Prompt question of the day: At what point in life did you stop trying to look older? At what point in life did you start trying to look younger? If neither are true, talk about looking your age.
Unfortunately ageing is a constant thing, it’s not a process we can halt, it’s not something we have any control over – as Brian Molko sang “since I was born, I started to decay“. Ageing can have such a terrible influence on us, we can become obsessed with staying youthful…people can go to extreme lengths to appear as flawless as they perceived themselves to have been when they were younger.
The media bombard us daily with airbrushed images that we all feel we should be reflecting in our own looks, they speak of acid peels, baby food diets, expensive creams (that have the same ingredients in them as the cheaper brands), statistics that may have been yanked from the air for all we really know. They tell us we need to be primped and preened to within inches of our lives, we need to be tango orange, that dragon eggs stop wrinkles! Really, we know it’s all bullshit, but we read and listen anyway.
I’ve grown up in a family in which the females concern themselves (an awful lot) with appearances – spray tans, make-up, anti-ageing creams, make-up, manicures, make-up, pedicures, make-up, dyeing their hair (blonde mostly), make-up, dieting, etc etc etc. As you can imagine, they didn’t react particularly well when they found me toy fighting in mud or climbing trees (*ahem* last week *ahem*). I’m not one to religiously get a spray tan (as I mentioned before, the skin medication I have means I can’t use them), I don’t get manicures or pedicures (my nails are fine as is!), I refuse to dye my hair (I’m happy as a brunette), I’m too much of a foodie to diet (I’m also a UK 8-10) and make-up I use sparingly (despite having quite the talent for matching and applying quirky eye-shadows).
I get the feeling I was switched at birth!
I do however wear an SPF 30 suncream everyday (again – this is on the doctors advice due to the skin treatment), I wear a thick skin cream with oils (Rosehip mostly) at night and a light moisturiser during the day.
I don’t do it to look younger, I do it because my skin needs a bit of extra care…I don’t worry too much about looking old. So I have a few little lines next to my eyes when I laugh…that’s all I have – who doesn’t? I’m 27 years old, skin ageing is just going to occur whether I like it or not – regardless of what companies say, I don’t believe any cream, face peel or potion will stop wrinkles from happening. I’m also stating now that I’ll refuse to have botox for aesthetic reasons, I can’t rule out never using it just because it is now a treatment for migraines (of which mine are still not controlled).
Another reason I don’t worry too much about ageing is because I still get asked for ID, not just for alcohol (legal age 18 but to check if you look under 25) but also for lottery tickets (which is a 16) – ID checks aren’t mandatory in the UK, it’s the perception of the server that determines this.
I think there is way too much fuss and pressure on women to look younger, I really do. That said, to all those worrying about their “ageing” looks, here are some fabulously beautiful women (over the age of 50!) to snaffle as role models:
Dame Helen Mirren (current age 67)
Emma Thompson (current age 53)
Dame Maggie Smith (current age 77)
I’m following my mum’s advice – “you’re only as old as you feel”…strangely she feels 18 and I feel 24!
Loki-Lou
PS – Today is Ally’s (@sempaigirl) birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLY!
(How cool is that cake by the way?)
I also think a funny song is in order today so pin back your ears for:
Weird Al Yankovic – Smells like Nirvana (also check out his “Ebay” one too – that one is pretty damned funny! Just out of curiousity did anyone ever own a pet rock?).
My mom always says the same thing and I sometimes feel older than she does, too! Glad I stopped by from the NaBloPoMo October Soup page. Looking forward to reading more!
Feel free to drop by anytime Kate…even before the NaBloPoMo the blog was updating almost every day, hopefully that will continue!
And mum’s always have the best advice! If a bit peculiar at times (I should mention more of her wisdom).
I think you’re totally right. You’re beautiful just as you are, and from one brunette to another, BRUNETTE’S ROCK!
Thanks for linking up! 
I wish there wasn’t so much pressure for us all to look a certain way! I also think that once you become obsessed with the way you look you lose sight of other things (or people) who are more important.
Also….BRUNETTE POWER!
Some days I am all for aging, other days I think of how little I have done in my life and how I am starting to look older; how others my age have accomplished so much more.
I do think that many women age gracefully, even with the wrinkles and spots, and look great.
Recently I’ve had a few moments of self doubt regarding people of my age being more successful than me…I thought by now I’d be settled in a career, married and planning on having children – not unemployed and newly single.
