A little of each, it turns out. While there are basics (confidence, a sense of humor, a good sunscreen), a few special style secrets can help. Here are Good Housekeeping's tips for beauty for women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s:

If you're in your 30s

1. Ward off future wrinkles by wearing sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) and treat pimples with a product that contains tretinoin (like Retin-A) or 2 percent salicylic acid, says New York City-based dermatologist Amy Wechsler, M.D.

2. Keep hair in top condition by avoiding too much heat, advises hairstylist Brian Oliver. That means not blow-drying super wet hair: Wait 15 to 20 minutes. And keep those curling and flat irons in motion (staying on one section too long can sizzle strands).

3. Don't skip makeup, even if you're really busy. A little color makes a tired face look fresh, says makeup artist Nikki Wang, who likes berry-toned lip gloss on all skin tones.

If you're in your 40s

1. This is the decade when wrinkle and pigmentation problems become prominent, says Dr. Wechsler. Her advice: Use a good sunscreen, a heavy-duty moisturizer and a prescription-strength bleaching treatment for dark spots.

2. Foundation often sinks into fine lines, making them more noticeable, says Wang. For a younger, fresher look, swap your base for tinted moisturizer. Or use concealer to cover your flaws. Still can't part with your foundation? Try mixing it with your moisturizer.

3. Hair loses body and luster with age. For new lift and shine, shampoo with a volumizing formula and style with a round brush.

If you're in your 50s

1. Deal with dryness. After menopause, the skin produces less oil - which means more lines and dry patches on your face and body. To the rescue: heavier creams and moisturizers (but avoid any product labeled oil-free).

2. Give your face a lift by keeping your eyebrows nicely arched. (Pluck brows so the peak hits just beyond the outside corner of each iris.)

3. Fight frizzy gray hairs - nothing ages you faster, says Oliver. To tame those wiry strands, Oliver recommends leaving in your conditioner for as long as possible and using a silicone-based finishing product. What also helps: coloring your hair.

If you're in your 60s

1. Commit to yearly skin checks. "Even if you've never seen a dermatologist before, now is the time to start going," says Dr. Wechsler. What a doctor will do: monitor for skin cancer and laser off any moles or brown spots that look suspicious.

2. Pump up your face color. Add more blush than you think you need and use a cream formula. (Wang says powder can accentuate wrinkles.)

3. Try a "younger" hairdo, like sideswept bangs or a pretty, shoulder-skimming style. "Our grandmothers once opted for short, severe cuts after they turned 40," says Oliver. "But longer lengths can look softer, modern and more feminine."

* On another matter: The traditional Thai ingredient of fish sauce sounds awful and smells worse, especially right out of the bottle. But Good Housekeeping's Food Department pros say add fish sauce to a salad dressing, stir fry or marinade, and it's the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. Made from liquid extracted from salted and fermented fish (most commonly anchovies), fish sauce is a popular condiment in Southeast Asian cooking, used much like ketchup or Worcestershire sauce. And don't worry about that pungent odor - it mellows with cooking. The taste can vary from brand to brand, depending on the combinations of fish used. The non-negotiables: Muddy-looking fish sauce is bad; a clear, reddish-brown color is good.