Man has long since given up on ever finding the fountain of youth. But that doesn’t mean man has ceased looking for ways to stay young, if not through moderate cosmetic means, then by radical surgical means. The beauty industry has capitalized on this quest for ages and research, technology and the information gathered through the years have only added more methods and ways to boost the anti-aging trend. But as more new means abound, so do the excesses. The results can sometimes be grossly shocking. There has never been more need than now to find out how to look younger naturally.

Although each person’s choice of how he or she wants to look is a highly personal matter, there are many benefits to staying and looking young by natural means. Young, of course, does not mean looking like a teenager or a twenty-year old all your life, which is where the danger of cosmetic excess arises. Looking young is largely a matter of attitude. Looking younger than your actual age works for most people; not looking older is the goal for others. Whatever looking young means to you, there are general ways to achieve it, and below are the most effective ways.

1. Take away the unnatural causes of aging. Well, this much should be obvious, shouldn’t it? Most of the factors that cause people to age faster than their actual years are unnatural and man-made, most of these harmful. The top culprits are cigarette, alcohol, substance abuse, and indulgent, lifestyle excesses. Compare old people who have lived healthy lifestyles and those who didn’t, and you can easily spot the difference in their general health and demeanor. (We are talking of normal, everyday folk, of course; it goes without saying that Hollywood people and celebrities are far removed from the reality of the likes of us.)

   Also, stay away from the sun. Although sunlight is natural, you don’t have to soak it up unprotected, because sunlight is harsh on your skin and will age you fast.

2. Practice the basics: exercise, posture, diet, rest. There’s no better way to keep and stay young than maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Exercise will keep your body strong, limber, flexible, active, quick, and healthy; these benefits all contribute to making you look and feel younger. Posture, too, makes a great difference in your overall appearance. A hunched-over bearing will immediately give people the snap impression that you are older, so stand tall and take years off your appearance.

   Diet, aside from being beneficial to your health, will keep you regenerated and rejuvenated, your skin supple and glowing, your youthfulness coming from inside going out. Rest and sleep are non-negotiable. “Early to bed and early to rise” was no idle advice; there is proven benefit in keeping regular and sufficient hours of sleep. Compromise on your sleeping habits and your body will get back at you through memory lapses, inattention, and lethargy; over time, sleeplessness will take its toll on your body and health.

3. Maintain your looks. Keep careful note of your appearance, keep a regular upkeep regimen. Maintenance doesn’t mean keeping the same look you had when you were twenty. Men, especially, are prone to falling in a hairstyle rut from which they never recover. Do not try to cover up a bald spot with a comb over. It doesn’t work, and it doesn’t make you look younger, least of all naturally. In men and women, hairstyle is one of the most telltale signs of aging. Having the same hairstyle all your life, especially when it grows unbecoming for your age, will age you unnaturally.

   Consult a good hairstylist and try out new hairstyles. Don’t be so set on looking the same as you did twenty years ago; you change, and it’s obvious, no matter how immutable your hairstyle. Hair color is another thing. Softer colors work better for more mature complexions, so always be on the lookout for improvements you can make in this area. Next come clothes. For women, especially, a good-fitting bra can literally take years of your appearance; so regularly have yourself checked for bra size, especially when you gain or lose some weight. Find clothing that’s appropriate for your lifestyle but that flatters your shape and coloring.

   Don’t fall into the realm of the dowdy and don’t make a habit of wearing your house clothes out in public, no matter how decent. As the years pass your body and appearance will change, so prepare to adjust your concept of what your look should be. Don’t be era-focused: be you-focused. Find what’s best for you, what works for you, that looks good on you. Experiment and be open to new possibilities. Getting stuck in a time warp is guaranteed to date you as surely as an antique displayed at a museum.

4. Have an attitude of gratitude. It really all boils down to a positive outlook in life. Sure, you’re going to have wrinkles eventually, but laugh lines look much younger than frown lines. Eliminate the nasty habit of wrinkling your forehead or frowning, and the best way to get out of this habit is – you got it – thinking happy thoughts. Having a positive, cheerful countenance will also ease stress, which will in turn enhance your body’s ability to counter the effects of aging.

Knowing how to look younger naturally and doing it not only keep you from making a guinea pig of your own body at great expense to your pocket and great risk to your health and well-being. It also keeps you real. And “once you are real,” as the Skin Horse said in The Velveteen Rabbit, “you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand” (Margery Williams).