Mairead Robinson reports on the current trends among some celebrity’s for ‘Graceful Ageing’
While we all like the idea of ageless beauty as the years, and indeed decades roll by, it is remarkable how in the Hollywood world of eternal youth, so many women are now opting to join this new trend.
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada fame. She celebrated her 76th birthday this year and has also maintained that she has never had cosmetic surgery, and never would
It is extraordinary how recently, several celebrities have become known for embracing natural ageing, and advocating for a positive view of growing older. Of course this is a positive development, as for decades there was so much pressure brought on young female actors to alter their faces, often quite dramatically. Incidently, there has never been so much pressure put on male actors, but it is certainly becoming a trend now for women opting not to have cosmetic anti-ageing surgery. This is no bad thing, especially if you are blessed with good cheekbones etc like , Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore and Jamie Lee Curtis are among those who have spoken out against the concept of ‘anti-ageing’ and instead promote embracing the natural process of ageing. They emphasise that ageing is a natural part of life and beauty can be found at any age. In Hollywood these days ‘ageing gracefully’ generally refers to actors who embrace the natural process of ageing without excessive cosmetic surgery or interventions, but instead choosing to look their age while maintaining their confidence and passion for their work. This contrasts with the pressure to remain youthful with the prevalence of plastic surgery in the entertainment industry.
Helen Mirren is one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood, and she celebrated her 80th birthday this year. She has publicly stated that she has not had plastic surgery and does not plan to have any. She has also stated that she has never had any work done on her face and indeed has spoken about embracing ageing and not wanting to change her appearance through cosmetic procedures. She has said that she was once advised to ‘get a nose job’ early in her career, she refused saying she did not want to look ridiculous and has never wanted to have any such procedures.
Another famous Hollywood actress – and without doubt also very beautiful – is Meryl Streep from The Devil Wears Prada fame. She celebrated her 76th birthday this year and has also maintained that she has never had cosmetic surgery, and never would. She emphasises that she embraces ageing and believes that natural beauty comes from accepting life experiences, including wrinkles. However there are some doubters in Hollywood who insist that she has had some work done and they scrutinise her eyelids and neck for clues! It is a hard world out there!
However the conversation continues and other female actors who have joined the ‘graceful ageing’ club include Emma Thompson, and Jamie Lee Curtis, who at 66 years of age has spoken out against such procedures. However Curtis has admitted that she got cosmetic surgery at the age of twenty-five after a cinematographer refused to shoot her on a movie set because he did not like her face! Shocking pressure for a young woman, but that was, and still is in some circumstances, the situation for women in Hollywood.
Julianne Moore is among those who have spoken out out against the concept of ‘anti-ageing’.
While there are not so many seniors here in Ireland who have travelled abroad for such dramatic surgery, there are a growing number of younger woman, in their twenties and thirties, who are having botox and fillers. But for those of us who have no wish to go under the knife or even the needle, but would like a more youthful appearance and wondered about a more natural way of slowing down the signs of ageing, the good news is to start by taking a look at your diet.
Studies have that what you eat can affect your chances of retaining a smooth complexion or developing wrinkles. Your skin cells are constantly renewing, but with age the process becomes slower. And cell turnover required a steady supply of nutrients, without this the state of your skin can suffer. Deficiencies in iron (found in red meat and beans) or healthy fats (avocados and oily fish) can affect how youthful your skin looks and feels. So ensure that your diet includes a variety of whole foods, as well as fruit and vegetables and oily fish, grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Remember vitamin C aids the production of collagen, zinc helps keep the skin supple, and it has recently been found that eating tomatoes helps protect skin from sun damage by making it more resistant to UV rays.
Of course it is important to take care of your skin. To cleanse and moisturise twice daily, always wear a 50 SPF, and there are many great products out there that can help your skin to maintain a healthy glow. And it does not need to cost a fortune. Hyaluronic Acid is a key ingredient in most moisturisers, along with Vitamin C, and I would recommend checking out products from The Ordinary – www.theordinary.com – to see how you can get all the products you need at very good prices. Reservatrol and Alpha Arbutin are two other products that will feed your skin with healthy ingredients and have received high praise within the beauty industry. ‘Botox in a Bottle’ is how one of their skin serums is described by fans of the brand. And the great news is that you can purchase The Ordinary products at Boots, and have them delivered to your home.
Check out the great alternatives out there, such www.theordinary.com before opting for more invasive procedures. And as always, dont forget that the very best face lift you will ever get, is your smile!
