Be forever young

In 1984, when German pop group Alphaville sang ‘Forever young, I want to be forever young, you may have been peering into the mirror to check for grey hairs, and wondering whether too many late night binges were to blame for your drooping eyelids. If you decided then and there to take on Father Time by making important lifestyle decisions, you could look 20 years younger today than your actual age, and not just on a dark night. Be assured that you are never too young or too old to make the best of what you have, and to preserve it for as long as possible.

Establishing a skincare routine just before entering your teens will help you look your best at every stage of your life.  Beauty consultants at any pharmacy will help you choose a product to suit your skin type and encourage a routine of cleanse, tone and moisturise.  Most moisturisers today contain SPF, aka sun protection factor, designed to counter ultra violet radiation. The use of sunscreen can slow down the development of wrinkles, and prevent skin cancer, and should be used daily whether you are light or dark-skinned. Don’t believe the fable “Black don’t crack!”

Learning to use make-up and experimenting with foundation, blusher, eyeshadow and mascara is a rite of passage for every young woman.  Remember that less is more, whether you are 16 or 60, and want to achieve a radiantly natural look.  Nothing ages the appearance more than a heavy foundation caked with powder, and using too much mascara and eyeliner will make you look like an elderly buna (night ape).

Smoking and drinking alcohol not only cause wrinkles, but deplete the collagen which gives strength and elasticity to the skin. A misspent youth carousing in smoky night clubs and knocking back margaritas can be counteracted by drinking two litres of mineral water daily, and ensuring at least seven hours of uninterrupted, peaceful beauty sleep every night. To avoid insomnia or nightmares, do not watch scary movies before retiring and try not to think about your failing business or the bank’s threat to withdraw your overdraft. It will only make you old before your time.

Dieticians and medical doctors are all agreed that what you eat makes a huge difference to how you age and how you feel, and that even your skin will look younger if you eat right. This means cutting down on sugar and oil and dropping those sausage rolls and KitKats from your lunch box and substituting a salad-filled whole wheat roll with a banana for afters. Be aware that free radicals are not a benign political party. They are unstable molecules, produced by normal bodily functions, that can cause damage to cells. Combat these by eating colourful foods containing antioxidants, such as green rape, kale and Brussels sprouts, and orange carrots and butternut squash. Red strawberries and ripe tomatoes protect cells from damage and purple skinned plums and prunes help prevent diabetes and strokes.

It goes without saying that we should choose chicken or fish over red meat if we wish to attend our grandchildren’s weddings. A straight posture is a sign of energy and confidence, so avoid the hunched posture caused by gravity and collagen loss, start regular strength training and resistance exercises. Walking, dancing, swimming and playing bowls will not only slow down and reverse bone loss, but will stimulate your mind and provide a social network. Do you dread the onset of Alzheimers? Keep your brain active by playing Scrabble, reading or going to the theatre.

Baz Luhrmann in his song, Sunscreen, says If I could offer you one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. More advice, of a quirky nature, aimed at those who want to “dance the funky chicken on their 75th wedding anniversary”, is to “floss and don’t waste time on jealousy.” So while enjoying “the power and beauty of your youth”, choose a lifestyle that will see you through to your golden years.  You may not have the fresh complexion and silken tresses of Botticelli’s Venus, but you will be upright, energetic and attractive, and ready to enjoy every opportunity your life has yet to offer.