The Big Face Firming Cream Reveal.... Opinions Welcome

I must admit that I wasn't necessarily sure about the improvement at the end of 35 days, as the creams had touted. So, I decided to go an additional 10 days days before doing this big reveal, just to see if there was any further improvement.

 
However, it is hard for one to see oneself as others do. You see yourself everyday in the mirror, making it difficult to have an objective opinion. So one must rely upon the opinions of what others see, since they usually don't see you every single day. In other words, your husband's opinion doesn't count because he sees you every day.


As a matter of fact, I will show the post I was going to make on the promised date of reveal. I still wasn't convinced of the cream's merits:

Why do I always believe the snake oil salesmen? I mean, really. How could I be so gullible, right? Luckily, it was only $150.00 and 35 days wasted this time. I've done worse with less results. Seriously. Dr. Perricone's potions are no more effective than the creams you can buy over the counter at Walgreen's (at a much more affordable cost, I might add). I followed his directions to a T and have not had the predicted results. What. A. Surprise.

I had visions of grandiose results, which was completely delusional, as usual. Honestly, do we ever really learn? I think perhaps vanity prevents us from doing so. We all want something for nothing and frankly, it just can't be had when it comes to turning back the clock of aging. Turkey neck? Still here. Jowls? Still here. Puffy under-eye bags? Still here. Thanks for nothing Dr. Perricone! Keep trying to perfect that snake oil!

Here's the upshot of the deal... Either you're born with the desirable genes that allow you to age like Audrey Hepburn, or you've been a saint your entire life, or you go under the knife, or you learn to live with the bags and sags. There is no affordable fast fix, so get over that right now. We get old and we sag and it sucks but we're stuck with it. Unless you want to spend the price of a trip around the world (on a face lift), your choices are slim and the results are debatable, at best. I'm approaching the point of total surrender and I'm completely exhausted with trying every new *miracle cream*. It doesn't exist. In other words, there is no magic potion, girlfriends. Every single day of the last 35 days I've awakened each morning thinking I'd say "OMG!" when I look in the mirror. So. Did. Not. Happen.




We are what we are and there is, of course, no getting around it. So, I've decided to roll with the wrinkles. Again. However, I would just like to say that God could have at least allowed me to age gracefully, but apparently, it's not my lot in life. I would really prefer to be one of those people that doesn't give a rat's patootie, but I'm not. Unfortunately. This too, I shall learn to deal with.

Ten days down the road my attitude began to change as I saw some improvement (at least I think I did). So, I'd like to see what you, my readers (if there are any left) think about it. Do you detect a change? Also, I should explain that I've since been to the allergy doctor for testing and I'm only horridly allergic to one thing... GRASS... every variety. Gee, you don't find that everywhere, right? Not. They have me on Nasonex and Zyrtec, but I've not noticed much change with the post nasal drip. However, I HAVE noticed a visible change in my eyes returning from from practically swollen shut to looking rather normal.  But, who knows why? It might be the creams or possibly a combination of both or all things rolled together. I also started UB tanning and vigorously exercising, but all of these elements are necessary to work effectively with the creams, believe it or not. There really is no miracle yet, okay? But with keeping your body healthy and doing what you know is right, it is possible to turn back the clock a few years.




I admit I haven't always been one to wash my makeup off before retiring at night, which is definitely not a good thing. I've now changed that. I also admit that the change in my appearance isn't drastic but it is slightly noticeable. Or perhaps I'm just seeing what I want to see. What say you, dear readers? I'd really like to have some feedback here (before I purchase my next round of creams from Dr. Perricone)....

.....

Today Begins My Biggest Skin Cream Test, To Date….

By the way, Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!

Now, this might be kind of scary, so prepare yourself. If I can put myself *out there* and show what I really look like, then you can surely follow along. The first picture is of me, from 25 years ago. The second picture is from approximately 15 years ago. The rest of the pictures are current, from today. While I fully realize that creams will not make me look 30 years old again, I'm thinking that even the slightest improvement would put a smile on my face...

In my ongoing desperate struggle effort to slow down the signs of aging wrinkles and sagging skin, I broke down and ordered some creams I’d heard about on Dr. Oz. I’d actually have liked buying ALL of the creams offered but that would have cost around $500.00. So, I read up on each of the creams and decided Dr. Perricone’s Advanced Face Firming Activator and the Advanced Eye Area Therapy. Still expensive by my standards, but the older I get, it seems I become more and more willing to fork over additional dollars in an attempt to slow down the effects of gravity and life.

I ordered the creams over the weekend and they arrived today, so I will show you a few pictures of my face and neck, targeting several trouble spots. Now, these creams are *said* to show a definite visible improvement by the end of 35 days, so, we’re just going to find out if it’s all just a bunch of baloney or if the ingredients in these creams are really what they promise to be. I think this should be really interesting. If it turns out good, I might have to buy stock in the company. ;-)

Check out that turkey neck, will you?

Since today is February 14, 2011, that means I won’t take another close-up picture of my face and neck until March 20, 2011, the first day of spring. I’m really excited about this and am hoping to see some pretty amazing results, but as you know, the jury has just been picked and the trial has just begun.

