4 Easy Steps to Aging Gracefully

LET’S FACE IT: Who has time for regular facials? And, who spends on pricey spa memberships? Most people I know get by happily with home-service massages aAdd Imagend neighborhood mani-pedis; and perhaps a facial here and a waxing session there, with the option of having those done at home as well.
As for the derma chair? It’s like that once-a-year dentist rule that everybody knows but no one follows.

But, being busy—with one’s work and home life and everything in between—doesn’t mean we have to miss out on aging gracefully (like Meryl Streep). These four tips target easy moves we can all do, no matter where we are in life and how hectic our days may be.

Know the common denominator

Having worked in the beauty industry for years now, it’s become second nature for me to pay extra attention to how people look—their skin in particular, especially those at a certain age bracket. I’ve met women who have baffled me in terms of how young they look for their age. The brands that have constantly come up are as follows: Shiseido and Clarins, along with some tried-and-tested mainstream brands you can find in most supermarkets and drugstores.

This only goes to show that price isn’t a big factor; it’s the habit of sticking to a good skincare regimen for years. My mother is an example of how one needn’t spend hundreds or thousands of pesos (or dollars) to look flawless and ageless.
She likes to slather on moisturizer and lotion (she keeps some in the car) and is meticulous in applying SPF every single day. And, if you look at her bathroom counter, it’s straightforward—no fancy creams or gadgets, just a well-edited selection that makes for a good regimen.

Lancôme Rénergie Lift Volumetry Volumetric Lifting and Shaping Cream SPF 15.

Skincare doesn’t have to be expensive: but, the more diligent you are with your regimen, the better.

 Start as early as possible

This is especially important for eye cream. Apply it as often as you remember and as early as you can. When you’re eyebag-free at 40, you’ll be happy you did all those years leading up.

Again, you don’t have to go for a super-expensive product, although it helps to purchase something premium as it most likely will have the most up-to-date formulation. But, if you’re on a budget, don’t worry too much—the habit is more important than the brand. And, going back to the subject of SPF, “It’s never too late to start using our best defense against skin aging—sunscreen,” says Dr. Rhesa May Martinez, fellow at the Philippine Dermatological Society and member of the American Academy for Laser Medicine and Surgery (tel. 6340724, www.skinlasermanila.tk).

Be resourceful

I’m particularly fond of skincare samples. Say a face cream doesn’t do well or makes my skin break out, I’m happy to use the product on my hands and feet. It works out fine and it doesn’t go to waste. This also helps make the most out of products your skin “gets tired of,” or whitening products you’d rather not slather all over your face, which works fine as a hand cream.

Ponder the last resort

At some point, aging will catch up and start showing through. Don’t mess with Mother Nature. However, sometimes, the only thing that can seriously tighten and tuck in the right places is plastic surgery—or at least a treatment that requires some form of laser. Creams can only do so much.

If decide to go for something that involves needles, a scalpel, or any other metal probe, make sure you’re doing it for yourself and you’ve meticulously gone over all the medical precautionary measures. This includes having your blood pressure checked and so forth.

Reputable doctors will not perform any procedure without these tests, which only illustrate further that part of the investment you make in taking the plastic surgery plunge is finding the best doctor you can afford. This is not a place to cut corners and act haphazardly.

Take it from the derma: “If you’ll be happy with cosmetic surgery then go for it, but don’t overdo it,” says Dr. Martinez who warns against that “wind-pulled” look common in plastic-surgery addicts. “All treatments/surgeries must be customized for each patient.”

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Seventeen, Cosmopolitan and Ok! Magazine Philippines and is now based in New York. Visit http://BeautyintheBigApple.com and http://NyMinuteNow.com.

(Photo courtesy of Lancôme. Original Inquirer article link here.)