Almost everyone will watch their hair turn gray as they approach their golden years. For most people, there isn’t much they can do except gray gracefully or pick out a shade of hair dye they like.

Although it’s not as common, others start to go gray much younger, even before they turn 20. When hair turns gray prematurely, the reason isn’t always obvious. Rumors abound that everything from stress to a good scare can turn your hair gray, sometimes instantly.

We asked four top doctors specializing in hair what causes our locks to turn gray and if there is ever a reason to be concerned. Here’s what they said.

Hair turns gray when it loses a pigment called melanin, Dr. Akhil Wadhera, a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, explained to HuffPost. Typically, this occurs as part of the normal aging process starting in your mid-30s to early 40s. However, some people turn gray at a relatively young age.

The most common reason for premature graying is genetics, he said. If your parents went gray at a young age, your hair is likely to turn gray earlier, too.

Nevertheless, some young adults whose parents retained vibrant hair color into old age experience premature graying for various reasons. Some of those, like genetics, are beyond their control. Others are a result of lifestyle choices or environmental factors.

It’s common for people to say they’re under so much stress that they’re going gray. Although most people make these statements in jest, there is some truth behind them.

“Stress can cause premature graying of hair,” Wadhera said. “In fact, there was a study with over 1,000 young Turkish adults that showed that perceived stress scale scores correlated with premature hair graying severity.”

However, Dr. Ehsan Ali, an internal physician at Beverly Hills Concierge Medicine and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with specialized training in geriatric medicine, emphasizes that acute or chronic stress is required to cause premature graying. “A bad week at work isn’t enough to turn hair gray,” he explained.

That’s because acute stress can trigger a fight-or-flight response, says Dr. Zafer Çetinkaya, head hair transplant surgeon at EsteNove in Istanbul. When this happens, our bodies release stress hormones, including norepinephrine, he said. Norepinephrine can stop the production of the pigment-producing cells that give our hair its color. “Once this ‘reservoir’ of stem cells is empty, the follicle can no longer produce color,” causing hair to gradually turn gray, he explained.

External factors can also cause our hair to turn gray early. “Hair follicles are particularly sensitive to oxidative stressors in the environment such as pollution, ultraviolet light, smoking, hydrogen peroxide and ionizing radiation, all of which can result in premature graying,” Wadhera said.

The oxidative stress caused by exposure to these elements “disproportionately affects the cells responsible for hair pigment,” explained Dr. Corey Maas, a hair transplant specialist at the Maas Clinic in California. “Over time, this damage reduces the follicle’s ability to maintain consistent color.”

However, these external factors typically play only a small role in the graying process. Moreover, how much the environment affects your hair color depends on several factors that vary widely from person to person, Maas explained. “Graying is the result of a complex interaction between genetics, cumulative exposure, and how well an individual’s body is able to repair and replace damaged processes of youthful pigmentation,” he said. “The environment can nudge the process along,” but when and how quickly depends on the individual, Maas said.

In horror movies, a character sometimes suddenly develops a streak of white hair after a particularly frightening experience. However, off-screen, hair won’t turn gray instantly, no matter how scared we are.

“The idea of hair turning white overnight from fright is often referred to as Marie Antoinette syndrome,” because the queen’s hair supposedly suddenly turned white before her execution, Çetinkaya said. “In reality, hair that is already outside of the scalp cannot change color” naturally, he said.

Nevertheless, sudden shock or intense fear can cause hair to go gray over time. Extremely stressful situations can trigger a condition called alopecia areata, Çetinkaya said. When this happens, “the immune system selectively attacks pigmented hairs, which causes dark hairs to fall out rapidly,” he explained. When a person with some existing gray hair develops alopecia areata, their gray hairs are left behind as their darker hair sheds. That “creates the appearance of sudden graying,” when what’s really happening is that the loss of darker hair is making the existing gray hair more noticeable, Çetinkaya explained.

Several medical conditions can also contribute to premature graying. “As a specialist, I look for vitamin B12 deficiency, pernicious anemia, and thyroid dysfunction,” Çetinkaya said. “These conditions can disrupt the metabolic environment of the hair follicle,” which can result in hair turning gray prematurely. Rare autoimmune conditions such as vitiligo can also target pigment, causing hair to grow in white, he added.

According to Wadhera, low levels of vitamin D3 and deficiencies in minerals such as iron and zinc can also cause premature graying.

If you start graying due to age, there is nothing to worry about except deciding whether to accept your gray hair or visit a salon to choose a new color.

However, if you start going gray early, before your mid-30s, you may want to investigate. One or two gray hairs usually aren’t cause for concern, Ali said. However, if you notice a proliferation of grays “very early or very rapidly, this can be a clue to look deeper at nutrition, thyroid function, autoimmune issues or lifestyle stressors,” he explained. Your primary care physician can help if you are concerned.

Nevertheless, Ali stresses that going gray isn’t usually a medical or personal failure. Even though there is “a lot of unnecessary fear and marketing around this topic,” going gray is “usually a normal, genetically programmed process,” he said.

If you’re up on the latest beauty and wellness trends, chances are you’ve heard of LED red light therapy. The bright lights are speculated to help with everything from wrinkles to hair loss to body aches. While often applied via face mask or wand (which can run you a pretty penny), there are other, more universal and more cost-effective ways to try the therapy at home.

