25 Anti-Aging Rules Graceful Women Swear by

SPF 30 or more, specifically. "Blistering sunburns between age 15 and 20 increase the risk of malignant melanoma by 80 percent and other cancers by 68 percent," says Delphine Lee, M.D., a dermatologist at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. Be sure to reapply every two hours when you're outdoors.

"Ages 30 to 50 are the best time to alter the trajectory of how we age," says Sharon H. Bergquist, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Bergquist says 80 percent of illnesses are preventable—in other words, there's plenty you can control about the aging process.

Lee advises using a topical retinoid therapy to prevent wrinkles and lightening creams to even out your complexion. Use sparingly and with caution, however, as they can cause skin irritation. Products needn't be expensive: Kimberly Cetron of Fairfax, Virginia, says her grandmother Beatrice swore by Ponds cold cream, Dove soap, and daily naps. "Her complexion was lovely until her death at age 90," says Kimberly.

Avoid the heavy stuff—too much can cake in one's wrinkles and draw attention to sags.

Judith Kirkwood of Boca Raton, Florida, took a combination of testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol compounded by a physician specifically for her. "It led to a revival of my sex life, falling in love, and marriage at age 65," she says.

Get an annual physical, even if you feel well—small issues can lead to big problems later in life. "Prevention is easier than cure," says Barry Baumel, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at the University of Miami.

Tracking your blood pressure is key: "High blood pressure during the 30s, 40s, and 50s can lead to heart and brain problems like Alzheimer's," says Baumel.

Drs. Baumel and Bergquist agree that the back-and-forth of conversation keeps our brains firing much more efficiently than solitary activities like crossword puzzles or reading. In fact, a 2010 study of 300,000 people by the National Institute of Health found that people without relationships had a 50 percent greater chance of premature death.

That's right: The same human-computer interaction that helps train pilots and soldiers, and provides hours of entertainment for kids, can also improve attention span in older adults, according to research from the University of California at San Francisco.

Dr. Bergquist, who writes about how brain-boosting foods can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's on her blog, Eat Healthy, Age Healthy, recommends eating "a plant-based diet high in nuts, grains, fruit and vegetables and low in meat and sugar." Of course, not every nonagenarian plays by the rules: Irving H. Kaplan of Freeport, New Jersey, who was still writing advertising jingles when he died at age 99, enjoyed a daily diet of hot dogs, French fries, butter, and a quart of milk, reports his daughter Fran Kaplan.

Working out helps build new pathways in the brain that create new ideas, but you don't have to be a triathlete to benefit: daily walking works equally well.

People who watch TV for six or more hours a day shorten their lives by nearly 5 years, according to an Australian study, which also found a correlations suggesting that every hour of TV watched after age 25 reduces the viewer's lifespan by 21 minutes.

According to one study, older people who reported being happy were 35 percent less likely to die during a 5-year time period. Inez Pachter of Greenwood, Mississippi, always felt her glass was not just half-full, it overflowed. "She lived 98 fulfilling years," says her daughter Robbie Hollander.

Sadie Levine of Westlake Village, California, worked in retail until she was 89, says her daughter-in-law, Irene Levine of Westchester, New York: "She swore that being in contact with co-workers and customers half her age kept her alert and buffered her from the losses in her life." Similarly, Eugenia Lollar Elliott of Rutherford, North Carolina, who lived until age 98, didn't get to attend school until she was a teen but caught up quickly. She became a teacher, married a farmer, and canned every apple, pear, and peach on the farm, says her daughter, Millie Sandman.

By some accounts, each cigarette you smoke reduces your life by 11 minutes.

Gerdie Kleckley of West Columbia, South Carolina, had a spoonful of apple cider vinegar, a swig of Geritol, and a multi-vitamin every day. "My granny swore it kept her vital into her '90s," says her granddaughter Joni Watling of Minneapolis.

Joyce Lowenstein, 90, returned to Georgia State University at age 87 to get a degree in art history. She'll graduate in 2017.

People who sleep for fewer than six hours a night have a harder time losing weight, have higher blood pressure, and suffer from heart disease more than those who sleep at least seven hours a night, says Bergquist.

When Ruth and Robin Horvath of Atlanta were in their '60s, they took a three-month assignment in Kabul, Afghanistan, to help create master plans for military bases and police stations. They stayed for 8 years. "The more we do, the more energy we have, and the more our creative juices are stimulated," says Robin.

Simple acts like sending a thank-you email and enjoying nature can lower blood pressure and boost your immune system. A daily practice such as keeping a gratitude journal can soften the effects of aging to the brain.

Margie Goldsmith of New York chose mixed-martial arts at age 65, the blues harmonica at age 67, and marriage at 68. "I'm in the third act of my life," she says.

People who make meaningful contributions to the world have higher life expectations.

"I approach life with the same curiosity I had as a kid, and fight to keep it," says Maxine Rock of Atlanta. Now in her 70s, she and her husband, David, are avid cyclists who have peddled through Holland, Switzerland, France, and nearly every major trail in the U.S.

People who view aging positively live approximately seven-and-a-half years longer than those with a negative attitude, according to a study conducted by researchers from Yale and Miami University.