Today’s post is way different than my normal fashion over 50/60 post, but I thought I’d share what I did recently as a treatment on my face. Now mind you, I’m no expert on any of these sorts of treatments. I have had a handful of facials in my life and don’t consider myself a real spa girl. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting pampered, but honestly the cost of pampering is not inexpensive so it’s been few and far between in my world for the most part.
As I’ve gotten older I have started looking at my face in particular to see what I might be able to do to slow things down and to treat myself to a little bit of anti-aging on my face besides just anti-aging skin care routines. I haven’t been really unhappy with the aging process on myself all that much. It’s part of life and we all have to deal with. I think we as women are so accustomed to looking a certain way and our faces are a huge part of our natural external beauty and how we feel about ourselves. Am I right? I have tried to take care of my face and skin and have used a lot of different skin care lines over the years. I have not stuck to any one in particular, but right now I’m using some Neutrogena products with hyaluronic acid.
I know that all women my age can relate to this. Watching my face fall and grow older has not been fun. Yes, it’s a natural part of life, but it’s not easy to swallow. Looking in the mirror year after year, there are changes small and large that creep up. I was not all that concerned about my face in my 40’s and midway into my 50’s as well. I felt like I still looked pretty good (for my age, ha!) and didn’t see a lot of sagging or wrinkles yet. We all age at different rates and some get wrinkles earlier than others do. Getting into my 60’s has definitely brought about more changes with my face and skin. It would be nice to stop time, but we can’t. It seems our society is obsessed with youth and looking younger way more than it used to be when I was a teenager. I see younger and younger women getting Botox and fillers. I have no problem with anyone doing any of that, we all have to figure those things out ourselves, it’s just not something I will start at my age now. I’m sure I’d love it if I tried it, but I think it can get addicting and I don’t need that either, not to mention expensive. If it came to doing cosmetic procedures or going on trips, I’d choose trips every time!
Honestly I never had a lot of disposable income to spend on cosmetic treatments, but I do have more to spend now than I used to, so I’m not opposed to looking at skin treatments and dermatology procedures to look and feel better about my skin and face. So that’s where I am right now. This is a very vulnerable post as you’ll see lots of up close pics below of my face before, during and after the treatment I recently had done.
It’s called IPL and stands for Intense Pulsed Light treatment. I went to the dermatologist last Fall for my normal yearly scan and screening. I’ve had skin cancer before and with my fair skin, I have to be careful. My poor daddy has had so many skin cancers on his face that I have been afraid I’ll face the same thing. So far, nothing bad has shown up on my face, but it may yet. Anyway, the dermatologist told me that I was a good candidate for IPL treatments to get rid of the dark spots on my face. I’ve always been freckled and fair skinned, so as I’ve gotten older they just look darker and like age spots now, so I thought it would be nice to see if I could get them lighter and less noticeable. They had a special price on their annual sale in November and I signed up for a $150 treatment for one. I just went a couple of weeks ago so I thought I’d share the process with all of you! I shared this on my Instagram stories and everyone blew up my comments, so I know it’s a topic we are all interested in, so that’s what we’re talking about today.
I shared in stories that I don’t have any intention of doing Botox or fillers or ever getting plastic surgery. That’s just not for me. I’m going to try to age as gracefully as I can like my mama has. We can try to slow it down and do what we can to stop it, but it’s going to come no matter what. Our faces are going to age one way or the other. Hollywood has so many botched plastic surgeries that it’s not even funny. I often say how in the world can anyone get a good facelift if the celebrities in Hollywood can’t even get it right. I’m not naming names, but there are a lot of them that I think have ruined their faces. Jane Fonda might be one of the few that I think has had a good one done. So many others just look like plastic people and not even the same anymore. Who wants that? Certainly not me! You should hear Mark go on about plastic surgery. He definitely doesn’t like it!
If you do a search online for IPL skin treatments before and after, you’ll see a lot of examples, many very dramatic. I’m sure everyone’s skin reacts differently. I’m happy with the results of mine, I can see some difference although it’s not as drastic as some of the other pics I’ve seen.
OK, be prepared for some scary pics. I don’t normally put myself out there like this with no makeup and completely bare faced, but I’m doing it for y’all!
This is the morning I did my treatment, Before.
BEFORE
I took pics of both sides of my face but could have done a better Before shot. I had lots of dark spots above my lips that I really wanted lighter and plenty on the sides of my face. If you’ve noticed those 2 bumps I have on my chin in photos before, those are acne scars from my early 30’s that never went away. I didn’t have acne that bad really, but into my early 30’s I had flare ups of adult acne with cysts along my jawline and this is the result of that. I could probably have them lasered off, I’m not sure.
