Vinegar Friday -- A wrinkle in time

TGIVF!

Hmm... what do raw eggs, vinegar and honey have to do with wrinkles?

So much of the time, I write posts/sponsor giveaways aimed at young parents. But the fact is, I'm not a young parent... oh, maybe the title of the blog gave that away! I am a grandma, after all. And, I know some of you are my age. That's why I thought I'd write a little bit about wrinkles. Do you love them or hate them? Me? I'm not a fan. Yes, I know they are supposed to be signs of a life well-lived, or whatever, but I could do without.

My main problem spots are under my eyes and under my arms. Yuck. There are so many commercials and magazine ads that promise amazing results with wrinkle treatments that are no doubt toxic. So what's a person to do? 

I have a few suggestions. First of all, look for natural anti-aging skin products that use safe ingredients. For instance, Frownies.com has an under eye cream that has the following ingredients: Cactus collagen, bear berry extract(Arbutin), vitamin C, E and hyaluronic acid. glycerin, aloe vera, vitamin B3, L-Lactic acid, Dimethicone, Xantham Gum. They're all safe. Since I haven't tried the product, I can't vouch for its effectiveness, but at least I know it's out there. 

Look for products that are free of

• parabens
• polysorbate
• fragrance
• phthalates
• lauryl sulfate
• sodium laureth
• disodium EDTA

And, of course, stay away from companies that are testing their products on animals.
 

Another suggestion is to try to find natural remedies. An example would be Martha Washington's Vinegar Facial Mask, featured in Chapter 8 of my book, Vinegar Fridays. Supposedly, Martha won the heart of our first president after he was drawn to her glowing skin. I can't guarantee this will ward off wrinkles, but it will nicely condition your skin, which is a good start.

Just whip up an egg with a teaspoon of honey and 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Apply to your face and relax for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry. I actually think I'm going to give this a try tonight.

Finally, and this one is directed at those of you who haven't discovered your first wrinkle yet -- stay out of the tanning beds!! A healthy dose of natural sunshine is healthy for you. Allowing it to absorb into your skin is a great way to load up on Vitamin D. However, tanning under unnatural lights is not only stupid, but it doesn't get much more unhealthy than that! Unless you actually want to be battling leathery, wrinkled skin by the time you're in your mid-40s,  you need to steer clear of the tanning booths. 

Several months ago, I saw an old acquaintance who is about my age (mid-50s). I didn't recognize her and couldn't believe it was actually her. Had I not known her, I would have guessed her age to be mid-70s to 80. Seriously. Every inch of her face, after years of tanning, was covered in wrinkles. It was hideous. 

Now, when I see younger acquaintances with dark brown skin (in the middle of winter, no less), I wish I had a picture of this woman to show them. If vanity draws you to the tanning bed at 30, what will happen when you look in the mirror at 50 and see an old woman? Vanity won't change, but your skin certainly will.

Keeping it green, and smooth, with vinegar,

Hana