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What Would You Do To Your Face?
I got my first lesson about skin care from my gay best friend. Always up on the latest consumer products, he tutored me in the value of a daily regimen, which in those days consisted of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Life was simpler then. We hadn’t yet been introduced to exfoliants, serums, fillers, lasers, collagen, Botox, bee-stung lips and facelifts. Such skin treatments are commonplace for men and women in Los Angeles. You see it everywhere. But I’ve never been tempted to go under the knife, or even the needle. I’m not convinced that it makes anyone look better. And I’d rather put the resources into a new pair of shoes. What do you do to your face?
Illustration from Modern Beauty Culture, Maria Verni, 1933.
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29 comments for “What Would You Do To Your Face?”
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SF is not far behind – at least certain parts of the City.
I use Retin-A (Kinerase) which every derm repeatedly tells me is the best non-invasive thing you can do to your skin. I get enzyme peels 2-3x a year and occasional micro-dermabrasion which is like sanding the floors. A facial here and there. I try and remember sunscreen every day too.
Mostly, trying to be friendly with the face looking back at me in the mirror. I have noticed that after 40, I’ve stopped looking at myself a lot less though..
OK. Retin-A. I’ll have to look into that.
I totally agree. In fact I truly believe that age can be very beautiful. A lot depends on how we inhabit it. New shoes? Now, that’s a real lift to my spirits and my look.
But each to their own.
I’m all for a good haircut and hair color.
I’m so with you on this, Wendy! You wear your hair every day; a good cut is vital.
I’m very hooked on my hair stylist, who I totally trust.
Hm, I don’t do anything yet, mostly because I’m not convinced it would work. Right now I just cringe at the price tag of the skin care products and can’t be bothered to spend the money. Maybe that will change. I cleanse with a tea tree oil soap I bought at a local craft show; drink lots of water; apply sunscreen if I’ll be outside for more than 30 min; exfoliate with olive oil/sugar mix, and moisturize all over with coconut oil.
Also, now just over 40, I also see the beauty in others that comes with age. Life leaves marks – I’d rather age naturally and as healthfully as possible. But I wonder whether I’d buy in to the procedures and creams if I had a high-powered career or a public persona.
I’m sure if I had a career in front of the camera, I’d be getting face work.
I’ve been using Mary Kay products for more than 20 years. While I had always liked the skin care line, the price used to make me pause when I was in my early 20’s (hey, I was young and broke!) But after I developed a health problem that caused my skin became really sensitive to everything else, I didn’t have much of a choice, so I’ve used it exclusively ever since. I haven’t tried anything different in 10 years, so it’s possible that there’s something else out there that would work for me, but I’m happy with what I’m using, so I don’t feel the need to explore other options. Besides, I know what genetics say that I should look like right now, based on how my older female relatives look, and I’m pretty sure that Mary Kay has done better for me than whatever it is that they’ve used – people routinely guess my age to be at least 10 years less than it really is. 🙂 My sister, mom, aunts and cousins cannot say the same. Well, except for one cousin – but she’s used Mary Kay for years, too, lol.
P.S., No, I don’t sell the stuff, 😉
It’s good you’ve found products that works. I’m a big fan of Peter Thomas Roth skin care products.
I use glytone and Avene for skin and face. I am a big fan of injectibles and my fair-skin greatly appreciates lasers and peels. I love my doctors. I’m pretty sure there is a face lift in my future, hopefully not until I’m in my mid-60s. Had my eyelids done for my 50th. I have to add that my peripheral vision improved dramatically as a result of the procedure.
So, I guess you can say I endorse whatever makes you feel good in your own skin (bad pun, sorry).
When you are single, you can spend your money on whatever you want. Is that wonderful?
That’s exactly right, Beth. Brava to you!
My desire to preserve my skin is balance by paranoia about the chemicals in products (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/). So I mostly use chemical free and organic serums (Tata Harper), eye cream (caudalie), and vitamin C (skinceuticals pfloretin CF).
The thing I intend to try in the future is IPL therapy (intense pulsed light) because it’s gentler than lasers and good for rosacea. But I’m waiting because it’s pricey and not necessary yet.
Eminence organic masks are moisturizing. I have a skincare blog I started last year that I’ll send you (I hate to self-promote on someone else’s blog), because I used to be such a product freak and tried everything under the sun.
Oh, and if you’re in LA then Elta SPF 30 is the strongest and lightest sunscreen. I don’t even freckle anymore when I wear it.
