Can We Grow Old With The Beautiful Face We Desire, Naturally?
Coco Chanel, George Orwell, and others have said "At 50, you get the face you deserve."
Sean Penn is about two years older than me and a recent, rough-looking picture has been making the internet rounds.
Convicted “Doomsday Cult Mom” Lori Vallow Daybell’s image has been splashed all over gossip magazines.
Sure, Sean Penn’s been credibly accused of abuse by a bigger star than he is: ex-wife Madonna. Lori Vallow Daybell has been convicted of killing her two children in a bizarre religious cult-influenced crime.
Here’s my top tip to avoid undesirable facial aging: don’t commit a crime.
Most of us can meet that standard. What else can we do to keep our faces looking as youthful as possible?
In addition to using good sunscreen every day, here are some tips from the Mayo Clinic:
Don’t smoke tobacco
Avoid excessive alcohol
Stay hydrated
Get sufficient sleep: 7 to 8 hours
Follow a healthy diet
Let’s say you’re like me, though, and survived years on less than 6 hours of nightly sleep, and you also smoked cigarettes for decades. To keep my weight down: natch.
Skin Care At Older Ages
The older we get, the more delicate the outer layer of our skin becomes. We also lose collagen, which supports skin elasticity. Finally, we can experience undesirable changes in the way fat is distributed on our face.
I naturally slept on my back for years: it turns out that sleeping on our back can reduce facial aging.
According to Mayo Clinic, topical retinoids made from Vitamin A can reduce wrinkles, rough patches, and age spots. Tretinoin, aka Retin-A, produces results for many people. It can also cause redness, burning, and itching.
Skin creams with alpha hydroxy acids (lactic acid and glycololic acid) can also reduce roughness and smooth wrinkles. For a quick boost, creams and serums with caffeine can shrink bags under the eyes and crow’s feet.
Once you’ve found a formula that works for you, it can’t hurt to try similar formulations in a variety of price ranges. The best product isn’t always the most expensive.
Example? I bought an expensive skin-firming body cream that worked well. I later found a similar firming cream from a major skin lotion manufacturer that was 20% of the price: and it works better.
Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Procedures
I’ve consulted with a number of aesthetics businesses and top cosmetic surgeons. The “perfect” look that some patients demand often ends up looking less natural over time. A mask-like face doesn’t look “young.” It often ends up looking weird or creepy.
If you’re going to try cosmetic surgery, skin resurfacing, laser treatments, injections like Botox, or fillers, be sure to talk to satisfied patients before you take any of these options. There is a huge difference between low-priced aesthetics practices that focus on high volume, lower-cost procedures and top practices that take the well-being of their patients seriously.
Be Happy And Do Self-Care Every Day
Here in Southwest Florida, I’ll often hear people say “The only makeup anyone needs is a few hours in the sun.” That flies in the face of “stay out of the sun” and “always use sunscreen” but it supports the idea of being happy and taking care of our selves.
I’m active and I have a pretty good tan right now. But I have used sunscreen nearly every day of my life. For many years, I didn’t even realize I was using it — I just thought I was wearing makeup.
I also know I look a little younger than Lori Vallow Daybell, who is over a decade younger than me. Daybell looks older than her age, and so does Sean Penn.
Genes do play a role in aging.
But it seems increasingly clear that our attitudes, diet, and daily living probably influence our appearance as much or more than our genetic heritage. Each day, bioscience is discovering new ways that our microbiomes and environment influence our health in many ways, and external appearance is just one of them.
It’s likely that the microbiome influences skin conditions like dryness, eczema, and psoriasis, as well as acne and yes — wrinkles and saggy skin.
Many people — of course not all — do seem to “get the face they deserve” as they age. At the same time, there are ways to ensure that we deserve the best face possible without resorting to facelifts and expensive procedures.