Here’s the Secret to Looking (and Feeling) Young — In My Unprofessional Opinion

An absolutely practical viewpoint on how to stay youthful

Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

I was sitting at my usual nail salon, waiting for my toes to dry after my long overdue and very much needed pedicure when an elderly woman sitting next to me gets up and places a beauty magazine on the table by my seat.

“This was very informative! A lot of good beauty tips in here” she says to me, excited. I nod and smile politely, take the magazine, and begin sifting through the first few pages, barely reading them.

From a beauty/beauty care standpoint, I’m probably the most minimalistic person you’ll ever meet. I don’t spend a ton of time or money on beauty or cosmetic products — I only wear makeup a max of maybe once or twice a week, which basically consists of a thin layer of eyeliner on each eye. And the extent to which I practice a skincare routine comes down to simply washing my face in the morning when I wake up and before I go to bed. I also smear a few dabs of facial cream afterwards, if that makes me sound fancier.

I do occasionally treat myself to a manicure maybe once a month and a pedicure every few months (depending on when my nail polish starts to peel off and my feet are really looking rough), but aside from that, I’m a pretty low maintenance woman.

That’s not to say that I don’t necessarily care about the way I look. I’m just more of a natural, holistic, and conventional person when it comes to my physical appearance.

To me, the amount of time and energy that it takes for some people to get ready and make themselves look presentable is mind blowing. My own sister takes roughly one and a half hours between doing her hair and makeup, whereas it takes me about thirty minutes just to shower and be out the door. So, it’s safe to say that my priorities lie elsewhere.

I’m absolutely overwhelmed by the number of beauty hacks, makeup tutorials, and products that exist out there to make people look good. And as I’m encroaching on my mid-thirties, the trend now is on how to keep yourself looking (and feeling) young.

Personally, I find this a bit odd considering the fact that I think being in your thirties is…