Unsolicited beauty advice for you young whipper snappers...

howleyshell · January 2011

As I'm approaching 40 at lightning speed (next month) I've been reflecting on some skin care things I wish I'd know and done in my 20's and 30's so I thought I'd share with you ladies.

There are 2 main areas that I notice aging on my friends (aside from the obvious face wrinkles): Hands and chest.

Take a few extra minutes and some extra product and treat the back of your hands and your neck/chest area as nicely as you treat your face on a daily basis and I promise you it will pay off in the long run.

Plastic surgery may help with facial issues but hands and chests are not something you can usually get medical cosmetic help with. I've seen some women with beautiful, perfect (obviously lifted) faces but their hands still give them away.

And... if you think it doesn't make a difference if you use sunscreen on your face you are DEAD WRONG.

I can tell a world of difference between my friends who've religiously used SPF on their faces vs those who have not.

Granted... we live at altitude so we have more sun issues but still.... simple thing to help keep your skin looking young and healthy.

Mouseygail · January 2011

love this, thank you! I've suddenly become very interested in skin cremes...I swear I have aged 10 years in the last 4 months or so. ugh. good advice!

Mrs.Babbsy · January 2011

thanks, I am all about skin care now!

howleyshell · January 2011

Mouseygail:
...I swear I have aged 10 years in the last 4 months or so. ugh. good advice!

I hear ya!

I thought I was looking pretty darned good for my age and for having 2 kids back to back and then about a year ago.... WHAM.

Lines.

Plenty of them.

It's so weird because I FEEL young! I don't feel like the person in the mirror matches who I am on the inside or who I feel like.

I never understood people doing plastic surgery on their faces due to aging - until now.

I just want to look on the outside how I feel on the inside but that's just not the case any more.

Carrie25 · January 2011

Totally great advice! As a person who lives in an area with sun most of the time, sunscreen is essential. I think genetics play a role in how you age too. My grandma, who's 85 doesn't look a day older than 65-70. She amazes me everyday. My MIL actually looks older than my grandma.

SeaSoul · January 2011

Funny, I was just thinking today how OLD my hands look...and I do use lotion religiously, and always have, but I am also an avid hand-washer, and in the winter with the dry air to boot, it really dates me. Actually, they make me look way older than I am. So sad. I really don't think there's anything more I can do about it!

As for chest...just looking at it straight on it's fine, but if I have a lower-cut shirt and am my boobs are squished at all the cleavage area looks a little wrinkly (have noticed this in photos). This I can't stand. And I will admit I've never been one to apply lotion in that region, so I probably should begin.

kme930 · January 2011

Thanks Howley - I try to be good with my hands, but winter is disastrous for them. I needed the reminder. And my chest, I never think of that. Thanks!

howleyshell · January 2011

SeaSoul:
Funny, I was just thinking today how OLD my hands look...and I do use lotion religiously, and always have, but I am also an avid hand-washer, and in the winter with the dry air to boot, it really dates me. Actually, they make me look way older than I am. So sad. I really don't think there's anything more I can do about it!

I think the thing about hands is that they get a LOT more sun than any other part of our bodies - even in the winter!

Aveno makes a body lotion with SPF 15 that doesn't feel like a sunscreen - just a nice regular lotion.

But I do start each day now using my (expensive) facial moisturizer on both my hands and neck (it also has SPF in it).

I'm going thru product much faster but I still wish I'd been doing this for at least the past 10 years.

And isn't it SO weird? I honestly NEVER thought about hands and aging. Well... i did notice my Grandma's hands looked boney and weird but I never thought about it in reference to myself and how they'd look as early as 40.

I'm stunned at how mine look.

Stunned.

Like you I think my hands look much older than I am.

I try to tell myself that I've loved and still do love living where I live and if having old hands is the price I pay for it then so be it. I would still rather live here than some super humid place where everyone has nice skin!

SeaSoul · January 2011

howleyshell:
SeaSoul:

Funny, I was just thinking today how OLD my hands look...and I do use lotion religiously, and always have, but I am also an avid hand-washer, and in the winter with the dry air to boot, it really dates me. Actually, they make me look way older than I am. So sad. I really don't think there's anything more I can do about it!

I think the thing about hands is that they get a LOT more sun than any other part of our bodies - even in the winter!

Aveno makes a body lotion with SPF 15 that doesn't feel like a sunscreen - just a nice regular lotion.

But I do start each day now using my (expensive) facial moisturizer on both my hands and neck (it also has SPF in it).

I'm going thru product much faster but I still wish I'd been doing this for at least the past 10 years.

