Wrinkles or Pigment, which makes you look older? Though we hate to see a new wrinkle, it’s often the random facial spots and patches of darkness such as age spots that make us look tired or older. In fact, one study found skin tone and luminosity to have a greater impact on the perception of a woman's attractiveness, as well as of her assumed age revealing that wrinkles aren't the only cue the human eye looks for when evaluateing age. The 2006 study, published in the October issue of the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, used three-dimensional imaging and morphing software to fade out and remove age defining wrinkles and furrows from pictures of women, leaving skin clarity and tone as the only variable. The models with the most even skin tone received significantly higher ratings for attractiveness and health, and were also judged to be younger in age. The models with uneven, blotchy skin tone were judged to be significantly older. In fact, the uneven distribution of skin pigmentation added 10-12 years to a woman's perceived age. Whether a woman is 20 or 60, the contrast of skin clarity and tone plays a significant role in the way others perceive her age, beauty and health. Most people take skin pigmentation for granted. No matter what colour the skin is it is usually fairly regular in shade and tone. However, certain conditions and factors do exist that can cause skin pigmentation changes. The causes of uneven skin clarity and tone are the results of cumulative UV damage from too much sun (freckles, moles, age spots), natural aging (yellowing, dullness) and skin vascularization (broken capillaries, redness). Practicing anti aging prevention through skin care and sun protection can help to prevent uneven pigmentation and unsightly wrinkles keeping everyone guessing your true age. |
Initiation into middle age is often a harsh reality. With middle age comes the demise of energy levels, sporadic lapses of memory, deteriorating eyesight, and every woman’s favorite a sluggish metabolism.