Skin: The Sun Matters Most
Sun exposure is the biggest outside cause of visible skin ageing. Ultraviolet light breaks down collagen and elastin, which causes wrinkles, sagging and uneven pigment such as sun spots. That's why the skin on your face often looks older than skin that's usually covered. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is the single most effective step against it.
Smoking is the other big one; it narrows blood vessels in the skin and speeds up wrinkling. Poor sleep shows up as dark circles and dullness, and dehydration makes fine lines more visible.
Face: Volume and Structure
With age, the face loses fat in the cheeks and temples, and the jawline softens. Young faces look 'full' in the upper half; older faces carry relatively more volume lower down. Anything that lifts the eye to the upper face, such as a soft fringe, face-framing layers or groomed brows, counteracts it. For men, a well-shaped beard or stubble can restore a jawline. See what shapes your jawline.
Read more: Hairstyles That Make You Look Younger
Hair: Shape and Shine Over Colour
Grey hair alone doesn't age you as much as dull, flat hair in a dated shape. A modern cut with movement, shine and some lift looks younger at any colour. Very dark, flat, single-tone dye can look harsh. See hairstyles that make you look younger.
Clothes: Fit and Era
Clothes add years when they're too big, too small or clearly from another decade. Baggy, shapeless clothing hides your build and reads as tired; outdated cuts, such as very wide pleated trousers or decades-old frames on glasses, date you instantly. Well-fitting basics in current shapes look younger than trendy pieces that don't suit you. Glasses frames are one of the fastest updates.
Read more: How to Look Older When You Have a Baby Face
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Posture and Movement
A rounded upper back and forward head age the whole silhouette more than most people realise. Standing tall, shoulders back, chin level, takes years off in photos and in person.
The Quickest Wins
If you want to change something this week: get a modern haircut, replace clothes that don't fit, update your glasses, wear sunscreen daily, and fix your posture in photos. For the opposite problem, looking too young, see how to look older.
The free Ollie Stylist suggests haircuts for your face shape and lets you dress a model of your build in current, real clothes, so you can test a new look before buying.