Take this adjustable, red light therapy panel lamp, which can be used on its included stand or mounted to your wall, offering red light therapy to your whole body. Not only is it highly rated by users, but it’s also currently under $60 when you clip the on-page coupon. For reference, it’s shopping breaking news if a mask alone goes for under $90, so a whole body light for under $60, is a steal of a deal.

The under-$60 device retails for less than a single red-light-therapy session at most local clinics. And users are reporting some serious health benefits.

With five adjustable brightness levels, pulse modes and a mix of government-studied 660-nanometer (nm) red lights and 850 nm near-infrared LED red lights, this versatile lamp gives you options.

“After regular use, I noticed improvement in my skin,” Lori wrote, calling the light “simple to incorporate into a daily routine.” “My skin also feels smoother and looks slightly more even, which was a pleasant bonus.”

Shopper KimboYo uses the light for both skin care benefits and body restoration. “I can tell such a difference in my skin after doing this for 10 min,” they wrote. “Rosacea is better. Skin tone looks better. Used it on my elbow after tennis and pain was essentially gone.”

Another reviewer says they’ve used the lamp on their “ankle, wrists, shoulder/neck and scalp,” saying the light has “reduced inflammation/pain for all general injuries” in “3 or less sessions.” Some report using it while they are working out, noting they think it helps with inflammation. Others say it helps them relax and even sleep better. Many say the light has helped ease joint and muscle pain and even helped heal skin and make surgical scars less visible.

(It is important to note that while there have been improvements in skin and body conditions using this type of therapy, research is ongoing. You should always consult with your doctor before introducing a new treatment into your wellness routine.)

Apart from options in how you use it, you get to choose where you use it. The approximately 17-by-6-inch corded lamp head has a built-in controller and comes with eye protection goggles, a bendable gooseneck holder, adjustment accessories and both an adjustable tripod and hanging hooks, to install however you please.

We get it — basking in the light for health benefits may be a little confusing if you grew up hearing we have to protect our skin from rays. But according to WebMD, red light “uses very low levels of heat and doesn’t hurt or burn the skin,” like the light in a tanning bed.

As the Cleveland Clinic describes, LED light therapy promotes “cell metabolism,” aka the chemical changes cells are designed to undergo, including making more cells. This increase in cell metablism is studied to help the skin repair faster, get firmer and more elastic and to be more even in texture and color. (If you’re a research dork like me, you should read about NASA first discovering medical light therapy in 1995, after using LED lights to grow potatoes on a space shuttle.)

For now, just know: it’s been studied, it’s used clinically and professionally by dermatologists and estheticians. And with this lamp, you can do it at home, for under $60.

Shoppers are beaming for this adjustable panel LED light. Check out more 5-star reviews and grab one for yourself, while it’s under $60.

“I purchased this Red Light Therapy Device after my CO2 laser treatment, and it made a huge difference in my healing process. My skin recovered faster than expected, with noticeably reduced redness and irritation. I used it daily, and I truly believe it sped up my recovery and improved my overall skin texture.” — Ryan and Jamie

“This RLT light on a tripod is so easy to set up and use. As a Nurse Practitioner dealing with Fibromyalgia post cancer, I knew my Health and Wellness plan had to include this red light therapy. 20 minutes under the light removes my pain, it has healed my joint and muscles pain, and lifts my mood as well as providing me with energy. I have been using the unit every day for 2 months and I have nothing but positive things to say about the unit. I raved about it so much my daughter bought the same unit. It is a life changer. If you have pain or want to enhance your mood and energy and heal……this is a must for your life.” — Amazon customer

“I’ve been using this red light therapy device consistently for a two weeks, and overall, I’m impressed with the results. The build quality feels solid, and it’s easy to set up and use, even for beginners. The light intensity is strong without being uncomfortable, and sessions are simple to incorporate into a daily routine. After regular use, I noticed improvement in my skin. My skin also feels smoother and looks slightly more even, which was a pleasant bonus. Another plus is that the device operates quietly and doesn’t overheat during sessions. The adjustable settings make it versatile for different needs.” — Lori

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

It’s likely that you might have taken your health for granted in early adulthood. Maybe you could run a quick mile or stand on your feet all day long at a theme park.

However, as you age, you may notice that your body doesn’t usually work as well as it used to. For example, after the age of 50, bone breakdown happens quicker than formation, which results in bone loss.

That said, there are daily habits and practices that older adults can engage in to help ease some of the aches and pains that come with aging. We spoke with a number of doctors across different specialties about things they wish older adults would do daily ― and many are easier than you think.

This is important regardless of your age, but even more so as you get older because it helps keep you mobile and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

″This can be as simple as walking after your largest meal of the day combined with simple exercises like a squat, lunge, press, etc.,” said Dr. Carl Paige, chief medical officer and co-founder of the Medical Transformation Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Dr. Eric Tam, a physician at Mighty Health, added that one of the best ways to move the body is with resistance training.

“In my practice, I tell many of my patients that I don’t want them to become bodybuilders, but I do want them to lift weights that they find strenuous,” Tam said. “The motivation here is that, through resistance training, we can begin to build muscles to counteract the loss of it with age.”

But if that’s not your thing, find exercises you enjoy ― biking, swimming, yoga, pilates. The key is to stay active consistently, which means engaging in activities that you find pleasurable.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2024. While you can’t completely prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s, there are some habits you can practice to decrease your risk and prolong onset.

