Not only am I beginning to feel old, but I’m also beginning to look it!
Recently, I needed to use a photo for something and I absolutely hate photos of myself. I know that hate is a strong word, but I really do. I’m just not photogenic. I know that it’s all about angles and lighting, but honestly, I’ve just never bothered to learn about it.
I found a photo from last year that I begrudgingly thought was okay, but I had to crop others out of the photo for what I needed it for. When I did, I was horrified. I looked old! I had wrinkles around my eyes, and my skin looked a bit like crepe paper. I swiftly looked in the mirror to examine my face. I didn’t have wrinkles, except for when I smiled, and my face was fairly smooth, just quite red. I wanted a nice photo, so I decided to give a filter app a try.
I’ve used the odd Snapchat filter and some filters on Instagram, but this app was on another level. My complexion was now clear, the lines were smoothed, and my ego was deflated. I still looked like me, just more fresh-faced & healthier. I wanted to cry.
I found myself going through my photo album, trying out other pictures. With each picture I enhanced, I felt what was left of my self-esteem withering away. I started thinking that I needed Botox and how I was going to go about getting it. Tears pricked at my eyes. What has happened to me?
Then I wondered if perhaps some lifestyle changes would be a better and, of course, cheaper option, so I removed myself from the rabbit hole of self-hatred and rerouted myself down the road of self-improvement.
So what exactly do I need to do to improve my skin as a 40-something-year-old woman? Here is what I found in the first article I came across:
- Protect it from the sun (and sunbeds). I loved a sunbed back in the day, but haven’t used them for a few years now, so staying away from this will be easy enough. What about avoiding the sun though? Staying in the shade when the sun is at its strongest, wearing hats and sunglasses and of course wearing sunscreen are also advised. It was only last year that I started choosing moisturisers with an SPF, but covering up and wearing sunscreen is usually reserved for when I am on holiday or sunbathing in the garden – when the British weather allows.
- Moisturising every day. I do apply moisturiser, with SPF, every day, but I don’t really moisturise the rest of my body unless I am applying fake tan, which isn’t very often at all.
- Clean your face twice a day. Apparently, the best way is to wash with water and a cleaner, not soap and you shouldn’t scrub. I wash, cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning, but lately, I have been using a gentle soap, I also exfoliate once weekly. I am also very guilty of leaving my make-up on if I have had a few too many wines.
- Avoid smoking. Thankfully, this is one bad habit I have never had, probably the only one.
- Eat a healthy balanced diet. We all know the drill. Plenty of fruit, veg, proteins & good fats. My poor body, although I am getting better, I certainly haven’t been feeding my body much of the good stuff over the years.
- Sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for good skin. Again, it’s something I’ve improved massively over the years, but about 10 years ago, I was getting by on a few hours of sleep each night, and that’s done me no favours at all!
None of these things are unachievable, so I am going to start with my twice-daily skincare routine. I know very little about what is good for my skin so I will start with products I already have at home, which I have listed below.
In the mornings, I will cleanse my face with Superfacialist calming creamy cleanser. I’ve not used this yet, but I love their primer.
I’ve been using Simple soothing facial toner for a while now and it works well with my skin, followed by Glossybox eye boost cream, which I received as part of my Glossybox subscription, the one subscription box I really miss!
I’ve just started using Olay Total Effects moisturiser & serum duo and I mix it with 2 drops of Revolution hydrate tanning drops, to give my face a nice natural glow.
In the evenings, I will cleanse my face again with Superfacialist calming creamy cleanser, followed by Garnier micellar rose water and finish with Clarins multi-active night youth recovery cream.
I would love to know if you have any products or methods that work for you. ❤️
