How to look younger

Over the years, dark patches and other discoloration will try to sabotage your best efforts to look fresh-faced. The culprit: time spent unprotected in the sun, which causes melanin to increase and clump together on the top layer of your skin, explains dermatologist Doris Day, MD, founder of MyClearSkin.com. Add to this the fact that, as you get older, skin doesn't shed its uppermost layer as frequently, and you have the recipe for age spots. The Dermatologist's Diagnosis Barring a surprise discovery of the fountain of youth, caring for aging skin needs to start with an ounce of daily sun damage prevention. "Don't step outside without slathering on a moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 30," recommends Dr. Day. And use the right skincare products to load up on vitamin C. "It fights wrinkles and evens out skin tone," Dr. Day says. The Home Remedy Try Dr. Day's brightening cucumber mask recipe. Brew a cup of white tea (full of antioxidants), add 2 Tbsp each of honey and aloe (for moisture) and 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice (your dose of vitamin C). Stir the ingredients together and add a sliced cucumber before refrigerating overnight. The next morning, apply the cucumber slices—their porous surface will have absorbed the other ingredients—to your face for 3 to 5 minutes. The Makeup Trick Caking on a thick layer of foundation or concealer will only attract attention to an uneven complexion. A better bet is to combine a dime-size amount of a matte gel bronzer with your daily liquid foundation and smooth the mixture over your face, says Emily Kate Warren, YouBeauty.com makeup expert. "The bronzer subtly darkens the rest of your complexion so spots blend in," she explains. One to try: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face ($14; TheBodyShop-usa.com). The Product Fixes Swipe on these age fighters and erase those spots. 1) Olay Total Effects Tone Correcting Spot Treatment, $21.50; at drugstores At night, spot-treat dark areas with this gel. It contains brightening niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) to reduce the appearance of age spots.