“You need to exercise your mind every day to keep sharp and that can mean a crossword puzzle, reading a book or newspaper, or trying to remember anything,” said Dr. Steve Fallek, a physician and medical adviser for Maskad and Revivv. “Think about an old album you used to own. Can you remember the track listing? The lyrics? All their albums? Whatever challenges your brain and your memory is a good thing.”

You can also try new hobbies ― like learning a new language or instrument ― and making new friends. Novelty is key, according to experts.

In 2023, the U.S. surgeon general expressed concerns over a loneliness epidemic happening across the country. Humans are social beings, and having regular, healthy social interactions is important when it comes to maintaining mental health ― especially for older adults.

“Often, as we get older, we tend to socialize less, in part due to physical limitations,” said Dr. Faisal Tai, a board-certified psychiatrist and founder of PsychPlus. “Seniors should undertake at least one positive social interaction every day. Whether it’s a visit from a kind neighbor, a chat with the cashier at your grocery store, or enjoying a phone or video call with a grandchild or friend.”

Stress is a fact of life; according to the National Council on Aging, some stress can actually be helpful. However, chronic stress can lead to negative health outcomes that worsen with age.

“Stress can take a toll on your heart as you get older so it’s important to look for ways to relieve stress on a daily basis,” said Dr. Laura Purdy, a board-certified family medicine physician. “Take time to rest, reset, find things that bring you peace and do things daily that you love that do not cause you consistent stress.”

According to Dr. Sulagna Misra, an internist in California and founder of Misra Wellness, aging is a natural privilege. The key is staying attuned to your body and making sure you go to all of your necessary appointments.

“While prevention is key, early detection is also important for any disease, which means keeping up with recommended medical screenings,” Misra said. “Eye exams, mammograms, prostate exams, colonoscopies, age-appropriate vaccinations, regular follow-ups, skin exams and other screenings like cholesterol and cardiovascular health are all important.”

It is optimal to have sun exposure for five to 30 minutes a day, most days a week, without sunscreen, in order to get vitamin D, according to an article from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. (Keep in mind that most dermatologists and experts recommend that you make sunscreen a daily practice so you don’t increase your risk of skin cancer. Be mindful of how much time you spend outdoors unprotected.) Vitamin D is known to boost your overall physical and mental health.

Older adults may have a hard time getting outside, but it’s just as important as we age. “Get sun exposure in the late morning, depending on where you are in the U.S,” said Dr. Huong Nghiem-Eilbeck, a staff physician at Pandia Health. “Avoid sunburns but get enough sun to get Vitamin D as this helps the body absorb calcium in the ways that are best for your bones.”

As you get older, you’ll particularly want to try to avoid heavily consuming processed foods. While these are OK in moderation, you should try to focus on incorporating more nutritious foods onto your plate.

“Making these changes can be as simple as choosing healthy meals and snacks that can help prevent heart disease, including fresh fruits and vegetables, foods high in fiber and low in unhealthy fats, and also limiting your intake of salt and sugar,” said Dr. Nadim Geloo, senior director of medical affairs at Abbott’s structural heart business. “It may be difficult to change overnight, so I recommend changing one aspect of your diet at a time with a medium-term goal to eliminate harmful foods.”

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.

If your hair texture has changed with aging or your strands have been damaged from coloring and hot tools, you may wonder what you can do to upgrade your haircare routine for repairs. And if you’ve tried “almost everything on the market” and spent “thousands” looking for the right products, you’re in good company. Not only that — you’re in the right place.

Deemed the “best product I’ve tried by a long shot” that brings “soft, shiny, smooth hair, like I just stepped out of the salon,” reviewers say this deep conditioning keratin hair mask from Marée will probably be the last one you’ll buy. And to sweeten the deal even more, it’s currently 20% off, the lowest price since December.

Menopause and hormonal changes can lower your estrogen and keratin levels, causing shedding and making hair feel dry, brittle and thin.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the hormone estrogen promotes hair growth and density. So, as estrogen levels decline during menopause, it’s common for hair to lose density. Your body naturally produces the protein keratin — largely via thyroid hormones — to form your hair and nails. Because menopause symptoms often overlap with thyroid issues, it’s common for menopause (or general hormonal changes) to affect your hair texture, often making your strands feel less hydrated and strong.

Made with keratin, biotin and coconut oil, this “miracle mask” is a super-hydrating, nourishing product that users say is comparable to “Keratin treatment you’d pay at the salon, without the huge cost.” Giving your hair strength, encouraging growth and softening the texture of your tresses. Yet, unlike an expensive (and often noxious-smelling) professional keratin treatment, this dreamy jar lets you have multiple deep keratin conditions from the comfort of your home, for a fraction of the cost of a single professional one and with a gentle, coconut smell. Reviewers with “fine, gray hair” call it the “very best product they ever used.” Others say it’s the only thing that could bring their “coarse, dry, damaged , menopausal hair” “back to life.”

While the brand recommends a quick mask, many keep the mask on for longer (some say they even use it overnight) and are “shocked” with how soft their hair becomes after washing. (Note: the brand recommends keeping the product on your hair itself, and using their hair growth serum if you’re looking for a scalp-specific treatment.)

Users report seeing instant results and their hair health and texture, leaving their strands feeling silky and soft after a single use. Further, reviewers report that the treatment keeps their mane looking and feeling good for days, if not weeks, between uses.

