READY TO CALL IT WELL AGING!
Thankfully, the term well aging is catching on but there is still lots to untangle. If you are reading my blog, then I want to take a calculated assumption that you resonate with my musings. That will also lead me to assume that you are also very aware of how the beauty industry and society, in general, have weaponized our love for beauty against us. I mean, God forbid we dare age. God forbid, we wrinkle and grey. The entire matter is tiresome and as I grow older and into myself with so much glory and grace, I have decided to already begin a committed relationship with my older self. Dismantling ageist ideas is a potent way to start loving the older versions of ourselves. Now I am not saying don’t look after yourself or that even being comfortable with getting old is an easy thing to do. As humans, we are in a tangling relationship with our mortality. We want to be young forever. This tangling relationship is one of the building blocks of the beauty industry. There are many ways this conversation can go so let me reign it in. First, can we call it well aging instead of antiaging? The dictionary description for ‘anti’ is opposed. So think about it. Aging is a part of living. So are you opposed to living? (a small welp)
Second I want to share my well-aging tips with you. As I said, dismantling ideas and fear around aging needs NOT to be about an utter disregard to looking after your beauty. It’s about writing your own beauty story and taking the reigns of it, unapologetically!
There is something in this silk pillowcase business. Now for me, it’s not about preventing wrinkles ( because that is the biggest selling point that is used in their marketing). For me, it’s about keeping my skincare on my skin at night! Cotton pillowcases soak up everything (possibly even one’s own natural oils!) Before I made the switch, I would wake up with dry cheeks and a moisturized t zone! Talk about imbalance. Once I started sleeping with silk, my skin changed almost immediately. Now that my skincare was on my skin actually doing what it was meant to do, the skin was much happier. At least my cheeks were! Get some silk pillowcases ( or use a silk scarf over your pillow) and let your skincare actually work on your skin instead of your cotton pillowcase. LOL
Add some hydrating skincare into your routine! Our skin loves what and it is hydrating skincare makes it look plump and plush! Hydrating skincare also contributes to the healing and soothing of your skin. Find hydration through toners, mists, serums, ampoules, and essences! You don’t have to all of these but one or two with consistent use will do your skin a world of good!
Learn how to cleanse your skin WELL! For your skin type and skin issues! Cleansing is half of your routine. Without clean skin, then everything after that is a half-assed attempt at looking after your skin. I take cleansing quite seriously and I am so passionate about it, that I wrote an entire book about it. I would highly recommend it if I don’t say so myself. Find it here!
Now, this tip is for those who look like me. Can we finally throw that myth that ‘black don’t crack’ away? I mean I know we are somewhat vampire-like but we deserve to look after that melanin. If not for vanity, for love damn it! LOL. Don’t let this myth allow you to approach your beauty with arrogant laziness. It is somewhat disrespectful to who you are and our ancestors who were world-renowned for their beauty way. *cough* Cleopatra and her milk and honey baths
Beauty is also an inside job. I know you have heard this one. But it’s true. Living an authentic ‘ I accept all of me’ kind of life is the epitome of beauty. It will radiate unapologetically. In fact, I implore you to watch the video that inspired this blog post so you can really get where I am going with this. Promise, it’s really good.
ALTAR yourself. Read that again. This is very much aligned with my own beauty ethos. I have turned my beauty routines into rituals of stillness, joy, pleasure, and healing. This is an utter game-changer for those who are not considered beautiful in todays’ Euro-centric beauty standards. It is a part of my toolbox. I repeat, watch the video. You will see where I am going with this.
Here is to well aging. To LIVING