BUT – everything happens for a reason…I just hope this happened for a bloody good reason!
And I agree, some women just look amazing at any age! I’m curious as to how they do it, but I’m sure that most of it is purely genetic
I like your mom’s advice: You are only as old as you feel! Abraham Lincoln also said: It’s not the years in your years that count, but the life in your years! Those lines on your face show the life in your years.
Visiting from Papa is a Preacher.
Carolina
sewcarolinaknits
Oooo I like that saying! I’ll be keeping that in mind
As long as the lines are from smiling and not frowning then I’m ok with it!
I agree, you are only as old as you feel. Lately I feel old. I just am me and don’t try to look any different. I remember when I was younger trying to look older but once I got past the legal age to drink I quit that nonsense. Great post.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
It is a strange thing, almost grass is greener, when you’re younger…you think it’d be so brilliant to be older! I remember plastering make-up just to get served in a pub when I was 16…never worked though! Surprised I still get asked for ID now!
I like your life view on appearance. I do like to do few things with my appearances –I love fashion thingy, etc. — Just Because
As long as we do things that pleases us, personality, why not
So, keep it that way. Despite how much I love fashion, I do a lot of silly things –like running in high heals, chasing a flock of ducklings, or racing with my dog 
I still haven’t mastered walking in high heels….yet! I’m always to be found darting around in Converse or ballerina flats…or most recently, a pair of hot pink Doc Martens!
Alot of the things I do skin care wise are dependent on the treatment I use (I have adult acne – which sucks!), so spray tans are a no-no (the chemicals in them would react with my medication), make-up is a rarity (as the foundation can clog the pores and make it so the medication can’t work), suncream is a must despite the fact we rarely see the sun here (this is due to the drugs in the medication making the skin more sensitive to UV damage)…sounds manic but it’s a lot easier caring for my skin by following doctors orders than fussing with make-up on a daily basis
Also – I’m so jealous that you have ducklings!
Visiting back from the Tidbit Thursday hop, thanks for leaving a comment. I’m glad you took the opportunity to let your mom know your feelings. I love it when my 3yo does randomly. Also, great posts but I need to ask what is “toy fighting in mud”? I’m afraid to let my imagination go on this one.
“Toy fighting in mud” is generally just that….though all clothes are kept on (and I’m talking fully clothed – I’d probably scare people without them!), and it’s more about throwing or kicking the mud…not really wrestling in it. I live somewhere where it rains so much we’re pretty much born wearing waterproof clothing!
I encourage you to remind yourself every day that you are absolutely perfect just the way God made you. I hope you always feel as confident in yourself as you do today. I’m close to 50, and believe that I’ve grown into my looks, as has my acceptance of the aging process. Not crazy about the aches and pains, but the laugh lines are precious to me.
I think I’m too fun loving not to end up with a shed load of laughter lines! Despite everything I’ve been through recently there has been a lot of giggles going on…I thank my family for that.
I fully accept that there’s no turning back the clock but I’m pretty expressive when it comes to emotions and can gurn into a scowl with the best of them…so not expecting to have only a small number of wrinkles when I get older!
Thank you for the kind comments on my Thanksgiivng card! I enjoyed reading your post. I agree with that society puts too much stock in appearance with aging. I find that women in Hollywood who leave themself alone look sooooo much better than the ones who constantly go under the knife. I think of Priscilla Presley and how pretty she was, and how she looks now. Sad. Aging gracefully is what my mom likes to say. My dad says the same thing as your mom. Me, I am fine with 46, as I remember when I turned 40 and lost my hubby to cancer. So many friends turning 40 that year were moaning and groaning about turning 40,and here I was dealing with bigger stuff. Told them so, told them to enjoy their health and family as my world was crumbling and I knew I had only a few months left with him. I guess that kind of stuff puts things in prespective.
I really liked your Thanksgiving card! I wish I was talented enough to create such wonderful things!
I’m really sorry to hear about your hubby
((hugs)) what a terrible thing to happen. And yeah, I see your point about having far more important things on your mind…it definitely puts things in perspective!
I have people telling me constantly that turning 30 is a horrifying event, but to be honest, it’s going to happen whether I like it or not, I can’t change it! And with everything I’ve been through recently I’m happy just having a healthy loving family around. Some things are far more important than appearances.
A few lines on the face just go to show we have had a happy life!
So says the person who wasn’t asked for ID until after my 30th birthday!!
I still get asked for ID from time to time…not always but that’s to be expected at 27!