Monday, July 21, 2008

Oh My Gaaaawd! Is That Me In The Mirror?

This was one of my very first posts that I think warrants being posted again, since I didn't even have any comments at the time. At the bottom, I'll tell you the results of my anti-aging cream testing.

This is a picture of me with friends when I was a ripe young 19 (that's me on the left). Then...Oh my GAAAAWWD! One day a few years ago, I woke up, looked in the mirror and saw an aging woman with jowls beginning to take a prominent position on her face, staring back at me. Worse yet... it looked just like my mother until I did a double-take & realized it was me! Horrified, I began buying every cream & lotion that promises to take ten years off, in hopes that I could easily reverse this aging process running rampant on my face with a mere matter of dollars. Oh - well... to be truthful, it seems to be running rampant over my entire body, but the majority of available beauty products don't seem to promise anything about the rest of the body... just the face & neck. Yes, I've bought practically every "tightening" cream available, and GUESS WHAT? Yup, after first thinking it was working, I had to admit that I cannot tell any difference from before. Perhaps I can just stay covered up all the time. Sure, that should be fun when we have those days that feel like a hair-dryer on high/hot.

So I started thinking (which can be a dangerous thing)... maybe l can save other women from spending any more money on products that JUST DON'T WORK. Now, if I were a cold, calculating BITCH, I'd get out there & create my own blend of "magical ingredients" and sell it as an anti-aging cream & make a fortune just like all the other assholes who have cashed in on our generation aging. However, I've always believed this: Everyone wants to reach reach the top of the big pile of life, but you should at least be able to be proud of the way you get there. Enough said there.

Here is what I know for certain.... the MAIN FACTOR in aging gracefully is obviously, good genes. Since many of us do not have good genes, the next best thing is to start taking care of yourself at an early age. Trust me on this one.


I have a friend who has been exercising, eating right, living right, and slapping her neck waddle daily for 30 years and at 55, she looks incredible. I've seen her family and can assure you that it isn't genes. So, every night, after having my cocktails, eating what I please, leaving on the day's makeup, and "poo-poo-ing" exercise, my friend was busy doing all the right things. Frankly, she could almost pass for my daughter... aaargh! If you don't start out early in life, it just becomes something you make New Year's Resolutions about later (and we all know what happens with those, lol). Oooops... too late here.


I'm currently using Hydro-Derm which I can't decide on yet. I think I need new eyeglasses before I make any rash decisions. Before that, I tried IQ Derma for the recommended time and saw no positive changes. (I won't elaborate yet on the not-so-positive. Stay tuned.)



Before that, I tried a line called Arbonne which promised tightened skin in all the right places. Again, I see no change. None of these were cheap, mind you. Arbonne offers a Starter Kit that includes about a 3 month supply of Cleanser, toner, wrinkle serum, eye cream, Transforming Lift Serum, face cream & body lotion for just around $300.00.






Next, I tried IQ Derma, who offers a Starter Kit that includes their "Life Without Wrinkles" face cream, SkinTensive wrinkle serum & a free 1/2 ounce jar of Triple Firming Eye Therapy for approximately $98.00. Again, no improvement here.


Then, I tried Sovage which cost $119.00 for a 6 ounce tube of it. Once again, I saw absolutely no improvement.


HydroDerm offers a .33 ounce dropper bottle of Triple Effects Eye Serum, a 30ML dropper bottle of Age-Defying Wrinkle Serum and a 1 ounce jar of Age-Defying Renewal Moisturizer for approximately $84.95. Again, I see no improvements after 22 straight days of use. Who knows? Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow & faint when I look in the mirror, but.... that's like believing all those stupid e-mails that say "something wonderful will happen when you send this e-mail to 20 friends". Yeah, right... whatever! I think I've come to the conclusion that aside from "going under the knife", we have no options that actually work. That is, unless you want to go around all day with a towel turban on, really tight (since it seems to be the only thing I've seen positive results with).



