Kathy L. is a 46-year-old mother of three in North Carolina. Five years ago, she moved her family back to her hometown in order to help care for her aging parents, but for the past year and a half, the family has devoted significant time and resources to caring for her husband’s aunt, who has dementia. Her children were ages 15, 11 and 9 when the aunt came to live with them last summer.

Initially, the plan was to care for the aunt at their home for 12 weeks, at which point her long-term care insurance would kick in to cover the cost of an assisted living facility. But after 8 weeks, the family decided to pay out of pocket to move her into one.

“Our family hit a breaking point,” Kathy L. told HuffPost.

“Dementia patients can often get aggressive because they are confused/scared and don’t know what’s going on,” she explained. While her two older sons were able to handle the aunt’s outbursts, her youngest child struggled. Kathy L. said her 9-year-old daughter was “crying every day and was terrified to say or do anything that would set her off.”

In addition, her husband was granted power of attorney for his aunt, taking care of her finances and clearing out and selling her home.

In spite of these challenges, Kathy L. says the experience of providing this care wasn’t all negative. “I also feel very honored to be able to help,” she said. “There are a lot of layers of feelings involved.”

People like Kathy L. who find themselves in the dual — and at times competing — roles of providing child care and elder care simultaneously are sometimes referred to as the “sandwich generation.”

A research group at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany, headed by Diego Alburez-Gutierrez, recently published a paper entitled “Projections of Human Kinship for All Countries.” Using data from the UN World Population Prospects 2022 report (the most recent year available), researchers were able to make probabilistic predictions of what the families of the future will look like.

One important finding is that family networks — measured by the number of biological relatives a person has — are going to get smaller. (While the researchers understand that family can mean much more than the people who are biologically related to you, for the purposes of this research, they did not include other kinship relations such as spouses, in-laws, adopted children or LGBTQ family structures.)

People are going to have fewer living relatives, on average. “At every age, we see that as we move into the future, families will become smaller,” Alburez-Gutierrez told HuffPost.

For example, a 65-year-old woman in 1965 could be expected to have 41 living relatives, while a 65-year-old woman living in 2095 is projected to have only 25. The drivers of this change are delayed childbearing and declining fertility rates. Some countries have already seen their birthrates decline, while others may experience this in the years to come.

Another trend shaping demographics, the researchers found, is that families are becoming “more vertical,” Alburrez-Gutierrez said. “That means that you’re going to have fewer lateral kin — siblings, your cousins — and because people are living longer, it means that you will have more genealogical generations at the same time.”

In other words, you will probably have fewer siblings and cousins, but you’re more likely to get to meet your great-grandparents.

One finding that Alburez-Gutierrez found striking, he said, was that “the probability that a newborn baby will have a living grandparent, let’s say in countries of the Global North, it will be 100% in the coming years.”

Also, “in Europe, it will be increasingly common [for a baby] to have up to six living great-grandparents when they are born.”

The researchers also found increasing age gaps between generations in families, leading to people becoming grandparents (and great-grandparents) at later ages. For example, if you have a child when you’re 20 and that child has a child when they’re 20, you become a grandparent at age 40. But if you have a child at age 40, and then your child has a child at age 40, you won’t become a grandparent until you’re 80. Increasing life expectancies mean that you’re more likely to be around to see the birth of grandchildren — and great-grandchildren — but these increasing age gaps mean that you’re more likely to be frail or disabled when you do meet them.

A big advantage of increasing longevity is that we are more likely able to meet, spend time with and build relationships both with our grandparents and even great-grandparents.

Ellen Carbonell, a professor of social work at Rush University, explained that the roles of grandparents in the U.S. have changed over time.

“Today, grandparents’ roles are more diverse than ever before,” Carbonell told HuffPost. In addition to their “traditional roles as family historian, and provider of love, support and wisdom,” Carbonell explained, grandparents are more likely to function as childcare providers.

“No longer simply ‘babysitting’ grandchildren to give parents some free time, many grandparents are providing childcare for grandchildren on a regular basis,” Carbonell said.

Since grandparents are older, on average, when their grandchildren are born, they are also more likely to be retired.

“There can be a greater ease and enjoyment of the role without the competing tasks that come with employment. This greater flexibility can be seen in grandparents who relocate to be closer to their out-of-state children and grandchildren so they can be more involved in their day-to-day lives,” Carbonell said.

These advantages assume good health, which isn’t a guarantee and becomes less likely the older a grandparent gets. Older grandparents also may lack financial stability.

“Many have been unemployed or underemployed for years, or have contributed financially to the care of others, leaving them particularly strapped financially during their grandparenting years,” Carbonell said.

When a grandparent needs financial support or caregiving, the burden may fall to family members who are also caring for children, creating the “sandwich” dynamic.

These dynamics can both be at play at the same time within one family. Kathy L., for example, was able to turn to her mother for help with childcare at the same time that she was serving as a caregiver for her own father and her husband’s aunt. The layers of her situation were both emotional and logistical.

With so many generations living at the same time, there are increasing instances of what Alburez-Gutierrez called the “grand-sandwich” and Carbonell called the “club sandwich” of one generation caring for parents, children and grandchildren. Such a load can take a heavy “physical, emotional and financial toll,” Carbonell said. Increased longevity, in other words, can make for more caregivers but also more caregiving responsibilities.

“The increased availability in the sense of grandparents and great-grandparents in the future, which we think is going to happen, doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be more sources of informal care within families,” Alburez-Gutierrez said. “Actually it may be the other way around. We’ll place more of a burden on the current generation.”

Grand- or club-sandwich caregivers, Carbonell explained, may put their own needs last and delay preventative health care. The sandwiching also creates an unstable network that is likely to collapse if an emergency arises.

