My Plan for Aging Gracefully

Recently Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Thompson poo-poo'd all their plastic, frozen-faced Hollywood counterparts by forming what they call the "Anti-Cosmetic Surgery League," and I couldn't be happier. Three beautiful, accomplished women taking a stand against freezing their furrows and plumping their lips? Awesome. 

But as much as I admire them for taking a stand, I'm starting to feel the societal pressure of having to stay young-looking. And I must admit that as the effects of gravity on my face (and other regions) begin to show themselves, I do sometimes daydream about getting cosmetic surgery. I think about how nice it'd be to have a smoother brow, a more taut jawline, a ... 

That's when I usually snap out of it and wonder whether there's an effective way to shift course naturally, without the incisions, pain, expense, and risks that come with operations or injections. 

According to natural beauty expert and author Liz Earle, I'm not alone in wanting to remain young-looking without heading to the doctor or med spa. Earle says that while it's true that most people start to notice visible signs of aging in their 30s -- signs like dullness, sunspots, dryness and fine lines -- with a few easy changes, you can age naturally -- and beautifully. 

SLOW DOWN

This one cannot be bottled, but it's integral to maintaining youthful beauty. According to Earle, author of "Skin Secrets: How to Have Naturally Healthy Beautiful Skin," your skin, the body's biggest organ, shows how you live. So if you're constantly rushing, stressed, and tense, expect to look the same way you feel. Her quick-yet-effective fix? Stop, make a to-do list, then put it aside and do a mini-meditation session. Close your eyes, picture an idyllic scene, and breathe deeply -- inhaling to the count of seven and exhaling to the count of seven. After five minutes, go back to your to-do list. Repeat as necessary throughout the day; your skin will thank you for it.

PROTECT YOURSELF

It's dermatologists' most frequently repeated refrain: "Use sunscreen daily wherever your skin is exposed. It's the easiest and least expensive shield against future sun damage and wrinkles." Naturally, Calabasas-based dermatologist Dr. Debra Luftman agrees. "Skin ages both intrinsically based on genes and extrinsically based on environmental exposure," says the doctor, who recommends using a moisturizer that contains SPF to eliminate the extra step of applying two separate products. (Try OLAY Complete SPF 30 Defense Daily UV Moisturizer, $14.99.) And, says Earle, "If sunscreens tend to irritate your skin, use a mineral-based reflective sunblock that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide."