Let’s Talk About Aging

Sigh. Aging. It’s a completely natural and expected part of life…until it happens to you.

It seemed incomprehensible when you were bouncing energetically through your younger years with effortlessly supple skin, gliding on new makeup trends and snapping photos without a second thought about the lighting.

But after a while, unbeknownst to you, the amount of time you’ve existed on this beautiful planet has, well, accrued. And the skin in which you’ve been traveling this journey starts to look…different. Your makeup doesn’t go on quite as smoothly. You begin to avoid florescent lighting just as much as you’ve begun to avoid alcohol on work nights. You find yourself staring in the mirror at a person who is changing – who looks older.

It’s a little traumatic, right? Okay, it’s a LOT traumatic.

So, let’s talk about aging. Let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be (and if you recognize that quote, I know you can relate to this topic).

We’ve covered the latter – the bad things. To sum up, it’s scary and disconcerting to come to the realization that the clock only moves in one direction; that all those people you always looked at as “older” were people just like you who happened to have been around longer; and that you will be older, too.

With any luck, we all will.

And that brings us to the good things. Aging may well mean that the laugh lines deepen in your skin – but that is also a sign that you have laughed. Circles may appear under your eyes, but those eyes have seen some incredible places, looked upon the fruits of hard work, and gazed with love at all the important people who’ve come into your life over the years. Yes, aging does mean your skin changes, but it also means you’re living, moment to moment, experience to experience. And THAT is a wonderful, amazing, and precious thing.

You may have noticed that many beauty brands have shifted away from selling you products that stress “anti-aging” or that claim to “defy” aging altogether (side note, this was never actually a thing that humans could do). There’s been a very deliberate and thoughtful “rebrand” of the concept of aging. This is a direct result of our current collective mindset. We’re all genuinely tired of feeling ashamed or inferior because our appearance reflects our years. We want to approach aging with a positive attitude, without the rest of the world being patronizing or condescending about what is, in fact, a completely natural and expected part of life. Because we deserve to. Life’s too short for anything less. And because aging truly does bring with it so much beauty!

And here’s more good news. There are actions you can take to help keep your skin looking its best, no matter how many years you’ve been marching on through life. Your skin does NOT have to look tired. It can match your sparkling outlook if you are mindful about how you care for it. Here are a few tips:

• Stay in the shade and use an ocean-safe sunscreen. We’re lucky enough to be aging in a time when we’re aware of the damaging effects the sun has on our skin. Don’t let that knowledge go to waste. If you prefer the tanned look, use a nontoxic self-tanner.
• Create a skin care routine that helps support your skin’s healthy functioning. Use a gentle cleanser, since harsh soaps can irritate and dry out your skin, which will make it look less vibrant. Use a Daytime Protection lotion to protect against pollution, dirt, makeup, and climate. And find a fantastic eye cream! This can keep your under-eyes looking moist and soft while reducing the appearance of wrinkles. Seriously, a good eye cream will be your new best friend.
• Drink lots of water. Hydrating can help keep your skin plump, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It’s good for your other organs, as well!
• Remove your makeup before bed. Falling asleep with makeup on can clog your pores and trap pollution inside, which can harm the skin. It will also keep oils and dead skin cells stuck on the outer layer of your skin, which will dull your complexion.
• Don’t smoke. There are so many reasons smoking can make you look older, including the fact that it deprives your skin or oxygen, and it can trigger the destruction of collagen and elastin. We get it’s not that simple to quit. But if you need more motivation, think of your beautiful mug! Click here for some tips to resist the cravings. And here for programs that could help.

The lesson here is, there are things you can do to keep your skin looking its best at any age, and also things you can do to make it look older. If you take a little extra care in how you treat your body, you can go confidently into this next phase in life – one in which, thanks to the wisdom and life experience you’ve gained, you can start to feel more comfortable in your skin than ever!