“With no built-in backup for care provision,” Carbonell continued, “we can see how the fragility of a tightly stretched care system can be pushed beyond its ability to cover care needs.”

With fewer living relatives within each generation, the caregiving duties will fall to a smaller number of people, increasing their responsibilities. It will also mean that more families look to public and private institutions to provide care for the members of their family who need it.

“One challenge will be that even in countries that have taken into account the aging of the population, and introduced measures to try to address that in terms of restructuring pension schemes or changing the retirement age, is they have still assumed that there was going to be this constant pool of informal support” to provide care, Alburez-Gutierrez said.

Grandparents stepping in to fill the child care gap. Kathy L. and her husband stepping in to care for his aunt. Without this unpaid labor, our society wouldn’t be able to function. If a shrinking, aging population means that we have to outsource more of this labor, and pay for it, it will require a huge financial investment.

Carbonell pointed out that caregiving, whether for children or elders, often falls to women. When they take time out of the workforce to care for family members, they lose both seniority and years of accumulated pension or social security contributions.

Paid caregivers also tend to be women, many of them immigrants, and the pay for such work is often low, leading to a high turnover rate.

As it stands, the system is fragile, and the combination of increased longevity and declining birthrates continue to add stress.

“This country has no comprehensive long-term care system, particularly for older adults. It is crucial that this issue be explored and dealt with promptly, as an increasingly aging population will be needing care for which there is currently no plan,” Carbonell said.

While these are serious concerns, a “sandwich” situation in which your children witness you caring for elderly family members can also be a source of meaning and insight.

“As hard as it was this past summer, I think our kids saw what it looks like to take care of family,” Kathy L. said.

“Our 15-year-old saw us cleaning up after our aunt one time … and said, ‘Wow, I can’t wait ‘til it’s my turn to do this for you guys.’ And I was struck with two competing feelings: One, I hope you never have to do this for me, and two, I’m so thankful that you automatically expect that’s what you’ll do.”

Forget new TikTok beauty trends like coffee scrubs and makeup underpainting. In our book, the best beauty hacks tend to be time-tested, passed down from one generation to the next: Your grandma’s jojoba oil cure for dry winter skin, or your favorite aunt swearing by Retin-A and ample sunscreen.

We recently turned to post-50 beauty influencers and asked them to share the beauty hacks they swear by. From tips on chemical peels, to cheap alternatives to pricey products, see what they had to say below.

“The running joke is I love Vaseline more than my husband. On my last press trip, I took a photo with my beloved Vaseline. It’s a staple I use daily. I rub Vaseline on my wrist, legs, and neck daily before applying my favorite scent because Vaseline acts like a skin primer, and the fragrance adheres to your skin, thus staying on longer. It’s a great way to extend the life of your perfume.” ― Tomiko Harvey, the 52-year-old luxury content creator at Password & Grub

“If you want to join the exclusive club of ‘aging gracefully,’ start now with becoming the person you always should’ve been: You do that through creating a life of confidence of purpose, harnessing your regrets, embracing kindness, and adding a heaping dose of Vitamin C and retinoids to your skin care regimen. I’d also recommend rapidly deploying massive quantities of sunscreen to slather all over your body. Don’t forget your neck!” ― Cynthia Gouw, a 60-year-old broadcast journalist and a beauty influencer

“Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining and enhancing your natural beauty. Lack of sleep can lead to puffy eyes, dull skin, and overall tired-looking appearance. Prioritize getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night to allow your body to rejuvenate and repair itself.” ― Jo Placencio, a 54-year-old blogger at Peace Love Glam

“If I had to do it all over again, I would invest in my skin care routine sooner rather than later. If it comes down to choosing a beauty item, definitely run to your dermatologist and ask for a prescription Retin-A or Tretinoin. This one product is going to help with hyperpigmentation, acne, wrinkles and the overall improvement of your skin. SPF has saved me from so much heartache. As I approach 50 this year, I wish I had known about the importance of using it when I was younger but it’s never too late to start.” ― Shalonda Miles, a lifestyle content creator

“I come from an Italian family and olive oil is used in everything including my skin care regimen. As I’ve mentioned on TikTok, I like to use it to remove my makeup and to give my skin a natural boost of hydration and nourishment. I know what you’re thinking: Won’t it clog my pores or make my skin oiler? Nope! Its lightweight texture won’t clog pores, making it great for all skin types. It’s packed with antioxidants and vitamins E and K, which work wonders in keeping your skin soft, smooth, and radiant. Olive oil not only helps to moisturize deeply but also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for soothing irritated skin. Think of it as a little bottle of liquid gold that pampers your skin and leaves you with a healthy, natural glow!

To remove your makeup, grab a washcloth and a good quality organic oil. The best oils are extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or one of my favorites, jojoba oil. Now for the cool part: Slather on your oil of choice and massage it into your skin and over your eyes. Don’t worry, it won’t irritate your eyes or make them feel cloudy. While you’re doing that, run some super hot water over a washcloth and wring it out. Now, put it over your face, making sure it’s had a bit of time to cool down. It should create a steam-like feeling like you are at the spa having a facial…my fave! Now gently take the cloth and remove all your makeup. It’s like magic!” ― Michele Baratta-Detwiler, a 57-year-old fashion and DIY content creator

“In the early stages of my career when I worked for Bobbi Brown, I would have clients young and old sit in my chair and want a miracle cure for their skin. When I give consultations I always begin with skin care. Depending on the client, I would adjust my consultation according to their skin concerns. Then as the consultation went on I would of course end with makeup. I’d say 85% of individuals would pass on the skin care and get the makeup, which they would use as a bandaid to their skin concerns. This tore at my heartstrings. That experience kickstarted my transition into educating people on how beautiful makeup begins with beautiful skin. Skin care should always be your number one priority if you want your makeup to look good.” ―Dorciah Sloane, a 53-year-old makeup artist and style influencer

