I don’t know about everyone else but I don’t like getting older. I hate the body aches and the stiffness in the morning. The fact that it so much easier to put on weight and so much harder to lose it is a giant frustration. But the thing I hate the most about getting older is the wrinkles. On the inside, I still feel like I’m twenty three years old and then I look in a mirror. Aging seems so unfair and I will admit I spend far too much money on beauty products that are supposed to help keep you looking young. If there was a way to stop aging, I would be all for it.
My husband, Steve, says I have way too many creams and lotions. He looks at my side of the vanity and shakes his head at all the products I have lined up everywhere. My morning and evening skin care regimen drives him nuts. I don’t listen to him though because moisturizing is the only way to slow down the wrinkles. It’s a hard fought war but I am going to fight as long as I can. The vitamins, fish oil, collagen and glucosamine bottles sitting on the counter seem to gain new friends all the time. Even though the studies are divided about whether supplements actually do any good, I take them anyway because if they can help even a little bit, why not take them?
I don’t even really mind the actual getting older part. It’s true that you gain a little wisdom as you age and can look back at your younger self and shake your head at all your dumb mistakes. Everyone tells you to just let yourself age naturally and it doesn’t matter. My older sister has fully embraced her gray hairs and rarely wears makeup. She laughs at me and claims I’m high maintenance. I wouldn’t say I am but it’s true that I don’t leave the house without makeup, ever! My gray hairs are eradicated by hair dye with a vengeance and I always have plenty of face masks and eye masks to refresh my skin. If only you could get older without looking older.
Since the fountain of youth is just a fairytale, I will continue with all the magic potions (aka lotions and creams). I also try to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Women naturally have less water in our bodies than men do with women having a 55% body water percentage compared to men’s at 60%. We also will dehydrate faster than men. I live in a very dry state and the dry air contributes to the wrinkling of our skin by depleting our moisture levels.
So yes I do buy too many beauty products and I will continue to do so. If they have any ability to help slow down the ravages of time on my face, I deem them worth the cost. Maybe all the creams and the supplements and the copious amounts of water will be enough to keep me looking reasonably close to as young as I feel inside for a little while longer.