Who else thinks that if you look good you will feel good? I sure do!

I have a few  tricks that really help me feel more youthful and confident as I move into middle age.  I am sharing seven secrets to help you look 10 years younger.  Be sure to browse the widget picture round-ups in each section to shop my favorite items!

Whiten Your Teeth

A smile is your first impression! Yellow or discolored teeth happens to all of us as we age.

I love  red wine, tea and I drank my fair share of diet cokes in my 20’s and 30’s while yo-yo dieting. These dark drinks can really stain your enamel. 

My favorite easy remedy are the crest at home white strips. They are a bit messy but work really well! 

I love the whitening gel I get from my dentists office. I also use a daily whitening toothpaste for maintenance. 

Tighten Your Skin

I apply body tightening lotion from Skinceuticals twice a day on sagging or creepy skin, especially on my neck, knees and elbows.

 It contains ingredients that penetrate the epidermis to tighten my skin and make it appear more firm and youthful. It’s pricey but worth it! 

If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, a cream with caffeine also temporarily tightens skin. I love the one by Fab Girl Slim.

Exfoliate…Gently!

 Exfoliating helps to remove dead skin, allowing new cells to surface, and giving your daily glow an instant boost.

This is my 3 step process. Wash your face with warm water, apply the enzyme mask, rinse and apply the Skinceuticals activator. I do this 2-3 times a week!

Use a Retinoid Often

A retinoid is one of the holy grail products to prevent wrinkles.

Beware:  your skin might be red,  flaky at first… so start slow and work your way into a routine. I started using it once a week – just a small amount –  on clean skin after my moisturizer.

Start with .25 or .5 and work your way up to the 1% about once or twice a week.

Save Your Face

I went to a new dermatologist right after I had my first baby at 34. I remember him asking me if I slept on my right side. I said yes…how did he know? And he said, “I can see the lines on your face.” Yikes!

I’m sure it was a sales pitch – but it sure worked on me! He sold me this pillow and it truly has saved my face from the permanent wrinkles that come from smashing your face into a pillow all night long.  It does take some getting used to, but nothing that I found myself losing sleep over  – ha!

 I place this on top of my regular pillow and even though it takes a couple nights to adjust to it and I can’t live without it.

Stay Hydrated

We also often confuse thirst for hunger which can lead us to overeating. I fill up a water bottle and drink it all day long.

I love the ones by Swell – they really keep your drinks cold for hours and are worth the price! 

Protect Your Neck

We often neglect our neck!  The most important things I apply to keep the saggy skin away : Nectfirm and TNS serum.  I slather both all over my face and my neck everyday.

 I totally swear it’s worth every penny.  I have been using it for years, night and day,  and I have almost no lines on my neck at all.

Complete transparency:  I also do get a little bit of botox on my neck for wrinkles, but these two, applied daily, are also key to keeping the skin from looking creepy.

I hope this inspires you to create your own self care routine that helps you look and feel your best! Be sure to follow me on Instagram @donnatryba where I share more about fashion and fitness.  

Want more beauty tips? Check out this blog post.

Until next time my friends. Sending much love from downtown Austin, TX.