So I did my IPL treatment almost 2 weeks ago and I thought I’d show you the Before and Afters and talk about what else is out there that some of you may have tried and liked the results. As I’ve said, this is all new to me. I haven’t done tons of research. So many of my friends talk about this stuff a lot and I’ve listened in occasionally on what’s out there, but I have no idea how and what they all are. There are a lot!
The IPL treatment itself took about 20 minutes. Several asked me if it hurts and it does. It’s like a stinging rubber band and intense heat all at one time. I definitely jumped a few times but it’s bearable. I went to Skin Care Specialists in Marietta by the way. Ashley was my technician and I liked her a lot. They seem to have all the available latest equipment and procedures that you would want there.
This is the next day after treatment. She called this peppering and says that they get darker before they get lighter. They did! She said in about a week that the dark would just flake off and it did.
By the way, the gal who did my treatment was 35 and said she gets fillers and treatments like this all the time. The perks of working for a dermatologist, I suppose! But I can see that doing more and more would get addicting even at what I consider a young age.
Other side
Four days later
Four days later.
Seven Days later
Seven days later.
10 days later.
10 days later
I’m very happy with the results, even though it’s not that drastic. I still have some spots and all but they are lighter overall. My complexion looks clearer for sure. One warning I got was to stay out of the sun or it will all come back, so I need to be diligent about sunscreen on my face and make sure I wear hats more outside.
Here’s a side by side comparison, Before and 10 days After.
I feel like it’s a good start to doing more to my skin as far as anti-aging. I definitely am interested in doing more peels and things like that to improve my skin tone and do what I can to slow it down within reason. Over the counter products will only do so much. I’ve tried so many skincare lines and never found an expensive one that I just raved about or felt like made a huge difference. I have heard good things about medical grade skin care like Obagi and I may look into those.
With light makeup on.
One thing I am going to do is get on Retin A. I follow several ladies on Instagram (Msmelissa55 and kittywass and Angie Hot and Flashy are three, check out their You Tube channels too) who are my around my age and older and the ones I am most impressed with both use Retin A and have used it for 10 years or more. So that is definitely going in my arsenal and I’m getting on it and staying on it. I know there are so many different strengths of Retin A and products that contain Retinol over the counter. I already have the low dose one from my dermatologist and have started using it. I have heard that you might need to work up to using it every day. It will cause flaking and peeling, but that’s new skin coming out. I’m going to stick with that and see what it does for me. It’s supposed to promote collagen turnover too, I’ve heard. Someone on Instagram also told me about an over the counter product called Differin that is a Retinol too. I think I will get some of that and start using it on my neck and hands to see what that does. It’s not as strong as Retin A, but sold at Walmart and other places. It says it’s an acne treatment online but heard it does the same as Retin A with a smaller cost. I saw this online about Differin: “It is quite useful as an anti–aging product for the improvement of fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and sallow skin.”
So I hope you enjoyed this post about the IPL treatment. It’s not drastic and won’t take 10 years off your face, but it might be a good option if you have dark spots like I do. I think it definitely helped and so I’m open to looking at other treatments like this down the road. This one was $150 on special and I’ll go back in a few weeks to do another followup for $50 and she will treat what’s left. Several told me their IPL treatments were way more than I paid, so check around your area if you’re interested in doing it. I waited until they had a sale to try it.
I would love for you all to chime and let me me know what you’re doing as well. This is a great conversation to have among the over 50 and 60 group of ladies. I know we are all concerned about looking our best as we age and there are things we can do to help. I don’t judge anyone who chooses fillers and cosmetic surgeries, we all have to figure those things out ourselves. I’m just trying to do the best I can with what I have to work with and since I turned 60 I’ve started thinking about these things more and more. Like I said earlier, I never really obsessed over my face and aging before this stage of life. I guess that’s a good thing!
What are you doing for skin care and anti-aging? I’d love to get some good conversations going in the comments. We’ve touched on this subject before but not to this extent and I know from the Instagram stories I did that it’s a favorite topic to talk about so please join in and let me know what you think and what you’re doing to keep your face looking as good as you can! We can all learn from each other!
Can you post a link for Retin A by Obagi
Hi, Wenda, you’ll have to check with a dermatologist, it requires a prescription.
Enjoyed your post here and thanks for being utterly candid! I am 73 years young. And have a dark spot on each side of my face. I was told they were the result of birth control pills when I was younger. The sun, I’m sure, has darkened them, but with these and age spots, I’m not liking what I see. I’m wondering if IPL would be for me? One problem….I love the sun! I would like to also find a light, moisturizing makeup (not powder). What do you use?
