My friends at Boombox Network sent along some findings from their recent Beauty Survey that I thought I would share and provide commentary on. Their simple infographic below tells the story about the “beauty problems that bother boomer women most.”
Here’s what the beauty survey found:
And here is my commentary:
Hair color: I agree. I not only color my gray away but add highlights for extra body and fullness. I consider hair one of my most important accessories that I wear every day. It is so worth the extra cost to keep it fluffy during my life after 50. BTW, I’ve started to massage a little bit of Macadamia or Moroccan Oil on my hair and scalp after I wash it and find that the oil keeps my hair and scalp nice and moist during the dry winter months.
Skin texture: I’m lucky that my skin is clear and free of acne (most of the time). My daily skin regimen includes Murad Renewing Cleansing Cream (compliments from last summer’s Boombox blogger party) with my Clarisonic Mia skin cleansing brush (compliments from the nice Clarisonic PR lady who I met last fall at the FOF Beauty Bash) and then I top off with L’Oreal Youth Code Day Night Cream Moisturizer (which I had to purchase myself – but I like the texture), followed by my Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Foundation with SPF in the winter and Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 during the summer to protect my skin.
Uneven skin tone and aging spots: Uh yeah! Uh yeah! I have lots of aging spots. Wish I could get rid of those aging spots. My esthetician D says to stay out of the sun or be sure to use sunscreen to keep aging spots away. I don’t know if I can do that since I love my condo on the corner at the beach and plan to spend more time there this summer once I am semi-retired. I’ve tried multiple lightening creams but have not found one that really works.
Yellowing teeth: Yes, yes, yes. I drink too much tea that stains my teeth. I did try whitening my teeth a few years ago. Will have to try those new Crest Whitening Strips that I read about – perhaps they will make my teeth whiter.
Facial hair: My 91 year old mom asked my sister N to get her a small facial shaver that she saw in an infomercial the other day while watching TV. “I use one of those small facial shavers to clear my mustache before I bleach since I find that waxing irritates my skin,” I told my mom. “It works great.”
Dark circles: According to Shelley Levitt’s feature on WebMD, “With age, the skin around the eye thins, exposing the tiny blood vessels that lie just below.” To cover up dark circles I use Smashbox Camera Ready Concealer and put it on like the makeup artists suggest — “Lightly pat the concealer on from the inner corner of your eye to just past the outer corner.”
Shelley writes that dermatologist Valerie Goldburt, MD, PhD, of NYU Langone Medical Center suggests these four things to help keep your eyes looking youthful:
1. Don’t smoke, and always apply a sunscreen around the eye area.
2. Apply a moisturizer to the eye area nightly.
3. Add a prescription retinoic acid — the vitamin A cream that goes by the generic name tretinoin — to your daily skin care regimen. “It’s the single best thing you can use to prevent wrinkles and improve existing lines,”
4. To calm puffy eyes, place cold spoons, slices of cucumbers, chilled tea bags, or even a package of frozen peas under your eyes. The cool temperatures reduce swelling.
Forehead wrinkles and lines around lips: I have lots of wrinkles and lines and lines and wrinkles. That’s why when Olga from Arbo Labs contacted me to offer me a sample of their new line of ArboRX natural moisturizers and serums I said “absolutely, send samples my way and I will try them out.” Olga says that “As we age, skin loses it’s natural firmness and elasticity, and new skin cells take longer to regenerate. Mature skin needs more specialized skin care products to address dull and uneven tone, fine lines and wrinkles, and dry complexion.” I just put the new ArboRX serum, moisturizer and emulsion on my face last night. Haven’t seen any wrinkles disappear yet, but it is too early to tell…will let you know in a future beauty post. However, you know, you know, you know…this boomer girl will try anything that promises to get rid of her wrinkles, even if it is only one or two lines.
So what beauty problems bother you during your life after 50? Do you have any beauty products you especially like or beauty secrets to share? Do tell. Do tell.
