The Price of Beauty
Friday, 28. May 2010
One week from today I will be 36. I can’t believe it. I truly don’t feel any different at 36 than I did at 30. Things aren’t as tight in some areas as I’d like, but I think it has more to do with wine consumption than age. Yes, I am the person who will make whole wheat pasta for dinner, do my best to eat a small portion, skip dessert, and then cap the night with two glasses of wine. Any complaints about my non-six pack bring the evil squirrel side eye from Laef – “Well, maybe if you didn’t drink 1,000 calories in wine you might have abs”.
He’s right. So, I’ve stopped complaining about it. At 36, things are pretty established for me: I like wine. I HATE doing sit ups (I don’t even want to think about or know what the P90X thing is). From time to time I considered cutting out wine, but realized I do enough (um, hello, running a marathon) to be healthy. I’m not giving up EVERYTHING. You gotta enjoy a little vino from time to time. And chocolate. And cheese.
Anyway, I feel great despite now being closer to 40 (stomach punch) than 30.
However, I am starting to notice some things on my face. Lines that definitely were not there when I was 30. I’m trying to think of every possible reason for what is causing these lines. For example, there’s a new frowny wrinkle between my eyebrows. I woke up the other morning to Laef gently massaging the space of skin in between my eyebrows.
Laef: “Do you feel OK? Are you having a bad dream?”
Me: “No. Why?”
Laef: “Oh, nothing. You had a frowny face. I was smoothing it out.”
Well, shit. Of course I got up, stared at myself in the mirror for 5 minutes trying to smile, loosen up the frown line. But then smiling shows the eye wrinkles that are being born. It’s fucking exhausting. Because you can’t control age and the changing of your body and face. And, I’m sorry Demi Moore, but I know drinking water and having great sex is not the reason you look amazing. I, too, drink an insane amount of water and am married to a younger guy.
I was thinking that I was getting the wrinkle because I wear glasses, and therefore can’t wear sunglasses. So I squint a lot. Now I wear sunglasses over my glasses when I’m driving. YES. I am that girl. And, it’s all in the name of combating wrinkles. However, I don’t know what to do about my elbow wrinkles.
I mean, seriously. WHAT are those lines? Thankfully, it’s hard to see your elbows unless you are posing in the mirror with the hand on the hip pose trying to look extra cute. I have stopped trying to perfect the Paris Hilton pose so that I never have to see my elbows.
Botox is out of the question seeing as I’m a regular person, and not a movie star. I know how the conversation would go with Laef if I tried to broach the idea of Botox.
Me: “I want Botox.”
Laef: “Hurry up and start your period so you will stop having PMS. It’s making you insecure. You’ll be fine in a week.”
It is true. PMS doesn’t help in the confidence department. Especially when it gives you acne worse than what you ever experienced as a 15-year old.
So, at the peak of my frustration with my skin, I trekked over to Sephora last night to browse skin creams and beauty products that make all sorts of promises. Specifically, I wanted an overnight cream that would make me look like Jennifer Aniston in the morning, and eye cream that would make me look all bright and cheery.
Let’s discuss overnight cream: $80. Let’s discuss eye treatments: $75.
Had I been a tad more fed up, I might possibly have put both on my credit card and kept a little white lie from Laef. But, I was too disgusted. Yes, I know you can buy creams at Target, but I am hesitant to do that because I tried that, and I had a horrible allergic reaction to which my face is still recovering. I know there must be reasonable priced products out there, so I’d love to hear ideas.
I left the mall and thought about what the fuck I was doing. And what other women must be doing. No doubt people drop hundreds of dollars on beauty supplies all the time. The price to make yourself feel pretty is ridiculous. Hair color, make up, lotions, creams, body washes, perfumes. I have always done what I can to cut back on costs in those departments – color my own hair, buy cheap make up, and I don’t even own perfume right now.
But sometimes I want to pamper myself with fancy lipsticks and salon hair color. And these companies know our weaknesses. I mean, I almost paid more for face cream than I paid for my wedding cake all because I wasn’t feeling pretty. Or youthful. Well, the giant zit on my cheek does make me feel like a teenager, I guess.
I love that Brandi Carlile tells us that the lines on her face tell a story, yet her face has zero hint of any lines.
Jamie Says:
Costco sells oil of olay (and other brands) in larger sizes, and they have coupons fairly often. I just spent 35 dollars for like a 3 month supply.
Allison Says:
Nice! So, one vote Oil of Olay. I think when I was younger my mom used Oil of Olay so I thought it was old for people.
Ben Says:
You know why Jennifer Aniston looks so good? Her skin stays moisturized from all the tears she’s shed over failed relationships.