“My timeless beauty tip for younger generations? Focus on enhancing your features rather than masking them with heavy makeup and full face contouring, the trend the Kardashians were pretty famous for. The ‘less is more’ beauty trend is about embracing and enhancing one’s natural skin and beauty, promoting self-confidence and cultivating a style that stands the test of time.” ― Violet Trikilis, a model and style influencer

“As a tea specialist, I’m a proponent of utilizing tea in my beauty regime, like in S’Able Lab’s Rooibos micellar water ultra-fine mist, which adds replenishment before cleansing.”― JoAni Johnson, a model, activist and tea blender

“My favorite beauty hack is chemical peels. They range from superficial peels to deep peels according to skin type and results desired. When administered by a trained professional, they can be game-changing for the skin, resulting in skin that glows. Hyperpigmentation from acne scars are lightened, and fine lines improve. One of my favorite benefits of a peel is that it results in better absorption of skin care products.” — Elaine Davis, a fashion influencer who runs the blog Square Pearls

“Remember: Just because a beauty trend is popular doesn’t mean it’s right for you! Pick and choose but remember it’s important to update your beauty look just like your wardrobe if you want to look modern and effortless.” ― FiFi Milne, editor of The FiFi Report

“Apply a good quality SPF and keep your face and chest out of the sun by wearing a big hat or staying in the shade. Your future self will thank you!” ― Annamaria Kalebic, a 52-year-old beauty influencer

“SPF is so important. I like Trish McEvoy’s Beauty Booster cream SPF 30. It glides on beautifully, disappears into the skin and doesn’t change my skin tone. You can seek out all facelifts in the world, but if you don’t take care of those three areas, you will not have accomplished what a facelift is meant for.” ― Sonia Lovett, a 71-year-old who runs the fashion blog Style Beyond Age

“Wearing color close to your face is a major beauty hack because as you age, your natural luminescent complexion starts to evolve. Adding colors that suit your skin tone on your neckline or to your lip, will boost your beauty quotient and substantially add life into your skin.” ― Carla Rockmore, a designer and style influencer

“The best beauty hack and one we have used for years is to finish your nightly routine with Ponds Cold Cream! On TikTok, they call it slugging now. Our Nana used it and she had the most glorious skin! As 8-year-olds perched on ottomans bookending Nana sitting at her gorgeous mid-century modern blond makeup table, I can remember her saying, ‘Put this on your face every night and your skin will thank you when you are my age.’ We used it religiously starting in our late teens. Now we use all types of creams, but if you were to take a look in our bathrooms, our Ponds Cold Cream is front and center on our mirrored trays. The vintage rose and powder smell reminds us of our Nana, a vibrant woman who we considered the most beautiful woman on the planet. Whenever we think of aging and how society can be particularly harsh on women aging, we harken back to our youthful minds recognizing the beauty of our grandmother.” — Tiffany Dietz, a 51-year-old influencer who runs @tandttwintalk on Instagram and TikTok with her twin sister Tegan Higgins

“Looking back at the silly hair styles and garish makeup of my youth (blue eyeshadow and frosted lilac lipstick!), my hack is simple: Instead of chasing every new style, embrace your natural beauty. Trends come and go, but what makes you unique is timeless. Thirty years from now, you will be astonished at how beautiful you were. You’ll also be sad that you spent so much time following the ever-changing whims of popular trends.” ― Jennifer Ebelhar, a 69-year-old style coach who goes by @theStyleEquation on TikTok

Remaining healthy and sharp are goals for most people as they age. But one group of people — known as “SuperAgers” — is said to have this all down as they go through life, even into their later years.

The term SuperAgers was created by researchers at Northwestern University, who define it as “adults over age 80 who have the memory capacity of individuals who are at least three decades younger.” Northwestern University is one of just a handful of institutions in the country that have SuperAging research programs.

Experts stress that SuperAgers are not the same as people with good longevity, with the main difference between them being one’s brain. Studies show that SuperAgers’ brains resemble those of much younger people.

Specifically, less brain volume loss is seen in SuperAgers in comparison to a person who just has good longevity, according to Northwestern Medicine, an affiliate with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. For example, someone who is, say, 87 years old with good longevity, may have a brain that also matches their age.

Tamar Gefen, an assistant professor at the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease at the Feinberg School of Medicine, noted that “there is no special trick to becoming a SuperAger — at least not yet.”

“Like most trajectories of age, or conditions of life, it is a combination of biology, environment and personal agency,” she said.

According to Jennifer Ailshire, an associate professor of gerontology at the University of Southern California, some SuperAgers may have certain qualities, though.

“We think of SuperAgers … as people who are reaching 85 years of age, so they’re exceeding the typical or average life expectancy for … their cohort,” Ailshire said. “For us, a SuperAger is not just someone who’s long-lived. It’s also someone who’s maintained a fairly high level of physical, cognitive, psychological and social well-being.”

How people go about accomplishing these qualities can be vastly different.

“For some, it is drinking a beer [or a few] at night. For others, it’s abstaining from vices. Some are still running successful businesses, while others have been retired for years,” Gefen said. ”I suppose the common denominator is that most appear to be socially active or engage in continuous, meaningful activity. But there are exceptions.”

The researchers we spoke to stressed that there is no direct roadmap to becoming a SuperAger. That being said, there are some positive habits you can adopt from them to bolster your cognitive and physical functioning well into your later years. Here are the key habits to practice:

“A lot of research shows that daily body movement is associated with both longevity and healthy aging,” Ailshire said. “I don’t use the word exercise, though, because I think we all have a connotation with exercise that’s like hitting the gym or running or something. But these may just be activities like gardening, doing crafts, kind of working around the house.”

