For every woman out there over age 50 who knows that beauty comes from within, but who also wants to look the best you can, this article is for you. And, for those of you curious about plastic surgery, Botox injections, and fillers, so we'll cover that as well. There aren't many miracle fixes in these 12 tips, but there is a lot of advice I swear by, a few decent recipes, and an attitude that the years after age 50 are full of even more wonder and beauty.

Wear Sunscreen Every Day

I know it's tedious to constantly hear about the importance of sunscreen, but if there is one beauty rule I'd tell my 15-year-old self it's to wear a decent sunscreen every day. Nothing damages your skin more than exposure to the sun. It's the number one cause of brown spots, wrinkles, and skin cancer.1

Here's the catch: not all sunscreens are equal. You should choose a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and you should choose one that blocks UVA and UVB rays.2

Three things to remember once you've found the right a sunscreen:

You should wear it rain or shine. UV rays break through cloud cover and it's important to make a habit of using sunscreen daily.2 And don't worry, it won't clog your pores as long as you cleanse your face at night.

Reapply throughout the day. The renowned dermatologist Patricia Wexler insists that all women (whatever their skin tone) reapply sunscreen throughout the day.

Slather some on top of your hands. Dermatologists say they can tell a woman's age by looking at her hands, in addition to her neck. 

Product recommendations: I prefer tinted sunscreen because it doesn't leave a white cast on my face and it evens out my skin tone. Neutrogena makes a good drugstore version, however, my favorite (recommended by my dermatologist) is the pricey but fabulous La Roche Posay tinted sunscreen. Apply sunscreen with a foam sponge for a more even application.

Make Sure You Have the Right Cleansers and Moisturizers

It's very important to choose cleansers, moisturizers, and a skin care routine formulated for your skin type.

If you have oily skin, consider yourself lucky. Oily skin tends to develop fewer wrinkles.3 If you have sensitive skin, you should test all of your products on your neck or arms before you use them. That product you loved a few years ago may (as you advance in age) now cause redness.

You may have also noticed the older you get, the drier your skin becomes.4 As we age, our skin suffers a slowdown in oil production and cell turnover, especially after menopause. I noticed my naturally oily skin turned as dry as the Sahara Desert at age 35.

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