You Were Made for More | Tackle the Midlife Beauty Issues That Bug You
You were made for more, and, even though you know that beauty goes wayyyy beyond the external, your appearance (and especially how you feel about it), is an important part of who you are. Do you have midlife beauty issues that bug you? While none of us want to be defined by our appearance (just like we don’t want to be defined by our size or shape), it’s okay to give attention to our outward appearance!
As we age, things, well…change. We grow, learn, and gain perspective. Most of us wouldn’t trade places with our 20-year-old selves for anything! ????
But as joyful as it is to gain the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth that aging brings, at the same time we see our physical bodies weaken, droop, and start to deteriorate. Honestly, it seems somewhat cruel!
So we fight it. We spend more time, energy, and resources on our weight, fitness, and evolving relationships. ???? Along with the increased attention we give to our weight, our fitness, and our relationships as we age, it’s only normal that we would also spend more time, energy, and resources on our appearance.
Aging women are beautiful! We have rounded bodies and soft curves that say we’ve had the unique privilege of carrying life in our bodies. We have wrinkled hands that say we’ve worked hard to nourish and care for our families. We have lines around our eyes say that we’ve loved well and laughed much.
If you’re the woman who’s chosen to “age naturally” by going gray foregoing makeup, that’s awesome. That’s a choice you’ve made. And I’m guessing it probably involves well-cut and styled hair, cared-for-skin, and maybe even fashionable glasses. I love that! And if you’re the woman who has her hair colorist, aesthetician and plastic surgeon on speed dial, that’s awesome too!
Women today are lauded for addressing weight, or health and fitness, but I think beauty issues fall into the same category! We can still “embrace aging” and attend to the midlife beauty issues that bug us. After all, the choices we make as we get ourselves ready to go out into the world to be seen and see others are no small matter – they’re a part of the very essence of us. Caring about how we look, at whatever level, is normal! ????
I get lots of beauty questions from you all here at Empty Nest Blessed, and I’ve written about all kinds of beauty issues. Here are a few of my most popular posts.
- The Eyes Have It! | How to Care for the Skin Around Your Eyes
- Tips for Aging Lips | What You Can Do About Thinning, Lines, and Dryness
- A Pro Answers Your Biggest Makeup Over Fifty Questions
- Collagen: What Happened When I Tried the Latest Beauty Craze
- What I Learned When I Took a Professional Makeup Lesson
- The Ten Best Beauty Tips for Women Over Fifty
For the most part, these posts focus on skincare or makeup. But when it comes to beauty, there are many different levels of…er, let’s say…intervention. ???? There are lotions and potions. There are cosmetic procedures like microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing. There are nonsurgical procedures like Botox® or wrinkle fillers. Then there are more invasive procedures like plastic surgery, liposuction, and more.
What’s a woman to do? The bottom line: I think it’s up to you. Just like a decision to lose weight, get fit, or work on your marriage, a decision about how invasive you want to be with your beauty issues is personal. It’s a decision to make in conjunction with a qualified professional.
Most dermatologists today are well-versed on everything from skincare to more invasive procedures. They probably even provide a few in-office, non-surgical procedures that you can try if you’re so inclined. If you want to try something, and you can afford it, it’s okay if you do it! (Most of these procedures are not permanent. ????) Then, all that’s left is to decide how public you want to be with your decision. Just like a weight loss or fitness journey, you may or may not want to share it with others. That’s completely up to you. ????????
Not ready for medical-grade intervention? Luckily, we live in a time when there are at-home beauty devices that we can use, for a fraction of the cost of an in-office procedure. I own two. I use them both on a regular basis. I’ve haven’t written much about them on Empty Nest Blessed. Why? I’m not sure! Honestly, I think it’s because they’re fairly expensive! I didn’t think you’d be interested and I was kind of embarrassed that I spent the money on them! But I did a lot of research before investing, and I continue to use both of them because I think they work.
At-Home Beauty Devices I Own and Use
1. Clarisonic
I’m a huge believer in exfoliation! As we age, the process of cell regeneration slows down. This means that the body is slower to shed skin cells and generate new ones. When old skin cells start to pile up on the surface of the skin, it can leave your skin looking dull, rough, and dry. Since dead skin cells can block your skincare products from properly absorbing into your skin, it’s important to remove the dead skin cells that your body isn’t shedding to make way for newer, happier, and healthier skin cells. The results? Glowing, even, smooth skin.
