I always prided myself on being such a low maintanence kind of girl. Things like makeup and manicures are for special events only. My preferred outfit is a fleece and an old pair of cargo khakis. I've always washed my hair in the morning and spent a bit of time drying it, but that's it . . . and considering I came of age in the late 70's/early 80's, the fact that I never succumbed to the great Bang Erection fad should be proof of my creditionals in that regard.
I did my own hair and makeup and nails for my wedding, for heavens sake!
But I've come to realize lately that, well, it doesn't apply any more. I take a LOT of maintaining. Worse, I'm not looking any BETTER for all that. That's what it takes just to keep from sliding back into the abyss.
There's the hair highlighting, to keep the fading color at bay. The dentist three times a year (because my teeth somehow seem to manufacture plaque at a world-record pace; why I cannot manufacture something more useful, I don't know), the eye doctor twice a year, my yearly checkup/pap/etc., the yearly mammo. I'm THIS close to having to add colon inspection to the list.
I pop pills daily, a vitamin, a calcium, a fish oil. It just seems the thing to do, and I imagine that number's more likely to go up than down.
I've recently added once-in-a-while accupunture, for a bit of TMJ pain. (Not entirely sure how well it works for that, but for some reason laying on that table with needles poking all over me is the MOST relaxed I've ever been, and I'll keep it up for that alone.) Exercise class twice a week, because I need a kick in the pants to sweat and I'll never do it on my own. A facial now and then, because the skin needs all the help I can get. And, for a still-mostly-makeupless face, I'm no longer the least bit wash and wear - there's a cleanser and a cream for night, and a cleanser plus three various potions for the day, plus a once-a-week mask.
Lots of other things look a bit tempting . . . lasers? A spray tan to even out my legs now that shorts season is here? (Where did all those veings come from, anyway? I don't think I have that much blood.) Needles of various kinds and the concotions they carry?
The problem is that maintaining is taking an awful lot of my time and STILL not sure I'm even maintaining.
What's your approach? You all battling 'til the end, or just giving up and enjoying all the free time that then comes your way? Anything you'll NEVER give up (I'n not at all sure I'm ready for gray hair, though right now I have very little), or anything you know you'll NEVER do, no matter what?
PSSST . . . there might be a little surprise in it for one of you who reply.
Susie, in her khakis and fleece
36 comments:
By the time I was in my late 20's I had this two inch streak of white hair in my dark brown hair. People always thought I dyed it that way. I've been totally white/grey for a long time. Only once did I try dying it and I hated it. It's who I am and I really do like it!
Moisturizing! I now have to do that...despite those long years of adolescence with T-zone oily skin. That's when I knew I was aging :).
Mostly, though, I don't spend nearly enough time trying to maintain and should probably give it a bit more effort.
I just let nature take it's course.
There's not a whole lot you can do at 65.
I don't do a whole lot in the way of maintaining. I've earned every gray hair I've got (2 kids) and I proudly let them show. :)
Cheryl S.
It is a lot of work to take care of yourself as you get older. Some things are worth worrying about like dry skin and diet and exercise. But some things don't bother me like a few gray hairs.
I don't think I have gray hairs yet, but they're coming, I'm sure. I dye my hair red...very vibrant, obnoxious copper red no less. *LOL* I have several potions for my face and refining masks...and lotions for my dry skin...and I stay out of the sun...and choose to blind people with my white skin during short season. They're wearing sunglasses; they'll get over it.
And none of it helps! *LOL*
I never was a high maintanence type. Until a few years ago when suddenly it became important to have long colorful nails (acrylics) and waxed eyebrows and hair colored the way it USED to look. I'm not sure what happened. Maybe I've been reading too many romance novels. HA!
I have a history of heart problems on my mom's side of the family (mom died at 53) so I have to pay close attention to exercise and nutrition. I have to moisturize my dry skin a lot and I always wear sunscreen. I was almost totally gray at 45 but my husband loved it so I kept it that way. After he died, I had it colored close to my natural shade. I love it, others love it, I look 10 years younger and it makes me feel good so, for me, it's worth the time and expense.
