How to Get Healthier Skin without Knives & Needles

As a woman in her mid 40s, I’ve lived through decades of skin abuse and anti-aging regimes. In the 80s, I used baby oil (gasp!) to achieve a tan, while in the 90s, I laid in more tanning beds than I care to remember. When I reached my 30s, I used every over the counter anti-again cream, potion and ointment known to man. In my late 30s, I took that a step further and spent the extra money and used prescription type regimens (I’m not going to name names because, well, I’m not being paid to advertise for them!).

Now I’m 45, and recently hormones have reared their ugly head again and started wreaking havoc on my skin. In order to combat my new skin, I discovered an amazing product line that has helped renew my skin. I get mine at Target and it came highly recommended by a well-known aesthetician whom I follow on Instagram. While this same aesthetician also recommends and performs in office treatments, like Botox and fillers, I decided that wasn’t the route I wanted to take. 

Deciding Against Knives & Needles

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against making yourself feel better at the hands of a plastic surgeon or licensed aesthetician. But what I didn’t want to do was start down that slippery slope. I didn’t want the time, expense and maintenance that those procedures require. I didn’t want to get hooked on things that made me look too young or cause my smile to look like Jack Nicholson in Batman. So I did some research, talked to women older than me, and called on those I knew in the beauty industry to help me get some ideas of how to make my skin look the best it could.

Here’s the thing. I first had to change my mindset. I had to rewrite the words I said to myself every day. Instead of saying, “I want to look 5 or 10 years younger,” I started saying, “I want to look good for my age, not younger.” (Read that again and say it out loud.) Although this mindset doesn’t reflect what the beauty industry tells us, this brought some peace and self-love back in my life. 

4 At-Home Skin Treatments to Keep Your Skin Looking Its Best

In order to keep my skin healthy and looking like my 45 year old self, I’ve added a few things to my weekly skin care regimen. These things can be added to your already normal skin care routine and won’t break the bank.

The big bonus to these few things is that they can be done at home! Some of the links below are affiliate links, but I have personally purchased all and use every item on this list.

Get yourself some collagen peptides! I use a non-flavored version in my coffee every morning. I started using them about a year ago and after 3-4 weeks, my neck gaggle (you know, that skin that hangs on your neck no matter how much lotion and neck exercises you do) started going away! I was shocked!!! The skin on my face and back of my hands started tightening and smoothing out as well. Added bonus: it helped my hair, nails and joints (I have rheumatoid arthritis, so this was unexpected!).

Get an LED face mask! I bought one on Amazon last year for just over $100. There are several to choose from, so read and see what is best for you. Mine has three different colored lights, (some have seven) but I only use the red light. The red light helps with wrinkles, fine lines and evening out the skin tone. I use it for 20 minutes, 3-6 nights a week after I wash my face. The more you use it, the better the results. I can’t recommend this enough!

Girl, shave yo’ face! This sounds disgusting, and my husband refuses to come in the bathroom when I do this, but it’s amazing! I bought some “eyebrow razors” on Amazon and use them for my whole face and neck. That little “peach fuzz” blocks makeup and facial cleaners, so they can’t do their job. When you “shave your face” you are not only removing hair, you are removing dead skin cells and exfoliating your skin. It’s a win-win!

Use a microdermabrasion tool! You can find one on Amazon that works with your needs and budget. There are settings, timers and specific areas that the tool has programmed. It’s simple and helps lift dead skin cells, repair acne damage and brighten skin.

So, that’s it! Does it sound like a lot? It might, but you don’t need to run out and buy all of these things at once. Start with one. Get used to adding that to your normal routine. Wait for the result and then decide if you need to add another technique. Like I said, I’m 45, not 35. I’ve spent years navigating what works and doesn’t work for my skin.

And like anything, you have to find what works for YOU and do what makes YOU happy…

…needles or not. 

 

Cyndra Whiddon
Cyndra is a Wichita Native, mother of 4, wife of one busy MD and volunteer to many! She loves to workout, read, run, spend time with her kids and have dates with her husband. She is an RN but hung that hat up in 2001 to become a full time stay at home mom. Her favorite, hardest, most demanding, rewarding job has been being a Mom.