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.

[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.

[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.

[GLC1968]

My oily skin is good for something! I'm not very wrinkly for my age despite years of sun on my face, but unfortunately, I did inherit eyes that tend to bag pretty badly. I think it's what ages me the most, actually. There is absolutely NOTHING I can do about it though, so I try not to let it bother me.

The rest of my skin focus is still on not breaking out into a teenage-looking zitty mess...so I don't much think about wrinkles.

[SheFly]

GLC - me too! I would have thought that by mid-40s, the acne would have disappeared, but no dice.

My doctor once asked me what I used on my skin. My reply - soap. She was shocked, and insisted that there must be something else. But nope - just soap, once a day. Still.

And Biciclista/Tulip - I love your sentiments! They're ones I wholly embrace - basically, if you don't like the way I look/am, too bad for you.

SheFly

[Chile Pepper]

I live in a really dry climate, so my skin gets that papery look to it if I'm not careful (and I'm only 46!). I also have rosacea, which is fun (not). I hate the feeling of sunscreen on my face, but I do try to use it if I'm going to be out and about. I use Clinique moisturizers now that they have a redness line, but otherwise I don't do anything special. Except bangs. I used to wear my hair pulled back, which was not especially flattering on my aging face. I cut my hair about a year ago, and I love it. Better than Botox!

[Crankin]

This + the gray thread= too much .
I have horrible laugh lines. I feel like that's all you can see on my face, especially when I put my helmet on. I have to say, I've had them for awhile, so not totally age related. Both parents had them, too. Can you say dermal filler?
I really don't have a lot of other wrinkles and no saggy chin skin, etc. I use #70 sun block on my face and started using # 30 almost 30 years ago. Living in the Sun Belt made me more aware of skin cancer. I use Clinique "Deep Wrinkle" moisturizer, both day and night versions. Started using Cetaphil 26 years ago, just recently switched to Purpose, as the I found out Cetaphil has parabens. I still get zits, at age 57!

[emily_in_nc]

I have horrible laugh lines. I feel like that's all you can see on my face, especially when I put my helmet on. I have to say, I've had them for awhile, so not totally age related. Both parents had them, too.

I'll trade you a saggy chin & jowls for your laugh lines. My mother and both her parents have/had terrible "turkey necks". They were all overweight, which made matters much worse, but I'm starting to get one too despite being quite slender. Boy, do I hate the sagging skin, and if money were no object and my DH weren't vehemently opposed, I'd probably get a lower face lift and just be done with it. But, that's not going to happen so I'll just have to deal. I have lines around my eyes/mouth too, but the saggy skin is much more of an issue for me. I haven't done any kinds of fillers, botox, chemical peels, or laser treatments. I'm pretty much an au naturel kinda gal, but I have two close friends who have had facial plastic surgery, and they look really good, not fake at all.

This part of aging does suck! The wiseness part helps, though.