I’ve used a Clarisonic Mia every night for years to gently exfoliate my skin. Depending on your skincare needs, you choose one of the various brush heads to use with it. I use the Deep Pore Cleansing Brush Head for cleansing, followed by the Sonic Exfoliator Facial Brush Head to exfoliate. I have Amazon send me replacements every 3 months, as the brand recommends.
Want a budget-friendly option? While I can’t personally vouch for its effectiveness, THIS facial cleansing brush has great reviews on Amazon and is around $20.
2. GloPro
After hearing friends and beauty bloggers alike rave about this relatively painless microneedling device, I read extensively about how and why it worked. Then I talked to my dermatologist about it.
Microneedling (also known as collagen induction therapy) has been around for decades! It involves using fine needles to create hundreds of tiny, invisible puncture wounds in the top layer of skin. Microneedling works the same way lasers do, only you’re injuring the skin mechanically instead of using heat or light. The micro-injuries you create stimulate the body’s natural wound healing processes, resulting in cell turnover and increased collagen and elastin production, therefore reversing as well as preventing signs of aging. It uses the body’s own natural healing mechanisms, so the results are very natural. In addition, the tiny puncture wounds allow your skincare products to absorb better, thus increasing the benefits you get from them.
And I was convinced. So I bought it. Big time. Never one to do things in a small way, I bought the complete GloPro set! My set comes with the original GloPro facial attachments, along with the four other attachment heads. (Buying it this way was a lot less expensive than it would have been to buy the attachments separately.) Here’s what’s included in my set:
- GloPRO® Microneedling Regeneration Tool with Case
- EYE MicroTip Attachment Head
- LIP MicroTip Attachment Head
- FACE MicroTip Attachment Head
- BODY MicroTip Attachment Head
- ROSE QUARTZ face + Body Attachment Head
- Pink Storage Organizer/Carrying Case
- GloPRO® Skin Prep Pads (5-Pack)
- Sanitizing Spritzer
- Instructional Guide
- Power Supply Cord
- Power Supply Adapter
It’s tough to find a deal on GloPro, and once I decided that I wanted to buy the complete set, (including a storage case that I could take with me when I travel). I opted to buy mine from a place with free shipping and returns (in case I didn’t like it!). I looked around and found the best deals at Neiman Marcus. If you don’t want to go all-in as I did, you can start with the original facial roller. But you should know that the original roller is too harsh for the eye and lip areas, so if those are the areas that are bothering you, you might want to consider the complete set. (The lip and eye microtip attachment heads are $35 each, sold separately.)
I try to use it 2-3 times a week, and I definitely notice a difference the more I use it. Here’s my routine:
I cleanse my face using my normal cleanser (currently this one). then use the appropriate microtip roller for one minute on each area I want to treat. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Forehead (using the FACE MicroTip Attachment Head) – 1 minute
- Each Cheek (using the FACE MicroTip Attachment Head) – 2 minutes total
- Chin/Nose (using the FACE MicroTip Attachment Head) – 1 minute
- Neck (using the FACE MicroTip Attachment Head) – 1 minute
- Lip Area (using the LIP MicroTip Attachment Head) – 1 minute
- Each Eye (using the EYE MicroTip Attachment Head) – 2 minutes total
Then I immediately apply my normal skincare. I’m currently using various products from this skincare line. (I talked about the line in THIS post.)
Want a budget-friendly option? While I can’t personally vouch for its effectiveness, THIS Derma Roller Microneedling Tool has great reviews on Amazon and is under $20!
Tie-Front Tunic Sweater | Python Print Leggings | Booties | Name Necklace | Safety Pin Earrings (similar and less expensive HERE) | Karama Collection Circle Clutch (Take 20% off with code EMPTYNEST20.) | Lipstain
I hope you’re enjoying this Made for More limited series! Have you missed a few posts? You can check them out by clicking the links below.
You Were Made for More | Tackle the Issues That Are Holding You Back (Series Introduction + Midlife Weight Gain & What to Do About It.)
You Were Made for More | Get Strong, Fit, and Healthy (I’m sharing my fitness routine, how I stay motivated, and my must-have equipment!) ????????
Made for More | Six Things You Can Do to Strengthen Your Marriage
I’d love to know your take on midlife beauty issued and aging beautifully. What (if any) at-home beauty devices you use? Leave me a comment and share, okay? (Or keep it private! That’s cool too. ????)
Blessings,
Photo by Megan Weaver.
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