If we follow these directives, we are sure to look our best! There comes a time when it's appropriate to give up our short shorts and thongs but we can still remain glamorous and cute at all time!
___________________________________________________________________________________

By Lauren Battistini

The over-40 woman is a force with whom to be reckoned. No longer does she fit the mold of older matron, nor does she care to look like a 20-year old. She is setting her own standards for beauty and the world is taking notice. Here are 10 tips for the over-40 woman to look her best in an age appropriate way:

1) Makeup-less is more
The mature woman will forgo powdery or full coverage foundations in favor of dewy, tinted moisturizers and sheer mineral powders. She allows the makeup to even out skin tone and impart a glow to the skin. She also converts to softer, but not shimmery makeup formulas. She switches to the more layer-able cream blush and often chooses highly pigmented lip glosses. These products soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles and add subtle color to the face. Matte eye shadows suit her best. She also uses a high quality bronzer to highlight and contour different parts of the face.

2) Tone those facial muscles
Women over 40 experience a droopiness or sagginess of their skin. Fine lines and wrinkles become more pronounced and may produce a significantly aged or tired appearance. Just as we exercise to tighten and lift areas on our body, we can also exercise our facial muscles to lift and tone them. Cynthia Rowland, a pioneer in the world of facial fitness and rejuvenation, believes that her toned face and vibrant complexion are living proof that you do not need costly and painful surgery to look refreshed and youthful. Cynthia's all natural approach to aging is, well, refreshing in a world filled with Botox and cosmetic procedures! The risk of using injectables and plastic surgery is that the results might not look very natural. [Link Removed] can create a more gradual and believable lift to the face.

3) Trend savvy
A style savvy woman over 40 will be selective in wearing trends. She demonstrates an awareness of the trends through strategic purchases of this season's handbags, shoes, jewelry and printed tops or dresses. She will not wear any trend that does not suit her body type, age or lifestyle, though. She may forgo some trends altogether because they simply look too youthful. As with makeup, her style philosophy is "less is more."

4) Use of color-and not just any color
The over-40 woman realizes that color accounts for up to 90% of her entire look and uses it to her advantage. She is very well aware of her color palette and steers clear of poor color choices. The wrong colors visually yellow the whites of teeth and eyes, drag down the face, accentuate fine lines and other skin imperfections, and add 10 pounds to a woman's frame. The over-40 woman uses color to instantly erase 10 years and 10 pounds from her look. She selects tops, scarves and jewelry in her ideal color palette to achieve maximum effect.

5) Tank tops and short shorts no more
Just because you can wear something doesn't mean that you should. Even the fittest over-40 woman knows that she doesn't have to flaunt her body just because she can. Exposing too much skin via tank tops and short shorts looks as though she is trying too hard to recapture her youth. Age appropriate dressing means covering that tank top with a luxurious cardiwrap or buttery leather jacket. Shorts can be worn, but knee length or just above the knee is more appropriate for women over 40.

6) Denim without the rips, fading and bejeweled embellishments
All of the latest trends in denim geared toward the 20-something age set are not appropriate for women over 40. The most sophisticated way for a mature woman to wear denim is to choose a body contouring, figure flattering dark wash style. Denim is a wardrobe staple for life, and women over 40 should choose styles that both accentuate their shape and are tailored to perfection!

7) Your tailor is your best friend
The over-40 woman should always have her clothing tailored to fit as if it were custom made just for her! Not only does she tailor pieces to her horizontal proportions–bust, waist, hip ratios–but she also considers vertical proportions. This refers to her bone structure or lengths. It has to do with whether she has a short or long torso in proportion to the rest of her body. According to Janet Wood, founder of the company Fashion Fit Formula, using the right clothing lengths can visually slenderize any woman by 10-15 pounds in an instant!

8) Hair color-to grey or not to grey
This is one of the trickiest areas for the mature woman. The decision to go grey or cover up the greys is never taken lightly. The bottom line is that some women will grey better than others. Women in the Spring and Autumn color categories should not go grey. They have a golden, or warm, skin undertone. Their grey will come in looking yellowed and dull. The savvy over-40 woman will partner closely with her colorist to determine the best course of action. She invests her money with a good colorist to ensure that her hair color makes her look rejuvenated and fresh. For women in either the Summer or Winter color categories, going grey may very well achieve that effect.

9) Swimwear-poolside chic
The over-40 woman can use summertime as her opportunity to show refined, poolside chic. She has nothing to prove and doesn't need to feel obligated to wear that string bikini any longer. In fact, she shows even more class and age appropriateness when she opts for a sophisticated one-piece or tankini in a bold color or new pattern. Such accessories as sunglasses, a sarong skirt and beautiful sandals are good investment pieces for women over 40 to wear poolside.

10) Investment wardrobe pieces
Now is the time for women to contemplate their top 5 wardrobe staples, and to invest in those key pieces. It may be the classic white button down shirt or a patterned wrap dress. A savvy and mature woman will buy the highest quality that she can find to create a wardrobe that is timeless and sophisticated. Her wardrobe pieces represent effortless and age appropriate chic.
Women over 40 possess their own brand of beauty, which should always be showcased in the right, age appropriate way.

Sources cited:
Cynthia Rowland [Link Removed]

Original Post:
[Link Removed]

FOLLOW her on Twitter:
@cynthiarowland — [Link Removed]

"LIKE" her Facebook page:
Cynthia Rowland — [Link Removed]