The very last picture was taken today after I applied my makeup, which only gives a slight improvement these days.

Check my allergy swollen eyes that are already beginning to droop worse than ever. Before too long I won't have any peripheral vision because the upper lids will soon be covering the eyes.

I hope you’ll join me for the Big Reveal on March 20^th!



On another note, I think I do this every year at this time because of my pasty, white skin, which better shows everything about my neck and face that seems to be going south. This week is (amazingly) going to be in the 80's temps, which I can hardly believe since it was below zero last week. Doesn't that make you want to move here? Surely not.

Then, here I am in Italy back in September (5 months ago with no allergies). Hmmmm...

Let Me Introduce You To Some New Little Friends, Courtesy Of Dr. Oz....

Although I never turn on the TV during the day, I've recently started watching The Dr. Oz Show. Now, some people (as in Mr. Snooty) will say that it's just more TV Land hype, but this man is changing our world with a lot of the information he feeds us about everything from aging to losing weight, lowering blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, slowing down the process of aging, plus a world of other information. It seems as if I learn something new every time I watch his show. He never seems to endorse any particular product, just the ingredients that are beneficial to us, which to me, makes him more credible than most. Besides, most of his suggestions are ingredients from the earth, which I'm all for.

Yesterday Dr. Oz informed viewers that the strongest antioxidant there is comes from the sour cherry. Yes, that's right. If you drink one 6 oz. glass of tart cherry juice every evening with dinner, you'll be getting the equivalent of eating as many daily requirements of fruits and veggies (but it must be with dinner & at least 3 hours before you retire to bed for the max benefits). 

Another light bulb over the noggin was an ingredient called DMAE which (along with a healthy diet & exercise) not only prevents wrinkles but makes them disappear within about a 35 day period. 

Another wonder is watercress, which has proven to protect your skin from cancer. For women, just three 1/2 cup servings a week can also help prevent skin cancer AND breast cancer. Big. Time. 

If you ever find yourself doubting Dr. Oz you can always do a google search on the ingredient then hit the news link, which will tell you everything you need to know plus whatever controversy there is over said ingredient. What could be more simple?

It turns out that we really are what we eat.

Also, you can always DVR Dr. Oz or set your recorder if you aren't home to see it live. This TV show is a treasure trove of health information, so do yourself a favor and tune in to Dr. Oz, five days a week on NBC (and no, I'm certainly not being paid for this endorsement, although I probably should be).

I think I might have a celebrity crush on Dr. Oz....

Let Me Introduce You To Some New Little Friends In My World....

My brother-in-law (Mr. Snooty's older brother by 3 years) is so prodigious and wonderful! He constantly keeps me up to date on new things I would have never known about, had he not informed me of them. He's VERY knowledgeable about herbal remedies and an array of mystical *things* that can help us in this life.  I believe that I could trust him (and Mr. Snoots) with my life. Allow me to introduce you to a few of his little *life helpers*.

Even before my awful spider bite that released venom under my skin instead of into my bloodstream, he'd advised me about the wonders of activated charcoal capsules. What are the actual benefits of this, you ask? Well, they are:

1. Emergency treatment of many different kinds of poisons (internally and externally).

2. It's a natural deodorant as well as a disinfectant. Yes, just don't even ask.

3. Useful for gas, flatulence and an upset stomach. I wonder when that perk will begin to work.

4. It's most effective when used 2 hours before or after meals. Otherwise, it has the power to also absorb the nutrients that you need.

5. It can be used (internally) to fight off toxins but also (externally) as a poultice for bites and stings of many kinds. However, you should be sure to call the poison hot-line to be sure which ones. Be prepared to stay on *hold* for a bit.

6. Orally administered, these fine black granules have an amazing ability to extract and neutralize many more times their own weight in gases, heavy metals, toxins, poisons and other chemicals. Every household with young children should have this available.


Here's another fine health product, Fish Oil Omega 3 -EPA/DHA, which helps to control high cholesterol without the need for FDA approved pharmaceuticals. I believe the FDA is and has been corrupt for many years, so I am totally distrustful of anything they approve. Can we spell lobbyists?  Anyway, it also helps with:


1.  Bone density and joint mobility


2.  Mental health, wellness and mental acuity


3.  Healthy cholesterol levels

4. Eye health, visual acuity 


5.  Skin, nail and hair health (Ever wonder why those nails are splitting and breaking or your hair is thinning? Here's your sign...)


6. Heart health


7. Healthy food glucose levels (to stave off Diabetes 2)


8. Energy and endurance (gawd knows we all need help in that department)

Another excellent herbal product is Rhodiola, which is useful for brain power and concentration. I also discovered "Mozart For The Mind" which is a CD of classical music (written by Mozart, of course) that enhances your learning power when you study... great for college and graduate school offspring. It really does help (even for old farts like me). I purchased the "Mozart for the Mind" CD on iTunes. Otherwise, everything else is available at your local health food store.