“My mature hair had changed texture with age and had started getting horrible tangles, after one treatment it hasn’t tangled since,” one wrote. “One treatment and it’s still working 2 weeks later.”

In addition to a mask, you can use it as a classic, post-shampoo conditioner to add a little TLC to your routine wash. Or, if you want to target dry ends and add moisture for the day, you can use it as a leave-in conditioner. Whether you’re trying to strengthen and thicken your hair, smooth it out, add shine, manage frizz, hydrate or repair, this treatment can do it all.

Check out the thousands of positive reviews (lots with pictures!) and you’ll see love notes and testimonials from reviewers going through menopause, users with “dry, brittle, over-processed hair,” “thick, coarse hair that frizzes immediately,” colored hair, “senior white hair,” hair with “super tight coils,” extensions and more.

“I have thin straight hair, and my daughter has thick curly hair. The mask worked like magic on both of us,” one review wrote. “Made our hair very soft and silky.”

Users who are newer to dying their hair or who are starting to color their hair to cover grays also say the product is “well worth the money,” for keeping their hair from becoming “damaged and flyaway, frizzy and dull.”

Check out more 5-star reivews of the keratin hair mask from Marée and grab it while it’s under $20.

“This is by far the best conditioner/treatment I have ever used. Soft shiny, smooth hair like I just stepped out of salon. It lasts between shampoos, so I think its truely a treatment for my aging dry hair! Smell is great. I use the disposable shower caps and leave on 10-15 mins. Really works!” — GailC

“Outstanding product! I have spent thousands on hair products due to severe breakage, coarse, dry, damaged , menopausal hair! This stuff has brought it back to life! Best product I’ve tried by a long shot! Nothing compares” — patty saveriano

“So incredibly pleased with this hair mask. I have used way too many hair masks in my life. My hair, along with my daughter’s hair requires heavy moisturization. When I saw this formula, I was intrigued and recognized that the list of the ingredients was of quality and decided to order this. Once I got this home, my middle daughter tried this out and she has super tight coils. The after was so impressive, comparable to a Keratin treatment you’d pay at the salon without the huge cost. The mask also smells VERY GOOD. I detest products that smell bad. With that, I tried this now 3x and my hair has looks and feels amazing. Lastly, they give you an abundant amount of this hair mask, that even with long hair should last on a weekly basis about a month. At this juncture and based on a fantastic experience with this hair mask, I would have no qualms recommending this to other consumers. Thanks!” — Exquisite reviews by Ally

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

They say the eyes are the window to the soul. So, a nice eye cream? That’s like a fresh coat of paint on the shutters. If you’re in the market for a new one, reviewers are loving this creamy, brightening option from Portland, Maine’s Eight Saints for its intense hydration and smoothing — all without irritation. Even better? You can currently snag a bottle at Amazon for $36, which is about 20% less than its price on the Eight Saints website.

Made with soothing cucumber and refreshing green tea extract, users say the “All In” cream is “like coffee for my eyes,” making their face look younger and more radiant. “After two weeks of using All In eye cream, it has actually made my crow’s feet almost disappear completely,” Alison S Morris wrote. “I will turn 50 in three weeks, and my eyes are looking more like I’m mid 30s.”

Packed with Vitamin C and E, hyaluronic acid, peptides and olive oil-based squalene, this superstar eye cream is no match for fine lines, puffiness and dark circles.

Eight Saints designed its brand around eight key ingredients: shea butter coconut oil, aloe cocoa butter jojoba, hyaluronic acid vitamin-e, marula oil glycolic acid, msm peptides antioxidants, vitamin-c squalane retinol and niacinamide green tea. While all of the products are made with at least one of these key ingredients, the aptly named “All In” eye cream contains all eight. (That’s even more than the brand’s firming neck cream, which is loved by HuffPost readers and is also currently on sale.)

Fans who spent hundreds on other brands say nothing compares to All In. In addition to having “everything you want in an eye cream,” it “doesn’t clog up my pores like other white face goos do,” and feels surprisingly gentle for how potent it is — even for super sensitive skin. You can use it morning and night, and many do.

(Note: reviews seem to vary if it’s completely unscented or very lightly scented, though many with fragrance-sensitivity seem to agree, All In doesn’t bother them.)

Users also comment on how fast the cream works, noting that “within a week,” previously tired, dark eyes were looking healthy and radiant.

″…Best of all it keeps my sleep deprived, aging eyes looking fresh and youthful,” one wrote. “I have noticed a significant change in the ‘crepey’ appearance of my under-eye area and crows feet as they are definitely less prominent and my dark circles are almost gone in just a couple of weeks,” said another. “This is a miracle eye cream.”

Silky and lightweight, the cream is celebrated for rubbing in smoothly without feeling greasy, staying through the day without pilling or melting and playing nice with other products, including skincare and makeup.

One user, who says All In has made the skin around their eyes feel healthy, plump, brighter and with less “crinkling,” even notes the cream “makes aging gracefully a little less scary.”

Reviewers are going all in for this creamy, brightening eye cream. Check out more 5-star reviews and grab some on Amazon for nearly 20% off.