However... there is a light in the horizon. Several months ago I purchased a line of make-up online called RAW, which is an incredible line of mineral based cosmetics that is to die for! I had begun to notice that in all the pictures of me, I was beginning to resemble a Geisha Girl with white Kibuki make-up. I was starting to look just like all the women I said I would never look like!!!!!! Yikes.... Once I started wearing the RAW line, I absolutely love it! Now, I have a more natural look, yet still look polished. For approximately $120.00, you get the following: 2 jars of different shades of mineral foundation powder, a jar of powder blush, a jar of translucent powder with sunscreen, 2 tones of concealer in a compact, .05 ounce of Illuminating Skin Perfector (like a bronzer), a maximum coverage brush, a loose powder brush, a concealer application brush and a tube of black mascara. I love it all and plan to continue buying the RAW products as long as they keep making them.

Now, after using the Hydroderm for more than six months, I can definitely tell a difference. My jowls aren't so pronounced and the lines around my eyes have tightened. I've also noticed that my neck isn't as saggy either. So, I think I'm going to stick with the Hydroderm for a while longer. It's the first improvement I've seen in two years of trying all the other products. And, it is the least expensive of all those I've tried. Go Figure.

16 comments:

I Am Woody said...

I love, love, love those pants!!!

Keeper Of All Things said...

hemroid cream!!!!!
Supposed to tighten wrinkles up
well it does make sense......I haven't tried it yet but I have been known to look like an a$$!!!!
LOL

Snooty Primadona said...

lori: Yup, 1970, Baby!

Keeper: OMG! My hairdresser told me to use Prep H 30 years ago when I got married because we'd partied all night the night before the wedding. The PrepH made my eyes swell shut, lol. I looked horrible.

elizasmom said...

Me too, on the pants. Those are GREAT!

I, too, have tried a variety of skincare lines, and I think most of that stuff is a rip-off. I faithfully applied Darphin's eye-goop for SIX MONTHS, and saw no change whatsoever. I decided to go back to that Lumine stuff from CVS. Cheaper and smells pretty...

Snooty Primadona said...

Yup, like any of them do any good at all. Sometimes I feel like such a sucker, lol.

Mental P Mama said...

I love that picture! If you ask any derm worth his own weight, he will tell you: Neutrogena. I could have enough money for a trip around the world on treatments. Yikes. Water and lots of sunscreen. Did I tell you how cute you are? I totally recognized you...you don't need any of that crap!

Snooty Primadona said...

We don't have good dermatologists around here. The one I went to for 15 years died of Melanoma. How insane is that? The one I go to now takes forever to get into and I can't understand a word she says in English with her Eastern Indian accent.

savvycityfarmer said...

Hi, I just happened by here from....well I don't remember.....you look fine dahling

...I use Beauticontrol Cosmetics....AND you can view my snooty little primadona face over at my blog...if you wish....no really I have used their anti-aging products for 20 years and you could not pay me to switch...I think the headqrts are in Dallas.

let's chat

savvycityfarmer said...

Oh, and i did just lose 40#, too...that helps a little in lookin' younger....sigh

Unknown said...

OMG! Seems we all go through the same anxieties!I have even tried the Rejuvaderm..you know the injections...looked good for a couple of weeks...but you have to keep doing it. $$$$. Also tried various other skin products...am now selling AVON only to get the discount on their facial creams. I'm still practicing the info on 20/20, where they said that wine is the fountain of youth...and fun doing it!

Flea said...

Your derm died of melanoma? I'm sorry - that's hilarious! Mental's right - water and sunscreen. But then, I have genetics in my corner. Thank goodness, since I can't afford to fix it now. :)

Anonymous said...

Do stop by today!

Anonymous said...

Those pants are fabulous!!!


peace
#2

Meg said...

Gotta love those pants! I have been down the Arbonne route also...I am officially on the lookout for something myself.

Thanks for posting this!

Tickled Pink And Green said...

You are HILARIOUS! By the way, I was born in Midland (we only lived there from my birth to 2 years old so I know nothing except there was this really cool park I played at cuz I have pictures)....

Did you go to Ursuline in Dallas? I live not too far away.

I saw where you lived in Aspen and I just did a post about Aspen (sort of )....

Enjoying your blog!

Anonymous said...

does slappin the waddle really work?

Ive always wondered that. If it does, Ill be a waddle slappin fool.

 

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