Thanks E for the info. I’ll check out the blog.
Sunscreen. Daily. And if all else fails…plant a big ole smile on your face. It’ll take 10 years off!
LA sun is so strong. I always wear a hat during the day when I’m walking the dog.
Water, soap, moisturizer, sunscreen. Rinse, repeat.
I’m in my early 30’s, so I’m on the young side, and this may change as I get older, but I really like the products from Simple. I got hooked when I lived in the UK, and was delighted when the company came to the US. They’re fragrance-free, gentle, effective, and cheap.
It’s so good you’re taking care of your skin in your early 30’s, Lauren. It will really pay off later.
Soap for sensitive skin, and moisturizer. I used to use Aveda but they are so overpriced. Now I use something called Arizona Sun that costs $9 for a bottle that lasts six months at least. Sometimes I use foundation but I don’t like it and generally don’t bother.
I was genetically lucky in that regard. It’s just the stress that hangs age on your face. Oh, and sun.
And rotations around the sun. There’s no way around it.
Mostly off-topic, but I just discovered I can only do that kissy-face in the picture to one side (the right side). Is this like rolling your tongue?
NO to any vanity/elective surgery for me–this also includes laser vision surgery as well as anything plastic. I’ve had too many un-elective procedures/surgeries that there’s no way I’d CHOOSE to go under for any reason.
As for skin, I tend to have dry skin on my arms and legs but not facially. Sun screen on my bald head. The rest I leave to genetics.
I tend to shy away from doctors unless it’s absolutely necessary. So I’m with you, Lew. But I absolutely support anyone who wants to do it.
I had Lasik not for vanity, but for quality of life. I was sick of not being able to do ANYTHING until I found my glasses and constantly worrying I’d break or lose them. It was expensive but involved very little pain and, I think, was totally worth it. To each their own, of course, but that’s one elective procedure that I think is often done for reasons beyond vanity. I didn’t mind the *look* of wearing glasses, but rather the hassle. When you’re vision’s as bad as mine was (I couldn’t see the big “E,” and when a doctor once put an even bigger letter in front of me, I couldn’t see that, either), it goes far beyond vanity. Sure, it’s kind of extreme, but I often thought about the fact that, if there was an emergency, like my house catching on fire, in the middle of the night, I’d have to stop and put my glasses on before fleeing, or I’d never make it out of the house.
I’m so glad the Lasik worked for you, Joda. And so there’s no misunderstanding, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with vanity procedures. It’s just not a priority for me, personally.
Procedures like that should, obviously, be well-considered by the potential patient, but I guess I saw it as more of a “permanent prosthetic” thing than vanity. Seriously, my vision was so bad that it was like operating without a major limb. Sure, I could strap on a relatively cheap piece of equipment and function, but there was always the possibility that that piece of equipment would break (as happened to me one morning when I woke up, put my glasses on, and they just randomly broke in half…upon which I called off work, called every “same day glasses” optometrist in the phone book (with some effort, I might add, since I could barely see my phone or the book without said glasses), and called every friend I knew with a car until I found one who was off work and could drive me in, since there was NO WAY I was going to be able to get to or take the subway without glasses…I actually had BRUISES from this incident, since I ran into several doorways getting to the phonebook and then the door to let said friend in), and even if functional could be an impediment in an emergency. Even over 2 years later, I still marvel at the ability to wake up and see more than half an inch past my nose clearly. I suppose with something like that, there are “levels of need.” I was SUPER in need, where others might see it as convenience or vanity.
I’ve always had good vision. But when I finally needed my first pair of glasses, I made sure they were really fun to wear.
I really can’t see ever having surgery on, or injections in, my face. At 45, I think I look pretty young for my age, but I just don’t get freaked out by the occasional wrinkly, crow’s foot, etc.
That being said, I try and take care of my skin, use a gentle cleanser, exfoliant, moisturizer, eye cream, and sunscreen (the most important thing, from what I’ve learned over the years).
I use mostly drugstore brands, but have tried Kiehls, Clinique, Lancome, etc. over the years, since I love experimenting. The best product I’ve come across is an expensive one, though. Amore Pacific Enzyme Peel. It’s pricey, however a little goes a long way, and I’ve been using my initial purchase for going on a year and a bit, two times per week. It makes your skin feel like silk, and it’s gentle.
With expensive products, I like to figure in cost per wear. Sounds like you’re getting a lot of use out the Amore Enzyme peel. (I’ll keep an eye out for it.)