Annett Says:
It’s all about Hydrating. I like Aveda…it’s probably not as inexpensive as Oil of Olay but it’s $35 instead of $80 for the Tourmaline Hydrating Cream, I use it at night but if I have especially dry skin I use it in the mornings too. It’s super thick so you don’t need alot. I would say it lasts about 3 months.
I was going to suggest we see what Erin uses but I know her secret – homegirl doesn’t allow her skin to see the sun. Smart. Clearly, I am not smart.
admin Says:
Annett: $35 for 3 months is totally reasonable. Um, I am in a different boat as Erin because I was not good about using sunscreen when I first moved to LA. I know that is probably what my biggest problem is. I think Erin has the smoothest skin I have ever seen. Bitch.
Angie Says:
I have to switch my face creams because of the season…I’ve gone Oil of Olay, Neutrogena, Aveda, Boscia and Philosophy. The latter two from Sephora or Beauty.com…has to be online because I live in Eugene. But, you get better deals online, usually I wait for $60+ worth of samples with purchase and go thru ebates so I can get more $ back. My latest obsession/search is a brightening cream…to even tones and lighten a couple of sun spots
Elbows. Those lines have always been there…whether you’re closer to 30 or 40. It’s has to be a genetic thing too. I basically dip myself in Cetaphil cream after every shower and pay extra attention to elbows (my issue is dryness) but doesn’t really seem to help. He who shall not be named has freakishly soft elbows with no efforts whatsoever. Annoying.
Also, we need to go beauty product shopping the next time we’re in the same vicinity.
AJ Says:
Neutrogena has a pretty good line….I use oil of olay, too. I’m terrible at remembering to use stuff though.
Debbie Says:
Oh Allison,
You sooooooooooooooooo do not give yourself enough credit for the hot, sassy 30-something you are. Do not spend $80 on products… The lines will appear whether you cut the wine, drink gallons of water, sleep on your back, wear hat and sunglasses, avoid drinking from straws etc… because time marches on and they do “tell the story.” Make sure your story is of smiles instead of a frown. We’ve all seen people with a perma-frown. You are a rock-star!
I have a few tips of great products that wont break the bank and a tip for your “younger” husband that points out your lines! We can talk about it on Saturday.
Cherio, Debbie
Mom Says:
I actually splurge 2x a year on Clinque stuff; not sure it really does anything wonderful, but it feels good. Last year, I waited for their special where you get a bunch of samples and love “all about eyes.”
When I went to a luncheon and the guest speaker was the woman who wrote “The Passionate Olive” and gave a great presentation about uses for olive oil, she specified a couple “Beauty” tips: 1) use it as a mositurizer on your body and 2)if tour hair is really dry, use it in place of conditioner and then rinse out.
Look at it this way; a friend recently had a face lift: NINE THOUSAND BUCKS! Guess what? She looks the same! Just grow old gracefully!
AZ Colleen Says:
Philosophy’s line is really good… Priced somewhere between drug store brands and La Mer.
Though Clinique’s All About Eyes I happily buy and then head to Walgreen’s for a 99 cent lipstick.
brooke Says:
Cosmeticscop.com – her latest book just came out 6 months ago. Well worth it.
Erin Says:
I appreciate the kind words (bitch), but you should know growing up here in SD I was considered a freak for being so white. I had people telling me to get a tan, and others wondering what was wrong with me when I stayed under an umbrella. It was not, as they say, “fierce.” In fact, Annett – Ben has pictures of the two of us at a baseball game where he told me I looked like Barbara Hershey in Beaches since I was so covered up!
And I’m with Deb Allison, you look fabulous! Quit your whining or it may show up on your face
Allison Says:
Erin,
If you want me to post the pic where you REALLY look like Barbara Hershey (Kristin’s house), ahem, I WILL. Watch your mouth!
little.lamb Says:
ha! i JUST did that hand on the hip mirror look earlier today wearing my new BOMBSHELL bra from VS. holy fucking shit. you need to order that bra and post about it. fucking unreal. adam said he is glad he knows me, because if he just picked me up at the bar he’d feel like he got ripped off if he took me home and found out they weren’t real. its that extreme.
i wont be wearing this shit around family.
Elaine Says:
I’ve never tried it, but I’ve heard that celebs use hemorroid cream for wrinkles (true). Yeah, butt cream on your face sounds like a great plan. Seriously, I’m a bit older than you and aging totally sucks–just wait until your friends are all getting boob jobs and sucking the fat out of their bodies–effing Frankenstein starts to look pretty normal. The only thing that physicians say works for the long term is Retin-A (prescription) because it helps your skin regenerate collagen. And ditto what your friends say: you’re cute, your husband loves you, and you live near the beach…stop your whining beatch:)
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