Unlocking secrets to ageless living

Did the title catch your eye? Were you eager to catch some tips on anti-aging techniques?

Particularly among the current generation, the pursuit of anti-aging techniques and products to prevent aging has been a prominent feature of society. Skincare is seen as an innocent way of playing with being older. I remember throwing a fit when my Mom assigned me to a basic skincare lineup in elementary school. It seemed like a chore and I had no interest in partaking in any extra steps before bedtime. However, skincare is now considered a luxurious accessory, and reflects an early obsession with aging as a society. This trend falls fault to many things such as technological advancements, social influences, and access to information. These advancements have led to the development and availability of more and more anti-aging treatments and products. Thanks to Instagram, Tiktok, and social media outlets, society is spending an increased amount of time looking at their faces- examining, critiquing, and brainstorming ways to fix things that never had an issue in the first place. Online, young generations share routines aimed to “prevent aging”, including everything from applying retinoids, vitamin C, face tape at night, and getting “baby botox” to prevent lines from forming. All these videos and the swarm of opening available treatments have led to the sales of botox, dermal fillers, and retinol increasing 63% this past year.

I myself have been learning about treatments I had no idea existed. Did you guys know what Buccal Fat remover was until now? What is Buccal? Why does it need to be removed? Where is Buccal? Children and teens are being pushed into the world of Anti-aging. They’re so engulfed in this world they even have a name for themselves: “Sephora Kids”. Last time I checked, Sephora’s target audience were middle upper class women from ages 18-35. Let’s put it this way, if you aren’t old enough to vote, you should not be purchasing $100 skincare items for eye bags that have not even formed yet. The products most wanted today for youth include ingredients like Vitamin C and Retinol, which is made for use on older skin. These ingredients are so strong that they can end up harming youthful skin instead of preventing anything. Children’s skin are sensitive and these active ingredients were not made for them. Gen-Z’s very early appetite for anti-aging beauty has created a multitude of opportunities for brands to tap into consumers they historically have not considered.

Besides the harm that’s going on to this generation’s skin, what harm are these ideals doing to their brain? Famous celebs are praised for getting older and still looking young, and shamed for getting older and looking their age. “He aged like fine wine” vs. “He peaked”. For a more concrete example, let’s refer to Adriana Lima, one of the world’s most famous Victoria Secret Model. Beautiful then and now, this women has had three children and obviously has aged with the passing years. People still continuously post photos from her when she was under 20 and compare it to a picture of her above her 40’s. It’s ridiculous how fast younger people are to comment things that embellish their surprise that a 40 year old woman doesn’t look the same as she was when she was 18. Wouldn’t there be an issue if she did? Feminine identity is very much positioned in terms of appearance and looking a certain way that the beauty standard culture puts open us. The beauty culture currently is looking young forever. Cosmetic procedures are crazily more accessible financially and in terms of who offers them. For example. dentist offices now offer botox. ???!!!??? Wanting to feel and look your best? No issue in that. But wanting to defy time before time has even found you? Not ideal.