SKINCARE
Goodbye Turtlenecks! My Daughter Keeps Asking For The Secret To My Sculpted Jawline
Last update: 01 Nov﹒
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4 min
Speed dating is the worst.
But when you’re a 43-year-old single mom you think why the heck not. Plus your teenage daughter really REALLY begged you to do it.
So here I was, against my better judgment, making an effort: putting on some makeup, picking a dress, taking half a day off work.
“Greetings, m’am! So uhm, this is the 35-45 group. The 50+ gathering won’t start for another hour but you can wait upstairs if you like!”
Goodness, that hurt. Did that girl just tell me I look 50?! I was crestfallen. That sliver of courage I had mustered to come here, all but evaporated in an instant.
I mumbled some lame excuse and ran for the hills. Or the restroom, as it is better known.
Well, there they were, clear as day. All the signs of wear and tear I had been ignoring for far too long staring right back at me.
The developing forehead wrinkles, the saggy jawline, a pair of crow’s feet ready to stomp all over my self-confidence.
Anger and frustration washed over me. How did I not notice these earlier? How could I Iet time pass me by (and run me over) like this? More importantly: was it too late?
It Was Time For A Change But Where To Start?
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My girlfriends were quick to calm me down.
“Just the ravages of time and motherhood, hon. It happens to all of us”.
Then how come all these celebrities well in their 50s are posing all smiles, with tight chins and perky cheekbones that should be illegal at their age?
What are they doing differently?
“Honey, that’s just botox.”
“Well, they just hit the genetic jackpot, nothing you can do about it.”
“Oh that’s the result of tons of expensive products applied 24/7, trust me.”
So, I’d need a pitch-perfect genome, dozens of exotic -not to mention EXPENSIVE- skincare products, AND a meticulous daily regimen just to get back my confidence. Brilliant.
“Well, not necessarily”.
Donna, the freshest-looking of our bunch, saw my despair and took me aside with a conspiratorial look.
“Have you heard of face yoga?”
I had no idea what she was talking about.
“Think about it this way: you want toned glutes and tight calves? You do yoga. You want toned cheeks and a sleek jawline? You do face yoga! It’s super easy, cheap, and quite addictive, once you get the hang of it!”
My skepticism was no match for her enthusiasm. Five minutes later, I was downloading this app she recommended and taking a short quiz to build my profile. Age, eating habits, stress levels, main problem areas - the app was designed to act as a personal consultant and trainer ensuring you get the most out of your efforts.
Frankly, it seemed too good to be true.
But I couldn’t argue with the results - Donna was glowing! Not just her face, either: her whole demeanor was so youthful, so carefree, so lively.
I had to try this.
The Mishap That Almost Killed My Momentum
The app did a great job easing me in with simple exercises.
As an early riser (high-school teacher) with mom duties, I found that 5-minute sessions during lunch break fit nicely into my everyday schedule.
I would sneak into the restroom and start massaging my temples, sticking out my tongue, or balancing a spoon between my lips, just like the instructor was showing.
Sure it felt a little silly at times, but by the end of Week 1 I realized something: I was having so much fun! More and more, I was looking forward to my little midday ritual and the ever-changing mix of exercises always kept me guessing.
Every time I exited the bathroom a little more confident, a little more energized. I’d walk back into class with my (double) chin held high, proud to be taking matters into my own hands (quite literally!). I was sculpting a better version of myself one little pout at a time and I was loving it.
And then, a student walked in on me.
The halls were abuzz for days. “Look, this is the teacher that’s making faces in the bathroom mirror!”.
All that fun and progress was about to go poof!
I Took One On The Chin And Soldiered On
My friends, bless their wicked hearts, rallied to my support, making jokes and dismissing all the sniggers, the memes, and the awkward looks I was getting at school.
Alas, my self-confidence had taken quite the beating. And so did my looks.
I shamed myself into quitting the program and turned to the box of skincare products I had bought in response to that speed-dating fiasco. I started applying them morning, noon, and night.
It was exhausting, it was frustrating. Worse yet, it wasn’t working.
Sometimes my face would itch or feel too oily, other times I would fumble the sequence and put on sunscreen before going to bed.
It was all a big mess and so was I.
One day I got a mild allergic reaction, showing up at work with a big red spot around my upper neck. This girl from 8th grade came up to me in the hallway.
“You know miss, my mom has been doing that face thing for two months now. Not sure how it works, but her face looks younger now than when I was in first grade! Just thought I should let you know”.
A cheeky wink and she was gone.
The next morning I returned to the app and never looked back.
I was gently massaging my skin, exercising face muscles I didn’t know existed, and gradually watching the face of 30 something Olivia appear in the mirror. I could scarcely believe it!
The app was tracking my progress, suggested breathing exercises, gave diet advice, and guided me through easy-to-follow videos. The best part? I didn’t even have to throw away all those expensive products.
Based on my complexion, age, and lifestyle information, the app gave me recommendations on which ingredients work best.
The ones that proved toxic or ineffective on my skin, I gave away.
Did I Just Stumble Upon The Best Kept Anti-Aging Secret?
Listen, I’m not a fan of magical solutions and tall promises. Nobody is.
Τelemarketing channels make my eyes roll and I groan at the obviously photoshopped models on diet ads.
But when I heard -and saw- real women (thanks, Donna!) sing the praises of an innovative anti-aging solution, I had to jump on it.
The crazy thing is, it actually works!
Two months in, my self-confidence is soaring and my social life got a full reboot. Going out for laughs and drinks now sounds way more appealing than it had for a decade and the looks I’m getting are a welcome boost.
As an experiment, I even booked myself another speed dating event. The guy in charge couldn’t believe the age bracket I had picked, so I told him the story, and we had a good laugh.
I’m seeing him again tomorrow for drinks 🙂
A Little Advice From Someone Who’s Been There
I totally get it, not everyone has the time and energy to try new things on a whim.
But take it from someone who took the leap: your face deserves better. YOU deserve better. Don’t deny yourself that gift.
Here’s what I’ve learned since I started my journey:
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No matter the shape, muscle tone, or skin type, face yoga adjusts to your needs, not the other way around
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You don’t need surgery or costly products, your face already has the tools to reshape itself
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Consistency is key (as with everything worth anything)
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Too busy? Please, if a 43-year-old single mom can make the time for it, then so can you
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Embrace the goofiness! Get some privacy (or good company) and have fun in the mirror
Find A Mirror And Face Your Better Self
Got some pesky puffiness or pronounced eyebags to wipe off? Yeah, who doesn’t.
That carved profile, toned neck, and calmer resting expression are all within reach, trust me.
Start with the 21-day challenge, see how you get on with it. The sessions are short and sweet, the exercises are easy to follow. There are no complicated or painful moves.
All you need is a mirror.
So don’t overthink it - after all the beauty of face yoga is in its simplicity. That and in the youthful face waiting for you on the other side 🙂
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Comments (3)
Ada Mitchell
03 December, 2024 at 3:29 PM
Omg, thank you so much for sharing this! I introduced my mother-in-law to face yoga and now she’s obsessed! Sometimes we even practice our routines together, my husband says soon we’ll look like college mates haha
Cathy Drover
22 November, 2024 at 2:45 PM
How did I not know about this?? I love that I can practice everywhere: in my bathroom, during office breaks, or while dinner is cooking. It’s now become this precious me time of the day that not only relieves my stress but also has long-term results!
Laura Duvall
14 November, 2024 at 3:02 PM
As someone who’s been struggling with self-image problems and wasted tons of money on ineffective products, this hit hard. Took the quiz and all the advice looks very personalized so that’s promising. Can’t wait to get started 🙂
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