Forty, fabulous, and hotter than JLo

That “F” word – forty. It’s something most people dread.

 

However, 40 is not a number to despise but something to embrace and be thankful for because every year is a gift from God, a blessing.

 

People Magazine’s 2013  Most Beautiful Woman is 40-year-old Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

 

In getting the coveted top spot on the magazine’s annual beautiful people issue, Paltrow joins the likes of fellow Hollywood actresses Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston, all of whom are over 40.

 

When JLo earned People’s lofty title in 2011 at age 41, she said she felt “happy and proud. Proud that I'm not 25!'” 

 

Meanwhile, Paltrow, who reprises her leading role as Pepper Potts in this year’s blockbuster action film “Iron Man 3,” credits her stringent exercise regimen for keeping her in shape.

 

Married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin, with whom she has two kids, Paltrow keeps fit by exercising five times a week.

 

In the September issue of Elle Magazine last year, Paltrow said, “My beauty routine is pretty basic: sleep, water, sex." 

 

"Exercise is key for me, even if it’s just 15 minutes of yoga to get the blood flowing. And then I can eat whatever I want,” Paltrow said.

 

Not just for Hollywood celebrities

 

Some may think that being fabulous over 40 is just for celebs. Actually, anyone can stay beautiful, fit, and fabulous at 40 years and beyond.

 

With healthy eating habits and a good lifestyle, people can look and feel young and avoid pesky medical conditions that come with age.

“Eating right, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, not smoking, drinking alcohol only in moderation, and wearing your seatbelt can help reduce your risk for a number of chronic medical conditions,” according to RemedysHealth.com.

 

As we can only do so much when it comes to aging, fretting about one’s “changing looks” won’t help. A medical expert told More, a magazine dedicated to people over 40, that being happy with one’s look depends more on “what’s inside your head than what’s on your face.”

 

Asked what it means to be young, Dr. Judith Sills told More, “It’s not about maintaining your boobs at the same level they were. You can have the perkiest boobs in the world and be dead to life.”

 

“Being young means having certain traits: curiosity, a sense of possibility, a willingness to take risks. That’s an attitude you can have at 30 and at 60. Granted, it gets harder as you go along, especially if your health gets hit. But you have some control even over that. You are way more likely to maintain your energy if you exercise six days a week,” Sills added.

 

Sills, PhD, author of the book “Getting Naked Again,” said women who age wisely and gracefully “have acquired the lifelong habit of taking care of their health, watching what they eat and exercising. They still make the effort. But they balance it by gracefully letting go of the excessive enhancements of youth, whether it’s piling on too many accessories or wearing too much makeup, so that they can let who they are shine through.”  

Health issues  

The Remedy’s Health website listed some health concerns that come with aging – from chronic back pain to stress, osteoporosis, increased blood sugar, to depression and anxiety.

 

“While you can't do anything about the number of birthdays you've celebrated, you can take steps to reduce your risk for health problems caused by wear and tear and overuse,” Health.com said.  

It noted that family obligations, career, finances and other issues can overwhelm any person but the important thing is to “prevent yourself from being overwhelmed."  

“Take care of yourself—eat right, exercise, keep in touch with people who are important to you and find time to do things you enjoy. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week—physical activity can go a long way toward helping you manage your stress,” Health.com suggested.  

It also noted the importance of taking care of one’s mental health. “Changes in mood are a normal part of life, but extreme anxiety, loss of interest and energy, an inability to experience pleasure, withdrawal from usual activities and interactions, and apathy toward important matters is not. Talk to your health care provider about mental health screening,” it said.  

Caring for one’s skin  

Aging easily reflects on one’s skin. More quipped that many women “fantasize

about one product that does it all: erases fine lines, fades spots, (and) tightens a slack jaw.”

 

The magazine noted, however, that there are ways to slow down the aging of one’s skin.

 

More’s anti-aging skin care guide lists tips for women depending on their skin type – normal, dry, oily, combination, or sensitive.  

For those with normal skin, More says “life is good” for those with dewy skin. However, like the rest of humanity, people with normal skin also age and “have to deal with fine lines, some sagging and possibly uneven tone. So your primary goal now is to protect the genetically blessed complexion you’ve got—and minimize signs of aging.”

 

However, it’s combo skin that’s being dubbed as the “new normal,” with 70 percent of adult women falling into this category, More says. Combination skin means oilier in the T-zone (nose, chin, forehead)  and normal to dry everywhere else. 

 

“Increased stress levels coupled with worsening pollution and stronger UV rays may be factors in the reason that otherwise normal types are developing split-personality complexions,” New York City plastic surgeon Adam Kolker told More on why “otherwise normal types are developing  split-personality complexions.”

 

More said the oilier parts of the faces of people with combo skin will age more slowly than their cheeks and eyes, which tend to be drier.

 

More said “most dermatologists suggest using a product that increases collagen production. A tretinoin or retinol will help somewhat, but you can boost results with a collagen-building, peptide-rich product on cheeks and under the eyes after applying your retinoid.”

 

Filipino dermatologist Dr. Kim Cantos told GMA News Online last year that although there are many factors to consider in choosing a good face cream, the most important thing to consider is the content of the cream.  

“I always tell patients to look for ingredients rather than brands. Several brands, for instance, market or promise instant results, but sometimes they just contain ingredients that make cells swell so that you instantly look supple and then revert to your wilted state after a day or so,” Cantos said.  

“True anti-aging creams should reverse the evidence of aging; promote renewal of skin; and/or slow down the breakdown of cells,” he added.  

Cantos said the “best studied and still the standard” is tretinoin as it not only promotes cell renewal but also mildly exfoliates and lightens.  

He suggested seeking the advice of doctors in determining the best product or ingredient because every person has special needs.  

“Simply washing, toning and moisturizing (considering their basic functions) may simply be not enough, especially since there is an abundance of affordable choices now in the market which can greatly enhance your skin condition,” Cantos said.  

He said washing removes dirt and excess oil “but there is no anti-aging process going on.”  

“Toners regulate the acidity of the skin, and remove residues, again not overlapping much with anti-aging. Unless your toner contains special ingredients which add to its effects. Moisturizers do just that: hydrate. These are basic skin regimens, but to get the ideal anti-aging results, then probably the addition of a product or procedure will satisfy you more,” he explained.  

There are many other ways to pamper yourself as you age. Choose a hobby. Set aside some “Me Time” just for yourself. Travel. Go to the spa.  

You are precious to your Maker and you should value yourself more.  

By taking care of yourself better, you can live and enjoy life more fully in your 40s and beyond. —KG, GMA News Photos from Thinkstock