Don't get me started on the veins. I used to have great looking legs. Now I have walking road maps. ;)
One thing I have no desire to have is plastic surgery. My face is my face and it's gonna stay my face, wrinkles (I call them smile lines) and all.
I have a wedding that I am in this weekend so I went to target to pick up some fresh makeup. Well I am standing in front of the Wall-o-choices, and I see wrinkle control coverup. And I wonder to myself "self- is it too soon to start controlling wrinkles?" I mean I dont have any yet but if it is for firming?? What if it is so firm (my face)from the wonder coverup that I dont wrinkle:)
I shook my head bought the regular stuff and some honey nut cheerios to make myself feel better.
As the years go by, I am unfortunately becoming more and more high-maintenance. So much so, that I can't seem to keep up! ;) I am still trying, though!
I still don't wear makeup unless there is some big event. I do have the best hair person around. She colors my hair about 3 times a year and is wonderful. I've had the same hair dresser since I was 13 and now drive 2 hours to have my hair cut/styled/colored.
My one thing I won't give up is moisterizer and body lotion. My skin tends to be very dry(except these sudden breakouts at 36).
I can't say that I'll never get any work done when I'm older. Maybe I'll be tempted to get a face lift or lipo when my face and body are sagging. Soon I will be dyeing my hair to cover the gray. I'm going to try to slow down the aging process by eating healthier and exercising, but that's easier said than done.
As usual, I'm going kicking and screaming into the great beyond. No scalpels or botox needles, please!
I don't like to wear makeup and very rarely do, I have some gray hairs that I dye about every 3 to 4 months. Other than that I'm very low maintenance.
I can't do without a lip balm... I am such a minimal person too, however, when we tend to grow, I think we like to pamper ourselves a bit more!
There are important things that I do take care of. Exercise since bone density is a worry, preventive health and maintenance, but I do not go overboard on anything else. I moisturize and eat well and take vities.
Age does require maintenance. I can remember when I did my own hair, wore no makeup except lipstick and never gave a thought to lotions. But I am still enjoying life and romance books. LOL
I have noticed fine lines and have to dye my hair since the grey is unsightly and too many varying shades. Other than that I wear a light dusting of makeup and lip balm. Whatever happens, we have to try to stay healthy and vital.
I am fortunate to look younger than my age but still do require regular workouts. This is my way of staying active and feel it is a necessity. My skin has to have its moisturizing and hair needs periodic coloring.
High maintenance is not my objective. I prefer to help things along in a simple way. Walks each day, well balanced meals, and enough sleep as well as looking youthful but my age. Hair that is my normal shade and little makeup.
I rarely wear make-up too, Susie. But then I saw Sex and the City and they all looked so good! I SO want to learn how to have pretty eyes.
I have started having monthly facials. So relaxing. I love the woman who does it. She also massages my shoulders and arms.
But yeah, it takes so much time. And I do the hair thing every six weeks. And I go to the gym at least 4 times a week. Waaah.
But I know lots of women who spend lots more time and it's not an age thing. High school girls are getting their manis and pedis as a common thing!
Nothing drastic would I contemplate. Taking good care of my mind and body though are essential and no bad habits. Everything in moderation. I am concerned about my health more than anything so this is where I concentrate my efforts.
I tried to comment earlier, but blogger must have ate it, lol.
I am in my late 20's and I do a few things for upkeep. I moisturize with Hope in a Jar (the best moisturizer), work out 5-6 times a week, and always wash my face day and night. I hardly wear makeup, except for special events, but even when I do it isn't much. I used to color my hair (not for Grey, just to have a lighter color), but since I had my babies I don't have the time. I do get a pedicure every two weeks, but that is just for some quiet time, lol.
I often feel I should be doing more, but I'm super lazy and have been blessed with reasonable genes for the basics, so I'm coasting for now. I'm sure it's all about to catch up to me with a vengeance ;)
I just take things as they come. I do use a little face cream sometimes when I remember, but at my age nothing is going to help a lot. I am lucky then some people when it comes to gray hair. I don't have very much so I don't have to color.
