“Don’t complain about getting old. It’s a privilege denied to many,” Mark Twain once said. In times of a pandemic, his words are particularly valid. Yet our collective obsession with ageing seems to know no bounds—especially regarding how we look. Continue reading on our Escort Service Website!
Youthfulness has been something of a social currency for years. That’s why the beauty industry is also taking advantage of our insecurities about ageing. Countless skincare and makeup brands encourage fear of ageing skin and create shame associated with the natural ageing process by labelling creams and serums “anti-ageing” or “anti-wrinkle.” On Instagram, faces with smooth foreheads, tight jaws and full cheeks have long replaced those with wrinkles. Apps like Photoshop and various filters are partly to blame for this. Still, thanks to social media, treatments with botox (to reduce wrinkles) and fillers (to tighten facial areas) are very popular with all those who want to look youthful(er), like our escort girls.
The embassy? Ageing is something we should fight against
If you’re a regular reader of Refinery29 articles, you’ll know that we strive to create a nonjudgmental environment. Whether you buy anti-ageing skin care products or opt for injectables (or any other type of beauty treatment) is entirely up to you. But it’s hard to deny that a wrinkle-free face has become an elusive ideal of beauty, giving the word ‘ageing’ an extremely negative connotation.
In a survey we conducted with our followers, 62% of respondents said they had already considered Botox or fillers. Having ‘wrinkles’, ‘hanging cheeks’ or looking ‘old’ are seen as real beauty issues that affect their confidence and self-esteem. Over time we’ve managed to break down the stigma surrounding things like facial hair, acne scars and cellulite, but the same cannot be said of the pressure to look young forever.
However, this year seems to be a significant shift regarding our attitude towards ageing. It all starts with the language we use about it. The desire to eliminate outdated terms like “anti-ageing” seems to be getting louder and louder. Although many manufacturers still use the time, headwinds against cosmetics giants labelling their products in this way continue to mount. That’s because we’re now becoming more aware of the “anti-ageing” label’s impact on our confidence and mental health.
The term “anti-ageing” is no longer up-to-date
An unofficial Instagram survey of fellow magazine editors revealed that the majority no longer find the term “anti-ageing” used by cosmetics brands up to date. “That label makes ageing seem like a problem. Also, there is something anti-feminist about it,” said one of the respondents. A:e and:r commented: “This is age-discriminatory nonsense. Women aren’t allowed to show any signs of wisdom or maturity.” As a beauty editor, I was disappointed that Maybelline didn’t get the news, calling her new 4-in-1 matte makeup “instant anti-age.” No makeup in this world can turn back the wheel of time. Maybelline isn’t the only brand that’s raised eyebrows lately.
Chanel’s new line includes a serum that is said to have “anti-ageing benefits that prevent and reverse the appearance of the five signs of ageing.” While harmless, the word fix indirectly impacts how we perceive skin ageing. It suggests that fine lines and wrinkles (perfectly normal and natural) are bad things that must be fixed. Brands like Murad and RoC are just a few other examples.
Chanel shared an Instagram post to promote the new series with camellia as the main ingredient. The caption read: “How old do I look?”. It didn’t take long for the picture to garner many comments from people who took the question personally. Someone wrote: “Age is just a number. Please don’t ask yourself how old you look. I’m sure we look amazing regardless of our Age or the new insecurities that come with asking questions like this. We have so many great things to look forward to. I don’t need a brand like Chanel indirectly telling me something is a problem when it isn’t.” Another commented, “How old do I look? Now? Let’s help people overcome their insecurities, not create more complexes. To all women on this planet, never ask yourself that question! Instead, you should tell yourself how great you look today.”
