Refresh Don’t Redo

Refresh Don’t Redo At 53, my friends and I are all trying to figure out how to age gracefully. As I learn the secrets of beautiful aging women, I will share them here.

This makes me think of an interview I heard with Jean Houston. They were talking about basically being as old as you thi...
08/20/2022

This makes me think of an interview I heard with Jean Houston. They were talking about basically being as old as you think you are. So the interviewer said that she is still skiing at 80 years old. And when she thinks “what the hell am I doing, 80-year-olds aren’t supposed to ski.”That’s when she starts to lose confidence and a sense of who she is. But when she thinks “yes, I am a skier I’ve always been a skier and I enjoy skiing.” She gets to enjoy skiing.
💐

Love this! There are so many ways in which being a mature woman is liberating!There is a wonderful freeing attitude tha...
08/20/2022

Love this! There are so many ways in which being a mature woman is liberating!
There is a wonderful freeing attitude that seems to arrive after 50. Embrace it!

Does anybody else watch tv shows and movies with older actresses--keenly watching their foreheads to figure out if they ...
08/19/2022

Does anybody else watch tv shows and movies with older actresses--keenly watching their foreheads to figure out if they have had botox?

I started doing botox last year after two years of watching my face on Zoom. And I saw an immediate difference. My daughter says that the hydra-facials and the botox are the two things that she saw instant transformation (and she is a teenager, so I trust her candor.)

For this post, I went searching for celebs that are candid about their use of botox. I stumbled on this article in Marie Claire:

https://www.marieclaire.com/beauty/news/g4289/celebrities-who-have-spoken-about-botox/

Most of the actresses absolutely deny using or approving of botox....But I look at their laugh lines around their eyes (I love laugh lines). And then their perfectly smooth foreheads...and I just wonder how candid they are being.

All of this is very personal and I respect everyone's right to be private about what we are doing to feel good about our appearance.

Here is what Olivia Coleman had to say about it:

"The British actress revealed that not only has she had Botox done, but she loves it. In an interview with The Sunday Times(opens in new tab), she said, "I have done Botox and I LOVED it, [but] I’ve done it when I know there is a big gap [between roles]. I didn’t tell my husband and then for about six months he kept saying, 'Hello, Pretty!' and then I told him and he found it hilarious.""



I love silk pillowcases.I believe they have been an important part of my covid hair recovery.If you decide to "buy" into...
08/15/2022

I love silk pillowcases.
I believe they have been an important part of my covid hair recovery.

If you decide to "buy" into the silk pillowcase hype--here is a little bit of helpful information. The heaviness of silk is measured in units called "Momme".
The dense silk used in the (popular and expensive) SLIP pillowcases is 22.
I personally prefer a 30 momme pillowcase.
The silk seems more durable. And I like the feel of it.
Be sure you are buying "Mulberry Silk" (that's the real stuff made by silk worms.)

So why bother?
Well, Kristen Bell says it best
in an interview in New York magazine:

"When I first put the silk pillowcase on my pillow, I thought to myself, “Is this who I am now? I’m the girl who blindly follows the silk pillowcase fad?” But a follower I am. So, I put it on and didn’t think twice about it again. But the other morning I woke up, walked into the kitchen, and my husband said, “Hon, what’s up with your hair?” I looked in the mirror and half of my head was completely normal, soft, non-tangled hair, and the other side looked like I was attacked in my sleep. I realized in the middle of the night I had switched to my back and slept on another pillow. And the side that looked great could only have been credited to my silk pillowcase! It was an accidental side-by-side experiment and the silk pillowcase won by a factor of a million."

(I know she looks super young for an antiaging blog--but she is 42...)

Everyone is talking Marine Collagen supplements. I ordered some from Vital Protiens and put it in my strawberry/banana/o...
08/15/2022

Everyone is talking Marine Collagen supplements. I ordered some from Vital Protiens and put it in my strawberry/banana/oat milk smoothie this morning. Nothing “marine” tasting about it. So that was good. But what’s it for?

