geekGreat skin well into your 50s
October 26th 2007 01:58
This post is as much to pay homage to my Mum who recently left planet earth to be with her Maker as it is to give advice on maintaining soft, supple skin throughout the aging process. I will share my Mum's daily routine to show you that great skin can be achieved without lots of products and getting obsessed about how to take care of it.
You may think I am biased in my opinion of Mum's skin...but I have evidence from a totally unbiased source. On the night of my mother's viewing, we were told that the mortician found Mum's skin to be beautiful...so easy to work with! Oh my...I know it sounds creepy but it was actually comforting to hear that compliment about my Mum. Anyway, moving on...
Mum will always be 56 to me, since that was her last birthday before she passed away, yet her skin looked about ten years younger. She didn't have crow's feet. She didn't have deep lines around her mouth, cheeks, forehead or brow. Overall, her skin was taut (a bit puffy on the eyelids) and the line of her jaw was still pronounced. Here's why.
1. She didn't drink lots of water. She hated the stuff. I had to force her to have her glass a day, trying to convince her it was important for elimination of toxins...
2. She didn't use expensive cream - in fact for a good ten years she used Sorbolene cream because she worked at a drug lab that produced the stuff and she took a liking to it! She was adamant about the 10% glycerine, though. Anything lower was substandard. The most expensive cream she used was Olay! And even then it wasn't the fancy aging, Regenerist stuff - instead their most basic of moisturisers (about $15 a tub). Anyone remember, Oil of Ulan ... she used that for a few years too. So the theme here is: basic, simple, not over the top creams.
3. She didn't wear foundation, except for my sister's wedding and a few other weddings where I offered to to do her make-up.
4. There was no need for cleansers and toners. Cold water splashed in the morning did the trick.
5. She had a good diet most of the time - fruits, vegetables, good oils, meats, poultry, cheese, fish...probably a bit heavy on the sweets at times and the pork crackling but who has a perfect record right!
6. Smiles. She was a a smiler. She always had a smile for a person and an uplifting word. She never wanted to drag anyone down with bad moods. She didn't complain. She was wise. I believe you look your best when you smile. I think your body and skin likes smiles because they allow it to glow with freedom and joy. Smiling relieves stress.
How easy would our skincare routine be if we removed just half the stuff we plonk on it! Oh, may I have the guts to let go of my cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, exfoliator, mask, powder, and about 100 hundred other make-up items.
You may think I am biased in my opinion of Mum's skin...but I have evidence from a totally unbiased source. On the night of my mother's viewing, we were told that the mortician found Mum's skin to be beautiful...so easy to work with! Oh my...I know it sounds creepy but it was actually comforting to hear that compliment about my Mum. Anyway, moving on...
Mum will always be 56 to me, since that was her last birthday before she passed away, yet her skin looked about ten years younger. She didn't have crow's feet. She didn't have deep lines around her mouth, cheeks, forehead or brow. Overall, her skin was taut (a bit puffy on the eyelids) and the line of her jaw was still pronounced. Here's why.
1. She didn't drink lots of water. She hated the stuff. I had to force her to have her glass a day, trying to convince her it was important for elimination of toxins...
2. She didn't use expensive cream - in fact for a good ten years she used Sorbolene cream because she worked at a drug lab that produced the stuff and she took a liking to it! She was adamant about the 10% glycerine, though. Anything lower was substandard. The most expensive cream she used was Olay! And even then it wasn't the fancy aging, Regenerist stuff - instead their most basic of moisturisers (about $15 a tub). Anyone remember, Oil of Ulan ... she used that for a few years too. So the theme here is: basic, simple, not over the top creams.
3. She didn't wear foundation, except for my sister's wedding and a few other weddings where I offered to to do her make-up.
4. There was no need for cleansers and toners. Cold water splashed in the morning did the trick.
5. She had a good diet most of the time - fruits, vegetables, good oils, meats, poultry, cheese, fish...probably a bit heavy on the sweets at times and the pork crackling but who has a perfect record right!
6. Smiles. She was a a smiler. She always had a smile for a person and an uplifting word. She never wanted to drag anyone down with bad moods. She didn't complain. She was wise. I believe you look your best when you smile. I think your body and skin likes smiles because they allow it to glow with freedom and joy. Smiling relieves stress.
How easy would our skincare routine be if we removed just half the stuff we plonk on it! Oh, may I have the guts to let go of my cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, exfoliator, mask, powder, and about 100 hundred other make-up items.
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