For as long as humans have been around, we’ve dreamt of eternal youth. The desire that led the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon to search Florida for the mythical Fountain of Youth way back in the 1500s is the same desire that drives modern men and women to ransack the beauty section of their local CVS. We want to be beautiful. We want to be young.
As it turns out, this isn’t a totally vain idea. Your beauty and health are connected, and the right beauty techniques can make you happier and healthier as they make you more radiant.
Your Health Matters
It’s easy to think of beauty as a vain pursuit, but that’s inaccurate. Experts agree that looking our best helps with our self-esteem and our mental health, provided we approach beauty and our looks in a positive and affirming way. And when we care for our skin by washing or eating healthy foods, we’re also helping our physical health. All of this means focusing on beauty and youthfulness is something that we all should be doing, because it is quite literally good for us!
But how can we do it?
Caring for Your Looks Every Day
Looking and feeling young and beautiful starts at home. You can get a lot out of spas and plastic surgeons, but there’s no substitute for regular beauty care at home!
Start with your basic healthy habits. Are you eating right? Exercising? These things are essential to looking your best. You’ll be more youthful and energetic if you’re exercising, and a healthy and balanced diet will keep you trim and give you healthier and more beautiful skin and hair.
Care for your skin every day by washing your face at least once a day—preferably twice—in the morning and at night. Moisturize daily, too, and be sure to remove any makeup at night before you go to sleep.
As for your hair, try not to wash it every day unless you’re breaking a sweat. Two or three shampooings a week is all your hair really needs, and doing much more could hurt it. So skip the shampoo once in a while, please!
Professional Care and Beauty
Just because your at-home routines form the basis of your beauty plan does not mean there is no place for a relaxing spa day or a trip to the hairdresser! Be sure to treat yourself to professional care once in a while.
Visiting the nail salon or the health spa isn’t just for one-time treatments—it’s also a great time to ask beauty experts what they think of your routine and which products they might recommend for you.
Hormone Therapy and More
We’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention the powerful ways in which science is advancing our health and beauty options.
New and experimental treatments and cosmetic surgeries are coming along all the time, and some of them have eye-popping potential. Take hormone therapy, for instance. Options like testosterone therapy can restore youthful beauty and vigor, experts say. Men lose testosterone as they age, so getting more of it can make them feel more energetic and boost everything from their libido to their self-esteem.
Is hormone therapy right for you? Should you consider cosmetic surgery? Those are questions only you can answer—with the help of your healthcare provider, of course. Talk to your doctor and to experts in cosmetic and anti-aging procedures to learn more and make an informed decision.
Image credit: youth via oneinchpunch/Shutterstock