Even walking counts as movement, with Ailshire adding that a focal point for SuperAgers is avoiding sedentary behavior.

“It is a little hard for all of us to avoid sedentary behavior — most of us have computer jobs,” she said. “But they’re very physically active and they have been their entire lives.”

People who age well regularly socialize, whether it’s spending time with friends or family, volunteering or spending time at work with colleagues, Ailshire said.

Research shows people with strong social connections live longer and have better cognitive and physical health.

Between work, money, medical issues and family problems, life is inherently stressful. But keeping your brain and body sharp means reducing unnecessary stress at all costs.

“Some [SuperAgers] have basically said, ‘I haven’t gotten involved in other people’s drama and tried to keep from being angry a lot, from being stressed a lot,’” Ailshire said. “I find that kind of striking that they’ve at least avoided stress to the extent they could — they didn’t create their own stress.”

According to Ailshire, cognitive stimulation is important for healthy aging, too, and there are many ways you can challenge your mind as you grow older.

“You’re never too old to learn a new language, learn a new way of picking up an instrument or do something that really challenges you cognitively or mentally,” she said.

However, the key is making it mentally stimulating for you. Gefen noted that if a certain task, like a crossword puzzle, induces panic, don’t bother.

Based on the published scientific literature she’s read, as well as the SuperAgers she’s spoken to, Ailshire summarized that these healthy older individuals are “people who are doing the things that make them feel happy and fulfilled.”

Gefen seconded this, saying: “Depending on whether one has the luxury to do so, one recommendation is to engage in activities that are engaging, enjoyable, motivating and not stress-inducing.”

“Drink in moderation” is advice we hear often, but as most people can attest to after a booze-filled holiday season, it isn’t easy to stick to.

When we can stick to moderate drinking, however, we usually feel pretty good about ourselves.

According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate drinking is defined as no more than two drinks per day for men, and no more than one drink per day for women. That means if we have a glass of wine after work every day, we’re not doing much harm to our bodies and brains, right? That depends.

Dr. Elizabeth Landsverk, a geriatrician and dementia expert, tells HuffPost that the way alcohol impacts the body will vary based on your age. If your 2024 goals include plans to drink in moderation, here’s what she wants you to know.

Your 20s, Landsverk says, are a resilient time for the body — which is probably why hangovers aren’t nearly as bad during that decade. “The liver and brain have the most resilience during that time,” she said. “The frontal lobes (reasoning, and judgment) are not quite developed. One is more likely to be open to drinking more or taking more risks, and this can set habits that will cause problems down the line.”

You probably won’t notice a huge difference as you head into your 30s as long as you’re drinking moderately, but it’s important to keep your overall health in mind. “Ask yourself: How is your health otherwise? Obesity, which is epidemic in America, increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver,” Landsverk said. “Alcohol increases the risk of liver disease and scarring (cirrhosis). As a geriatrician, I would say a glass or two a week is fine. Some doctors say one drink a day is fine, but it is also neurotoxic and that can catch up with you.”

In your 40s, more health risks begin to pop up, Landsverk explains. “Obesity, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol all increase the risk for heart attacks, strokes and small stroke dementia,” she said. If you’re living with any of these conditions, even a small amount of alcohol can further increase your risk of events like heart attacks or strokes, so keep that in mind.

Once you hit your 50s, Landsverk says, even moderate drinking can wreak havoc on the body. “Alcohol, besides the vascular damage and dementia risks, increases the risk of breast cancer, esophageal cancer and liver cancer (after disease),” she said. Because cancer risk drastically increases as we age, adding any amount of alcohol into the mix will only further increase that risk. “Plus, as we age, good sleep is more elusive,” Landsverk added. “Substances like caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol all hinder sleep”

In your 60s, you’ll likely begin to feel the effects of moderate drinking on your body. “I can speak from experience: This is the age when tolerance may decrease dramatically,” Landsverk said. “I am healthy. I can ski or swim a mile, but a glass of wine makes me feel ill and slow the next day.”

This, she says, is because older people are more likely to lose the enzyme to metabolize alcohol (alcohol dehydrogenase). “At this point, I can tolerate about one glass a week,” Landsverk noted. “If I had it daily, I would feel sick with just one glass a day. Older people have less reserve in the brain, liver and kidneys. The damage to the brain from even one glass a day is worse [when you’re over 60].”

Landsverk suggests that you think of alcoholic beverages like candy bars. “They’re nice with some meals, but they can increase your weight and blood sugar, and over decades adds to cancer risk and chronic illnesses that can lead to poor health.”

If you want to stay as healthy as possible and feel your best as you age, do you have to give up alcohol completely? No, Landsverk emphasizes, and it’s important to remember to remember that other factors influence the impact alcohol has on your health and well-being, such as if you’re living with a disease like obesity or hypertension.

If you’re older and in generally good health, you shouldn’t worry too much about the occasional alcoholic beverage. That’s certainly the case for Landsverk. “I have decided that a glass of wine with a nice meal is worth it,” she said. “But not every night.”

Remember when you used to slap on a coat of lipstick as you dashed out the door — and still managed to look great? If you’re anywhere north of 50, it’s likely those days are over.

You may have already noticed how lipstick tends to run into even the finest lines around your mouth, leaving you with a smeary mess that can’t be blotted away with tissues.

Fortunately, there are smart, savvy makeup artists who have shared their expertise with us. They offered some insight on why our lipstick seems to suddenly turn on us.

Michelle Wong, the cosmetic chemist behind the popular site Lab Muffin, said: “As you get older, your skin tends to thin and develop more lines and furrows, which act as ‘channels’ for lipstick, which has pigments that are slightly soluble in the product’s oils.”’

