By now, most of us have seen Tina Knowles Lawson living her best life all over Instagram and looking amazing doing it. The businesswoman and mother to Beyonce and Solange, believe it or not, is in her 60s and there’s no denying that she is doing a lot of things right.
The truth of the matter is that you can be sexy at any age, but it’s not enough just to look good – you have to feel good as well. We talked with a handful of experts on various topics and gathered their best tips and advice on what it takes to live a happy, healthy and full life well into your 60s and beyond and jam-packed it all into one article.
Here’s what the experts had to say:
“Getting good quality sleep is important for well-being as we age. There is a myth out there that you need less sleep as you age. This is not true. Adults at any age need 6-8 hours of sleep every day. Sleep gives the body the chance to rest and recharge. As you get older, your stamina declines so getting quality sleep becomes all the more important to preserve your level of activity.” – Dr. Bola Oyeyipo, a family physician in San Antonio, Texas and co-founder of Healthgist.com
“Regular exercise helps to keep the heart healthy and lowers your risk for cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks. Exercise also helps with maintaining bone density thereby reducing your risks for falls and fractures; both of which can reduce your level of function. Exercise also brings about a release of endorphins in the brain, which creates a sense of well-being and improves the mood.” – Dr. Oyeyipo
“After age of 50, there are a few nutrients that need special attention: protein, calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, iron, Vitamin A, folate, B-complex, zinc and water. Pick foods, such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean protein and heart healthy oils. An easy way to add variety of nutrients is to have a half plate of vegetables every day and don’t forget to add fruit as dessert. Snack on heart healthy nuts and or calcium-rich yogurt. Stay hydrated with zero calorie beverages as this will improve skin quality as your age. Remember that as people get older, we use less energy so spend calories wisely. Find a balance of food and physical activity. It’s never too late to add movement in your life. Aim for 20-30 minutes each day.” – Angela Ginn, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
“Dressing inappropriately ‘young’ rather than ‘youthfully’ only invites comparison with youth … Dressing appropriately should not be confused with dressing ‘old,’ matronly/dowdy, or compromised in personal style. Instead, if you consider ageless classics mixed with trend, especially when choosing great accessories, you can have great style and self-expression. By covering those areas selectively that are no longer your best assets, you are doing your appearance a favor … Every age has its beauty. Every age needs different standards. Being appropriate is part of beauty. There’s nothing wrong with that and it’s time our society respected that process.” – Sherrie Mathieson, author, fashion consultant and former costume designer
“Sun protection is the best and most potent anti-aging tip. Chronic sun exposure causes wrinkles, discoloration, uneven skin tone and worst of all, skin cancer. Consistently wearing sunscreen or sunblock with at least SPF 30 will shave years off of your skin. Many believe that dark skin is enough protection against the sun. Dark skin only provides an SPF of 13, which is far below the recommended protective factor. So, dark skinned beauties should also slather on protection and use sun safe practices.” – Dr. Michelle Henry, a New-York based board-certified dermatologist
“Liquid or cream foundation applied with a light touch and with hydrating qualities are great for mature skin. Brands like Becca, Bobbi Brown, and Laura Mercier have a large range of skin tones and have a variety of coverage options. Mascara can really open up the eyes, especially a dark blue, which make the whites of the eyes appear brighter.” – Margina Dennis, celebrity makeup artist (Tracy Morgan, Lea Michelle) and former beauty director of LA’G Magazine
“You need to start with taking care of your skin. The key to having that healthy radiant, younger looking skin is to hydrate. Make sure you are moisturizing day and night. Stay away from too much color on the eye, instead you want definition. Define the brows, use liner and mascara, and only use color on lips and cheeks. Keep it a color that is clear and bright. I recommend berry or brick tones for Black women in this age range.” – Jacquie Hutchinson, a professional Global Cosmetics Consultant and former product trainer and makeup artist for Revlon
“Your lips can show your age before your skin does. Avoid using darker matte lipsticks. Use richer colors and always top with lip gloss to give a youthful look.” – Ivory Narvell, owner of LaBelle Agency, wardrobe stylist and Julie Chen’s (from “The Talk”) makeup artist
“Staying positive is one way to keep you young, at any age. Smiling, laughing and being hopeful all produce positive effects on the mind, body and spirit connection. When our bodies release endorphins through happy feelings, it’s reflected in our moods, thoughts and outlook. There are many ways to stay positive as we age and some of those things include routine healthy lifestyle practices such as yoga, meditation, daily or weekly walks, as well as healthy eating. But, there are other ways to keep our minds and spirits balanced too and that’s by surrounding ourselves with young people, learning new things, and picking up a new hobby where one can also meet new people. It can be scary to modify the way we live after we reach a certain age, but research shows that doing these things keeps your mind stimulated and depressive symptoms at bay and creates a happier existence.” – Asha Tarry, Mental Health Specialist and Life Coach and owner of Behavioral Health Consulting Services LMSW, PLLC.
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