If my father were to wear his pants any higher, all you'd see of him are his belt buckle and a tuft of hair. Yet my wife and sisters-in-law, all in their mid- to late-thirties, think he's aging well.

Who am I to argue? Style may be one thing. But the fairer sex seems universally to treasure older men.

Sprout a crop of gray hair and women say you look "distinguished." Develop a few squint lines, and they use adjectives like "outdoorsy" or "rugged." Throw in a Porsche and several hundred thousand dollars in chump change, and Paris Hilton starts to show up, uninvited, at your birthday parties.

Yes, your forties and fifties are fantastic. Your later years can be even better. And if you maintain healthy skin, you'll get through them all looking great and feeling like a million bucks — even if your belt buckle is headed north all on its own.

40 Something
Sleep lines have materialized on your forehead. Deep folds run from your nostrils to the corners of your mouth. Sun freckles — those nasty solar lentigines again (see Thirty Something) — make you look as though a drunken pointillist has had his way with you.

And your skin? It's getting dryer, isn't it, and more elastic.

Continue to apply your moisturizing sunscreen. Exercise, maintain your body weight (those faddish rebound diets will stretch your skin beyond repair). Drink plenty of water. And stop smoking. Whatever else you do, stop smoking.

50 and Beyond
Your skin will become dry and flaky as oil production slows. You'll also start to lose pigment and notice the appearance of age spots. Wrinkles will deepen, especially around your mouth and eyes.

Is there a magic pill to make it all go away?

Nope. Despite the hype of so-called "anti-aging" formulations, there isn't a skin care product in the world that'll keep you from looking your years.

Plastic surgeons will always suggest "enhancements." But think about this option very carefully before you sign the release forms.

Cosmetic surgery is useful only if you're a burn victim or have a dog's hindquarters growing out the side of your face. Otherwise, it's vain, dangerous — and the one person who benefits most is your surgeon.

So what to do?

Dry, flaky skin is easily remedied with a daily application of body lotion. Pigmentation problems are solved with bleaching cream, if you really want to get extreme about it. And you can always zap those wrinkles with a healthy dose of alpha hydroxy acids, which are available in premium face lotions, cleansers, and toners.

Above all else, stop obsessing over your lost youth. There's nothing unnatural about the way you look now, so revel in it.

The ladies certainly will.