I have never really been much of a girly girl and still today at 39...I never wear make-up. I don't color my hair and I have noticed that there are quite a few grays but what can you expect with five kids and two grandbabies? On top of that my Dad has been completely white for so many years that I can pinpoint when he went all white. I do you lots of moisturizer, but that is about the extent of my pampering.
Bottom line is I am pretty darn lazy and I don't really have the time to do much else...as I feel that it would be an uphill never ending battle.
I am however sometimes jealous of how wonderful people look all dolled up. I don't really even know how to apply make-up properly.
I find that as I get older my approach has been to try and streamline my beauty rituals and make every minute count. The problem is that I require more work to look remotely close to facing the world. I'm in my mid 30's now with 2 kids, a husband and all that having a family entails. When I was in my 20's I would not have dreamed of going outside without a full face of make-up and every hair just right, not to mention clothes, shoes and all those accessories. Now I just want to be comfy- hoodies are the best! Skin care and hair dyes are the two things I cannot do without (don't wanna have wrinkles and my hair reflects whatever mood I am in that day so I need lots of color options) but I have cut out most everything else. The problem is that it takes more work just to look natural... ugh, I can't win.
Gladys had trouble with blogger yesterday, so she emailed me this comment:
Man, age does demand maintenance. I can remember when I did my own hair, wore no makeup except lipstick, never gave a thought to lotions. And I looked better then than now, but at least I am still enjoying life and romance books. LOL!
Blog name: GladysMP
I'm pretty lazy when it comes to maintenance, lol. I do dye my own hair every three months or so and I never wear make-up unless it's a special occasion. I'm terrible about not moisturizing when I have jars and tubes and a whole bunch here to use.
I too am a member of the comfort over fashion "club"! I prefer track suits, big baggy t-shirts and running shoes. I can get quite grumpy when I have to dress up in uncomfortable clothes and shoes, lol.
Susan Kay- A while back I read The Paper Marriage and LOVED IT. Fabulous read. Your writing style reminds me a bit of Megan Hart, and I love her writing very, very much. Anyway, I just finished Just Sex and it was more than I expected it to be. I couldn't put it down, it was so engrossing. I wanted to hurt Tom BADLY... but he did that well enough to himself, didn't he? Jerk. I'm glad Ellen found her way and discovered who she was enough to do her thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the next one!
I gave up a lot when I retired as far as maintenance; no more makeup every day(at one time I used to feel naked without mascara); I like to have my toe and finger nails polished but I don't do it every other day anymore. No hair color for this blonde but have been considering checking into highlights to lighten a bit. I now live in jeans/T-shirts.
I've never been high maintenance as to my appearance :X. The most makeup I used to wear, was eyeshadow. Maybe lip gloss - but that was more to prevent chapping. For a short while I wore mascara, but even that took too much time. In high school sometimes I'd accessorize with earrings and necklaces - but then stopped in college. (I'd give myself 30 minutes to get ready in the mornings, and that included the time for my 15 minute walk to classes). Maybe when I grow up I'll do better :P.
I like to have my hair cut so I can basically wash & wear, I do color it. I only wear mascara too. So, I guess those are the things I'd like not to give up for now.
At 63 I've just decided to let nature take it's course and only do those things that are totally necessary....such as annual health care and tooth care. Everything else can take its course unimpeded.
At 52 okay 53 in August, I budget my money to afford to keep my hair in check. Highlights and lowlights, or is it one color then some highlights. Anyway I've been told I look 40. Yea! Plus a daily regime of using witch hazel since I was 25 and keeping my face out of the sun as much as I can.
I stopped coloring my hair about 10 years ago. At this stage in my life (I'm 48), I am comfortable with who I am and what I look like. I would rather have the extra time in the morning to sleep instead of putting make-up on, although I still use it for special occasions.
Post a Comment