Tuesday, March 05, 2024

The Word "Anti-Aging" Needs To Be Eradicated

Once a year, I feel the need to share my very opinionated opinion about how women are harshly judged when it comes to aging. 

Men can age and get grey hair, and form lines and wrinkles yet, they're praised. The world says, "Oh, doesn't he look sexy? I think he's gotten better-looking with age!"

And I ask myself, "Why does that only pertain to men? Why don't we see women as getting better-looking with age? And sexy?"

Personally, even when I was young, I preferred the look of maturity. I couldn't wait to have grey hair and lines on my face. A smooth, young face always looked boring to me because it hadn't yet developed a history. I love a face that looks as though it's been lived in. My perception is that both men and women get better-looking with age.

Being in the beauty industry -   

Even though I've been in an industry that projects a message to the world that aging is something you desperately need to avoid and must do everything in your power to stop it, I disagree. It's a way for the industry to make a tremendous amount of money selling hope in a jar.

I know that my whole purpose of being in this industry for over 35 years, has always been to be a strong advocate of embracing the process of aging, while at the same time taking care of your skin by keeping it clean, exfoliated, moisturized, and protected from the sun. And I openly share that with the clients I assist. I don't give anyone falsities about how a certain product will make them look 20 years old. I'm very honest about what products will and will not do. That's why I have a longstanding loyal clientele. 

There is nothing unhealthy about using skincare and makeup to look your best. However, what is unhealthy is using these things as a means to live up to a "youthful standard" by desperately trying to recapture what was. 

Anti-Aging -

This brings me to the point of this post and how I believe the word "anti-aging" needs to be eradicated (and removed) from advertising as if aging is something we must push against. Because everything you see on the market sends out that message - "We must fight and reverse aging!"

Even though I support women, I have encountered many women who disagree with me and say that they will do everything and anything to reverse the signs of aging, no matter what it takes and how much it costs. 

And I've come to a place where I say, "Oh well, so be it. If that's how some women feel, then that's how they feel." 

However, it's not going to stop me from supporting the women who desire a realistic approach by taking care of themselves but also embracing the natural flow of aging. 

I guess you could call me an advocate of PRO-aging. 

Andie MacDowell - 

Sometime last week, I came across a video clip of Andie MacDowell expressing her thoughts and feelings on aging. 

If you're not familiar with Andie MacDowell, here are some photographs from the 80s when she was a model for L'Oréal Paris. From modeling, she went on to become a great film actress. 

There is something about her that I have always liked. She's down-to-earth and real. She looks gorgeous with or without makeup. She is also not afraid to speak her truth, which I greatly admire. 

In her 40s, Andie was asked by a female journalist in Italy, “How does it feel to get older and lose your beauty?”

Andie’s response was, “I don’t feel like I’m losing my beauty. I just feel like my beauty changes. It’s a different kind of beauty. We evolve and we age, and this is part of the process." 

And 20 years later, MacDowell is even more sure of the fact. “I think I’m a beautiful older woman,” she said. “There’s something in your eyes when you get older … it’s a soul.”

She also shared her insightful thoughts on aging in Hollywood. As she began to embrace becoming an "older woman," she noticed how her career shifted and she is now playing more interesting characters.

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These days, Andie is all greys, She stopped coloring her hair during the pandemic and never looked back, taking inspiration from George Clooney and other “gorgeous men” along the way. She explained, “I am 65 and I was ready at 60 to be an older woman. I just didn’t want to have to pretend to be something that I wasn’t.” 

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Have a beautiful week everyone!💗

* In case you're interested, you will find the Andie MacDowell (a little over five minutes) interview I watched here. 

*Andie MacDowell film and television credits.