I recently finished reading *The Woman’s Wakeup: How To Shake Up Your Looks, Life, And Love After 50* by Lois Joy Johnson. It’s a quick and engaging read packed with over 50 beauty tips and much more. While the book is primarily aimed at women over 50, many of its insights are valuable for younger women as well.
Every page offers a little nugget of wisdom, proving that confidence and charisma don’t fade with age. Johnson doesn’t just share her own experiences—she weaves in advice and reflections from accomplished women in her circle. She also embraces life’s challenges, tackling topics like divorce, online dating, and menopause with honesty and even a sense of celebration.
With an impressive background as the founding editor of *MORE* Magazine and a longtime beauty and fashion director, Johnson delivers practical, no-nonsense advice that’s easy to apply. Here are a few standout tips from the book:
– **Invest in a silk pillowcase and aim for at least seven hours of sleep each night.** Silk helps reduce stress on your skin and hair while also feeling luxurious. If sleep is a struggle, consider upgrading your mattress or trying meditation to ease stress. During sleep, your skin repairs itself, making it the perfect time to use powerful treatments like retinol to boost collagen and speed up cell turnover.
– **Take care of your shoes and bags the way you care for your skin.** If you believe in cost-per-wear when buying clothes, this advice fits right in. Keep your favorite leather accessories clean and moisturized to extend their lifespan.
– **Build a wardrobe with timeless essentials.** Must-haves include long scarves, a crisp white shirt, skinny jeans, and a few lightweight cardigans and pullovers.
– **Find an affordable wrinkle cream that actually works.** Johnson is a fan of the RoC skincare line, highlighting products like RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Cream and RoC Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Daily Moisturizer—both of which I personally love and use regularly.
– **Skip the suit.** Unless you’re a CIA agent, there’s no need for one. Instead, opt for a well-tailored dress. Sheath, shift, and fit-and-flare styles are flattering and versatile choices.
– **Listen to yourself—and younger women too.** One amusing piece of advice: stop saying, “I know I sound like a broken record.” It instantly dates you, especially around people who’ve never even seen a record.
Beyond beauty and fashion, Johnson covers a wide range of topics, including resume writing, solo travel, making and maintaining friendships, dating, dressing for your body type, standing out, and even cosmetic surgery.
If you’re looking for a practical and inspiring guide to navigating life after 50, *The Woman’s Wakeup* is worth adding to your collection. You can find it in paperback on Amazon or as an eBook on Books-A-Million—definitely a great resource to keep handy with your favorite pages bookmarked for quick reference.