Fighting the wrinkle wars
Cindy on March 19th, 2009
“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes.” — Sophia Loren
Cosmetic ads continually remind us that we can’t look fabulous unless we look years younger. So what does it mean to “age gracefully” today? Must we color our hair, undergo plastic surgery, and spend a fortune on anti-aging products to meet our culture’s rigid standards of beauty?
That’s my topic in this week’s Midpoint column in The Oakland Press. Which side are you defending in the ongoing battle against aging? Feel free to express your views here or on The Oakland Press site. –CL
*Previous Midpoint columns are archived with links to The Oakland Press (look under CATEGORIES in the “Browse” panel at right). These columns focus on issues of special interest to women between ages 40 and 65.
Artwork shown: “One Grace,” a detail from an original painting by Douglas La Ferle
March 19th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Love your article Cindy. Of course we need to always maintain, exercise and care for our appearances, as we would at any age. But I wouldn’t trade what comes with age – wisdom and experience and confidence – for any wrinkle cream out there. My motto for looks and choices and personality is to “own it!”
March 20th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Cindy, your article spoke for where I’m at in life. I’ll do what I can within reason to maintain my appearance. But I won’t let the fashion industry try to make me feel that I’m not good enough just because I’m not 20 anymore.
March 21st, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Great topic to raise — and I think it’s one that men deal with too. I’d like to think that I don’t worry much about ageing, but I am going to fight it a bit! Specifically, I take a pill to try to keep my hair. I’ll let the wrinkles come as they will and will avoid the knife, but I do think there is something to be said for ageing gracefully. If you try to fight it too much (I won’t mention specific public figures here, though I have a few in mind), it becomes very obvious. Okay, I’ll tell you. I’m thinking of Madonna and Michael Jackson.
March 21st, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I just rented and watched again the movie “Real Women Have Curves.” It was a great reminder that, no matter what our age, what matters most is how we feel about ourselves because that’s what comes through to other people.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:15 am
I’d rather not think of “battling” aging at all, because it’s a battle none of us will ultimately win.
Reading your article reminded me of those obnoxious ads for “lip-plumpers” that are everywhere online right now, the ones that vehemently insist “thin lips are ugly.” Huh? When did that happen? Who says? and why should we go along with them?
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
Good comments, all. And Sharon, thanks for the movie recommendation. I haven’t seen “Real Women Have Curves,” and plan to go look for it. — Cindy La Ferle
March 24th, 2009 at 10:03 am
You might be interested to browse a group on Flickr that I love. It’s called GUSTO: Aging with Power, Wisdom, & Irreverence, and contains loads of great photographs of beautiful people (not necessarily in a conventional sense) who are, gasp, old. Here’s the link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/gusto/
March 24th, 2009 at 10:07 am
cindy,
i absolutely am with you on this one, my friend. i, too, dislike the current terminology and framework used about women’s aging. a very sore point with me, in fact. i do think we are stunningly beautiful as we are. aging is something to be embraced gracefully. you are doing that and i think i am too. gone are the days of obsessing about face or figure. there is an ease in letting go of all of that and accepting ourselves as we are now. we are lovely and phenomenal…
April 10th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I planned to read one post, which turned into two……..which is now turning into a very late night but I really wanted to stop and comment on this particular one.
AMEN!!!
That pretty much sums it up, but I still wish there was that magic pill that would make me be happy about the way I look now that I’m over 50. I try to remind myself that those “middle-aged” stars that look so great, only achieve that through an entire team of people being paid to make them look great, but that just makes me long for that big money windfall that will allow me to do the same. Ugh…..
August 21st, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Nice post. I really enjoyed reading it. Can I get your e-mail , so I can tell you just a couple things?