I have many, many skincare clients who come in to tell my how hideous their skin is when they look at it in the magnifying mirror. That's when I give them
Argentée's Number One Rule for Beauty:
Take your magnifying mirror and give it to someone you don't like.
Similarly, Inès de la Fressange has this to say about Botox: "I pay no attention to wrinkles. I just stand back from the mirror."
Refreshing and delightful! Yes, beauty is fun and socially useful, but shouldn't we have better things to do than obsess in the mirror if all we are doing is looking for reasons to not adore what we see?
Inès writes, "My absolute role model is singer Julio Iglesias. Asked if he was afraid of getting old, he replied, 'But I'm already old.'" The Parisian is more worried about wrinkles at 20 than at 50."
I always tell my skincare clients (many of whom are gorgeous 20-somethings who are terrified of age) that I have no desire for "anti-aging." I mean, not when you consider the alternative! I'm pro-aging. I hope to age a very long time. But we can fight it and dread it and Botox it, or we can maintain our passions and our hobbies and age beautifully, with grace and health. Isn't that what we're striving for? My hope is that with age comes with the wisdom to not fear it.
"I'm pro-aging." Wow, I love that. I've enjoyed poking around your blog and hope you'll keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much- my first comment, and from a blogger whose work I enjoy so much!
ReplyDelete~Argentée
Great post! I had the same experience with Ines' book. My first look through I wasn't too convinced. But on further scrutiny, LOVE IT!! It has gotten me to pull out all my other French Chic/living books and now?....NOW I want to go to France toute suite. I will be back!! : ) xxBliss
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving a comment for me today. Not because I love getting comments, which I absolutely do, but because I'm tickled to have found you and your blog.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your views on aging. I refuse to jump on board the Botox and filler bus. I'm 43 and I look it and that's okay with me.
By the way, Harney and Sons Paris is my favorite American made tea. I see we share good taste in teas.
How lovely to meet you. It's a shame Ines cannot read her book to those who buy it. She has the most sultry voice you can imagine and, as you CAN imagine, she oozes that "you can't define it, but you know it when you see it" French charm.
ReplyDeleteKeep up your fabulous work. Bravo!
thanks for your sweet comment! so glad to have found your blog--i am hopeless when it comes to skincare and "beauty" in general, so i need all the help i can get! xoxo, laura
ReplyDeleteThank you, delightful people, for your comments. As a brand-new blogger and fan of your respective sites they mean a lot to me.
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I love this post, and I'm excited to read this blog. At 28, I've started to notice a few strands of gray hair and I couldn't be more in love with them. I hope to wake up every morning and see an exciting shock of gray hair, Stacy London style (although I'm not really sure how that would work, scientifically). Yay for Pro-Aging!
ReplyDelete(Thanks for visiting me, too).
Ssejica, grey hair is gorgeous. It's the only color that can't be reproduced in a salon. I love Stacy London's hair. Very edgy and pretty.
ReplyDeleteI love that quote - and this post. I'm pro-aging too!
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