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Do This Mind Trick to Look 12 Years Younger
Why: Those who regularly meditate experience all kinds of mind-body benefits, from lower stress levels to reduced risk of heart disease. Another benefit: They're hotter than everyone else.
Experts have determined that meditation practitioners have a biological age (which includes factors like skin elasticity) of between five to 12 years younger than their true ages. Scientists aren't totally sure what, exactly, keeps meditators looking young and fit, but one likely explanation is that meditation curbs the fraying of telomeres -- aka DNA damage -- which may inhibit physical aging.
Try: To find out which type of meditation is right for you and how you can get started, try these easy tips. Also, if you're a techie, smartphone apps like Headspace and Take a Break are way helpful for getting into the zone.
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Make Over Your Mouth to Shave Off Five Years
Why: An annoying sign of aging: In addition to the yellowing that naturally happens by eating dark food and drink, teeth get more dull-looking as they wear and your tooth enamel thins. That's why having whiter teeth is shown to make people look five years younger, among a host of other benefits. (It makes you more employable!)
Try: There are so many teeth-whitening products on the market that it's possible to sport a smile that's several shades whiter within days. Look for tooth-whitening products with a concentration of 10 to 15 percent peroxide to avoid compromising your teeth's enamel; try GoSmile Speed Whitening System.
If you gnash your teeth at night, take steps to avoid wear and tear: Stay away from hard or chewy foods (gum, taffy, tough vegetables like raw carrots, etc.) that exacerbate grinding and/or use a mouth guard at night.
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Straighten Up to Look Younger Inside and Out
Why: This schoolmarm-y advice has a purpose. Not surprisingly, studies show that poor posture makes others perceive you as older and heavier than you really are. Standing up straighter elongates the body, making you look thinner, a hallmark of youth.
Not only does slouching make you look older, it actually ages your body: Poor posture is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and other chronic health problems.
Try: Analyze your environment, routine and habits for factors that might be reinforcing your slouching habit. Do you have a crappy desk chair with no back support? Are you prone to shopping online while slumped over on your couch? Is your car's rearview mirror pointed too low, or do you lean forward in your car seat when traffic makes you tense? Tweak those detrimental habits now.
In the long-term, do core-strengthening exercises to support good posture. Crunches, planks, scissor kicks, burpees -- get creative.
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Get Rid of This Accessory to Lose Half a Decade
Why: Just in case you were wondering, those thick-framed hipster specs aren't doing you any favors. Like, any.
Research indicates that glasses make people look an average of three years older. What's worse: The older you are, the older they make you look. Subjects older than 45 were judged as five years older than their true age when they wore specs. Ouch.
Try: Contacts aren't for everyone, but new developments in technology are making them easier to wear. Hate taking out your lenses before bed? Products like AirOptix Night & Day Aqua are approved for extended wear for 30 days. Can't be bothered to care for them? Buy daily disposables like 1-Day Acuvue.
Whatever lens type you choose, practice good hygiene: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released numbers indicating that eye infections from contact lenses are responsible for 1 million doctor appointments and ER visits every year.
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The Skin Issue That Makes You Look Like a Grandma (Hint: It's Not Wrinkles)
Why: Many women bemoan their wrinkles as the reason they look older, but science says skin tone has more to do with youth (or lack thereof).
Experts say the main reason people are judged as older is not because of wrinkles but because their skin tone is not uniform-looking. Hyperpigmentation from sun damage or hormones is usually the culprit. And it's not just your face: uneven tone on the neck and chest are also dead giveaways of age.
Try: There are tons of foundation, powder and concealer products for making the skin on your face look more even. Now there are also products geared toward making the skin on your body look more uniform via pigments and light-reflecting particles. The new body BB creams use sheer pigments and light-reflecting materials to create the illusion of more even skin. (We love Urban Decay Naked Skin Body Beauty Balm.)
Any self-tanner can help skin look more uniform, and you can't go wrong with gradual formulas like Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer.
Also great: "Express" tanning formulas that develop over a few hours and can be washed off once you achieve your desired darkness. We like Vita Liberata Rapid Tan Mousse.
Most women think that looking years younger is going to cost them: time, money and/or pain. And anti-aging products and cosmetic procedures cost. But the truth is that looking more youthful -- by years, even a decade -- is much more about tweaking perceptions. These 10 science-based tips show how simple changes can help you turn back the clock by a decade or more.