Is Aging Bad? A New Perspective To Consider
Next year I’m turning 25, and I have never worried about wrinkles until now. I noticed that I’m slowly beginning to get laugh lines–small creases around the mouth from laughing or other expressions, so I began to worry about it. But in the midst of all worry sessions, comes the voice of reason asking, should you even care?
In the beauty world, they suggest starting your “anti-aging” skin care regimen in your 20’s, and if you’re pushing it, at least your late twenties. The market is saturated with advertisements and products towards stopping the affects of aging. While there is nothing wrong with preserving your skin in its prime, there is a problem with creating fear in aging, teaching women that it is unattractive. Especially with social media, it creates a false sense of perfection, that quite frankly doesn’t exist. Influencers play into the propaganda. And while it’s their job to look beautiful, they are capable of being more realistic and showing the world that they too have flaws, and it’s okay.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be concerned with healthy skin. Taking care of our skin is just like taking care of any other organ. Your skin is the largest organ your body has. With that it mind, it is okay to take preventative matters concerning your skin and possible signs of pre- aging. There are steps that you can incorporate into your daily routine to help you age like wine. Wearing sunscreen is the first step you can take to protect your skin from everyday free radicals. Watching what you eat, consistent exercise are additional lifestyle changes you can implement to encourage healthy aging.
Aging is a process that not everyone has experienced. Growing old is a blessing. You’ve experienced life, you’ve gotten the opportunity to laugh until your abdomen hurts, cry until your eyes are bloodshot. You have lived, and that is beautiful. We have to redefine the out dated beauty standards that exist. Within the next few years, I hope to see the beauty industry changing the conversation on aging. Instead of a dreaded life process, let’s embrace it as a gift worth celebrating.