Anti-Ageing Versus Pro-Ageing

The actress Julie Walter’s recently shared her pro-ageing thoughts on the celebrity obsession with face lifts ‘As people get older, they do this half-facelift stuff so they can pretend they haven’t had them! I think: don’t do it – be beautiful anyway.’

Julie Walters, Good House Keeping Interview, January 2015 Edition, written by Amy Lewis.

Actress Julie Walters a prime example of pro-ageing

Image courtesy of Good Housekeeping magazine.

I couldn’t agree with Julie more, although I work in the beauty industry I strongly believe in aging gracefully. Rather than trying to STOP time to appear younger. Buying into products and treatments marketed with fictitious promises of reducing, masking or preventing signs of skin aging. We should be embracing pro-aging to illuminate our natural radiance by applying the following to our daily lives:

• Educating ourselves on health and wellbeing
• Regular exercise
• A good diet
• Protecting our skin from over exposure to the Sun
• Healing and sustaining our bodies.
• Practicing none permanent or intrusive grooming techniques
• Last but not least learning to love ourselves.

Anti Aging Fails – Despite great demand for anti-aging products the majority of treatments have not been proven to give lasting or positive effects. Below are some examples of celebrities that appear to have tried to stop time with lotions, potions, harsh make up, fillers, surgery and who knows what else?

 Ghost Face Fillers 

The celebrities (above) may think their faces look ‘swell’ I do too! However not for the same reasons. It is more apt to describe their looks as bloated, puffy and shiny.  They all have slender physiques and contrasting large pillowy facial features. This does not produce the appearance of youthfulness or attractiveness.  Frankly they look like frightening ghoulish apparitions.

Pro-Aging Wins  – In contrast below are some examples of celebrities that appear to agree with Julie and indeed look radiant, healthy and their age, whatever that happens to be. There are no visible signs that they have tampered with their faces in an attempt to turn back time.

Being  Beautiful Anyway

I’m team Pro-aging all the way. I’m aware that I am not qualified to assess whether a person has definitely had facial surgery or fillers, therefore I can only speculate. You can decide for yourself. I also know that some cosmetic surgery tweaks are so good they cannot be detected. However this positive outcome is rare and does not sway my opinion. Please note: I am not grouping corrective surgery with cosmetic surgery.

Still not convinced? Study the contrasting Anti and Pro aging images (below) of celebrities born in the same year. These pictures cannot account for natural genetics but they do highlight the disappointing results of invasive anti-ageing treatments.

Line Free Skin Does Not Equal Younger Looking Skin 

Plastic is NOT Fantastic – Anti-aging products were once sold as cheaper alternatives to botox injections and plastic surgery, the latter only being available to celebrities and the wealthy. As the beauty industry grows invasive anti-aging treatments are becoming readily available to all, via convenient payment plans and competitively priced surgery holiday packages. However until the surgeons to the stars perfect their techniques, I (themotherplucker) would advise against intrusive anti aging treatments/ surgeries until results improve greatly.

Just as a couch potato will not gain a Crossfit student’s body. A face full of fillers will not miraculously over ride natural genetics or make time stand still.There are no successful long term quick fixes to stop signs of aging; we cannot anti-age. The term ‘anti-ageing’ is nonsensical. We CAN actively look after our bodies and minds to optimize on what we have, to look and feel our best..

Enhance to Enchant Nx