, the site continued.

3. Sleep a little longer. "When you're well rested, it shows in your face," writes Dr. Loretta Ciraldo in her book "6 Weeks to Sensational Skin: Dr. Loretta's Beauty Camp Handbook for Your Freshest Face" (Rodale, $20).

According to Ciraldo, the body's bare-minimum sleep requirement is seven hours. Even if you're "getting by" with less sleep, it's not that smart for your body -- including your appearance.

Try going to bed 15 minutes earlier each night, then rise 15 minutes later in the morning, she said. Do this until you are sleeping at least seven hours.

4. Brighten your smile. Consider having your teeth professionally whitened, which will erase years of yellowing, face-aging stains from your otherwise pearly whites. You can also try over-the-counter whiteners, such as Crest White Strips, which you'll find at most drug and grocery stores.

5. Sip water. Water keeps you hydrated, of course, and flushes out toxins, keeping them from building up, Bennett said. A side benefit to drinking water is that your skin might look better and clearer. The popular adage is eight 8-ounce servings each day -- minimum. And, no, Diet Coke and clear carbonated beverages don't count.

6. Buy cucumbers. They're not just for salads, you know. If you frequently have puffy eyes, you first need to ask yourself why. Staying up too late? Not drinking enough water? Too stressed? Figure those things out and try to change those habits. You'll more than likely see reduced puffiness.

In the meantime, though, here's a quick morning ritual: Cut two slices of cucumbers, get comfortably horizontal, and put one slice over each eye area. Then, relax for at least five minutes -- 10 if you have time.

They're good to eat, too. Adding cucumber to your salad is a great way to boost fiber intake, according to the George Mateljan Foundation. Plus, you get get the added bonus of vitamin C, silica, potassium and magnesium.

7. Watch what you eat. For the most part, Americans get too much food, Bennett said. And more fat equals more heart disease.

You'll certainly feel better if you eat a wider variety of foods, Bennett said. Although it's hard to prove how certain foods can directly make you look younger, the fat math is simple -- more fat in foods equals more fat on you.

8. Wear sunscreen. One of the best ways to keep your skin looking younger is to use sunscreen, said Jennifer Whitworth, business manager for the Estee Lauder cosmetics counter at Dillard's Woodland Hills, Okla. They help ward off damage from the sun's wrinkle-causing rays.

Feel like you need a little color, though? Try a bronzer, self-tanning product or the MysticTan, which you can find at area tanning salons -- just stand there, be sprayed and, voila, you're tan.

9. Take a hike. Walking is one of the safest, simplest ways to get exercise, Bennett said. If you're doing it for heart fitness, try it three times a week. Losing weight? Go five times.

But don't start out too fast, Bennett said, especially if you're not used to exercising. The goal is to gradually increase the distance you walk over time, thereby "teaching your furnace" to burn more calories.

A pound has 3,500 calories, Bennett said, and you can only burn 200 to 300 calories an hour by walking. He recommends building up to walking an hour, then cutting out 200 to 300 calories a day from your diet. That's one pound lost per week.

Source: Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Powered by Yellowbrix.