“A must buy for aging skin! Just WOW!! This eye cream is no joke!! It’s so hydrating yet helps to really de-puff my under eyes. Not greasy at all. Works great under makeup, even for aging skin. I have also noticed my dark circles are a bit lighter too. A neat bit for sure!!” — Lori Ann DeJesus

“This stuff is amazing. I’ve tried several other eye creams over the years and none can compare to this one. It’s lightweight and rubs in super smooth. It leaves my eye area feeling soft and moisturized without any irritation or pulling. It’s long lasting and a great value for the cost. And best of all it keeps my sleep deprived, aging eyes looking fresh and youthful. An all-around amazing eye cream!” — Laura L.

“Great for sensitive, aging eyes. I have very sensitive skin and fine lines. Many products will either dry out or irritate my skin, but this is gentle. No fragrance or greasy feel. It’s smooth and is great for day or night time use.” — KPate

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

Living a long, healthy life is a popular goal, but it’s not easy to achieve. It’s common for folks to develop conditions like dementia and chronic pain, in addition to mobility issues and cardiovascular problems, as they age.

While certain uncontrollable factors (like genetics) play a major role in many of these issues, everyday habits can also contribute to a less-than-ideal aging process. And some of the habits you probably follow every day or every week are actually getting in the way of healthy aging and a long life.

Here’s what they are, according to doctors:

According to Dr. Heather Whitson, director of the Duke Aging Center in North Carolina, neglecting to stay up to date on preventive care — including things like mammograms, colonoscopies and vaccines — is not good for your long-term health.

“It’s like not taking your car into the shop,” Whitson said. “It’s probably not going to last as long if you don’t keep up with the routine maintenance.”

You can chat with your primary care doctor about what preventive tests are right for you.

“We know that socialization helps with your brain and with your longevity,” said Dr. Lee Lindquist, chief of geriatrics at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. The more time you spend interacting with other people, the more it can benefit your life span.

“I always joke… that you need to socialize with happy people, because we all have toxic people in our lives,” she said. Toxic people can bring anxiety and sadness, which won’t help you age well.

“The more socialization you can do with people that bring you joy or bring you happiness, those are things that will definitely help you age healthy and age well and improve your longevity,” Lindquist said.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were all stuck indoors, many people’s cognition was damaged because of the isolation, she noted. “So, we do know that social isolation harms aging and harms the longevity process.”

“A couple of my favorite patients who are in their 90s and 100s, they actually wake up every day and they try to find somebody new to talk to,” she added. As you age, it’s normal for your social circle to dwindle, which means it’s critical to keep going out to meet new people if you want to age well, Lindquist noted.

“We see it so many times where people will be on medicines that they were started on in their 40s and 50s that they may not need in their 70s or 80s,” Lindquist said. “And some of these medicines are not ideal for older adults.”

Certain medications can make you more susceptible to falls and cause thinking problems, she added. Some anti-anxiety medications can contribute to memory loss, according to AARP, and some prescription sleep medications are known to increase your fall risk, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

“So, definitely talk to your doctor about whether or not you still need some of these medicines,” Lindquist said.

This one probably isn’t surprising, but it can’t be said enough: Failing to exercise will harm your longevity.

“Exercise is amazing — being able to put exercise in a pill form would take a lot of health care providers out of business, because it really is good for mood, it’s good for weight control, it’s good for your bones, it’s good for your heart, it’s good for your brain,” Whitson said. “And it really is about the only thing that you can recommend that has all-around good benefit.”

“Exercising is super important, and not exercising or not getting enough daily activity is something that will definitely harm your longevity,” Lindquist said.

When asked how much she recommends people exercise, Lindquist simply said: “More.”

“When you get too comfortable, and doing the same activity three times a week, once a week, or even not at all, it just really hurts your body,” she said.

So, if you’re someone who goes on a daily walk, try adding in a Zumba class a few times a week. If you’re a die-hard Peloton fan, sign up for some personal training classes, too.

“Even if you ask your physician for a physical therapy order to get you started to get you moving around more, that’s very important,” Lindquist said.

If you’re looking for a benchmark to start, you should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week, according to the American Heart Association. And, again, more minutes mean more health benefits.

Smoking cigarettes is linked to lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, stroke and more. But it’s highly addictive, making it hard to just quit.

According to the American Lung Association, it can be helpful to zero in on the reason you’re quitting smoking, so you can use it as motivation through the tough parts of the process. You can also get resources from your doctor to help you quit.

According to Whitson, prioritizing a healthy diet is another way to better your chances of a healthy life span.

Whitson suggested that “a Mediterranean-style diet that is heavy on fish… and heavy on whole fruits and vegetables and grains, with only the very occasional treat of processed food, is probably the best thing for most people.”

It’s never too late to change your diet ― but you may have an easier time doing so when you’re younger.

“It’s very hard to change your diet when you’re in your 70s, 80s, 90s, so if you can start eating right earlier, it’s going to be easier for you and it’ll affect you better over the long run,” Lindquist explained.

“There’s a lot of increasing evidence that depriving ourselves of sleep has long-term consequences,” Whitson said. These include a higher risk of dementia and heart disease, in addition to higher levels of daily stress and worse moods overall.

It’s normal to experience age-related changes that affect your sleep, so you shouldn’t be totally alarmed if your sleep patterns are different as you get older. But certain conditions, like obstructive sleep apnea, put you at risk for some of these negative outcomes when left untreated.

“If you’re… noticing really excessive daytime sleepiness, if their partner’s telling them that they’re snoring or having apneic episodes [where you stop breathing] that are waking them up at night,” it’s important to let a doctor know, Whitson noted.

Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night. If you have trouble getting this much sleep, it’s a good idea to cut back on things like caffeine and alcohol, and to have the same sleep and wake times each day.

“It’s really hard to not feel stressed about work and family and whatever other things make us stressed out, but just be mindful that we as humans have a very physical stress response to things that are not a physical threat to us,” Whitson said.

Many animals have a stress response that kicks in under conditions of urgency, like when they’re being chased by a predator or looking for water. Generally, once the need is met, the stress goes away.

“We as humans are able to stress about things that… just don’t pose any physical threat to us ― but then by turning on that stress response and having it kind of chronically activated, it does all kinds of things,” Whitson said. “It reduces our immune system’s ability to fight off real pathogens and things that are our real stressors.”

Stress also takes a toll on our metabolism, our sleep, our blood pressure and more. It’s important to do what you can to decrease your stress, whether that’s talking to a mental health professional (if possible) or cutting out things in life that cause you problems.

“We talk a lot about planning for end of life — you know, what are you going to do? Do you want CPR? Do you want advanced-care planning? Who’s my power of attorney? Where’s my will?” Lindquist said. “But many times people don’t think about, ‘What am I going to do in the 10 to 20 years before I die?’”

Lindquist refers to this time frame as the “fourth quarter of life, because that’s the time when you’re going to have more health problems.” She added that people in their 70s, 80s and 90s are more likely to require hospitalization and deal with worsening memory loss.

Besides deciding who get the lake house, your golf clubs or your engagement ring, you should start thinking about your plan for the last 10 to 20 years of your life, Lindquist explained. Are you going to plan to move in with family? Will you have in-home care? Will you move to a senior community? Do you live near a hospital?

“These are conversations that people should be having, especially when they’re considering longevity and living longer,” she noted.

By having these conversations with loved ones, you can make sure your voice is heard as you age and that there are no unchecked expectations. To help adults plan for all of the aspects of their future, Lindquist and her team built Plan Your Lifespan, a free website funded by the National Institutes of Health.

“It’s great when people’s goal is to increase their active longevity and health span… [but] they should know that they have to plan for it financially,” said Whitson. “One of the saddest things that I see as a geriatrician is when increasingly, it happens frequently now, that people outlive their savings.”

Many of Whitson’s patients in their 90s tell her they never expected to live so long, and that they didn’t expect to have to support themselves for another 30 years after retirement. “That happens, and it’s real,” she said.

“I worry about some of the people that I see at midlife that are sort of expecting to retire at 65 and haven’t really accounted for the fact that if they live 30 healthy years after that, they better be able to know where their money is going to come from,” Whitson said.

“I think a lot of people have these imaginations of travel and living large in retirement because they will have made all the right health choices and be very healthy, which is great,” she said. “But thinking about the funds flow for that chapter of their lives is important in midlife, too.”

So, as you focus on your physical and mental health as you age, it’s important to remember that future financial health also plays a major role.

The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.

If you’ve ever had your hair dyed, your stylist likely recommended a particular shampoo and conditioner to keep your locks looking lush long after you leave their chair. Yet, if you’ve recently stopped dying your hair, are in the process of going gray or have been rocking the all-gray look for years, rest assured, there are special products for you, too.

In fact, there’s a shampoo and conditioner system designed to address the unique needs of natural gray and blonde hair: Luseta’s “Color Brightening” purple shampoo and conditioner. Coming in two 16.9-ounce bottles with an easy-pump top, users say it’s a salon-quality set for a budget price, which is even better today, as it’s currently 30% off, according to our price trackers.

Wherever you are on your “gray journey,” reviewers seem confident that this set will upgrade your hair in the best way.

Per the rave reviews from folks who’ve gone gray or are blonde, this set is the best on the market for keeping their un-colored strands feeling silky and looking “luminescent.” The pair is designed to balance out the naturally gray and blond hues while nourishing the strands for long-term hair health. Some call it their “hair savior,” saying it’s a “must-have for anyone who wants their silver hair to sparkle.” Others say that after using it, it looks “like there’s a spotlight shining on my hair.”

The shampoo formula addresses brassy and yellow hues, split ends and deep cleaning needs. Meanwhile, the conditioner works to restore moisture, protect and repair heat damage and environmental stress while topping the hair off with a glossy finish. Both products are also paraben-, sulfate- and gluten-free!

One reviewer who recently stopped coloring their hair after 30 years of dying wrote, “My hair has never felt so clean, soft, shiny” while a reviewer in their mid-sixties who’s been dye-free for 12 years said this duo made their hair “brighter and healthier in appearance.”

It seems nearly everyone who uses it agrees on the product’s brightening and de-brassing ability, noting their gray hair almost looks like shiny silver. Even a reviewer with self-described “stark white” hair gave the set 5 stars.

“I am completely amazed at how much it has toned down my bright white color,” they wrote. “Friends are even asking if I am again ‘coloring’ my hair. I am so pleased with the outcome. And it holds the “toning down” in between shampoos.”

Many say they came to this set after not wanting to keep shelling out for more expensive options, and have been positively surprised by the results. “The best affordable gray hair product I’ve used yet!” one wrote. “My hair is shiny, and feels very healthy,” nothing the conditioner doesn’t make their hair greasy.

Whether you’ve long been gray all the way or are just starting your journey, check out some of these 5-star reviews of the Luseta brightening purple shampoo and conditioner before grabbing yours on sale.

