SO YOU WANT TO LOOK TEN YEARS YOUNGER YESTERDAY

Help is on the way. There are beauty products that really do work that can help you look at least ten years young and this article will tell you what they are. First off, the problem of sagging skin, wrinkles, fine lines and skin that just looks old. Is it inevitable with age or can we do something about it? Big name products sell well because of advertising, but they often don't really do much. One thing that will knock off years for sure is healthier looking, whiter teeth. Get a good tooth whitener and give it a go. You will attract compliments right away. What else do we know that works for sure? The secret to youth is collagen. Collagen is the key to skin that ages well. And the product that researchers have proven works to generate collagen is Retin-A or AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids). Of course, we should all know by now that the number one way to keep collagen from breaking down is to avoid the sun at all costs. Dermatologists continue to warn us that up to 90 percent of wrinkles, dark spots and sun damage are caused by sun exposure. You must use sunscreen regularly. The best sunscreen in the world? LaRoche-Posay Anthelios XL, dermatologists tout it. It has a chemical called "Mexoryl" that is well-known for protecting skin from UVB rays. However, if the damage is done, there are some products you can try. Vitamin A (retinoid) creams. These will prevent wrinkles or keep them from worsening. Look for products containing vitamin A like prescription Retin-A, Differin or Renova. Used nightly, these creams stimulate collagen renewal. They prevent skin cells from breaking down. Your skin is extra susceptible to sun damage while using these creams, so make sure you don't go out without sunscreen. Alpha-hydroxy acids or microdermabrasion is good if you're in your mid-30's and worried about wrinkles. Try exfoliating once a week with alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA's) or a microdermabrasion kid. Don't overdue it. Make sure it's in a creamy base. AHA's are glycolic or lactic acid formulated to increase collagen in sun-damaged skin. They will also reduce blotchiness, fine lines, redness and reduce pore size. Recommend MD Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel ($68 for 30 applications at Sephora.) For crow's feet you need a retinoid wrinkle reducer that hydrates. Recommend MD Forte Skin Rejuvenation Eye Cream or Estee Lauder Perfectionist Power Correcting Patch. Then throw on a nice dark denim (not light, makes you look older) pair of jeans and hit the town.

AGE GRACEFULLY BY ACCEPTING YOURSELF

There are a lot of different anti-wrinkle creams sold, some with "secret" ingredients that sound exotic and hike up the price quite a bit. What's known to work is Retin-A, retinoid wrinkle reducer that hydrates for the eyes, antioxidants and moisture creams. That's pretty much the basics of your full artillery programs. Things you read about movie stars using like bird poop and fetuses, just fall into that secret, but not necessarily effective ingredient category. If you've been good about using sunscreen then you have reason to rejoice. If you haven't, you can still try the retin-A creams. And the thing about cosmetic surgery is that it is being done in epidemic proportions almost forcing you to consider it at some point. In 2007 there were 11.7 million cosmetic procedures done. That's a 457 percent increase since 1997. If everyone around you is having procedures and you're not, it's like you've aged ten years. You're the athlete who's playing by the rules. The others are using appearance-enhancing drugs, you might say. How to make your age recede as an issue? Is your posture good? Are you in good physical shape? Is your hair nicely cut and styled? Are you wearing current clothing? Are your teeth white enough? People will forgive you a lot if the like you. You don't have to work on your appearance so much as blind people to your flaws. Do for others. Look out for others. Give to others. They won't be judging your looks. Accept yourself inside and out. Perhaps the best advice is to find things you're interested in and that you enjoy. Don't spend all of your time fretting in front of the mirror or having work done or recovering from work. Don't waste hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars every year on creams that don't work. Get out and explore new things. Take the focus off of how you look. Accept that you'll never look 25 again. Age in a graceful way. Be interested in what you do and be happy. People complain that once they hit a certain age they are invisible. If you just smile at people when you're talking to them, they're really happy to talk to you. Henry David Thoreau: None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.