Fortunately, more and more older women have been appearing in advertising and on catwalks lately – role models that show everyone: notice us. We are there. And we are many! We are proud of ourselves and everything we have achieved, what and who we are. The way women over 40 are perceived in public is slowly changing. And that’s good for our attitude towards life. Today it is easier for us to live up to our age. The wrinkles on the face are a part of us – and not opponents in the mirror. That’s why today we question overpriced creams with promises of miracles.
“Nothing says zest for life” – Susan Sarandon, 69, actress and anti-death penalty opponent
But we do know that one or the other anti-wrinkle creamcan definitely do something. That some women decide not to raise their foreheads to prevent wrinkles, or even to laugh less – crazy! Sometimes we can stop laughing, for example on a shopping spree. In brightly lit changing rooms, we realize that the woman we see in the mirror has nothing to do with the inner image we have of ourselves. Why don’t they install a soft, red-yellow light there? Such a small renovation would definitely boost sales. But instead of getting angry for a long time, we now have the courage to complain to the head of department. We would never have done that when we were 20. That’s one of the biggest advantages of old age anyway: finally being self-confident.
In the end, only the happy moments in life count
Sure, sometimes a day doesn’t go smoothly. Then in the evening we think about what it would be like if we could turn back time. Deciding a few things differently – and magically eliminating a few wrinkles. But nobody can. And it is precisely this fact that feels so liberating: Because there is no point in getting angry about things that we cannot control, we can relax – and make peace with our wrinkles. Just like the woman in our photo apparently did. Without lifting, without botox injections. But instead with an optimistic attitude towards life. The art is to see the positive. Perceive the proverbial half glass as full rather than empty. to experience positive things. Anyone who can do it, who can enjoy it, radiates inner satisfaction – and everyone can see that. So: Don’t go to the next party prematurely (sleep! Dark circles! Tomorrow’s to-do list!), but make an event out of it, be unreasonable again, celebrate with your friends so extensively that everyone is still talking about it years later. A night like this makes life worth living. This includes looking back and being grateful for what has been achieved. A simple but effective trick, as psychological studies show. What have I achieved, what can (and should) I be proud of? Maybe that’s a family. A fulfilling job. Close friends who accompany us. A difficult time that we got through. Or all together. Of course, the years have left their mark – but given what we’ve made of our lives, we don’t want to miss them anymore. They are part of our personality.
Makes beautiful what is good for our soul
Psychologists also advise taking a mental step back. “With a critical distance, it is easier for us to understand what we are comparing ourselves to. Is the bar unrealistically high? Then it’s better to change the standard – and not to judge yourself based on an exaggerated ideal of beauty,” explains Bea Engelmann, a qualified psychologist from Bremen. We know that even the most beautiful actresses need a team of make-up artists and stylists to look so enviable. And that despite this effort, film scenes and especially advertising photos are digitally reworked to retouch wrinkles, reduce noses and thicken hair. So let’s take time as often as possible for something that is good for us: a walk, phone calls with friends, going out, the hobby, a glass of red wine, your favorite CD – cranked up to the max.skin . We don’t let a few wrinkles spoil our fun in life.
Table of Contents
Three theses on anti-aging and care products:
Exaggerated expectations of anti-aging care inevitably turn out to be an illusion. The cosmetics scientist Dr. Meike Streker explains why frustration is unnecessary:
Thesis 1: Those are just empty promises! “Of course, no anti-aging creammake a woman look 20 years younger overnight. However, in independent studies we were able to show that some anti-wrinkle active ingredients, for example, accelerate the renewal of the uppermost skin cells or stimulate the formation of collagen fibers. To prove this, we don’t just use before-and-after photos, but also special devices that provide objective values: For example, we can use ultrasound to determine skin density – and also measure the depth of wrinkles and the elasticity of the skin. In principle, no one should expect lightning-fast improvements: If we are able to record the first successes that are not yet visible to the naked eye after about four weeks of use, visible results can only be expected after a period of about twelve weeks.”
Thesis 2: This is all money making!
“You don’t have to buy a cream for 200 euros, an inexpensive care can be just as effective. There are, of course, exotic ingredients that are particularly expensive to produce. Special types of algae, for example, are not fished out of the sea, but grown in a tank – that has its price. However, it does not necessarily mean that these active ingredients are more effective. Above all, make sure that your day cream contains a sufficient sun filter. After all, 80 percent of skin aging is caused by UV damage.”
