There is an impulse in all of us to keep looking as young as possible for as long as possible. It’s not hard to see where it comes from – there is so much attention and speculation directed at celebs who show signs of ageing.
And while the impulse is felt by men as well as women, it is more likely that you’ll be judged if you’re female. Let’s face it, male actors who start to show wrinkles and gray hair will still get jobs, but the list of ladies who keep getting called back is shorter.
Julia Andrews via POPSUGAR
It doesn’t matter if you’re not a celebrity. People in the public eye become the standard by which we are all judged. So, when a guy finds a gray hair, it’s time to move from a Ryan Reynolds state of mind to a George Clooney. When a woman does, it’s easy to panic. Here begins the countdown to being old and on the scrapheap.
Why We Seek To Push Back Ageing
It’s not just gray hair that can make us feel like we’re on a downward slope. We can also, all too easily, find a wrinkle or line on our skin and feel that the end has begun. While men can get into their forties without feeling the hand of time on their back, women don’t seem to get the same space.
It just takes a look at the number of Hollywood actors with long careers on both genders to see how this goes. Men, once there, can work for sixty years or more. Women frequently fall out of the picture the moment they turn fifty. But the scary thing is that a lady can still be in her twenties when people start to comment on how they don’t look as young anymore.
Sunday Riley – Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil
What’s The Right Response?
As I’ve said before on this blog, it is never too early to put in place a regular skincare regime. Nourishing the skin will allow it to retain its elasticity and health for longer. The right makeup and dressing to flatter your best assets will also make a difference. What you shouldn’t do is hurry to cosmetic surgery.
Let’s be clear about it; surgery can work. When someone chooses to go that way, they shouldn’t face judgement for it. But at the same time, it’s true that there are hundreds of cosmetic surgery negligence claims every year. Being too hasty to make a change is one thing. It becomes much worse when compounded by a botched job.
What Else Can You Do?
It’s easy to say that we should ignore the standards placed upon us by society. Fly our own flag and love ourselves. This would be a preferable way to go, but when it can affect your ability to get a job, that’s not so easy. There are signs of the double standard being addressed, and maybe attitudes aren’t that far from changing.
In the meantime it’s never a bad idea to have a healthy skincare and hair regime – the right diet helps in both cases – and to get enough sleep. Staying natural and confident will do more to quieten those little voices than anything else.
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