It’s not just insiders in the beauty industry questioning the anti-ageing messages. At the Radically Reframing Aging Summit this week, actress Jamie Lee Curtis called for “putting an end to anti-ageing.” “I am an advocate of natural beauty. Unfortunately, it seems to me that everyone is trying to stamp them out,” she told the audience. But anti-ageing language has also become very unpopular among young women on social media. Compared to Instagram, which is full of edited images, TikTok comes across as more authentic. A viral video titled: “(YOU START AGING AT 25!) credited alcohol and sugar consumption as ageing accelerators. The video garnered 5.8 million views and prompted many comments, with numerous TikTokers contradicting the harsh advice. Everyone agreed on one point: Please let women Age without questioning their way of life.
“If you can no longer enjoy your life to avoid a natural process, what’s the point? Accept him,” someone replied. Another person commented, “Or let women age alone,” while another wrote, “I sure am not giving in. I don’t mind if I look older over time. That brings another phase of your life with it.”
According to dr Ana, a Physician in Aesthetics and Skin Care Expert, “There is no question that the traditional and unrealistic beauty ideals of eternal youth are becoming less contemporary.” She continues: “In our clinic, we tend to avoid negative terms like ‘anti-ageing’. Also, lately, I’ve noticed that attention is shifting from ‘anti-ageing’ routines to healthier beauty standards.” Ana believes that this development could counter-reaction to the fact that at the beginning of the pandemic, we were increasingly concerned with the appearance of our faces due to countless zoom calls and therefore constantly discovered new “blemishes”. “This tendency is finally fading,” she says. What is gratifying is that, according to Dr Ana, she now wants to look and feel her best rather than ten years younger – like she used to. “Instead of anti-ageing, we focus on refreshing, rejuvenating or optimizing the skin of any age group. We should not fight the ageing process, but support and enjoy it most healthily.”
AVON’s latest Future of Beauty Report predicts the end of anti-ageing. He even discards positive alternative concepts such as “pro-ageing” and instead focuses on “authentic ageing”. “Products designed to help you look young longer or turn back the clock no longer appeal to consumers,” the report says. “Today, more than ever, we are aware of the blessings of ageing. Also, the attitude that ageing is a beauty issue has changed accordingly.” Hannah Roberts, Global Brand Director, notes that the pandemic has “been an eye-opener” when it comes to ageing. “It’s not something to be afraid of or a fight to ‘win’. It’s something we should strive for,” she said. When it comes to skincare, Hannah expects that the intention to “turn back the wheel of time” will soon be gone. Instead, it will be about effective products that address specific skin care needs to ensure healthy skin at any age.
Numerous brands are now doing away with terms like “wrinkles”, “tired skin”, and “fine lines” on their packaging altogether. Now the focus is on fresh-looking skin and keeping it that way. For example, Korean skincare favourite Glow Recipe relies on terms like “elastic” and “plumping.” Likewise, breakthrough beauty brands like Byoma and CeraVe use words like “hydrating” and “protective” to focus on keeping the skin barrier healthy. These terms allude to skin health and rejuvenation but do not demonize the natural and inevitable ageing process.
“Few products can produce “anti-ageing” results (like injectables and clinical treatments like lasers, micro-needling, and a handful of applied ingredients). That doesn’t stop manufacturers from constantly launching new products geared towards anti-ageing, such as anti-wrinkle serums and creams.”
DR ANJALI MAHTO
Most “anti-ageing” products are nothing but hot air.
Moving away from the term “anti-ageing” is understandable since, according to experts, most anti-ageing care products do not deliver what they promise. The dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto explains, “If we look at clinical data, very few ingredients have been shown to have any real anti-ageing or rejuvenating effects.” Minimize lines and wrinkles – provided that’s your goal. “That only this small group of ingredients is truly effective is unfortunate for beauty advertisers,” says Dr Mahto. Few products can produce “anti-ageing” results (like injectables and clinical treatments like lasers, micro-needling, and a handful of applied ingredients). That doesn’t stop manufacturers from constantly launching new products geared towards anti-ageing, such as anti-wrinkle serums and creams.
