Aging is Difficult for Anyone...
In my teens I worked as a model. I was always happy with my appearance. It was natural, then, for me to try to find a remedy when all this started to change at 39 years old.
So after that day... I decided to find a solution.
I read books. I spent thousands of dollars on every anti-aging technique, serum, cream, and mask I could find. When that didn’t work I tried yoga, laughter, and then finally…
I tried Botox at Age 39!
I'm sure you've heard of Botox. It “paralyzes” the muscles which makes wrinkles relax and soften (4).
It works well... but it comes with a cost.
And I'm not talking about the $400+ price tag. I'm talking about the possible side-effects of using Botox.
New research has revealed an unintentional and rather dramatic consequence: Botox injections in the forehead rearrange the brain’s sensory map of the hands (4).
Put simply, this means Botox may re-arrange how the brain works.
The verdict is still out... but I decided continuing Botox wasn't for me. And I'm happy to save the $400 for every 6 months of treatment.
I want to age gracefully, not sacrifice my health for good-looks.
Botox Wasn't For me, So I Asked My Dermatologist for a Different Solution
After a long discussion with my dermatologist she put me on prescription Retinoid. Maybe you've heard the medical name? It's called “Retin-A” or “Tretinoin."
The good news is Retinoids are scientifically-proven to increase collagen production (2).
And after a few weeks of use, I noticed a significant reduction in the fine lines and wrinkles on my face.
But again, this came with a cost.
The prescription was not only pricey at $108 per tube... it's harsh! It caused really bad redness and irritation.
Eventually I had to stop using prescription Retin-A. The side-effects were just too unbearable.
My Make-Up Artist Recommended a Gentler Retinoid called Retinol
After trying prescription Retin-A with too many side-effects, my make-up artist gave me a more natural solution.
She advised me to try Retinol, which is a much gentler Retinoid (and it's derived from Vitamin A).
Retinol can be purchased over-the-counter without the harsh drying and irritation.
The results take 3-6 months, but I know all good things are worth the wait!
I was so excited that I immediately drove to the beauty store looking for Retinol.
I navigated past the saleswomen that were trying to sell me the “latest and greatest miracle” cream with some 25-year-old model on the box. I wasn't about to fall for that again!
After I warded off the saleswomen, I was confronted by yet another problem...
There were over 40 different Retinol products on the shelf! There were Creams, Serums, Potions, Potions, Lotions, and who knows what else...
Even worse, the labels had ingredients that I couldn't even pronounce. Plus there were nasty chemicals like Parabens.
I could not find a safe Retinol product
Update 3/4/2019: Ladies, Parabens can penetrate the skin and act like a very weak estrogen in the body -- potentially turning on the growth of breast cancers (5). While the verdict is still out, I highly recommend you stay away from harmful chemicals like Parabens. I included a quick cheat-sheet of the ingredients I prefer to avoid... (see image below).