Is there an official name for this new indignity? “It’s called lipstick ‘feathering,’ because instead of a sharp, crisp line around the lips, it can look like a feather around the edges — a bit soft and never defined,” explained makeup artist Mila Thomas.

After all those years of aiming for moist, glossy lips, you’re going to need to transition away from those types of products. “Oily, liquid lip products are more prone to feathering,” Wong said. “Lip glosses applied on top of lipsticks are common culprits.”

Makeup artist Jamie Greenberg said that matte products might be a better fit for an older cosmetics user. “Anything too wet, glossy or thick will make the problem worse,” she said.

Thomas explained the reason why: “If the formula is too wet, it will more easily bleed into the skin beyond the lip line.”

There are techniques to avoid out-of-control pigment from spreading all over your face. But you’ll need to do a little pre-work before applying your favorite lippy.

It’s going to take some trial and error as you experiment with products and application methods. “I know it’s super-annoying, but there’s a technique out there for everyone,” said Jeanine Lobell, makeup artist and founder of the Neen cosmetics brand.

“It can help to exfoliate the lips daily, and to use lip balm each day to keep lips smooth,” Thomas said. Greenberg suggested using a lip scrub on and above the lips, too. If you want to do even more to set your lips up for success, she suggested using a nighttime lip mask.

Now that you’re exfoliated, balmed and masked, here’s how to apply lipstick so it stays where you put it.

1. Start with a mattifier/filler. “Put it on the lip line, going on the skin and in the outer corners,” Lobell said.

2. Apply lip-filling primer to smooth skin and create a barrier between your lipstick and any natural oils.

3. Brush on lip stain for a long-lasting color base.

4. Outline: Greenberg recommended lining lips with a flesh-toned concealer or lip pencil to create a barrier between the lipstick and the fine lines around your lips.

   Lobell outlined the process she uses: “Fill in the lip line, overdrawing very slightly. It’s very important not to draw all the way to the outer corner, because stopping a little short of the lip line is more flattering. Once you’ve applied liner, even if your lip color migrates, it will be held in place by the liner.”

5. Brush on lipstick: Greenburg uses a lip brush instead of applying the lipstick directly. “Brush out from the pout of your lips outwards,” she advised.

6. Blot: Thomas said, “Take a tissue and split it apart so it’s only one-ply. After you apply one coat of lipstick, lightly blot lips with the tissue.”

7. Add another coat: “The two-coat layering technique, with blotting in between, will make the color more long-lasting and help it stay in place,” Greenberg explained,

8. Finally, a bit of powder: “Dab the entire lip area with a bit of translucent powder and you should be ready to go,” Greenberg said.

“Use a more matte long-wear color for better control,” Lobell said. “A matte lipstick that’s full-coverage with a smudge-resistant finish is going to ‘travel’ less than other formulas.”

Still craving a bit of shine? “Keep gloss away from the edges of your lips, and apply it sparingly,” Wong said.

“If you need your gloss, keep it more centered on the lips when you apply it, tap lips together, and allow the extra to make it evenly shiny,” Lobell said. “If you love a creamy formula, tap the lips with blotting paper after you apply it.”

Check out the makeup artists’ top picks below.

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Do you find yourself constantly running to the bathroom? It may seem like you have to pee every hour (or maybe every other hour). Depending on who you ask, this might not be viewed as a problem but merely a symptom of aging.

And it’s true: A host of changes happen to your body as you get older, including bladder issues. While urinary incontinence affects people differently ― especially with age ― there are a few explanations for why you may experience this.

We asked gynecologists, urologists and pelvic floor therapists to delve into the common reasons you have to pee more frequently as you get older. Here’s what to know:

According to the North American Menopause Society, estrogen levels tend to decrease when people enter the early stages of menopause, also known as perimenopause.

“Estrogen is an integral hormone for maintaining bladder wall strength,” said Dr. Monica Grover, an OB-GYN and chief medical officer at VSPOT. “As it declines, the tissues supporting the bladder wall start to become weak and stiff, thus increasing the frequency to urinate.”

You may want to talk with your doctor about getting your estrogen levels checked if you think this could be part of the problem. Signs of decreased estrogen, particularly as a result of menopause, may include breast tenderness, frequent urinary tract infections and bone loss.

Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when one or more of the pelvic organs (bladder, bowels, uterus) are not optimally supported by the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments.

“If your bladder prolapses, it can sag into your front vaginal wall where residual urine can hang out after your pee,” said Sara Reardon, board-certified pelvic physical therapist and founder of The Vagina Whisperer. “Therefore you feel like you don’t empty completely and shortly after peeing, you may feel like you have to go again.”

While you’ll want to talk with your doctor about ways to strengthen your pelvic floor, kegel exercises can be helpful.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, about 10 in 25 women and 3 in 25 men will have symptoms of a urinary tract infection during their lifetime.

“As women age and progress through menopause, the diminished estrogen reserves change vaginal tissue to become more dry as well as the vaginal pH,” Grover said. “As a result, women do not experience the typical telltale signs of a UTI ― such as pain ― but will most likely experience frequent urination.”

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I feel like my bladder has gotten smaller”? That actually does happen as you age.

“The amount of urine it takes for someone to get the urge to go is less with aging and the amount of urine the bladder can hold is less,” Reardon said. “Often this is why aging women get diagnosed with Overactive Bladder because the bladder becomes more sensitive and shrinks.”

In particular, the elastic tissue becomes stiffer and the bladder becomes less stretchy, which tends to cause more frequent urination.

Constipation is more common with aging and it actually can lead to more urinary urgency.

“If the colon and rectum are full of poop, this actually can put pressure on your bladder, causing it to feel like you have more urgency to pee,” Reardon said.