Excellent post. You are always lovely! I just passed the mid point of 50 and so, very interested. My opinions about appearance and aging match yours so this was very helpful. I always say, “I’m not chasing 25 but I want to be the best for where I am.” I’d say, “Hope you’re staying dry but, I’m also in Metro Atlanta…and I know you are not. 😂
I really appreciate this post. I live with a houseful of men and get no exposure to new skin care or makeup tips. I appreciate the information you shared. God bless!
I think just one treatment made a wonderful difference! Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing. I have the same skin tone/freckles as you and just had my first IPL. Also did one hydrafacial, which I think made a big difference in how healthy my skin looks, especially living up north. You got a fantastic price for IPL – it’s $350 here and my dr recommends 3 treatments. Looking forward to the discussions!
I loved this post! I have done both BBL and IPL treatments. I’ve found the results to be quite good too! I didn’t have a lot of sun damage but still had a bit of the “peppering” afterward. One of the best benefits is the boost to your collegen. Love that you posted both your before and after pictures. It’s a dramatic difference! 💕
Your post was most interesting! It certainly made a difference to your complexion . May I add this….I notice that your hair looks very dry!
I can remember in one post that you wash your hair every day, do you think that is why? This washes the oil out.
HI,Mollie, my hair is on the dry side. That’s the nature of curly hair I think. I do add conditioners to it and no I don’t wash every day. In fact, I only wash once a week or at the most twice a week.
I have been seeing an Esthetician since October. I’m 56 and had a horrific sun poisoning reaction to my face and chest after a Florida trip last spring. My “pull the trigger” incentive were 2 of my children’s upcoming weddings this year. I was put on Obagi Nu-derm to start. I used that from Oct-Feb. Love the results!! It’s not cheap but honestly if I consider all the money I’ve spend on even drug and department store products over the years it is not too bad. I was also able to use my HSA because it was prescribed (she is a NP). I am now on Obagi Vitamin C plan and like that also. I have seen improvement with dark spots and fine lines. Most importantly my skin feels wonderful, the texture, end (I hope) of occasional breakouts (if someone told me I’d still deal with that in my 50’s!!!! Seriously!!) and brightness of my skin. She explained the NU-Derm was the repair and now Vitamin C is treatment. (Will go back to Nu Term in September as a short term/after summer plan).Not trying to look 20 but want to look as good as I can at my own age. Just sharing my experience.
Good share, Colleen, I’m definitely going to look into all the Obagi products.
My hair tends to be dry and when it gets really bad I coat it with full fat mayonaise and let it sit a few minutes before I wash it out. I also use a moisturizing conditioner after I wash my hair; nothing expensive just a suave shampoo and conditioner. These make my hair full of sheen and keep it healthy.
I think you can get the Obagi without a prescription. I think I saw it where I go for facials. You may be able to order it on line. I have experienced a problem with peri oral dermatitis for the past year and I am in my early 60’s. It is very annoying and hard to get rid of . Also, I have used Retin A on the crease between my brows and don’t see any difference 🙁 Rhoda, the treatment looks like it worked good on you!
Thanks, Lynne, I’ll check out Obagi online and see if that’s possible. I need to check prices, I have no idea how much any of it costs. I’m sure my dermatologist has the whole line too.
Thanks Rhoda. I can see a big improvement. I just turned 74 and I have never took care of my skin. I have a dark complexion and tan easily. I was allergic to sun tan lotion when I was younger. I can use it now but it is too late for my skin. I’m glad to hear you and the commenters are starting early. My granddaughter just opened her esthetician business and I plan to be a regular customer. I’m also going to get a referral to a dermatologist. I’m concerned that some of my brown spots could be skin cancer.
I m 65 years old. For 9 months, I have been seeing an esthetician who works for a dermatologist. Initially I started with medical grade chemical peels. Each visit the strength was increased. I want to diminish dark spots, improve skin texture, and stimulate collagen production. After 3 to 4 treatments, the following 3 months I had SWiCH treatments. Last month she decided she did a chemical peel. In November I started using Retin A and Vitamin C. I am very conscious using sunscreen. In the past, I was getting chemical peels at a local day spa. I am glad that I decided to see an esthetician who located at a dermatologist office because she can use medical grade chemicals with her peels that I couldn’t receive at a day spa. I have seen better results with the medical grade chemical peels.
Thank you, Laura, that’s good to know too. I have thought about doing a chemical peel.
