The other day I received a book in the mail from frequent NAILS contributor Erin Snyder Dixon called Aging Backwards: Secrets to Staying Young by Jackie Silver. It’s filled with tips for looking and feeling younger — from sleeping in your bra (no thanks) to drinking antioxidant-rich green tea (sounds good to me).

After the face, the author notes, the hands are the most visible telltale sign of age. According to a study published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, most people can accurately judge a person’s age by viewing only their hands. Not so surprisingly, when volunteers were shown digitally altered photographs of female hands — with age spots and prominent veins removed — the hands appeared younger to them. What’s a little surprising, however, is that the simple addition of jewelry and nail polish also made the hands look younger to the volunteers.

So tell your clients: A coat of polish and a bit of bling can turn back the clock.

— Judy