The first step in anti-aging: get a good foundation

When you're concerned about looking old, it's easy to get caught up in thinking you need to try all of the latest anti-aging lotions and pills.

You see all of those glamorous stars in the magazine ads and late night television commercials, all of those anti-aging elixirs on shopping television channels, and you begin budgeting for your anti-aging shopping spree.

Before you go crazy, reassess your closet, cosmetics, and hairstyle. In order to realistically pursue an anti-aging program, you need to start with a good foundation.

You don't want to spend money on ant-aging products for your face if the rest of you is still looking old.

Clean out your closet

If you are like many women, you buy a few new items of clothing every season. A new blouse or sweater. New capris or a summer sundress. And of course a couple of new pairs of jeans every year.

But do you thin out your closet? Do you go through all of the items you own and rid yourself of the ones that don't suit you anymore? Get rid of outmoded fashions. Ditch the things you've been holding on to expecting to lose weight and fit into them someday.

Give away anything with shoulder pads. Thin your wardrobe down to only those items that look flattering on you. Stick with the classics that never go out of style. Once you've got a good basic wardrobe, then you're ready move forward in your anti-aging plan.

Old makeup makes you look older

If you're still applying pancake makeup with a trowel, you owe it to yourself to toss everything in your makeup bag and start over. This is an anti-aging effort, not a conservation effort! Really, ditch all of your old makeup and head to the department store cosmetic counter for a complete makeover.

Learn from the professional cosmetologist how to use today's newer, lighter products with a gentle touch for a natural, youthful look. No more heavy thick makeup for you; you may think you were successfully hiding your age but you were actually adding years to your look. No one wants that!

It's just hair

If you've been wedded to the same hairstyle for years, it's time to visit a beautician. If your regular hair stylist resists, find someone new. You are revamping your look in an anti-aging effort. Don't walk around with an old hairstyle. Your hair stylist can help you find something that again, makes you look more youthful.

Take up a heavy length and lose years from your look. Add a subtle fringe to soften your look. Perhaps some caramel highlights will warm up your coloring and help you look younger.

Once you've settled on a younger looking foundation -- a solid wardrobe, lighter makeup, and new hairstyle, then you are ready to really purse an anti-aging program.

Your results will be more dramatic, as you'll already have laid the foundation for appearing younger with your new, youthful look. People will notice the results of your anti-aging efforts and surely complement you on how well you're looking.

With the right preparation, you'll look forward to nothing but success in your anti-aging efforts.