Judi
P.S. – Thanks to all my readers who left comments on my Valentine’s Day blog post. Congrats to Allison, who is the winner of the Valentine’s Day raffle prize of a box of Godiva Dark Chocolate.
P.S. Please take time out to vote for your favorite boomer blogger. Tell your friends to vote too. My blog is a finalist for SeniorHomes.com Best Senior Living Award for ‘best boomer resources.’ Click here to vote. Deadline is February 18th.
Judi! Great piece! Thanks for all yours recommendations that tackle the list of beauty “complaints” that emerged from our beauty survey of women ages 45+. We can’t look 20 years old anymore, but thank goodness we can “fix things up” a little and, at least, maintain an appearance of aging gracefully! Going out to buy my whitening strips tout de suite!!
:-}
Anne-Marie, thanks for your positive remarks. I have to get my whitening strips too.
I have had laser treatments for my facial dark spots and it works wonders. And I always use sunblock.
The lines around my mouth really bother me, but I’m not going to use fillers or botox, so I’m learning to live with them.
Tara, thanks for your tips. I may try laser treatments one day too. I agree on the nixing the botox and fillers. I’m too fearful that I would get dependent on them.
I am very fortunate as I do not have dark spots or age spots on my face. I found after 50 a facial serum is essential day and night to keep skin moist. I use only cruelty free Eco friendly moisturizer by the Eclos line which is so hydrating and works on wrinkles as well as fine lines. Their facial serum will change your skin for the better.
After 50 a lot of skin products are a waste of money, I stopped using eye creams and masks. Facials are a waste of money. At this age I doubt Clarisonic will help and its expensive I use a washcloth to exfoliate once a week and a scrub occasionally to brighten my skin. Simple and low cost. I find a simple rountine of pure products is working after 55.
I have the facial hair issue, I have to remove it once a week. Hate it with a passion. My fear is I will forget and be out in bright light where people will notice.
Re yellow teeth, I had them awful. Nothing is more aging. I got mine professionally whitened this year and after a lifetime of tea and coffee it took 5 sessions but I no longer look my age. I stopped drinking coffee and it made a big difference. I use a whitening toothpaste every day 3 times a day and rinse after I drink tea. You will be amazed how much better this makes you look keeping your teeth white. Also you will find it builds confidence and makes you want to smile more. Its a win win. Go to the dentist and get the zoom treatment, it’s so worth it.
My biggest aging issue is wrinkles. I cannot afford to have work done and made peace with them. They reflect a lifetime of living and survival so I embrace them. My Mom was gorgeous at 80 with few wrinkles so I am of the hope mine will not multiple. LOL.
Hair-Not ready to be grey, still color it every 4 weeks. Its our crowning glory and it needs to reflect how young I feel and not be grey and washed out silver. I wil not give up that fight! it makes me feel like a feminime beautiful woman when I get my roots done, not a aging baby boomer. Such is the fight for beauty at our age.
Alexis, thanks for all your great advice. I agree that having whiter teeth makes a difference. I have to ease off on my tea drinking. But tea drinking is supposed to be good for other aging issues. Oh well!
Thank you Tara, I too have thick lines that run the corner of my mouth looking like I have jowls. Sometimes I don’t care that much… others, like when I am going to speak in public, I look in the mirror and say “that’s it, tomorrow I am calling the surgeon.” and as we all know… tomorrow never comes.
Karen, I don’t like my jowls either. Sometimes I stand in front of the mirror and pull my skin back to see how I looked before I had these wrinkles. But, like you, I never call the surgeon.
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Susan Conner
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Hi, I just found this blog. I have/had many of the same problems from above that you do. I found a product that I love…no more dark circles under my eyes, tighter pores, less wrinkles. If you are interested, contact me and I will send you my before/after and a sample.
Thanks,
Joan
Joan, thanks for your comment. I would definitely be interested to learn what beauty product you find helpful. Do share your secrets for eliminating wrinkles and dark circles.