Well, Elle MacPherson loves it so much her company sells it and here is what she says about it:

“What are the benefits of The Collagen Elixir?
Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in the body. It occurs naturally in our bodies, holding all our cartilage, bones, blood vessels and skin together. I like to think of collagen as the building blocks that give strength and structure to our bodies, supporting us through our every movement. It makes up three quarters of your skin and a third of the total protein in your body.
Collagen is well-known for being an incredible supplement for skin, hair and nails, but there are actually so many other parts of our body that really benefit from collagen. Collagen is also vital for promoting healthy joints, reducing inflammation and overall pain that is often associated with ageing. It can even aid in gut and bone health.
Collagen production in our body begins to slow down as we get older, which is why offering your body some extra support becomes so important. The Collagen Elixir helps to replenish those waning collagen stores in your entire body so that your skin is firm, smooth and fresh, your hair looks shiny and thick, and your nails are strong.
Giving your joints and muscles an extra boost with our wild-caught marine collagen will also mean that you’ll feel comfortable and more flexible in your body. This blend also gives your body what it needs for repair and restore at the cellular level, reducing the appearance of aging, fine lines, age spots and wrinkles.”

Sooo….the science on Collagen supplements appears to be inconclusive…

It makes me think of something I read ages ago saying that “Americans have the most expensive urine on the planet” from peeing out so many of the supplements we take. Still…I take them…

SUNSCREEN!!!! Gen X'rs....how many of us remember slathering on the baby oil (or even crisco) and laying on Aluminum foi...
08/14/2022

SUNSCREEN!!!! Gen X'rs....how many of us remember slathering on the baby oil (or even crisco) and laying on Aluminum foil, desperate for a deep tan.

I look at my 53 year old skin now--my arms and chest especially and I wish I could time warp and tell that 13/14/15/16/17/18/19 year old--STOP! Don't do it!

So, after that dating disaster, when I saw the dermatologist, she recommended four primary things: prescription strength Retinol, hydrafacials, botox, and SUNSCREEN ALL THE TIME ANYWHERE THAT WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE SUN AT ANY TIME.

(Sorry for yelling--I'm not yelling at you--I am yelling at my 16 year old self.
Though I doubt that would help, because in truth I suggested this sunscreen approach to my 19 year old daughter--very sweetly, offering to buy her products and she rolled her eyes and said, "It'll be fine. I'm not worried about it." Sigh.)

I, however, immediately saw the logic of this. So, every morning, after my shower, after I do all the other lotions and potions, I apply sunscreen to any part of my body that will be exposed that day. Face, neck, arms, legs and feet usually.

Of course I use the expensive stuff that comes in tiny bottles for my face, neck and chest. Then I just use some stuff from Trader Joes for my arms and legs.

And I refresh throughout the day. It's never too late for prevention! (I hope.) Also, be sure to see a dermatologist once a year to check for skin cancer.

💐

Search Beyonce and Hydrafacials and you will see tons of mentions that they are her favorite beauty protocol. (Admittedl...
08/14/2022

Search Beyonce and Hydrafacials and you will see tons of mentions that they are her favorite beauty protocol. (Admittedly, at 40 years old, she's quite young from my persective...) Still, she's a great excuse to talk about hydrafacials.

I went on a date with a 56 year old man--and I was horrified by his skin. Only 3 years older than me and he looked like he was 80! (He actually was 56 per the internet.) That date changed my life! I decided I had to up my skin game and get serious about this anti-aging stuff.

I jumped in head first. Asked around about who was the best cosmetic dermatologist and started making appointments.

Of all of the things I tried--the hydrafacial is my favorite. My dermatologist recommended it once a month (good--cuz it's pricey). Basically the aesthetician uses this metal pen instrument attached to a big machine loaded with serums and other potions to extract the goo, exfoliate dead skin and inject the amazing serums.

My skin looks so good after each treatment. It's nice because Iget immediate results and my face feels squeaky clean, dewy and super hydrated.

My aesthetician pulls out all the stops with the cleansing, lactic acid peel, massage and other supplements to the main event with the high tech hydrafacial machine. But I have also been to a couple of dermatology offices that are more bare bones. They throw you on the table, attack your face with the hydrafacial and send you on your way. (I like the extras).

Seriously, I can't oversell this kind of facial. If you have already been doing this, share your experience in the comments below. If you decide to try it, come back and give us the scoop. (Also, I found my favorite aesthetician looking for a deal on groupon for "hydrafacial.")

I think you can extend this practice all the way down into your cleavage 😊. In fact, your Face, Neck, Decollage and even...
08/14/2022

I think you can extend this practice all the way down into your cleavage 😊. In fact, your Face, Neck, Decollage and even your forearms and hands benefit from the same treatments and lotions and potions.