In February, the US Food and Drug Administration expressed concern about cosmetics, such as skin care products, that boasted anti-wrinkle or anti-ageing labels. Popular skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid can reduce fine lines, but only temporarily. Even collagen-promoting ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol cannot completely stop the pre-programmed ageing process. Skin care products that claim to reverse or reverse the ageing process mislead consumers. Also, dr Mahto reports that the many anti-ageing products flooding the beauty industry, in most cases, have no noticeable effect on our skin.
Botox is becoming less and less popular, according to experts
We used to think of rich celebrities and wealthy influencers when we thought of injectables like Botox to reduce wrinkles. However, these treatments are now prevalent. In 2020, despite the respective lockdowns, more than 14 million non-surgical procedures with Botox or fillers were performed worldwide. However, according to experts in the industry, the demand for anti-ageing procedures like these seems to be falling.
“I have noticed that fewer and fewer patients are specifically asking about injections or invasive procedures,” confirms Dr Ana. The expert is not afraid to turn people away with unrealistic expectations. According to her, however, this is becoming less and less necessary, as patients seem to want a more natural look. Instead of injectables, they are increasingly choosing a lighter and gentler approach to achieve a skin-rejuvenating effect. She cites radiofrequency therapies, lasers, and micro-needling as popular options.
Natasha Clancy is a celebrity cosmetologist and the founder of Studio Kichi. She thinks Botox may soon be past its prime. “We’re entering a new era where, unlike before, we’re not as willing to accept blank faces or give in to pressure to get Botox,” Natasha told R29. Your customers increasingly avoid procedures with this neurotoxin and want to look fresher. Respected beauticians like Lisa Harris and Joanna Czech also recently spoke about their aversion to botox injections. Lisa, who doesn’t offer the procedure at her clinic, reports that she often has to reverse the effects of harmful injections. At the same time, Natasha explains that we don’t know much about the long-term effects of regular anti-wrinkle injections.
Natasha says Botox can be a safe treatment when performed by a qualified professional. However, she emphasizes that there is no guarantee that this procedure will not accelerate the ageing process later in life. Facial specialist Joanna Czech recently told R29: “If you keep paralyzing your muscles – especially the frontalis (the muscle that raises the eyebrows) – with injections like this, it won’t get as good overtime work as before.”
Natasha says that’s why her patients instead focus on having healthy skin instead of trying to stop the skin ageing process itself. Natasha avoids Botox and treats her patients with lasers, like the LaseMD, which increases the skin’s natural glow, and active ingredients like retinol. “Botox injections can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but they don’t contribute to skin health. It’s almost like putting a band-aid on yourself instead of treating the ‘problem’ underneath,” says Natasha.
More acceptance of the natural skin texture
Thanks to influencers like Joanna Kenny, Rikki Sandhu, and Alicia Lartey bringing a breath of fresh air with their authentic demeanour, we’re beginning to realize that our skin texture — including fine lines and wrinkles — is nothing to be ashamed of. The impossibly toned look we see on social media and TV is very difficult or impossible to achieve. That’s why we should show our skin in all its natural, textured glory and accept it as it is – and that goes for ageing skin too. “Social media and filters significantly impair our perception of normal and healthy skin,” agrees Dr Ana admits, “but we must keep reminding ourselves to be kind to ourselves when we look at our skin.”
dr Ana says healthy skin isn’t perfect. “Normal skin has pores. Real skin has texture, and it also has wrinkles. These are all important anatomical structures that are even present in the skin of babies and children.” She advises her patients who have insecurities because of ageing skin not to look too closely at themselves in the mirror. “There’s no point in taking a very close look at your skin condition,” says Dr Ana, “especially since other people – with a few exceptions maybe – don’t look too closely anyway.”
For years, skincare brands have capitalized on our insecurity about ageing. If the pandemic has taught us anything, though, it’s that ageing is something we should celebrate, not fight back. Whether you delve into anti-ageing skin care or not is entirely up to you. However, there is no denying that the concept that tells us we should do everything we can to reverse or reverse the natural ageing process is outdated (not to say unrealistic). Ultimately, there is satisfaction in knowing that every smile line proves that life is beautiful and you enjoy it.
