I recently found myself uptown, at a fancy plastic surgeon's office, asking if I should have an upper blepharoplasty. That's where they trim the excess skin off your eyelid so it doesn't sag down over your pupil, making you look like a bullmastiff. My mother always warned that as I grew older, my lids would be the first things to fall. And trimming my blephs was something I'd anticipated tackling head-on, or, rather, eyes open, with a light anesthetic when I hit 40. Now, at 43, I felt like a radical for having waited so long. I grew up with a fitness-obsessed father and a Malibu Barbie mom who'd prioritized their youth and beauty above all else. There was never any stigma around getting "work" done or killing themselves in the gym for a six-pack. Maintaining my physical appearance has always seemed obligatory, something I had to put effort into if I wanted to succeed at life and remain my father's favorite.
My first brush with fame was a newspaper article in The Arizona Republic at 6 months old, where my marathon runner parents proudly described how they had me eating a low-protein diet and doing baby calisthenics to set me up for future success. I think there was even a photo of me doing an army crawl.
Despite my predetermined destiny, I've tried to be thoughtful about my approach to aging, not because I'm any less vain than my parents but because I know that regardless of my choice in skincare, eventually even Malibu Barbies turn into California Raisins.
I don't want to grow old. Nobody does. But there is no getting out of here alive. Like adorable little chicks on a conveyor belt heading toward a high-speed grinder, we all end up somebody else's collagen cream. So do we nip it, tuck it, or just say, "Fuck it"? Perhaps the only way to win is to savor the present instead of longing for the past. Time stands still for no one.
Esta historia es de la edición Volume 3. No 2 - 2023 de The Oprah US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Volume 3. No 2 - 2023 de The Oprah US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Perfect Gift Book for Everyone on Your List
Sumptuous reads that look as lovely on your coffee table as they do on your bedside table.
Long Live YOU!
A head-to-toe guide to staying strong, sharp, healthy, and happy well into your platinum years.
How to Manage Holiday Stress
Want to avoid family drama this year? Here are three ways to pregame.
How Makeup Artists Do the Holidays
Time to put your party face on! These glam pros are sharing a look they love—and modeling it themselves.
On Everyone's Lips
Carol Rasheed, the head makeup artist on The Color Purple, gives us a peek behind the scenes-and, thanks to her new lipstick collection, a memento.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW Survival Guide
Ding-dong, she's here! But fear not-so are we, with advice on managing this singular relationship with grace, humor, and lots of heart.
The Enduring Power The Color Purple
It has captivated audiences as a novel, a movie, and a Broadway musical. On the eve of its latest incarnation, a sweeping musical feature film out on Christmas Day, we celebrate Alice Walker's universal saga of resilience and redemption with behind-the-scenes stories from the new book Purple Rising.
Who (or What) Do You Need to Thank?
Gratitude isn't just a topic for your annual turkey dinner. It's been scientifically shown to improve your health eating depression, boosting immunity, and lowering stress. These thank-you notes (plus an ode to a heartbreakingly loyal pup) will inspire you to make it a daily practice.
Beam Me Up
Bethany Heitman's self-esteem was tied to her clear skin, so dark spots sent her spiraling. Then she saw the light.
Turn Around, Bright Eyes
After years of despising the puffy bags under her eyes, Rae Ann Herman found a surgeon she trusted and woke up refreshed in every way.