Botox anyone?

[SheFly]

I've mellowed a lot when it comes to what I think of various "beautifying procedures", for lack of a better term, and I do believe people should do whatever makes them happy. But I'll admit that the whole idea of Botox puts me off, more than say, breast implants or liposuction. The idea that women shouldn't have wrinkles, but men look craggy and distinguished with them irritates me. The lines on my face show my personality and the person I've become over many years, more than anything else. When I smile my whole face crinkles up. When I crack a joke or pull a face I want all the mobility my face can muster. Now I wouldn't mind having smaller bags under my eyes, and if I had one single heavy frown line somewhere I might look at Botox differently. But as I am I wouldn't trade my lines for anything.

THIS! I love it. That said, I wouldn't judge someone else for doing what makes them feel right, as long they were doing it for themselves.

SheFly

[badger]

I'm all for doing things to make one feel better, and if that means spending money on make up or on procedures, so be it. I think it's very snooty when someone says they don't do anything and love the way they look and so should everyone else.

Good for them, but if one feels better having done something, that makes them look good because in the end beauty comes from within. I know that sounds a bit contradictory, but even if you're beautiful, you're not going to look nearly as good if you feel good about yourself.

I don't wear any make up or blow dry, but I consider myself super lucky that I can get away with doing that. However, I did spend ~$8,000 on 8 porcelain veneers on my front upper teeth because mine were stained by tetracycline and very small (I also had gums lasered so the teeth were elongated). I will say that it was worth every single penny, because it made me confident enough to smile.

Far be it for me to judge someone for getting botox or fillers - if that makes them feel better about themselves, all the power to them.

[malkin]

Wow! Not sure where to go with this... First off I didn't realize I had to introduce myself, if that is the protocol I apologize for rocking the boat(bike) and hope that this discussion was worth it!
Second, I have to say I appreciate all the comments both positive and negative. It's always so interesting to hear how women don't judge other women!
...
So once again I do appreciate the discussion and look forward to many more!

I never introduce myself on forums either. I just start hanging around like a stray cat, and either I fit in or I wander away.

For hair and make-up and primping in general, I have never really seen much improvement in my appearance from before to after. So it's either 'at least I'm making an effort' or 'a complete waste of time' depending on my mood.

[Irulan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BarbaraJo View Post
Wow! Not sure where to go with this... First off I didn't realize I had to introduce myself, if that is the protocol I apologize for rocking the boat(bike) and hope that this discussion was worth it!
Second, I have to say I appreciate all the comments both positive and negative. It's always so interesting to hear how women don't judge other women!
...
So once again I do appreciate the discussion and look forward to many more!

I never introduce myself on forums either. I just start hanging around like a stray cat, and either I fit in or I wander away.

For hair and make-up and primping in general, I have never really seen much improvement in my appearance from before to after. So it's either 'at least I'm making an effort' or 'a complete waste of time' depending on my mood.

I like Malkin's approach, I do similar for forums, not make up. . There is no protocol for this board, as much as a few people think there should be. I've been posting here for years and I have no idea if I ever "introduced myself" here . (omg, almost ten years??!!!)

It's funny. My mom was an Original Bra Burning Feminist and I was highly discouraged from using make up, shaving, or anything remotely perceived as The Establishment Forcing Women To Do These Things In Order To Be Socially Acceptable. I'm at a loss for a better description - but you get the idea. It was only as an adult that I realized I didn't have to do it her way. But I still don't ever wear make up. I wasn't allowed Barbies, either.

[indysteel]

I've always envied wash 'n go women. I have fine, straight hair and the coloring of a corpse. For work, I need the assistance of some styling products, a hair dryer and some makeup. I try to keep it pretty natural, but I look kind of puny without it. Plus, I think makeup can be kind of fun. On weekends, I don't bother with it as much.

But I firmly believe we should go with what makes us feel good and fits in with our lifestyle.