Addressing constipation with exercise, dietary fiber, hydration and proper pooping mechanics can actually help your bladder urgency.

As you age, the likelihood of having chronic illnesses and taking multiple medications increases.

“Certain medical conditions like diabetes or heart disease can lead to increased urine production,” said Dr. Anat Sapan, board certified OB-GYN and menopause expert. “Similarly, many medications, such as diuretics commonly used for high blood pressure, can increase urinary frequency.”

If you’re the type of person who drinks a cup of coffee (or two) and likes to drink, whether that’s a glass of wine or beer, then that might be the reason you have to pee so much.

“Caffeine and alcohol are both bladder irritants and diuretics, which increase your body’s tendency to excrete water through urine,” said Dr. Andrew Y. Sun, board-certified urologist and chief medical adviser for Marius Pharmaceuticals. “Limiting the consumption of coffee, soda, wine, cocktails — even chocolate — can help reduce the need to pee frequently.”

As men age, the prostate naturally increases in size, squeezing the urethra so that instead of peeing through a fire hose, you’re peeing through a cocktail straw instead.

“If the prostate gets tight, then the bladder has to work extra hard to pump the urine out through this tighter opening,” Sun said. “Over time, because the bladder is ‘working out’ so much, it becomes thicker and more spastic, which can cause overactive bladder and frequency of urination.”

Treatments for this problem include medication to relax and shrink the prostate or surgical procedures to open it up.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Type 2 diabetes most often develops in people over age 45. A common symptom of Type 2 diabetes is frequent urination, which might explain the need to pee more as you get older.

“Generally there’s a build up of glucose in the blood which forces the kidneys to work harder to filter and absorb the extra sugar,” said Dr. Erica Montes, a physician and an adviser for pH-D Feminine Health. “However, when the kidneys can’t keep up, the extra sugar goes into the urine which could lead to more frequent urination.”

If you suspect you’re dealing with any of these issues ― or you’re just generally peeing more than you feel is normal ― chat with your doctor. They can run tests to figure out the culprit and find you some relief.

Could your personality affect your memory?

A recent meta-analysis published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, found a connection between certain personality traits and the risk of dementia. The data was made up of eight smaller studies, totaling 44,531 people age 49 to 81. Of the group, 1,703 people developed dementia. Participants took part in personality assessments and underwent brain examinations after they died.

Researchers compared dementia diagnoses with the “big five” personality traits, which are agreeableness, openness, extroversion, conscientiousness and neuroticism. They also compared diagnoses in people who had either a positive affect (a personality that leans more toward positive traits like joy, enthusiasm and confidence) and negative affect (someone who tends to have more emotions like anger, nervousness and fear).

People who had high levels of neuroticism and those with negative affect “had a higher risk of developing dementia over the long term,” said Dr. Joel Salinas, a clinical assistant professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health and the chief medical officer of Isaac Health, who was not affiliated with the study.

“And then those who had low levels of conscientiousness, extroversion and that positive affect … [were] tied to an increase of risk as well,” Salinas added.

Conversely, researchers found that people with a positive affect or personality traits including extroversion and conscientiousness had a lower risk of developing the disease. Those who are extroverted have a more robust social life and get energy from being around others; someone who is conscientious is considered responsible, organized and goal-oriented.

It’s worth noting that while researchers found an association between personality traits and risk of diagnoses of dementia, a clear link was not found between personality and evidence of underlying disease, Salinas said. So while the study suggests that the two may be correlated, researchers still don’t know if personality type is a direct cause of dementia.

“It doesn’t [mean] that these links don’t exist, it just means that either the study was unable to find it ― because the amount of information available was limited for this part of the study ― or that some other factor explains the reason why more people had risk of dementia,” Salinas said.

According to Dr. Riddhi Patira, the leader of the frontotemporal dementia consortium at the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center who was not affiliated with the study, the study measured clinical diagnoses of dementia, but it the kind of dementia is unclear — whether it’s Alzheimer’s or general memory problems, for example.

Another limitation, Salinas said, is that the second part of the study, which measured participants’ brain changes, relied on data from fewer participants than the first part of the study.

Patira said that there could be some mediators associated with neuroticism or a negative affect that put people at risk for dementia. For example, people who are neurotic or anxious often have more trouble sleeping than those who aren’t neurotic or anxious.

“And sleep is important for some drainage in the brain … that’s important for lower inflammation and risk of Alzheimer’s,” Patira explained. “So, there might be something to that that future studies might indicate.”

Additionally, when compared to happy people or those who are positive or extroverted, folks with a more negative affect are more likely to be isolated and have higher rates of depression, Patira said. Depression could impact lifestyle habits like diet and exercise, which are important for a lower dementia risk.

What’s more, Salinas said, people with a more negative affect or anxiety also may not have performed as well on the cognitive tests that doctors use to diagnose dementia. This could have led to more diagnoses based on those results. (Think about it: When you’re feeling anxious or negative before any kind of test or evaluation, you likely won’t perform as well as you would if you were calm and happy.)

As mentioned above, this study did not find direct causation between personality and evidence of underlying disease, so don’t panic if you do have a negative affect or are neurotic.

Instead, you can take this study as a learning opportunity. Patira suggests that you take extra care of yourself by exercising, getting good sleep and eating nutritious foods.

That said, she also noted that this requires effort and discipline, and it’s not easy for everyone (you can’t just will yourself to sleep better). If you find that you are still struggling, reach out to a doctor or therapist for additional support.

According to Salinas, “there’s quite a lot out there in terms of things that you can do to help to reduce your risk.” Healthy lifestyle habits “just put the odds in your favor that you won’t develop these conditions, or if you do develop it, you’ll develop it later than you would have otherwise.”

