Senior Makeover Contest For Men And Women

As seniors age, looking good on the outside can become more of a challenge. That is why skin-care expert and former Dallas star Victoria Principal has partnered with the senior care service Home Instead Senior Care to help older adults make positive changes on the outside that can impact not only how they look, but how they feel as well.

Ms Principal and Sharon Massafra, who owns the Home Instead Senior Care office in Newtown, say that helping seniors look good on the outside can lead to overall healthy aging. Family caregivers — often grown daughters or granddaughters — are usually the motivators to encourage their senior loved ones to cultivate a better appearance, and in the process nurture their relationships as well, experts say.

With that in mind, Home Instead is also joining forces with Newtown Senior Center to co-host a Senior Makeover essay contest.

Winner of the essay contest will receive an outfit from Kohl’s Department Store selected by a personal fashion consultant; a haircut from Ricci’s Academy; consult with a make-up expert from Mary Kay Cosmetics; and Before & After photos.

To enter the contest, seniors are invited to write, in 500 words or less why they, or someone they know, could use a free senior makeover. Senior must be 65 or older.

One male and one female winner will be chosen.

Entries can be dropped off at Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook, or mailed to Home Instead Senior Care, 111 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook CT 06482. Entry deadline is Friday, November 10.

The winners will be announced on Thursday, November 16, at 1 pm, at the Newtown Senior Center during a “Feeling Good From The Outside In” tea.

Makeover Tips

With the help from family caregivers, senior citizens can look and feel better from the outside in, says skin-care expert Victoria Principal. For a free copy of the senior makeover guide, Feeling Good from the Outside In, with more tips, call the local Home Instead Senior Care office at 426-6666.

Men and women should eat a balanced meal, stretch, and exercise every day. Remember, attitude is everything, says Ms Principal.

“When you get up in the morning and look in the mirror, and don’t like the way you look, you can say: ‘You know, I’ve looked better before. What shall I do about it?’” said the skin care expert and actress.

“How we talk to ourselves is very important. If we’re cruel to ourselves, it’s very difficult to be animated and have fun. And that makes it more difficult to take positive steps,” she continued.

Following are tips for seniors and the family caregivers who help them.

Women should keep their hair healthy with regular cuts or trims at least once a month. Use a shampoo that does not strip the hair or scalp. Follow with a leave-in or rinse-out hair rinse that coats the shafts of the hair.

Women should also base their wardrobe around black, brown, and taupe. Think monochromatic — the same color on the top and bottom — because it elongates and slims. Use color around the face. For example, combine a black jacket and black pants with a pink scarf.

Skin is the largest organ of the body, so it is important to treat it with care. Use a cleanser that does not include perfume or create too many suds, but leaves the skin ready for the next step: a quality moisturizer.

Remember to moisturize around the eyes, but use only a product that was created for those areas and one that will not irritate the eyes.

For men, overall look will also be very much enhanced by staying clean and maintaining proper hygiene. Men should also try to get good quality haircuts at least once a month.

Also shave regularly but never use aftershave, as it contains alcohol and fragrance — neither of which belongs on the face, according to Ms Principal.