And isn't it SO weird? I honestly NEVER thought about hands and aging. Well... i did notice my Grandma's hands looked boney and weird but I never thought about it in reference to myself and how they'd look as early as 40.

I'm stunned at how mine look.

Stunned.

Like you I think my hands look much older than I am.

I try to tell myself that I've loved and still do love living where I live and if having old hands is the price I pay for it then so be it. I would still rather live here than some super humid place where everyone has nice skin!

You know, my facial moisturizer has SPF in it but I don't even think of it for my hands. Of course that makes a lot of sense! My only concern is I'll be washing it off constantly, but I guess I'll just have to reapply, just like I do with regular lotion.

artygirl · January 2011

I second Howley's advice on the chest. I'm late to the game (just turned 37), but in the past year I've started putting moisurizer on my chest when I do my face. I fear I'm getting old lady cleavage with wrinkles.

Unfortuantely for me, I have man hands. They are never going to look good!

dundasgirl · January 2011

I am turning 33 next month and I can see a big difference in my skin already!

Another piece of advice from my friend who works with skincare...Do not rely on the the SPF in your face cream. It is usually just there as a marketing tool, and will be pretty much useless to depend on for a full day.

I suck at using sunscreen unless I am going out for a full day in the sun. I never think to use it on a regular basis and am paying for it!

Germanwife2b · January 2011

I sell an amazing product for the neck (specifically formulated for the thinner skin on the neck). But this is the Nest, so I can't solicit my products. But you know where to find me if you would like to know more (we have full blown anti-aging products for the whole body---that REALLY work---my new consultant under me is 56 years old and looks amazing after using the products for the last year-so much in fact that she decided to become a consultant just like me).

And I agree- SPF makes all the difference!!!!!!!

jenn2929 · January 2011

I am also approaching 40 and the one thing I will add to all of this is drink lots of water. I am really bad about this and I think it helps keep the skin all over your body healthy and glowing, It was my new year's resolution to drink more water. I think I've done it one day so far.

Germanwife2b · January 2011

Ha Ha- I read your title to be unsolicited advice FROM you young whippersnappers.

Oops!!!

Ignore my unsolicited advice above. I thought you wre asking for something. I get all excited and my panties get in a bunch.

Sorry Nest Gods!!

Smudges*Mom · January 2011

I am also in the "cruising towards 40 faster than I realized" (my b-day is in August). Within the last two years, I look down and see my mom's hands. . . attached to my arms. I am often told that I look younger than I am, but HS is spot on (pun not intended, but still worth a smile). Hands are a give away? As we age, we lose the plumpness of our hands. I morturize really well, I have since college. I put a thick cream on every night, but my hands are showing age faster than my face. Because of my fair skin (and the fact that hot weather and I are not friends), I am pretty good about sun protection.

Wise words from a lady (that would be HS) who, at least in her pictures, does not look like she is as close to 40 as she evidently is!

howleyshell · January 2011

dundasgirl:
I suck at using sunscreen unless I am going out for a full day in the sun. I never think to use it on a regular basis and am paying for it!

If you're looking for STRONG sun screen power that works well under make up without making your skin oily this stuff goes on like water:

https://www.neutrogena.com/product/sun/ultra+sheer/ultra+sheer+liquid+daily+sunblock+spf+55.do?sortby=bestSellers

And works really well.

LucyPevensie · January 2011

Old ladies, you want to really get rid of some wrinkles? Use this every night. You MUST also use sunscreen during the day. And it will sting at first. But with religous use - you'll get rid of a few of your lines. And it's drugstore brand and not horribly expensive - plus you don't use a lot - a little dab'll do ya.

(I'm old too so I'm allowed to say "old ladies.")

howleyshell · January 2011

LucyPevensie:
Old ladies, you want to really get rid of some wrinkles? Use this every night. You MUST also use sunscreen during the day. And it will sting at first. But with religous use - you'll get rid of a few of your lines. And it's drugstore brand and not horribly expensive - plus you don't use a lot - a little dab'll do ya.
(I'm old too so I'm allowed to say "old ladies.")

LucyP - you're saying you've noticed IMPROVEMENTS in fine lines with this stuff?

I tend to think most wrinkle creams are snake oil but if you're saying it's worked for you I'm picking some up this weekend.

Another thing that works well for the wrinkles between your eyebrows and forehead?

Nasal and sinus surgey.

I'm still a bit swollen a month later so while I've got slightly black eyes I've also got a MUCH younger looking forehead area.

It's making me consider botox now that I can actually see what it would look like to have them gone BUT... I don't think I'm up for that kind of cost and long term work since you've got to get it done so often.

..... waits for LucyP's reply! .......

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