[Crankin]

Ha, Indy, "coloring of a corpse" describes me, too. With freckles, none the less.
Irulan, wow, I'm glad you realized you didn't have to do things exactly as your mom said. Funny, how parents do that to us...
Badger, I kind of think the same as you do.
My mom wore make up, had her hair done (twice a week in the early sixties), and flew to NYC to buy her clothes. She also let me know I could do whatever I wanted to, told me never to depend on a man, and was into exercise before anyone else of her generation, at least where I grew up. We rode our Raleighs together. She wore bell bottom jeans when other women were wearing white gloves. I am pretty much just like her!
I was thinking about how this applies to the younger generation of women. I don't have daughters, so it's interesting to me. Both of my DILs wear make up and they are very different people. One is 25, athletic, gorgeous, and in college. She was in the Marines when she met my son. The other one is 32, a professional, who grew up in a "hippie" family, and actually lived in a commune for about 3 years when she was a little girl. Her mom is about as opposite of me as humanly possible, in every way. She's very pretty, but overweight. Yet, both of them know when to dress up and wear make up, in their own unique style. They both get manicures and wear lipstick.
Just interesting to see how this plays out over generations.

[Eden]

I can't wear makeup...... If I try I just feel like I've got a clown face painted on..... Even if I keep it super light and super conservative. I've always felt this way even as a little girl when, I guess, I should have liked that sort of thing. I see other people who do a good job of keeping it natural looking, but it just doesn't seem to work for me. Give me a good wind burn to rouge up my cheeks any day, but you can keep the blush.

[shootingstar]

Sure, I used to wear make-up more often, but last 6-8 yrs. it's very rare. My face lines are more accentuated when I wear make-up and after several hrs. of foundation on face, I actually feel more tired. That is the last thing I want to feel as I get older but am still active.

Wierd as this may seem, I actually aim to have my haircut at a short length especially during cycling seasons, so that I don't have to drag along a curling iron or blow dryer..in my bike pannier on touring trips. I got fed up cycling up 10% grade hills loaded down with the thought, that some of that extra weight, was a hair appliance.

So yes, I'm pretty lazy about the make-up/face thing these days. About my weight, yes, of course I care... enough that I pay attention in a half absent-minded way about what I eat, exercise, etc. People have said to me, well you've never had to lose weight in a significant way. Are you kiddin' me? To maintain a fit healthy weight over several decades...takes some effort and mindfulness. Especially when one's metabolism naturally slows down with age. Weight control doesn't happen just magically....especially when one is over 25-30 yrs. old. (Am 53)

So yea, my weight control is probably the strongest evidence of self-vanity and health.

Happy cycling BarbaraJo and welcome.

[tzvia]

Whatever floats your boat, I say. If the end result is you look at yourself in the mirror, or by whatever yardstick you use, and you are happy with it then great.

I never wore makeup. Really oily skin until I was in my forties (I'm 52 and still struggle with pimples like a teenager) and reactions to some things in makeup (still have to read the ingredients in deodorant or I will get the worst rash) made me shy away early on in life. And when I saw a photo of, of all people, Ronald Regan at his ranch cutting trees, all pruned out in the face and neck, and baby butt smooth on the chest- I went AH HAAA!. No sun exposure for my pasty white skin! I was unfortunate and got my father's Russian skin and not my mother's middle eastern olive skin. So while my friends all went to tan at the beach, I slathered sunblock on and have lived my life as a colorless ghost (look at my avatar- my skin reflects like the moon). Now they are wrinkled, while I have yet to pick up anything more than a few small 'laugh lines' around the eyes.

No Botox for me. I use olive oil cleanser and natural soaps and moisturizers. Shea butter with frankincense and myrrh is wonderful. Besides, all my spare coin goes to bike stuff .

[Selkie]

Wearing make up apparently improves my appearance, as evidenced by the reaction I got when a friend gave me a "makeover" in college.

So for six hours in my life, I was a man magnet!

Foundation, lipstick, and blush gave me zits, so that was a non-starter. if I wore mascara/eye shadow during my younger years, I would forget I had it on and smear it so I looked like the victim of a bar fight.

