adventures in love

Hello, beautiful. How are you?

Turning 50 this year has brought about a lot of changes especially with my skin. I’ve seen dramatic (ok, dramatic to me) fine lines and discoloration appear seemingly overnight. I wake up and look in the mirror and wonder what the heck just happened. Wrinkles crisscross beneath my eyes like a smile map from all my 50 years. Not altogether a bad thing but maybe not exactly what I’m ready for either. Mmmmm. Am I the only one in search of some tips and tricks to age gently and naturally?

Medi Spa Options

I’ve avoided injections and fillers. I’m not against them. I’m just scared 😱 of the side effects. I did try Botox years ago and ended up with a two week headache. What can I say? Have you listened to the Botox commercials? Seriously, yikes! But I know lots of people who routinely uses Botox successfully and I’m just a one off with side effects. Do what’s best for you. Judge free zone here.

But I am a fan of gentle chem peels. You can discuss the right depth of chemical peel which is right for you with a dermatologist or esthetician that you trust to guide you. The peels vary from mild to deep and the benefits and downtime vary, depending on the type of peel. I prefer the lighter ones which uses a gentle topical solutions to gently remove the upper layers of skin, revealing a fresh texture and appearance. I’m due for one and have an appointment scheduled. I’m so excited.

For fun adding a few undoctored-all-natural selfies from last weekend as my “before” shots. It’ll be interesting to see if there’s a difference after my visit to the dermatologist. 😳

Are you as curious as I am about the popular Vampire Facials or the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) which is a safer alternative to the other injectables? I’m so curious I went ahead and made an appointment to discuss it with a certified dermatologist. I’ll let you know what I learn.

“This treatment is done with the plasma derived from one’s own blood. A blood draw is completed in which a small amount is spun in a special centrifuge. This separates the components of the blood so the platelet rich plasma can be harvested. This is then applied in a topical solution or injections to deliver growth factors and reduce the signs of aging and scarring.”

Skin Care

I’ve always been very faithful to washing my face every night before going to bed. Confused about the best way to wash your face? Pop over to Wiki and check out the five simple steps to cleaner, healthier skin.

I’m going to be honest here, I’m a bit of a facial cleanser snob. I prefer a glycolic face wash. I used M.D. Forte for years before it was discontinued but the same manufacturer developed SkinMedica. Yes, it’s expensive. But a little goes a long way and well worth the cost. I find the wash gives my skin a smoother texture and fewer breakouts.

To combat my natural aging skin, I’ve upped my skin care regimen. What I really like about Clique is that it’s very gentle. I’ve already mentioned how sensitive my skin is and on top of that I’m prone to having allergies. I had a terrible eye lid rash for months until I eliminated my makeup trying to rule out the irritating culprit. When that didn’t work I stopped using a popular skin care line and it cleared up almost immediately.

Yes, even the most highly praised brand can cause issues so always do what’s best for you. In search of something for my sensitive skin and to balance the humidity where I live I began using this lighter moisturizer.

I can’t tell you how many different eye creams I’ve tried over the years. From expensive miracle creams, promising disappearing lines and under eye circles, to cheaper drug store brands I’ve collected countless tubes and pots but without very good results. Please let me know if you’ve discovered a favorite one. AnyHOO, my fall back eye cream is Alana Mitchell Anti-Aging Peptide Eye Cream. It’s hydrating and absorbs quickly. It’s not a miracle cream but it’s lovely.

This isn’t an all inclusive list but it is my core skin care regimen. Hope it’s a helpful guide to some of you.

Sending you love and happiness.

❤️

#skincare #moisturesurge #over50 #skincareessentials #beautyhacks