“I cannot express the words to explain how truly amazing this product is!!!! I bleach out the front of my hair to keep it a white/blonde color and always have to redo the toner every 2 weeks. It’s rough and damaging on my hair. This shampoo and conditioner leave my hair so amazingly soft and healthy looking. The purple 💜 toner in the product works so perfectly that I’m not even having to use a toner to get that white look that I love. I’ve had so many compliments on in after just 1 week that it’s definitely my go to shampoo and conditioner routine from now on!! It came in THE cutest packaging with some adorable stickers in its own decorated little box. The only wish about this product I have is that I wish I had come across it sooner! I’d recommend this to anyone I know, thank you for putting this product out there!!!!”— HEATHERT

“I have been a hairdresser for 22 years. I really love purple shampoo especially for my elderly clients. My mom is 70 now so I bought this for her. She is beautiful and her hair is silver and white. She is not a smoker and her hair is not yellow however I still really like this product a lot to keep her hair bright. This was a good size bottle for her because she has arthritis. I showed a picture of the product we live in Colorado so I think because of the shipping in elevation be careful when you open the bottle. The product smells good it doesn’t stain the hair shaft. I would highly recommend this If you are a platinum blonde or if you have gray and silver hair. It’s also great for people who want that purple/ gray Hair color that is trending right now. I would even back part for my clients. All in all I am very pleased with this product and will buy it again for her when she runs out. Great product for a great price :-)” — HBD

“Didn’t know that you are supposed to treat your hair differently when you are on your gray journey, but come to find out you are and this purple shampoo and conditioner has helped me tremendously. It is smelling like a man that’s sent smells good though it’s just masculine but when you finish your hair so soft and on top of all that your grays are silver like shiny so I guess I’ll give it a big thumbs up” — Happy customer

Looking for products for thicker hair? Check out this collection of highly-rated prodcuts by Senior Shopping Writer, Tessa Flores.

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

For centuries, palmistry enthusiasts have claimed that the lines crisscrossing our hands can predict everything from how many children we’ll have to whether we’ll find true love. But what if your palm could actually tell you something scientifically meaningful about your health?

That’s the goal behind OligoScan technology, a device that has influencers and holistic medicine advocates excited about its potential to reveal information about skin aging, energy levels, sleep quality and hair health through a simple palm scan. The device claims to measure minerals, heavy metals and antioxidants in your body without drawing blood. In fact, one TikTok user shared her experience getting immediate results showing elevated toxic heavy metal levels, which led her to change her diet and lifestyle.

Sounds intriguing, right? But before you rush to book an appointment, here’s what dermatologists and researchers actually say about how it works and whether the science holds up.

OligoScan is an FDA-approved spectrophotometric device that supposedly measures mineral concentrations and heavy metal toxicity in your body. It works through tissue spectrophotometry, where light passes through the skin of your palm and the reflected wavelengths get analyzed. The idea is that each mineral or heavy metal absorbs and reflects light differently, creating a unique pattern that can be read and interpreted.

The device looks for minerals like magnesium, zinc, selenium, calcium, iron, copper, chromium and iodine, plus toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum.

Dr. Barbara Kubicka, an aesthetic physician based in West London, explains that this approach is different from traditional blood tests. “Minerals and heavy metals tend to accumulate in tissues over time, and the palm provides a reliable, low pigment site for assessment,” she said. Rather than measuring what’s stored at a tissue level like bloodwork does, the scan captures what’s circulating in your system at that precise moment.

Here’s where things come down to earth: Insurance won’t cover this, and prices in America range from around $160 for a basic scan to $400 or more. You’ll need to find specialized clinics, wellness centers with dermatologists or functional medicine practitioners. The upside? No referral is needed, so you can make an appointment directly.

Research does show that what you eat affects your skin. A U.S. national survey found that 94.3% of Americans don’t meet daily requirements for vitamin D, 45% fall short on vitamin A, 84% lack vitamin E and 15% don’t get enough zinc. These gaps can show up on your skin.

Dr. Shamsa Kanwal, a board-certified dermatologist with over 10 years of experience, points out that nutrient shortfalls can definitely affect your appearance. “True nutrient deficiencies can show up as dryness, slow healing, brittle nails or hair shedding,” she explained.

She also notes how many processes your skin needs to stay healthy depend on having the right minerals. Low magnesium, for instance, can mess with your sleep. Too much lead exposure might explain ongoing fatigue and headaches. And yes, these issues can affect how your skin and hair look. We’re talking about antioxidant protection, collagen production and cellular repair. When these minerals are out of balance, you might notice dryness, slower healing or general dullness.

But here’s the thing: Both doctors stress that OligoScan shouldn’t replace your regular medical tests. Kanwal calls it “a functional snapshot of long-term mineral status and toxic burden” that might reveal imbalances affecting how you age. However, for people who’ve tried conventional treatments without success, OligoScan might highlight issues that standard bloodwork misses. Kanwal said the most common findings include low antioxidant levels, mineral shortfalls and heavy metal buildup. These contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation, which could explain persistent fatigue or dull skin even when your lab work looks fine.

Consider 36-year-old Hayley Atkinson, who struggled with hair thinning and constant fatigue. Regular supplements weren’t helping. After an OligoScan showed elevated heavy metal levels, she worked with Kubicka on a targeted plan. “Generic supplements were not making any changes, and what I needed was a targeted plan that supported my diet and lifestyle,” she shared.