I think my forearms and chest reveal my age the most these days because of all the sun damage (more about that later!)

I think this one speaks for itself. I just had to share.
08/14/2022

I think this one speaks for itself. I just had to share.

Joan Crawford was considered the most beautiful woman in the world during the peak of her career. She aged beautifully a...
08/14/2022

Joan Crawford was considered the most beautiful woman in the world during the peak of her career. She aged beautifully and wrote a book full of her beauty secrets.

The one she is most famous for: Filling a container with ice and witch hazel and splashing herself with it 25 times in a row. Sometimes it's claimed that she put her face in the bowl of icy witch-hazel.

After seeing Jessica Lange do this in "Feud", I had to try it. It intrigued me because putting your face is a bowl of ice water and holding your breath is a great way to interrupt a panic attack--throw in a little witch hazel and you are doing double duty! Decreasing inflammation, tightening pores--and staving off anxiety!

I read several articles about this Ice Queen beauty routine. One woman said that she did it faithfully for a week and it really helped her skin absorb her anti-aging serums...

I tried it last night and tonight. My hands were killing me after about 6 splashes, so I tried putting my face in and holding my breath for 30 seconds (I cut the witch hazel with rose water and regular water.)

This would take some getting used to as a regular beauty routine. It's a bit of a production, in terms of preparation and time. But it sure does make you feel like a badass Ice Queen...so there are trade-offs.

This kind of routine is usually something I will flirt with for a week and then forget about because I have moved on to more interesting things....

Still, it's fun to play with these old beauty rituals of the glamour goddesses.

Susan Sarandon looks amazing at 73. And I love this advice. Staying engaged, staying curious and having a good time.I FE...
08/13/2022

Susan Sarandon looks amazing at 73. And I love this advice. Staying engaged, staying curious and having a good time.
I FEEL younger when I am doing those three. There is a kind of energy that permeates our bodies when we are in it!

Of course, I am certain that the bags under my eyes are the result of so many tears. Crying is so hard on our eyes. Crying is a great release--and a great anti-aging tip is to organize myy life so that I'm not plagued by stuff that makes me cry...

And of course, not smoking.
We can get smoker's mouth (those little lines around our lips) from using straws as well....

Covid Hair is a thing! When I emerged from quarentine everyone commented that i had cut my hair much shorter. I replied,...
08/13/2022

Covid Hair is a thing! When I emerged from quarentine everyone commented that i had cut my hair much shorter. I replied, “No, it just broke.” Literally my hair was thinning and breaking.

I heard an interview on NPR talking about Covid Hair and its either the stress or the disease but it has been plaguing so many of us.

That on top of the aging issues with brittle hair, I worried that my hair was done for.

I visited my dermatologist and she sold me some Nutrafol.

That stuff really works! (I have no relationship with them, dont make money from mentioning them—lol on my insta that has 2 followers on its first day 😂.)

I am just mentioning it because i genuinely believe these supplements have created a renaissance for my hair. Its grown back in getting longer, thicker and more “lustrous”.

Hydration! Watching the tv show “Feud” with the unstoppably gorgeous Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, I was blown away ...
08/13/2022

Hydration! Watching the tv show “Feud” with the unstoppably gorgeous Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange, I was blown away by how amazing they both looked as they approached 70.

So I started chasing an internet rabbit hole about beautiful older actresses and their beauty secrets.

All of them talked about drinking a ton of water. Hydrating from the inside out.

So I am determined to drink a galloon a day. Good for skin, intestines. The whole system benefits.

Lol. Of course, the real challenge with this kind of water consumption is the middle aged bladder 😬💧. Let’s keep doing our kegels my friends.

“Refresh, Don’t Redo”. That’s the advice about Plastic surgery that Jean Smart’s character on Hacks offers.Those words s...
08/13/2022

“Refresh, Don’t Redo”. That’s the advice about Plastic surgery that Jean Smart’s character on Hacks offers.

Those words stuck with me as the guiding mantra for the challenge of aging gracefully. So many of my friends have sailed past 45 and are in the upward climb.

There are so many amazing things about being in your 50s. And…we are all noticing physical changes that aren’t always welcomed.

I am launching this instagram for fun, in the hopes that we can all learn tips, tricks and solutions to help out aging bodies and faces stay “refreshed”.

Follow .dont.redo for insights and information about graceful aging.

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