Hi Rhoda! I’m 43, so not in my 50s yet, but I kicked my skincare up a notch when I hit my 40s. I’ve always used a good day, night, and eye cream, but, notably, last year I added Retinol, using Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream. I use it three to four nights a week, because every day would be a little harsh. I also had read about the benefits of doing at-home peels so I started using Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel. I don’t use them every day – more like two or three times a week. These two products have made a noticeable difference for me with tone and texture over the course of about 10 months. I had some sun spots and a few bumps that had been around for several years that have either disappeared altogether or are substantially less noticeable now. I definitely have fewer breakouts. I recently added a mask to the rotation – Peter Thomas Roth’s Pumpkin Enzyme Mask – that is supposed to also be a kind of mild chemical peel. Too early to tell if that has made a difference, but it does smell like a pumpkin pie on my face, so that’s a bonus! I’ve never had a facial, never had a real chemical peel, never had injectables, or any of that stuff. Not to say I’m not intrigued, but for a lot less cost than non-surgical or surgical cosmetic procedures, there are a lot of really good products out there. You’re beautiful by the way and I love following you!
Hi, Kristina, thanks for stopping by and letting us know what you are doing in your 40’s. There are a lot of great products out there and I wish I had started in my 40’s to do more than I did. But it’s not too late so I’m jumping in there now.
You should check out Rodan and Fields products. They are both female dermatologists who are responsible for Proactive. I have been using their products for about four years and love them. I’m 77 and my skin feels great.
Hi, Barbara, I did try R&F a few years ago. I did two of their regimens but I didn’t feel it was that effective for the money so I didn’t stay with it. I think I’d rather spend my money on medical grade this time.
I think it looks wonderful, but the most important person is you.
Rhoda, these are great results! I’m so glad to know about IPL–I didn’t realize that treatments could be that affordable. Thank you for being honest about the laser. Yes, indeed, each pulse does in fact sting. (Laser treatments were what I had done to my birthmark–1500 at a time. Ouch!) But how effective on the dark spots!
I’m trying to up my skincare game, too. I’m like you–haven’t gone with expensive treatments, but I do want to do what I can to age more gracefully. I need to ask about Retin A products. I do love products that are prescribed by my dermatologist, because it’s helpful to use HSA funds on those. I need to ask my dermatologist if there are any everyday skincare products that are Rx-only.
Thanks for sharing your true experience. You are such a beautiful woman!
Thanks for stopping by Richella! And thank you, you’re so sweet!
Thanks for sharing this post. I’m almost 62 and I too want to slow down the signs of aging but not interested in invasive type treatments. You should check out Penn Smith Skincare (Master esthetician) on YouTube. She has some great videos on different treatments (in office and at home) and skincare. A great series she’s been doing lately is “try this not that” where she compares high end cosmeceuticals to less expensive ones.
Thank you, Gina for letting us know about the videos. I think they are very helpful to watch and learn from.
I’m going to check into Differen. Thanks for sharing this information with us. I have freckles and getting more age spots as I get closer to 60.
After having had a few Botox injections, I had a terrible experience with it last spring. I will never get Botox again. I had to find a way that will work for me to keep my skin healthy-looking. I recently had a Hydrafacial and an evaluation done of my skin. It was recommended that I get a series of IPL treatments. Along with more Hydrafacials, I will use a retinol and Vitamin C regularly. I also like using a brand called The Ordinary. I feel like their products have made a difference in my skin, and it’s extremely reasonable!!
HI, Sharon, thank you for sharing your experience with Botox and why you don’t want to do it again. Those things scare me a lot, so good for you for doing something else and finding other products. I’m enjoying reading what you all are doing. I’m curious about the hydrafacials, I’m going to look into those.
Boy, do I feel out of the loop. I’m 56 and have used Dove soap my whole life on my face. I use Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream about once a month as an exfoliator, and currently using Olay Regenerist as a moisturizer. I’ve tried more expensive regimens, but have not found any I totally love. So I keep going back to Dove! I am watching this closely because I have a few age spots showing up on my face, along with tiny wrinkles around my eyes. Also noticing vertical lines on each side of my mouth. I need to start something but don’t like the thought of Botox or surgery. My MIL says that lines and wrinkles show a life well lived and should be seen as a crown for all we’ve lived through!
I also started dermablading and it sloughs off dead skin and peach fuzz hair leaving the skin very smooth. It really makes your moisturizer and foundation go on smoothly.
Hi, Lauren, I started dermablading over a year ago too and love the results and that peach fuzz gone!
I had to stop in to read because I had never heard of IPL before. My dermatologist did prescribe a cream a year ago that’s original use wasn’t for what they prescribe it for now, has to do with sloughing off small patches on face and chest of pre-skin cancer spots. She said all her friends have used it and rave about it. I never filled the prescription, you have to use it at a time when you might not want to be seen for a week or two, guess I didn’t have that time arrive, and I think because she gave me the directions verbally and said hers differ from what comes with the cream, that when I couldn’t remember what she said I never filled it! On a side note, I was noticing the doctors amazing skin and thinking to myself you lucky young thing, then I found out she was the same age as me, so I said well I guess you didn’t grow up going to the beach in Malibu.
Hey, Bliss, those girls in those dermatology offices have everything at their fingertips so they are going to look great!