Following her initial scan, she received an analysis of mineral patterns and ratios in the context of her medical history, lifestyle factors, stress load and skin concerns that helped her doctor create a personalized plan, which included diet changes, detox support and gut health interventions as well as follow-up appointments to track whether her levels and symptoms improved.

While the technology has spread to Australia, the United Kingdom and the Middle East, independent scientific validation appears limited, which is why practitioners who use OligoScan emphasize that it should complement other medical tools, not replace them.

The connection between nutrition and skin health is real and well documented. Whether a palm scan is the best way to uncover those issues? That’s still up for debate. Your palm may or may not predict your romantic future, but if you’re curious about this technology, approach it as one piece of a larger health puzzle, ideally guided by a medical professional who can interpret results in context and recommend evidence-based next steps.

You slept eight hours, drank adequate water, and yet it still appears as if you just pulled an all-nighter. Sound familiar? As it turns out, that perpetually “tired” look has way less to do with exhaustion — and everything to do with the way your face is being visually pulled downward, dulled and flattened by subtle makeup and skin care mistakes you probably don’t even realize you’re making.

From concealer placement to foundation undertone, tiny missteps can quietly drain the life out of your face. The good news? A few pro-level tweaks can make you look instantly brighter, lifted and well-rested.

According to Nikki DeRoest, a celebrity makeup artist and CEO and founder of Ciele Cosmetics, makeup can only do so much if the skin underneath isn’t prepped properly. “When skin is dehydrated or overworked, makeup tends to sit on top instead of melting in, which instantly makes the complexion look tired — even when everything else is applied correctly,” she said.

Start with a gentle cleanser so your skin feels balanced, not tight, then layer on a hydrating serum and moisturizer to help makeup melt in instead of sitting on top. Also, don’t skip the eye area — hydrated under-eyes means your concealer is less likely to crease.

“Undertone mismatch is one of the biggest reasons makeup can look dull or off,” DeRoest said. “If your foundation pulls too yellow, too pink or too gray for your skin, it’ll actually exaggerate shadows and make you look more exhausted rather than brighten.”

One way to decipher your undertone is to look at the veins on your wrist: blue or purple veins usually mean cool undertones, while greenish veins point to warm undertones — and a mix of both suggests neutral. That said, many color analysts and makeup artists point out that this test isn’t always reliable, especially on deeper or olive-toned skin where vein color can be affected by skin depth and lighting.

You can also try paying attention to how your skin reacts when your skin is exposed to the sun. People with cooler undertones tend to burn or turn pink before they tan, while warmer undertones usually tan more easily and develop a golden or olive cast. If you burn first but eventually tan, or if your skin doesn’t fit neatly into either category, you likely fall somewhere in the neutral or olive range.

When testing foundation, DeRoest suggests swiping a few shades along your jawline in natural light. “The right shade shouldn’t change the color of your face or neck — it should disappear into the skin,” she said.

Concealer application can completely change whether you look rested or run-down. “One of the most common mistakes I see is over-concealing under the eyes,” DeRoest said. “Applying too much product across the entire area can drag the face down and emphasize fatigue.”

Instead, she suggested placing the concealer only where you can actually see darkness — usually the inner corner and outer corner — to lift and brighten. The goal isn’t to erase your under-eyes with a thick layer, but to strategically neutralize shadows so your skin looks awake, smooth and refreshed.

When it comes to finding your perfect concealer shade, one shade lighter than your foundation is usually the sweet spot — bright enough to lift the under-eye, but not so light that it turns gray or emphasizes fine lines.

Undertone is also important: If you have cool or pink-leaning skin, your under-eye darkness is likely to show up as bluish or violet, so a concealer with a soft peach or salmon tone will neutralize shadows better than a straight beige. If you’re warm or golden, your under-eye circles often look more brown or gray, which means a golden-peach or apricot-toned concealer will brighten more naturally.

“When everything on the face is the same tone — foundation, concealer, powder — the skin can look flat and washed out,” DeRoest said. “What brings the face back to life is subtle contrast, dimension and strategic highlights.”

Enter highlighting and contouring. Natural skin has highs and lows — light naturally hits the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and the center of your forehead, while shadows fall under the cheekbones and along the jaw.

DeRoest suggested using a slightly brighter concealer on the high points of the face, such as the outer corners of the eyes for lift and around the mouth where shadows tend to form. “Those small highlights can completely change how awake someone looks,” she said. When it comes to contour, the most important areas are right under the cheekbones, starting near the ear and stopping before the middle of the eye. This creates the illusion of higher, more lifted cheeks, which makes you look more well-rested.

The inner corner of the eye is one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — areas when it comes to looking awake. This spot naturally falls into shadow, which can make eyes appear smaller, deeper-set and more tired, even if you’re well-rested. “A small amount of brightening concealer there instantly opens up the eyes and makes you look more awake,” DeRoest said.

Choose a shade that’s one to two shades lighter than your under-eyes, but not starkly white — think soft brightness, not highlighter. A thin, creamy formula with a luminous or satin finish (not flat matte) is key here, as it helps reflect light out of that natural hollow and creates the illusion of bigger, more open eyes.

You can also layer a subtle shimmer or satin highlight on top — think champagne or soft pearl, not glitter — with a tiny brush or your fingertip. Keep the product concentrated in the inner corner rather than dragging it across the whole lid. This targeted pop of brightness reflects light back into the eyes.