Years ago, my mother owned a small, pocket-sized book from the 1950’s that contained facial exercises for women. Exercises meant to strengthen muscles in an effort to help skin look more toned and taut. Unfortunately, I have misplaced that little book, but I laugh now as I remember standing in front of the mirror–as a teenager–imitating those pictures.

Firstly, I don’t know why I thought I needed to get rid of jowls or crows feet at the age of 16, but appearance is usually a top priority during a girl’s high school years. And–after all–it didn’t cost anything.

Fast forward 50 years. There are so many wrinkle creams, toning devices, chemicals, and procedures available now meant to tone and tighten, those those exercises seem astoundingly primitive.

But, perhaps not. As I researched information for this blog, I found all manners of help for women willing to pinch, vibrate, or jiggle their face into submission.

Excercise books, facial vibrators, and wrinkle tape were among the top items. (Although that middle picture is eerily reminiscent of “Silence of the Lambs.” Yikes!)

I’m guessing most of us have tried a thing or two to help with age spots, wrinkles, sagging skin.

So, now I’m asking my readers: WHAT HAVE YOU TRIED? And what has been effective–or not so effective–for You? There is NO judgement here.

I’m not currently exercising my face (although, maybe I should be). But, here are a few things I do in an attempt to deal with the “aging process.”

• Mask* every morning (instead of washing my face) to exfoliate and prime my skin for moisturizer.
• Use a moisturizer* with Hyaluronic Acid–It’s not really as scary as it sounds–to plump my skin.
• Use sunscreen or a foundation with sunscreen in it.
• Once a week, use a mask with lactic acid or fruit acid to more fully exfoliate and brighten skin.

*I use Janna’s products, which you can order at www.makeovers4u.com.

I also recognize that as I age, I’m losing moisture and color (as explained in page 99 of QUINTESSENTIAL STYLE). So I try to replenish moisture and add color at my face–using makeup, clothing, and accessories.

I recently gave a talk to a lovely group of ladies and I demonstrated how SCARVES can really add color, texture, and interest to an outfit.

Now that I have confessed my routine and regimen, please write and tell us about yours. We always loving hearing and learning from YOU!

“Today you are the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again.”

–Eleanor Roosevelt