To decrease your risk, Salinas said you should:

• Exercise regularly. “People who engage in regular physical activity just have a lower risk of all sorts of conditions, and this is one of them. So out of all the things that you can do, this is the one to really spend time and effort [on] as much as you can,” Salinas said.
• Eat a healthy diet. A Mediterranean diet has been shown to help with dementia risk.
• Get enough sleep. “If you have any issues with any sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea … get treated,” Salinas stressed.
• Take care of your heart and blood vessels. It’s important to manage conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
• Have a social support system. “It does seem that having high-quality social connections where you’re able to get support when you need it seems to be protective in some way,” Salinas said.
• Engage in mentally stimulating activities. “It’s in the act of learning something new that we are more likely to create new brain-cell connections,” Salinas said.
• Wear a helmet during activities like biking. Head injuries carry an increased dementia risk.

Salinas said that it’s a common misconception that genetics is the sole influencer of dementia risk. In fact, “the vast, vast majority of dementia is not driven by genetics purely,” he said.

By reducing these risk factors and engaging in brain-healthy behaviors as early in your life as possible (and know that it is never too late to start), you can help keep protective factors in place, he said.

It’s not guaranteed that you won’t develop dementia if you follow the advice above, but you’ll likely be in a better position if you do end up developing disease-related changes, Salinas added. It’s worth a shot.

Let’s challenge an assumption that needs to be debunked: the idea that plucking out one’s own gray (or white) hair will result in multiple ones growing in its stead.

“The color gray does not spread when you pull out hair,” said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hamdan Absdullah Hamed, also a co-founder of an online platform dedicated to natural hair care solutions. “However, every time you pull it out, you’re removing the follicle as well, so I suggest leaving the white hair as it is.”

Although you won’t promote the growth of gray hair by plucking strands out, you really should try to stay away from the practice because it might end up damaging your follicles.

We still had questions, so we talked to the experts about gray hair health, including why it shows up and whether or not you’re better off simply embracing the look.

Experts agree that the appearance of white or gray strands depends on a variety of factors, including genetics, age and diet.

“As we age, there are hormonal changes causing white hair to show up at a certain age,” explained hair surgeon Dr. Patrick Davis.

According to the Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging, part of Colorado State University, “by age 50, half of men and women will have at least 50% gray hair.” Those statistics clearly leave room for other factors to be at play.

The easiest way to predict when you’ll go gray is to look at your parents and grandparents. “If they had gray hair at a relatively young age, then there is a good chance that will happen to you as well,” Hamed said.

In addition to these sorts of unchangeable, steady factors, what and how we eat can actually affect the arrival of gray hair.

Specifically, studies confirm that deficiencies in vitamins B12, D3 and calcium may be associated with premature hair graying.

“Vitamin B12 in specific is involved in the production of blood cells, so it is necessary when it comes to hair growth,” Hamed explained.

He also noted that vitamin D3 is thought to stimulate the formation of new hair follicles, which will result in a healthier and fuller head of hair while calcium aids with the secretion of certain hormones which, in turn, can stimulate growth as well.

However, although it follows that adding these elements to one’s daily vitamin intake may prevent hair discoloration, that’s not often the case.

“Taking supplements could push things off a bit,” Hamed said. “But it really depends on a lot of things.”

In fact, he noted that, usually, gray hair caused by a lack of nutrients looks different than age-related discoloration.

“Sometimes, you will look at hair and notice the top and bottom are a different color,” he noted. “That means that we’re dealing with a lack of nutrients, so adding vitamins to your diet may help.”

However, that will only prevent new hair from turning gray — “you’re not reversing the damage already incurred,” he said.

To put it simply, every strand of hair grows out of a follicle found on the skin of the scalp. Each follicle also features pigment cells called melanocytes that produce melanin, a chemical that colors hair and skin.

As we age, these pigment cells die off, therefore cutting down the production of melanin and, as a result, the amount of color that’s basically drenching the hair, effectively turning it gray or white.

“People of African American descent, for example, usually have more melanin so the hair doesn’t dry out as fast and the result skews to getting white hair later,” Hamed explained.

Sure, adding vitamins to your diet may help prevent the graying but if your pigment cells die off, so will the amount of melanin that colors your locks, making discoloration inevitable.

Is it worth it, then, to pull out the discolored hair out considering there is not too much we can do to push off the process?

Davis explained that, even if you pluck out strands that bother you, they will come back looking exactly the same as they were before you removed them.

“The hair follicle is basically the strand’s house, filled with the characteristics of the hair that you removed,” noted the surgeon. “So it will grow back with those characteristics.”

Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green agreed with the notion. “Once a follicle’s melanocytes die, loss of pigmentation will occur and new gray-colored hairs will grow from that follicle,” she said. ”While plucking gray hairs may lead to hair loss over time, it will not cause more gray hairs to grow, as only one hair strand can grow from a given hair follicle.”

Perhaps more important is the fact that forcibly removing the hair will likely damage the aimed follicle and those around it, maybe even permanently stopping hair growth in the area.

Basically, plucking out the hair is equivalent to shocking the system — the follicle, in specific — damaging it to the point of no return: forget seeing gray hair, you will stop seeing strands grow from that follicle, period.

When you’re a bit older, things get even more complicated.

“People with gray hair are usually older, so the chances of a damaged follicle even growing back are even slimmer,” said Hamed, who also warned against other potential issues. “Whenever you pull out a follicle, it makes a little well inside the skin and, over time, it can fill with oil and dandruff,” he explained. “It can get clogged, and you’ll basically have to deal with an ingrown hair.”

For what it’s worth, Davis did contend that pulling out hair in a specific direction may incur less damage.

“The hair comes out of the scalp in a specific orientation that you have to pay attention to,” he said. “If you go in the opposite angle, it’s going to cause more trauma to the follicle and scar it.”