I currently don't own any makeup, either, and since I start my day from the swimming pool locker room, I shower and go. To style my hair, I comb and shake it like a wet dog.

[malkin]

This:

I can't wear makeup...... If I try I just feel like I've got a clown face painted on.....

And this:

... forget I had it on and smear it so I looked like the victim of a bar fight.

That's me: a clown after a bar fight!

[2wheelr]

I dream of having a botox treatment, and also doing something about the lines around my lips. However, when I mentioned it to DH, he laughed at me and asked what the heck I was talking about. My kids said the same thing. I can see the lines on my forehead like a roadmap!! Anyhow, my solution was simple:

The poor woman's botox, BANGS!!

[BarbaraJo]

I had no idea I would stir up so many ! But this has been so fun...
I live in a very hot , humid climate in the summer, actually I think it is even humid in the winter! Some of the women I ride with wear makeup when they ride! Me? I sweat so bad I have to carry a small washcloth to keep it under control. When we are done riding, and we are stopping for a bite I carry a baseball hat, and then the washcloth comes in handy to wash the crud off my face. Either way, there's nothing worse than "helmet head" after a long hot ride! I have tried short hair, cant keep it under control, so I am now trying to grow it out, and can finally put it in a very small ponytail and that is as "long " as I can go, it's to much work! Yes! I said work! See, for me wearing makeup off the ride is just how I roll! I dont wear lots of makeup...never foundation in the summer, it turns to goo...just eyeliner, mascarra, and eyebrow pencil. I use a very light foundation in the winter to cover the uneven pigment, brown spots, and to help with dryness. I enjoy putting it on! See, it has benefits for your skin as well; has SPF and so on.... My Mom never wore makeup and as a little girl I never understood why not! She was big on moisturizers, and her skin to this day is silky white with very little wrinkles, she is 80. But she never spent anytime outside. I played tennis for 20+ years outside, it's hard on the skin (and the knees, and hips et!)
2Wheelr- I tried bangs! they drove me crazy!!! But is is a good one!

[GLC1968]

I'm very selective about the makeup I'll wear. For years, I avoided all foundation because it made me break out (still does) so until my wedding and the discovery of mineral foundations, I never bothered. And I avoided all eye makeup because my eyes tear up easily and it was either running down my face or on so tight (waterproof) that I couldn't get it off at night! Now for work, I wear a dusting of mineral foundation, gel (ie. smudge proof) eyeliner, water proof mascara that washes off with soap and tinted lip balm. Weekends or exercising, I wear nothing on my face.

My hair is no longer colored, it's super short and I don't bother with manicures or hairdryers.

I do still wear jewelry and care that my clothing fits and is flattering (even workout clothes). I care about my appearance, but I work hard to keep it quick and easy and above all, natural looking.

I love the idea of bangs but it wouldn't work for me. That would require more work than I'm willing to put in. Plus, they'd have to be so long in order to cover my crease lines that I'd have a hard time seeing anything!

I should clarify that I actually don't mind my wrinkles at all. I just don't like the deep crease between my eyes that makes me look angry all the time (it's been there since I was in my 20's so it's not an age thing). I also don't like the bags under my eyes but now that I wear glasses all the time, that's camouflaged beautifully!

[Dogmama]

When I was working, there was a huge culture to be hip, slick & cool. I did botox many years ago for the lines on my forehead. It relaxed the lines, and my forehead skin drooped right over my eyes. I looked like a gecko for about 3 months. It was awful. The worst part was the feeling - there was none. Any expression I tried to make reminded me that I had no feeling of having an expression - if you know what I mean. Like, I knew I was frowning but my face wasn't cooperating.

This was done by a highly regarded plastic surgeon, not at a botox party. I called & complained & they responded that it would be gone in three months so basically, suck it up.

I just had a birthday (58) and I'm seeing more lines. 20+ years of cycling in AZ sun hasn't helped, even with bulletproof sunscreen.