I am a lady of a certain age. I look after my body. I exercise regularly, eat healthily and only have wine with my meals over weekends. Okay, so I also have one or two G&T’s but that is also only at weekends!
I look after my skin and have spent a significant amount of my hard earned cash on face creams and treatments. I’m not gullible when it comes to advertisements unless they promise to eradicate wrinkles and restore youthful elasticity!
When I was not a ‘Lady of Leisure’ I worked my way through all the top brands. I bought these magic potions, duty free when travelling or in the United States (always cheaper!), when we visited our family. I built up an impressive collection of samples and free gifts so my daughter and daughter-in-law also benefitted from my extravagances. They never complained!
Whenever I received compliments about my skin I could justify the expense. I never suffered from spots, only occasional allergic reactions. When working I was significantly more stressed and survived on just a few hours sleep. I am now much more physically active and my sleep patterns have improved!
When I stopped earning a salary I did cut back on the top brands as my husband’s mantra that my mother had only ever used soap, water and Olay needed to be tested! Her skin is beautiful. Perhaps I could have inherited some good genes and didn’t need to one day choose between a tub of face cream and a slice of bread!
So I lowered my expectations and bought a cheaper brand of day, night, eye cream and serum. Every day I carefully scrutinised my face, peering into a magnifying mirror, wearing my reading glasses. It didn’t take long to notice the difference! I had developed dry patches and some discolouration on one of my cheeks. That was all I needed to prove my husband wrong! I shared these blemishes with him before heading off to the shops to restock my bathroom cupboard! I had made my choice! It was going to be the tub of face cream!
So why have I now suddenly developed teenage acne?
I have tried everything. I have once more changed my face creams. I have even gone so far as to adjust my diet, drink even more water and changed the foundation I have used for years! I have an impressive array of face cleansers and added regular exfoliations, scrubs and face packs to my weekly routine. I have left no stone unturned.
So, out of desperation I have made an appointment with a skin clinic. I had to explain that I was a post menopausal acne sufferer. So embarrassing! So annoying!
I’m aware that I’m sweating the small stuff! There are so many people worse off than me. But I need to get it sorted! Perhaps I should start using soap, water and buy a bottle of Olay…… Maybe then I could look forward to bread and jam in my old age! 👠
Jenny Burrell 