We are living longer than ever before in history because of improved medical science and health. Looking to the future then, women can reasonably expect to live to their nineties. This can either be viewed as a blessing or a curse, depending on how a woman lives her life and approaches aging.

The teens and twenties can be full of angst. The female of the species is often concerned with what the near future holds, making comparisons with others and being self-critical. Then the thirties arrive and they are a time when she can hardly catch her breath. There are children to raise, careers to pursue, homes to run, glass ceilings to break. There is little time for introspection except for a few weary minutes before dropping off to sleep at night. Thankfully, the following decades bring compensations for the loss of youth as you arrive at a greater understanding of yourself and how you fit into the world around you.

Women are more youthful these days than in previous eras. Sixty is the new forty! Isn't it a perk then, that you are able to have the benefits of youth if you look after your health, combined with the wisdom that can only be gained by growing older? By the time her forties roll along, a woman has hopefully come to terms with how she looks and what suits her best. You seldom find a forty-plus-something trying valiantly and unsuccessfully to look like Kate Moss. Instead she recognizes her good physical attributes and plays them up, while downplaying the less favorable ones. But most important of all, the forty-plus-woman can look stunning without obsessing about appearances. There are many role models of older women who fill you with hope and inspiration, proving that growing older is not limiting. For examples, think of Queen Elizabeth in her eighties; Diane Feinstein and Vanessa Redgrave in their seventies; Helen Mirren and Hillary Clinton in their sixties; Madonna, Merryl Streep and Condoleeza Rice in their fifties; as well as Michelle Obama and J.K. Rowling in their forties. These women have confidence in their thoughts, interests and actions. They are all interested in causes and the needs of others. They know that who they are is not defined by their appearances, yet they do not ignore their looks. They all look stunning. They are role models. So, delight in aging rather than dread it. Accept that you have to work a bit harder to look good, but be realistic.

- Look after your skin with moisturizers and sun protection, but accept that wrinkles aren't terminal!

- Watch your diet for health and weight reasons. Likewise, get daily exercise for good health and good looks.

- Get a good haircut and listen to your hairdresser's advice about what suits your face. When coloring, avoid going too harshly dark.

- Wear simpler, more tailored clothes. Fussy frills seem girlish.

- Wear less make-up as you age. Less is better and lighter colors are better.

You are liberated from the constraints of youthful insecurity and old-fashioned domestic stereotypes of growing old. You can look as stunning as you dare and you can attempt anything your heart desires with confidence. Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, Glynnis Hayward.
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