Now it's about wrinkles

[Dogmama]

Where are these coming from? I don't remember inviting them on my face! But as a cyclist, even with heavy duty sunscreen, I think most of us can relate. I don't have really heavy duty lines, but lighter ones are starting to develop & if I'm going to do something, I think the time is now. I just don't know if I want to do anything.

I've been cruising through the internet looking at what dermatologists have to offer. I don't want surgery or a heavy duty laser treatment. But it looks like there are lots of peels as well as lighter laser treatments. I've done peels, but not regularly. I've never done anything else - except really good skincare products (Nia 24 right now) and tons of sunscreen.

What have you done? Anything that you liked? Or just said screw it - this is who I am...?

[tulip]

Or just said screw it - this is who I am...?

Pretty much. I can't afford specialized treatments (see House Renovation thread). I do use good stuff, but hey, I'm 43, I've been active outside all my life, and the notion of sunscreen in the 70s and 80s was SPF 2 Hawaiian Tropic and days on end stretched out on the beach. It's not that I wouldn't want to have smooth, dewey skin, but I don't is all. And getting it is not my priority at the moment.

[bmccasland]

It's windburn from our high speed riding.

There probably is something to the wind/sun combo. I've noticed my face was in worse shape from days on an airboat than days out on the water in a flat boad (slow speed). There were chapped parts that didn't see the sun. And all this boating was done in high humidity area - which probably helped save my skin to a certain extent.

[marni]

nutritionally eggs and vitamin C are supposed to help, as well as no soap, lots of warm water to wash your face, and daily or more often moisturizers with vitamin E and jojoba oil.

Plus sun screen, sun screen, sun screen.

[shootingstar]

I haven't figured this one out properly..because Calgary has alot more sunny days than Vancouver (or Toronto).

And to me, the sun is powerful enough with less humidity in the air.

My habits and tendency have always preferred greatly to do most of my riding in early morning...which coincides with a weaker sun. I do not want to weaken my skin by using facial peels.

Sunblock that I use tends to dry out my skin...which it was in VAncouver. Now here, I truly wonder since the air is even drier. Women do complain more here about the dryness of their skin.

Just to give you an idea: I'm moving into a place with laminate wood flooring. I was told I must have the humidifier on..or else the floors will dry up. Foreign to me when in Toronto one had to use a dehumidier to suck out the moisture in air.

[NbyNW]

I've been putting Bag Balm on the exposed parts of my face when I go skiing. Underneath 1-2 facemasks/balaclavas. Between cold temps, dry air, and wind, so far I think I've managed to avoid any major skin damage.

[sundial]

It's windburn from our high speed riding.

Beth, lol! I've noticed more fine lines around my eyes and I take it as a positive thing. For me it means that I am embracing life and the scars and wrinkles that I encounter along the way serve as my badge of honor.

[Biciclista]

I live in Seattle where we rarely get enough sun to damage our skin and I have plenty of wrinkles. i can't imagine doing anything about them either. It's the way I am. too bad if you dont like it... look at someone else.

[PamNY]

It's the way I am. too bad if you dont like it... look at someone else.

Ah, this is great. I think I have a new motto.

[chicago]

Pretty much. I can't afford specialized treatments (see House Renovation thread). I do use good stuff, but hey, I'm 43, I've been active outside all my life, and the notion of sunscreen in the 70s and 80s was SPF 2 Hawaiian Tropic and days on end stretched out on the beach. It's not that I wouldn't want to have smooth, dewey skin, but I don't is all. And getting it is not my priority at the moment.

tulip!,that is too funny!! So true for this 48yo babe as well... who had sunscreen in the 70's, noone I know!

[Crankin]

Emily, your choice of words, "turkey neck," made me laugh. I know it's not funny, though. I got some finer type lines around my eyes after DS #2 was born, from lack of sleep, but they have not really advanced.
I have a lot of freckles, always have, and I think those look worse as I age. I mean, it's one thing to have a freckled face ingenue, but an older woman? They have never bothered me, but something does now. That's why I am much more religious about sun block now.
I know I am in the minority here... while I wouldn't have plastic surgery, I am seriously considering Radiesse for the laugh lines; it's the one thing about my looks that I really don't like. I felt the same way about my teeth a few years ago, when the results of my teenaged ortho treatment totally went south. I got Invisalign braces and it made a real difference. I still wear the retainers at night. I know most here will think it's vain and that I should just accept the laugh lines and the gray... well, I just can't. I actually feel younger than I did ten or twelve years ago and some of the way I feel is tied up to the way I look. And some of it is not age related; the laugh lines have bothered me for 15 years; I just couldn't afford the treatment then.
Both of my grandmothers were gorgeous until the day they died (both at 91 or 92). While they did have "silver" hair from young ages, they spent plenty of time at the salon and having beauty treatments that helped them feel young and look nice, such as manicures, pedicures, massage. While I certainly don't spend all of my time doing that stuff, I do partake in those things. So does my closest cycling buddy. Being athletic and having a manicure are not exclusive of each other!
To each her own. I just get the feeling that this type of stuff is seen as silly by a lot of people.

[lph]

Or just said screw it - this is who I am...?

Yup. I love being outdoors too much, and dislike feeling I have to "prepare" for it, plus I'm blessed with fairly strong skin so I don't sunburn easily. I do use sunscreen, but only on the days I'm bound to get sunburned without. Otherwise I use a good moisturizer on my face after every shower and that's it. Wrinkles'R'Me.

[Dogmama]

Since I started this thread, I've been noticing how our society pushes us to be "beautiful." Last night's commercial - a girl with perfectly straight white teeth freaking out because she'd been invited to a concert & may not have time to whiten her teeth. Aw c'mon now...

So much is pushed on us (women) to buy products to make us look younger. How about pushing books so that we're wiser? Oh, I forgot. You can't "see" wiser and make snap judgments about a person's worthiness.

Obviously, I need to get on my bike.

[Crankin]

I don't need a book to push me to be wiser. I have a healthy appreciation for intelligence. You can be wise and beautiful at the same time. Why are the 2 seen as mutually exclusive? It feels like that perpetuates the "dumb blonde" stereotype.
Around here, I have seen plenty of people make "snap judgments" about other's "wiseness," hence their worthiness, which had nothing to do with physical appearance. As in, "You went to a state university." Not so wise. No graduate degree? Not so wise. In my experience, what you are judged on depends very heavily on context. Having lived in 3 different states, the balance is tipped in one direction or another by geography and cultural values.
And men get pushed to be younger in different ways. I see a whole lot of ED commercials when I watch the national news .

[Biciclista]

all I can say is think back and remember your favorite grandmother. You loved her despite her wrinkles, bags, sags, bad teeth. None of that stuff really matters. Certainly take care of your body, it's the only one that you get, but no one except for maybe your NEW lover looks at you that closely and certainly not that judgmentally!