Brace yourself, because I am about to tell you something shocking. I am about to be fifty. Not until next May, so it's not like it's happening tomorrow, but it's coming. George Orwell once said, "At 50, everyone has the face he deserves." Maybe so, but this is Dallas and no one in their right mind lives with what God gave them. We have too many plastic surgeons, stylists, hair dressers and estheticians for that! The big 5-0 is looming large and that has me reevaluating myself, inside and out. What am I doing right and what areas do I need to make changes or improvements? There's no denying that one of the most noticeable things that is changing is my skin. Gravity has set in and thanks to a new magnifying mirror I recently bought at Target, I can now see every imperfection 500x better than before... Did you know that Dallas is one of the largest hubs for cosmetics brands in the country? According to D Magazine's Holly Haber, "North Texas is fertile ground for beauty brands thanks to its extensive resources for everything from formulations to production, as well as its position as a central transportation hub... It’s difficult to track industry revenue with any precision, given the large number of private firms. But the majors alone rack up around $9 billion in annual sales." One thing I know for sure is that if I'm going down, it won't be without a fight. So, I reached out to some of my friends in the Dallas beauty biz and asked them what advice they had for women in their 40s and 50s. Here are their golden nuggets of wisdom:
Renee Rouleau
Renee Rouleau has her hands on some of Hollywood's hottest stars. Demi Lovato, Emmy Rossum, Emma Roberts and Bag Snob Tina Craig to name a few. When I asked Renee for her skin care tips for Facing Fifty she said, "Don't neglect the neck! A woman will typically rub moisturizer onto her face and then whatever is left over on the fingertips will extend down on to the neck. The proper way to moisturize is to apply one application of moisturizer (with sunscreen during the day) to the face, and then a second full application to the front and sides of the neck. This will ensure that the neck gets a proper coating of moisturizer and sunscreen protection to keep it looking soft, smooth and damage-free. In addition, retinol is a powerful ingredient found in high-performance products to use on the neck and chest at night. The skin on your neck and chest is an extension of your face so be sure to care for it as faithfully as you do your face." Renee Rouleau products can be purchased online or you can visit her Skin Care Spa in Dallas or Plano. Click here for details.
Jamie O'Banion, President &
Co-Founder at Beauty Bioscience
called microneedling, and it stems from the proven philosophy that to regenerate the skin one must wound the skin. Microneedling is a new approach that induces a micro injury response. Instead of having to remove the entire epidermis and dermis as in decades past, micro needling creates painless, imperceptible microchannels in the skin to stimulate skin's natural healing response. For the first time, we are able to induce a micro injury and achieve macro injury response to the skin. With regular use (at least 2-3x per week), the skin's natural collagen response is ignited and volume, firmness and smoothness are restored to the skin. My partner and father Dr. Terry James introduced and patented the concept of micro needling and began supplying dermatologists and plastic surgeons offices with this technology. In May of 2016, GloPRO was introduced to the retail world with the first at-home painless, effective micro needling tool also including red LED light therapy and vibrotactile stimulation for enhanced collagen regeneration. The retail cost is $200." GloPRO is available online or can be found locally at Neiman Marcus.
Susan Posnick
Susan Posnick spent her first career painting the faces of models, musicians, actors and actresses — including Cindy Crawford, Amber Valletta, Rene Russo, Diane Lane, Holly Hunter, and Mary Kay (Ash). For women facing fifty, Susan says there's just one thing to do. "If you haven’t already, it’s time to start incorporating skin brightening products into your routine. They can lighten and take away melasma, skin discoloration, and the brown spots primarily sun related, all the things that start appearing out of nowhere in your late 40’s. I am a fan of skin brightening products containing vitamin C, kojic acid, vitamin A and/or glycolic acid. Professional skin treatments like fraxel, photofacials, clear lift, microdermabrasion, peels, etc. – yes I could go on and on, help the skin build new collagen, improve the skin texture and help tighten the skin." Another tip? "Switch to a lighter weight, more sheer foundation. Anything too heavy will start settling into those fine lines, making them more obvious," says Posnick. "My COLORFLO foundation is the perfect solution as it is weightless on the skin, provides invisible coverage and contains natural sun blocks, all in an on-the-go container. And lastly, when it comes to cocktails - beware, as they can really dehydrate the skin, especially as we age. A good rule of thumb- for every cocktail, drink a glass of water in between. It makes a difference." You can buy Susan Posnick Cosmetics online or locally at Stanley Korshak and Forty Five Ten.
May the Force be with us all...
