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    How Old Is Your Face?

    By | Fashion – Tue, Mar 9, 2010 8:38 PM EST

    Dylan Ellis/Getty ImagesDylan Ellis/Getty ImagesYes, wrinkles make you look old and a fresh glow makes you look young. But there are other ways your appearance can age you (or shave a few years off!). Here's what might get you called miss...and what might get you called ma'am.

    Get your sexy back. Here are 21 ways.

    WHAT MAKES YOU LOOK OLDER
    Receding gums: +10 YEARS
    "Everybody's gums recede," says Michael Apa, D.D.S., an expert in aesthetic dentistry. "But when gums recede significantly before your late 30s, it can be very aging."
    Get rid of them: Your dentist can restore your gum line with AlloDerm grafts (about $2,000 to $3,000). Or, porcelain veneers applied over your teeth will cover up the receded area ($1,000 and up - per tooth).
    Avoid them! Don't slack on your regular professional cleanings. At home, Apa suggests microbe-killing the Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Mouth Rinse, $7.50.

    Safegaurd Your Smile. Here's How.John Davis/Getty ImagesJohn Davis/Getty Images

    Veiny hands: +7 YEARS
    A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that the number one thing that makes hands look older is the presence of prominent veins.
    Get rid of them: According to Amy Wechsler, M.D., the look comes with loss of tissue, so a professional injection can help. She uses Sculptra (off-label), and also suggests using "a squeezy ball to make the muscles less sunken-looking."
    Avoid them! Staying fit and getting adequate calcium and vitamin A helps with muscle and bone loss.

    Don't forget to maintain your manicure; see what's new in nails.

    WHAT MAKES YOU LOOK YOUNGER
    Maria Teljeria/Getty ImagesMaria Teljeria/Getty ImagesLush eyelashes: -3 YEARS
    Think of the ingenue who bats her long, fluttery lashes. "We associate full hair, anywhere on the body, with youth," says Wechsler.
    Keep them: "It's hard to mess up your eyelashes," Wechsler says, "but you should still treat them gently." Use makeup remover for mascara (try Bioré Make-Up Removing Towelettes, $8) - and no rubbing!
    Get them! Wechsler has been seeing results with Latisse, the FDA-approved lash grower. Or try over-the-counter lash conditioners (like L'Oréal Concentrated Lash Boosting Serum, $15), which make lashes look thicker.

    Considering eyelash, hair, or nail extensions? Our beauty editor tested them all!

    folio-id.comfolio-id.comVoluminous hair: -3 YEARS
    Have you ever long, thick hair from behind and been surprised to see an older face? Subconsciously, we think of thick hair as a "young" trait.
    Keep it: "Eating a diet rich in folate and iron can help nourish hair's roots," Wechsler says. Also, "avoid overstressing your hair repeatedly with tight ponytails or braids, which can cause permanent hair loss."
    Get it! There are a slew of hair-volumizing products to make your hair appear thicker. One to try: Living Proof Full Thickening Cream, $14, which bulks up individual strands so hair also feels thicker. If your hair is thinning noticeably and there isn't an obvious reason for it (you recently had a baby, or just stopped breast-feeding), have your doctor check your thyroid.

    Eat these foods for healthy hair.

    SEE MORE WAYS TO LOOK YOUNGER.

    Do you have any magical tricks for looking younger? Please share!

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    Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.