Rest and refresh The

At this point your skin ’ s production of elastin and collagen drops pretty sharply, which affects firmness. Your lids may even sag more too, which can create a hooded look that makes you appear tired, even when you ’ re not. Crepey skin texture can be an issue, and you may find that fluid accumulates under the eyes and creates bags.

50s

YOUR SKIN STRATEGY

If fluid retention and undereye bags are an issue, sleep with two pillows and let gravity encourage overnight drainage. To tackle drooping, use a firming eye product to help strengthen the skin, making it less apt to sag. To raise your brows, which opens the eyes and lifts sagging skin, anti-wrinkle injections are an option. Start with just a little as you don ’t want to end up with your brows sitting up too high. Ultherapy, a non-surgical, non-invasive ultrasound treatment, is also effective. It stimulates collagen production by heating the skin ’ s deepest layers, tricking it into a trauma response to repair itself.

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IN YOUR 50S

INSIDE HELP

If you

’ re wanting to head down the path of cosmetic medicine, do your research first. Check out anybodi.com.au for more info. Only deal with a doctor or registered nurse injector.

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9 Bye Bye Under Eye Eye Cream, $71, IT Cosmetics. 10 Prevage Anti-Aging Eye Serum 2.0, $145, Elizabeth Arden. 11 Instant Targeted Firming Gel, $145, Rodan + Fields. 12 Peptight 360 Tightening Eye Serum, $108, StriVectin.

YOUR MAKEUP MANTRA

The key word at this stage is lift. To open up your eye, try an off-white liner on just the inside rim of your lower lid – this makes the whites of your eyes seem brighter. Then rethink your liner colour. Instead of black try charcoal, dark brown or deep blue along the upper lash line and use a taupe liner for the lower lid. Circling your whole eye with dark liner makes it look smaller. When applying mascara, brush lashes up and inwards, towards your nose, to make them stand up and look fuller, and make your eyes look more open. Also avoid matt eyeshadows as they accentuate wrinkles.

GOOD TO KNOW A PEA-SIZED AMOUNT OF CREAM IS ENOUGH FOR BOTH EYES ALWAYS PAT IT IN WITH A FINGERTIP – DON’T RUB OR TUG

60s + You may with hoo do bat ded tle lids, hollowing or crepey texture, but the most common issue is sagging. Volume loss in other parts of the face and subsequent skin sagging also drags the eyes down.

YOUR SKIN STRATEGY

Develop a double-pronged approach. A combination of creams and lasers can be very effective to smooth, tighten and plump the eye area. Your best bet topically is creams or serums that contain retinol (see In your 40s, page 167) and hyaluronic acid, to promote collagen production and boost hydration. Lasers such as Fraxel damage subcutaneous skin (not the visible layer) to create a healing response in the form of collagen production, and firmer skin. For severe sagging, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) could be worth investigating 13 A.G.E. Complex Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream, $152, SkinCeuticals. 14 Advanced Night Eye, $84, Medik8. 15 Potent Eye Concentrate, $79, SkinMTX. 16 Radiance DNA Eye Contour, $169, Mesoestetic.

I N YOUR 60S+

YOUR MAKEUP MANTRA

If you have let your silver strands grow in, take note – lightgrey eyeshadows look beautiful with grey hair. Mauves and other pink tones also brighten the face, whatever your hair colour. Just be sure the product you choose has a satin finish, not matt. When applying a wash of pale colour, extend it up just past the crease to help make your eyes look more open. Finally, dab a touch of concealer or champagnecoloured highlighting cream in just the inner corner of each eye for brightness.

13 FOR SHOPPING DETAILS, SEE OUR STOCKISTS PAGE

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THE FAMILY GUIDE TO SLEEP

Learn to tackle some of the most common sleep problems so you, your partner and your kids all wake up on the right side of the bed

BLANKET RULE IF EITHER OF YOU IS A HOG HAVE A BLANKET EACH SO NO ONE WAKES UP COLD AND SHIVERING!

Your

partner thedeepsleepco.com/ anti-snoring-pillow/) The issue and also talk to your Lots of snoring going on. dentist about a mandibular advancement device. It’ s a Solve it customised anti-snoring Snoring can affect anyone and sleep apnea device occasionally or often, which fits in the mouth but it happens more in like a mouthguard. men and with people who are overweight, and The issue tends to get worse with Tossing and turning. age and while sleeping on your back. Changing Solve it your pillow is helpful (see You can ’t stop someone moving around in bed, but you can minimise the effect on you. A mattress without coils such as a memory foam mattress will reduce the motion you feel when they ’ re tossing. Alternatively, look to twin mattresses with a mattress protector or consider sleeping alone, either in two beds side by side or in different rooms. The change is worth it if it avoids sleep deprivation and possible resentment.

CHECK FOR SLEEP APNEA IF YOUR SNORING DISTURBS ANOTHER PERSON’S SLEEP, IF YOU PAUSE IN YOUR BREATHING OR IF YOU’RE SLEEPY DURING THE DAY, EVEN AFTER A FULL NIGHT’S REST, YOU MIGHT HAVE SLEEP APNEA. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE AIRWAYS BECOME COMPLETELY BLOCKED DURING SLEEP. IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ASAP.

SPACED OUT Sleeping in different rooms has many pluses –it boosts sleep quality, prevents frustrations, lets you plan for intimacy, gives you both ‘ me time ’ and helps you feel ready for the day ahead.