That being said, he is clear on one thing: “I prefer people not plucking hair.”

When asked about the various supplements currently on the market claiming to reverse or stop the arrival of gray hair, Green acknowledges that although they may make your hair healthier, they won’t do anything about grays in specific.

“Many anti-gray supplements and serums contain vitamins such as B12, peptides and natural herbs that can supposedly prevent or reverse gray hairs,” she said. “While these ingredients may be beneficial for hair health and growth, there is currently no clinical research supporting vitamins or supplements that claim to slow or stop gray hair growth.”

Basically, if you start noticing gray hair, you have two options: You can either embrace the look (or ignore it, depending on how you look at things) or start investing in some hair dye.

After all, according to a recent survey of 2,000 Americans, two out of every five people who have gray hair have chosen to let the hue shine through. Perhaps even more telling is the fact that nearly a tenth of the survey respondents said they have intentionally dyed their hair gray as a style choice.

As we age, past concerns may go to the wayside as new problems pop up. Maybe you feel more stable in your relationships, for example, but you also can’t drink as much because you feel extra anxious the morning after. In other words, each stage has its own joys and struggles.

While we’re all unique in some way, you’re probably less alone than you may think when it comes to those problems. Additionally, a multitude of coping skills can help you handle them, even as tough and emotional as they often feel.

Below, therapists share some of the topics they hear about the most from older clients, as well as how they help or advise clients to handle that distress.

A lot of changes happen as you age, and grieving what had been is normal and understandable.

“I hear a lot about how difficult it is to start transitioning to retirement or getting older physically and mentally,” said Holly Humphreys, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks in Roanoke, Virginia, who works extensively with adults transitioning into retirement and who are 65 and older.

While this goes for losing loved ones, that’s not the only type of grief experienced. “Older adults can also go through the grieving process when they retire from their careers that they have been in for decades,” she continued. “They can also go through the grieving process when they start to notice a decline in either their or their significant other’s mental and physical health.”

What to do: Humphreys encourages her clients to feel their feelings, and she supports them along the way.

“I also assist with providing coping strategies to help older adults to better manage these feelings of anxiety and depression,” she said. “Likewise, I help with problem-solving to make sure they have all of the resources that they may need during this time in their life. Lastly, I provide supportive reflection to allow them a safe space to process their life up to this point and what they want out of their remaining time with their loved ones.”

While having a therapist who can help with this is a smart move, it may not be as accessible for everyone. If that’s the case for you, think of friends and family, and let them know what you need.

As you age, your child does, too, which leads to a change in relationship dynamics.

“One of the most common topics I encounter in counseling with older adults is their relationship with an adult child,” said Alicea Ardito, a therapist with Choosing Therapy who specializes in working with older clients. “Patterns are often established in childhood and adolescence, and it can be a difficult adjustment for older adults to learn how to be the parent of an adult.”

What to do: It all comes down to communication and working together.

“We will often explore ways to improve communication, find connection and establish healthy boundaries in the relationship,” Ardito said. This might look like asking open-ended questions or engaging in activities you both enjoy, for starters.

Kelsey Latimer, a clinical psychologist who has worked with older people, has heard many clients pick themselves apart, especially during times of change, transition and stress.

“The change can trigger a deep sense of instability, loss of control and fear of the unknown,” she explained. “Our mind can disconnect from those underlying things and tend to settle on thinking our bodies are the problem or the wrinkles on our face are why we feel a certain way.”

And, of course, societal beliefs don’t help. “The fact we live in a culture where the aging process is not one seen to be embraced places unrealistic expectations on people and can reinforce these feelings of instability during change,” she added.

What to do: If you struggle with this, Latimer encouraged dealing with your emotions directly, ideally with a professional or friends who are going through similar changes.

“Try to do the best you can to realize this is not about your body, sagging skin or wrinkles on your face — it’s a lot deeper than that,” she said. “Don’t suffer in silence — talk it through and find space for those emotions.”

Aging often comes with reflection, as evidenced by psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. According to his work on stages of psychosocial development, older adults often spend time trying to contribute to the world and looking back on their lives. Did they fulfill their purpose and live life the way they wanted?

This is another commonly discussed topic in therapy. “Clients may reminisce about fond times and regrets, depending on their mood and thoughts during the present session,” said Joel Frank, a licensed psychologist in Los Angeles.

What to do: The three key words here are “validation,” “acceptance” and “change” — usually in that order. “For individuals reflecting on their past, especially their regrets, I typically validate their thoughts and emotions on the topic and work with them on moving toward a perspective of acceptance,” Frank said. While the past can’t be changed, he said, learning from it is crucial.

One aspect you can learn more about is who you are, focusing on your values and desires. “It is also the recognition that there is still time to develop new traits and hobbies, should they wish,” he said. This might look like being more kind, trying an art class or becoming more involved in your place of worship, though those examples only scratch the surface of all the possibilities.

Similar to grief, the aging process is full of loss, unfortunately. “This is a nonfinite loss that does not involve physical death, but there is a sense that the loss is enduring in nature,” said Venetia Leonidaki, a clinical psychologist who’s worked with clients across the lifespan. “For older clients, such a loss could involve having to let go of treasured habits, feeling nostalgic about an important time in life, or coming to terms with a drop in physical or mental strength.”

Another type of loss that encompasses many of the others: a sense of losing your identity.

What to do: Let yourself feel those emotions and try to move forward in positive ways, according to Leonidaki. She validated that even if the loss isn’t clearly visible, it’s valid and significant.

After coming to terms with that, what helps? “As a part of active coping, I’d also get them to focus on the things that they can do instead of those that they can’t,” she said. “Practicing gratitude for the significant things that continue to be present in their lives could also help them counteract feelings of loss.”