Tips for Girls to Prevent the Aging Process

If you're over 30, chances are you wish you could turn back time and change a few things; we obviously can't step into a time machine and go back to the 80s but what we can do is pass on our wisdom onto the younger generation.

Now that I'm in my mid-life I am cursing myself for not doing certain things (mostly female related) and wanted to give girls a few tips on how they can preserve their youth.

Even though you're young now, you won't always be so take care of your skin: stay out of the sun and always wear sunscreen when you can't avoid the glaring rays. Do not use a tanning booth - they are not only harmful and expedite the skin's cellular aging process, but you can contract infections from unclean beds. Wear moisturizer daily that contains a SPF of at least 15, and use a light under eye cream - one that is suited for your young skin, not the harsh ones like Roc. Always remove your make-up at night and clean your face before going to bed.

Gravity is inevitable so plan ahead and do whatever you can to prolong it. Always wear a bra, even if you're small breasted because the breast tissue will lose its elasticity over the years and even small breasts will start to sag. And the same goes for your bum, this too, will start to sag and why we don't wear more supportive underwear I don't know. Wearing thongs has become the norm nowadays and there's nothing wrong with wearing them once in a while to avoid visible panty lines, but on a regular basis it's best to wear underwear that covers your bum. Any support is better than no support and thongs obviously do not offer any support. When your boobs start to sag you can at least wear a bra and prop them up, but when your bum sags, there's not much you can do about it except get a buttock implant - and who the heck wants to do that? Be pro-active with this one, it will keep you looking younger and much happier when you look in the mirror.

Take care of your hands. They too, are affected by the sun so don't forget them when using sunscreen. Hands have less fat that other body parts so they tend to age more quickly and the best defense is using hand lotion as often as possible. Another tip is to use hand cream at night before you go to bed and then put your hands in cotton gloves; sleep with the gloves on all night as this will seal in the moisture and help keep your hands looking as beautiful as they are now. Applying cuticle oil will also help moisturize your cuticles and nails.

Your feet are working hard for you all day so make sure you take care of them. Slough with a pumice stone to get rid of any hard calluses and dead skin, then moisturize and wear socks to lock in the moisture.

Wait as long as possible before you start to shave your legs, underarms and bikini area because once you start you'll never stop. Something might be in fashion one minute - like Brazilian waxing - but who knows what will be the latest trend in ten years so I would not recommend removing all of your bikini hair through laser hair removal. Also remember that your bikini hair is there for a reason; grooming is fine but keeping some hair to protect this delicate area is a good idea too.

Now onto hair, it is always abused no matter what age we are, but you can still have the latest hairstyle and keep your locks healthy. If you are not gray, then don't use permanent hair color, you can still change the hair tone with semi-permanent color and it will save your hair from the damage of bleach and ammonia that go along with permanent colors. Always use a conditioner and don't wash your hair daily unless it is oily. Washing your hair too often will actually make it more dry, and strip the hair's natural moisture. Another tip is to let your hair air dry instead of using a hair dryer which can damage the hair with the intense heat. Heat damage also comes from straightening irons, curling irons and hot rollers, but if you use a heat treatment product before using these tools that will help dramatically. You also can limit the amount of times you use heating appliances on your hair, so instead of curling your hair daily, try curling your hair twice a week.

Nutrition is also an important part of the aging process and when you're young you think you can always eat whatever you want and stay thin but think again. As we age our metabolism slows down so we have to eat less and exercise more. Eating foods that have nutritional value are much better than empty calories like donuts, cookies, and candy bars. You should allow yourself to enjoy these treats on occasion or even once a week, but don't let them be the staple of your diet.

For women in particular exercise is very important to help build healthy bones as is taking vitamin D and calcium. If you keep your bones healthy then you won't have to worry about osteoporosis or getting a hump when you're 65. Exercise will help you maintain your weight and keep your muscle tone because again, as we age, our muscle tone starts to disappear so weight training becomes more important as we get older. It's a good idea to always incorporate some form of exercise in your life even if you're young and thin; it's good for your heart and good for your mind.

These simple preventative tips should help slow down the aging process, and if you follow them throughout your life, you'll be glad you did when you see the person staring back at you in the mirror.