Thesis 3: I should always buy something new!
“The cosmetics industry does in fact bring improved products onto the market on a regular basis. This is due to the fact that a lot of research is being done – and new knowledge is being gained accordingly. But you don’t have to follow every trend. Once you have found a cream that you are happy with, stick with it. I advise against experiments, especially if you have sensitive skin.”
Care products and active ingredients for anti-aging
Vitamin A: better tolerated
Instead of the z. B. Vitamin A acid (retinol) obtained from persimmons, new recipes are based on the gentler retinaldehyde or pro-retinol: our body can convert this precursor of the vitamin itself. Many studies show that pro-retinol supports the formation of collagen fibers, stimulates cell division and inhibits the activity of breakdown enzymes. And it leaves roughened skinbecome smoother: In a study by the University of Michigan, 36 test persons with an average age of 87 years were treated with a pro-retinol cream on the upper arm. After six months of use, the area was significantly softer and firmer – with a higher proportion of water-binding protein-sugar compounds and collagen fibers. If you want to continue using a cream with pure vitamin A acid, it is best to apply it in the evening when the skin is not exposed to the sun.
“I honestly earned my wrinkles” – Meryl Streep, 66, actress and suffragette
Vitamin C: triple protection
New research results show that vitamin C not only provides immediate protection against free radicals: it also increases the effectiveness of other radical scavengers such as vitamin E by neutralizing their “used binding sites” and making them ready for use again. For example, vitamin C (e.g. from pomegranate seeds or gooseberries) has a double defense against aggressive molecules that e.g. B. caused by stress, long-haul flights or unprotected sunbathing and activate, among other things, collagen-degrading enzymes. At the same time, high-dose vitamin C stimulates cell metabolism and collagen formation and strengthens the connective tissue. Pigment spots can also be lightened with it – but don’t expect miracles: the first successes can be seen after three months at the earliest and only if the area has been protected from UV rays without exception during this time.
Peptides: highly effective and gentle
More and more studies are now confirming what dermatologists presented for the first time at their world congress in Paris in 2002: peptides are just as effective as vitamin A, but are much more tolerable for people with very sensitive skin. Incidentally, the wrinkle-smoothing effect of the body’s own protein building blocks was discovered by accident – during a study on wound healing by the US National Institute of Health. In recent years, scientists have come across more and more new peptide subcategories that have been researched to varying degrees. The best documented effect is that of the so-called palmitoyl pentapeptides (pal-KTTS): They signal to the cells that they should start the skin’s natural regeneration process and stimulate the formation of collagen and elastin. The recently discovered hexapeptides,
“Our perfect age is now” – Helen Mirren, 70, actress, involved in foreign aid
Vitamin B3: new variety
The latest studies confirm that vitamin B3 (niacinamide) has a previously unknown variety of positive effects on the skin: It not only stimulates the collagen production of the cells, but also lightens pigment spots and refines the pores. Women with an impure complexion benefit from the ingredient because it simultaneously regulates sebum production and inhibits inflammation. In addition, it has long been known that vitamin B3 strengthens the skin barrier by stimulating the formation of lipids and proteins. However, this vitamin can lead to temporary reddening of very sensitive skin because it dilates the small blood vessels for a short time. In this case, experts recommend creams that use so-called vitamin B3 derivatives – these are slightly modified, gentler ingredients. Overall, their smoothing effect can definitely be compared to the anti-aging classic vitamin A. However, it is important for this success that the products contain a fairly high concentration of at least two percent.
Hyaluronic acid: Now gets under the skin
The long-chain molecules of the padding hyaluronic acid, which were exclusively used until now, could only reach the top layer of the skin. New creams therefore also contain short-chain fragments that channel moisture into the deep layers of the skin. Hyaluronic acid not only binds a thousand times its own weight in water and thus smoothes fine dryness lines on the surface within a few hours – it also stimulates the connective tissue cells to form hyaluronic acid themselves. Also gratifying: Fortunately, hyaluronic acid for creams is no longer made from cockscombs, as it was about ten years ago, but from purely plant extracts such as wheat. Originally, the gel-like water magnet is one of our body’s anti-aging weapons. From the age of 25, however, the hyaluronic acid content slowly decreases,
“If you don’t think about how old you are, you don’t age” – Yoko Ono, 83, artist and peace campaigner
