Growing older doesn’t mean you have to lose your looks. So what’s the secret to maintaining your natural beauty as you enter middle age? It has as much to do with the inside as the outside.

Q. When most people think of beauty tips, they think of lotions to apply to the face and body. You tend to think more about changing what’s inside our bodies. Why is that?

Ms. DeRose: Because a good anti-aging beauty regimen starts from within. When you give your body the nutrients it needs, your blood cells are happy, and it shows on the outside. Also, when you are eating a healthy diet with no sugary or fried foods, your skin will be free from blemishes and glow. Getting proper nutrients also helps restore collagen, which keeps your skin youthful.

Q. What’s the most important secret for a woman in her 50s to maintain healthy skin?

Ms. DeRose: The most important thing a woman can do for healthy skin is daily exfoliation all over, not just the face.

Q. Dry skin seems to be a problem, especially as we age. What can be done to prevent dry skin?

Ms. DeRose: There are a few things you can do. Take good fish oil and vitamin E daily. Drink plenty of water. Use natural oils like coconut, grape seed, or olive oil when moisturizing. Stay away from store-bought body lotions because most of them, while they feel like they are working, are actually causing dry skin.

Q. Many women have hair problems as they get into their 50s. Are there secrets to keep hair from thinning and losing its luster?

Ms. DeRose: Thinning hair is a problem once we reach our 40s. Every decade after our 40s, we lose 10% of our hair. Getting regular haircuts will help eliminate some hair loss, but supplementing with saw palmetto and pumpkin seed oil can help you hold onto your locks while putting the shine back. If this doesn’t work, check with your doctor because there could be a medical condition, a change in hormones, or medication that could be causing dull, falling hair.

Q. Many people in their 50s have been living with stress for years. Short of dropping out, is there anything they can do to reduce the effects of stress in their lives?

Ms. DeRose: There are so many supplements and techniques you can use to minimize stress. The most important thing is to make sure you take all of the B vitamins, including folic acid, daily. Also, SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine), a supplement, can help reduce stress.

Get a little sunlight every day. Letting the sun hit your iris for even 40 seconds can increase your serotonin (feel-good hormone) levels. When you feel good, you can handle stress better.

Lastly, daily, even for just a few minutes, it’s a good idea to deep breathe and exhale the stress.

Q. Is there one secret that you’d like every woman over 50 to know about maintaining her beauty naturally?

Ms. DeRose: Since you want me to boil it down to one, I have to say you should take a quality fish oil that is high in DHA every day. It is the most important thing you can do for your skin, hair, bones, brain, and heart. It’ll keep everything good inside, so your natural beauty will shine on the outside.

Editor’s note: Be sure to check appropriate amounts before adding anything to your diet or lifestyle.

There you have it! The secret of beauty on the outside is keeping naturally healthy on the inside.

Reviewed December 2022

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