Help for the Haggard Mommy – Tips for Looking Younger

They say that having kids keeps you young.  WHATEVER.  I call Bull—- on that one.

If that theory was true, then I should look about 21.

Who makes up this stuff anyway?  Whoever “they” are obviously don’t have children.   Or mirrors.

So, as I am rapidly approaching my 40th…YIKES…and feeling every bit of it….this tired and haggard mama has decided to take a stand.

(Just go back a few posts to read why I’m so haggard.  You will be too from just reading it. https://marniefernandez.wordpress.com/2011/02/27/survivor-the-real-housewife-of-camp-tough-love/)

One tired and haggard mommy

I’m not going down without a fight.

So I have decided to share the wealth and offer some tips (sans nip and tucks – that just scares the bejeezus out of me)…for looking younger.  And even better?  I’m gonna give away some of this awesomeness I have discovered.  Just post a comment on my blog by Friday April 15th and you will be entered in a drawing to win…drumroll please…

1.  A anti-aging facial with plant peel from Ihloff Salon and Day Spa (value – $140)

2. A anti-aging gift set from Avon (value- $100)

That’s pretty nice of  me huh?  I thought so.  You can thank me later.

So I’m going to share some of my tips I have discovered – I spent a day of “research” at the Ihloff Salon and Day Spa (tough job, but hey, someone’s gotta do it) and I’ve spent several weeks sampling products from Avon’s ANEW line.  People, this is NOT your mother’s Avon.  They’ve got some pretty awesome stuff.  Plus I’ve done some research on some other easy ways to fight this whole getting older thing.  Feel free to forward on the love.

Marn’s Tips For Fighting the Ages

Face:

            Always use sunscreen – this is an oldie but goodie.  I wish I had listened back in the days of laying out with baby oil on trampolines with my high school friends.  We were idiots. 😦  I  recommend Avon’s Anew Rejuvinate Day Revitalizing Cream – SPF 25  -this stuff is the bomb and you can use it as your moisturizer too.

            Use products with retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids – you may have heard this word before because they work.  This is where the Avon line has some really awesome stuff that won’t break the pocket-book.  I’ve been using their ANEW night cream with alpha hydroxy.  Love it.  You can feel it working.

            Get a peel to address uneven tone, rough texture and enlarged pores – So I had this done at Ihloff (by Ashley) and I loved it so much they are donating it to one of you lucky ducks.  Not only does it feel amazing to have your face massaged for oh- about an hour – my face is still glowing. 

This anti-aging facial is clinically proven to lift and firm your skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  It also includes their Perfecting Plant Peel which is equivalent of a 30% glycolic peel, but without the redness and irritation of other glycolic peels.  For best results, it is also recommended that the Green Science home care system are used in conjunction with this in-salon program.

Yes, that is me at Ihloff Salon and Day Spa getting the anti-aging facial. Yes those are tea bags. Who knew they had so many uses?

              Don’t use face powder – this can make you look older b/c the powder settles into fine lines and can make skin look dull.  And we certainly don’t want that.

              Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks – not the contours like we have been told in the past.  This makes you look hallow.

Eyes:

            Always use an eye cream – I have been using the Avon Clinical Eye Lift for months and LOVE IT.  And it is only a fraction of the price of the department store creams.  Only $28.  Then you can spend the rest of the money on shoes. 

            Fix saggy lids by using a medium deep shade of shadow – and apply in the crease for an instant eye lift.

            Use a product spefically for Crow’s Feet – I use the crow’s feet corrector from Avon. 

           Use tea bags to de-puff your eyes – but let them cool down first.  🙂

 Body:

            Exfoliate once a week – I had the anti aging cocoa body scrub at Ihloff.  OMG is all I have to say.  Not only did it feel heavenly to have someone else rub it in – I smelled like a brownie for the rest of the day.   Cocoa has lots of antioxidants (yay for chocolate!) that gets absorbed into your body while at the same time sloughing off the dead skin.  I am glowing from head to toe.  Just make sure to moisturize as soon as you finish.

*Ihloff also carries scrubs that you can buy and use in the shower (although I recommend Heather – she is fabulous). 

(Another fun tip – use a toothbrush to exfoliate your lips…then put on your lip balm.  Lips feel so soft!)

Heaven. A cocoa body scrub. I smelled like a brownie. A younger looking brownie

            Don’t use lotions that contain petroleum jelly and/or mineral oil – Ihloff only uses Aveda products – so they are plant-based.  Their hand and foot relief creams are amazing.  

            Treat forgotten parts (whatever product/sunscreen you use on face, use on neck and chest / use sunscreen on hands).

            Use product w/ retinol and peptides to reduce neck wrinkles – because who wants to look like a shar pei?

 Hair:

            Massage scalp and/or brush daily to stimulate hair growth/shine – this was a new one for me – Lauren, the awesome hair designer at Ihloff clued me in on this tip (as she was rubbing my scalp…bliss…)

            Wash hair every other day – ummm… for us moms who getting in a weekly shower is huge – this should be a no-brainer.

            Deep condition once a week – and if you can afford it – go visit Lauren at Ihloff for a decadent hair spa treatment. 

My hair is turning younger as we speak...

            Use leave-in conditioner everyday –recommend Aveda Damage Control – it doesn’t weigh your hair down.

            Bangs give instant facelift – Just don’t cut them yourself. 🙂  I recommend Lauren at Ihloff.  She rocks. 

 Other:

            Eat an orange a day to help prevent wrinkles– Apparently women who had an orange a day have 11% fewer wrinkles.  Fresh OJ anyone?

            Take Omega -3 supplement daily to keep skin soft and supple – just don’t take it hiking with you.  Bears tend to be drawn to the fish oil.  Learned this the hard way. 

            Drink one glass of green tea a day to prevent/reverse sun damage – Easy peasy!  I love this stuff anyway. 

            Sleep on back or on silk pillowcase to reduce wrinkles – (I snore, so sleeping on my back is not an option. 🙂 

Here is the website to the Avon products – Stacie will even deliver to your door – no extra charge! – http://smcfarlin.avonrepresentative.com/

And the Ihloff Salon and Day Spa.  They have two locations in Tulsa, one in Norman and even in KC!  http://www.ihloffspa.com/

I also found lots of other tips on looking younger from Prevention Magazine (yes, horror of horrors – when did I get old enough to read this??)   http://www.prevention.com/100waysyounger/ 

Don’t forget to post a comment on my blog between now and April 15th so you can win!

The finished product. Thanks Ihloff Salon and Day Spa!

March on Mommies!   We don’t have to go down gracefully.