I've always detested having to take fiber in any form until some genius came up with Fiber Select Gummies. What's not to love about that? Besides, they are much better for you than gummy bears! I also started buying Gummy Vites, so I no longer hate having to take vitamins. The only problem now is refraining from eating too many...

In other words, my friends, it's time to return to the Earth and all that it gives us. The offerings are plentiful and they work. Of course, this is an argument that my doctor and I have had for years. He's an advocate of the many pharmaceutical company's products, which is unacceptable to me. He wants to slap me with a new prescription of some kind every time I turn around. Save that crap for when you really need it... later in life. God gave us many things that come from the earth to work for us first. Get a clue and use them.


Be happy and get healthy and I'll have another amazing new finding to post for you in a couple of days ....

Let Me Introduce You To Another Of My Little Friends...

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that I've so far tried just about every anti-aging cream on the market, with little or no positive results.... until now. This new cream I've been trying seems to really be working, especially on my saggy neck skin. I hate my saggy neck skin (AKA Turkey Neck)! Back in the day, it was a bit more fondly referred to as a woman's *wattle*.


I've gotten to where I can look at my reflection in the mirror and actually *overlook* all the *saggy-ness*... most of the time. Then reality sets in and I get so depressed about it that I could cry or puke (and often do). Obviously, I'm not the perfect poster child for aging gracefully.


Then, I saw an ad on the internet for this new face and neck cream called RESTORE (snake) Venom Compound and yes, I paid my $100.00 for a little one ounce jar of cream. (Actually, I bought two jars.) It must be good since it's so expensive, right? Not really. But, this particular cream seems to be showing visible signs of working. I'm hoping it's not just my overactive imagination, but my neck doesn't seem quite so saggy or jiggly lately. Could it really be true that snake venom based compound could actually be tightening my poor aging skin? Or is it simply seeping through to my brain and making me think it's working? It makes me think of that scene in 'Mama Mia' when one of Meryl's character's friends was hung over and couldn't get up. The other friend then jumped up and said "Quick! Get her donkey testicle cream!"


Well, I've now resorted to taking lots of pictures of my face and neck so that I can compare them several months down the road. Sounds like a seethingly brilliant idea, doesn't it? This is where I digress. As if it wasn't enough torture looking in a magnified mirror to apply my makeup, taking close-up pictures is enough to make most women my age go screaming into the closest plastic surgeon's office in tears, begging for help. It strikes the deepest fear of most women.




However, I felt this self-torture was necessary to have a true pictorial account of the virtues (or perhaps not) of this supposedly *miracle* cream that promises to work as well as Botox. Hmmm... That's quite some promise. Hopefully, I will find out for myself whether or not all of the promises are sleazy advertising bunk or might possibly have some truth to them somewhere.




This is where we discover whether or not there is any *proof in the pudding*, so to speak. In other words, if I don't make a pictorial chronicle of my neck & face, how will I ever know if it's really working? Honestly, they didn't promise a face-lift, so I need some proof. Right?




So, stick with me on this. I'll be updating the progress (with dauntingly realistic pictures) every other week. Since I purchased two jars, we'll just ride this pony to the end of the trail, okay? I'm thinking that it should last me 3 months if I use it twice a day, as directed. At the end of this *trial period* we'll find out whether I'm off to buy the company (or the stock) or whether I'll be exposing them for being frauds.

Are you in?



Does anyone remember the show 'Ally McBeal' and Greg Germann's character Richard Fish who had a *wattle fettish*? Seriously, are there any men out there worth having that really love a woman's *wattle*? NO! (Okay, fine. Perhaps there are a few *choice* men.) Most women don't like it either, including *moi*. When 'Ally McBeal' was popular (1997 -2002) I thought those were the most hilarious episodes! Now, I'm afraid I'd cry and throw up if I watched them. It's only funny when you're young and bulletproof.



Approximately a week ago, I received an enormous negative blood transfusion from a honking huge mosquito, on my neck. For a week now, it appears that I have a huge hickey on my neck. At my age. I only wish (just kidding). I have not even once, scratched it and yet it appears to have a very crusty scab. I had also gotten bitten several times on my chest and several on my upper back. None of those have turned crusty, nor have any of the mosquito bites I can ever remember having. Ever. So, I must have leprosy or something, right?


I seriously cannot go to see the Dermatologist here. The woman was spawned in Hell and I detest her. She's from India and does everything short of slapping you after you've waited two hours to see her. She verbally berates you for having moles and/or a tan. I tried to explain that I've always had moles. I also tried to explain to her that my tan is thanks to Neutrogena, but I'm sure she didn't understand me since she continued to verbally flog me throughout my visit, in a language she claims is English. Apparently, there is another English language entirely, that I'm unaware of.

I suppose I'll try to find a Dermatologist in Austin and make an appointment for the next time I go there. However, by the time that future appointment rolls around, you know the scab on my neck will be thoroughly healed. That, or I'll be dead. Why do we allow doctors like her to take over our medical fields in this country? And why don't we have more choices? And why can they not speak intelligible English?

Yes, I'm just full of questions today...

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.