Need Wrinkle Advice from FReeper Sisters

me | July, 11, 2009 | me

[Marie]

OK FReeperettes, I need some help.

It’s finally happened, just as I knew it would… my face is starting to show my age. Quickly.

I knew it would happen just like this. Every woman ages the same in my mother’s family and apparently, I’m no exception. They get seriously carded, their husbands get flack for being with a teenager, nobody believes their teenagers belong to the - until about 40.

Then BOOM! Their faces crater. They go from easily passing for 21 to looking 45 within a few months and it all happens around 40. Doesn’t matter if they smoke or moisturize or how much sun they get. The timing is never off.

I’m almost 40 and for the last month I’ve noticed the dark circles under my eyes getting darker, my skin starting to slack, and my pores starting to enlarge. I don’t have many fine lines; however, if genetics hold true, the wrinkle brigade will be in full force by next summer.

But I will NOT go gracefully into that good night! It’s too early for a facelift (plus I’m a big chicken), so I’m looking for a good face cream. I already moisturize, so I’ve got that going for me, but I need something to fight the dark circles under my eyes and something that firms and tones the skin and reduces pores.

There are literally thousands of products out there. I’d like to find out what’s worked for you. Point me in the right direction my conservative sisters! Tell me where to put my money!

(One thing. I can’t use Retin A. I have some permanent burn scars from using that crap for only two weeks a decade ago.)

[CheneyChick]

Hope you can believe in?

[My hearts in London - Everett]

Clear, unscented glycerin soap and a small loofah followed by Alba Jasmine and Vitamin E moisture cream works for me! I also use Avalon Organics COQ10 enzyme under my eyes. All this helps with skin texture, but everyone is going to eventually wrinkle! lol It all depends on how well you've taken care of your skin ~ not smoking, staying out of the sun, etc. Some women my age look quite a bit older than I do because I grew up in the generation of smokers and sun worshipers.

[Dallas59]

As a male...I'll sympathize.....I use that Just for Men stuff to get rid of my TOTAL grey hair. 5 Years ago I just had a touch....now it's everywhere.

[tiki]

I know 3 women who had face lifts, they look just plain scary! One was an absolutely beautiful woman and it took all the character out of her face and made her look more like some kind of mannequin.

[Lizavetta]

And don't let anyone sell you snake oil for your pores. They naturally get bigger as we age and there's NOTHING currently that can change that. Glycolic or salycilic peels can help make them look *slightly* smaller but us ladies are hosed in that department, as a general rule.

I sent you a pm.

[jessduntno]

[manc]

same here and this phony in the white house is not helping either

[CaptainK]

No cream is going to do it for you honey

But there is a procedure where they suck the fluid out of the bags under your eyes. They can also laser it to tighten up the skin after the procedure. It's done in office under a local and you go home that day.

I had it done (among other things), as did my best friend and her aunt. It got rid of our under eye circles. If you decide to do it make sure you pick a doctor that someone you know went to. That is vital.

[Squantos]

Good luck BTTT !

[TribalPrincess2U]

Thanks. I’ll check it out.

Mine is plain old Cetaphil.

[JRandomFreeper]

Date someone with failing eyesight. Either that or wear your stripes with pride, because you earned them.

/johnny

[Marie]

I saved your post. Honestly, I don’t know if there’s any hope. I’ve got 4 aunts, my mother, my grandma and several great-aunts. All tried a different approach and everyone got the same result. (Genetics is a powerful thing!)

I was hoping that there were newer products which might slow things down a bit. There’s just so much out there that I don’t even know where to start. I’m thinking about DMAE cream. There have been some actual scientific studies backing up the claims.

[LucyJo]

I'm more interested in why you stopped using it! Ha.

[Marie]

Either that or wear your stripes with pride, because you earned them.

Now *that* is the truth!

[EBH]

See your Doctor and a dermatologist.

I just recently spent nearly a year and who knows how much on Retin A creams, eye creams, moisturizers etc. in an effort to stop the age thief.

What helped tremendously? A per chance blood test. I had a tick bite, improper removal etc. and wanted to test for infection and Lyme's.

Blood test came back I severely anemic. Now 12 weeks into iron therapy....I have my face back!!!

[MAD-AS-HELL]

I am not a female. Wearing my gf's bra on my head doesn't count. And I am not a doctor. I just play one online! :P
over the counter stuff you see is all CRAP. They do not do a thing.You will be pissing your money away. And just because a "friend" says it works means absolutely nothing. If the creams at department stores (anything otc) worked, they'd do double blind studies to prove it. These companies won't because they know their product doesn't work. Women eat it up anyways and the beauty companies profit of the sheer stupidity of people.
Why do you wrinkle? It's genetics and age.
Now, what can you do?
Botox! It will get rid of the wrinkles but it will also get rid of expressions. And it wears of and does have side affects. You have to keep doing it and if you stop, the after affects could be worse. $$$
Restalyne. Alternative to botox and acts a filler. Know it exists but do not know of riskes etc. $$$
What you can do that costs nothing. Keep hydrated and stay outta the sun. And I really mean stay outta the sun. Take Vit D to supplement. If you do go into the sun, wear heavy duty sunscreen. L'oreal has a new sunscreen that contains MEXORYL. It's expensive but tests do show it does a very good job at blocking UVA. Or use zinc or titanium bases sunscreens. $
As for holding back aging....there are doctors that are Rxing HGH. It's expensive but worth looking into. $$$$
The dark rings under your eyes could be allergy shiners. Might want to consult with an allergist. $
Bottom line, there is no miracle (yet) to fight the aging process. Our bodies are programmed to live a certain amount of time. Programmed cell death or apoptosis is what eventually happens to us.
Some believe limiting caloric intake helps slow the aging process. It's highly controversial and has shown success in lab animals. But it's harder to prove in humans.
Hope my dumping of info has helped.

[Excellence]

The dark circles under the eyes are a health issue that needs looking into.

[Marie]

That’s why I don’t want on! I’ve also heard horror stories about infections and permanent nerve damage. So no worth the risk. I just look older, I’m not ugly! lol!

[Marie]

I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how much did that cost?

[SamiGirl]

Emu oil works for me. It thickens the skin by 20%. Look it up. It’s all natural and wonderful. Also, vitamin C is great. I get a Vit. C serum from WholeFoods. It’s inexpensive compared to some of the high-end brands. Also, I recently found this article:

http://blogs.app.com/saywhat/2009/06/03/sperm-anti-oxidant-found-to-smooth-wrinkles/

OK guys, have some fun with this, but it supposedly is the best anti-oxidant for the skin; that’s what it says.