Sam's Shut Up and Listen 🤫: An Age-Old Tale on Aging
Heyy welcome back club members! So, it's been a little bit (a few days) but in the online world since everything moves so fast it's been like a year in internet time. Anyways, speaking of years, what a year these past two weeks have been! At least for me, that is. I don't want to get into that too much because again my teacher said this blog should not resemble a diary and I'm too tired to recount it all. On that note, I'd like to formally introduce you to my newest segment: "Sam's Shut Up and Listen." (Applause ensues obviously.) For starters, if you couldn't tell I love everything in the world of wordplay, puns, and alliteration, so prepare for a really good one! Also, I know we are living in a time where everything is a reference to something in the past or a remake, but I'm making a remake with this segment title. The whole "Shut Up and Listen," may be way harsh but it only refers to the briefly mentioned talk show of the same name in the classic American film "The Princess Diaries." While it's only the second famous "shut up," in the movie the title refers to Mia's "friend," Lilly who in her talk show "Shut Up and Listen," talked about current events and animal activism. However, if you know anything at all about the first "Princess Diaries" movie you know that you wanted to tell Lilly to shut up! Anyways in my version of "Shut Up and Listen," I will be focusing on a specific issue in the girl world and all you have to do is SHUT UP AND LISTEN! Pretty please. 😘 I am hoping to post this segment once a month on Wednesdays! This may change it all depends on whether or not I've had a good week or had a sweet treat. 😝 But now prepare to SHUT UP AND LISTEN! Also, pretty, please. 😘
The topic for this segment is all about aging, which is kind of a heavy topic in the girl world. Needless to say, our story begins when news first broke out that tweens 🫢 were going into Sephora and making messes with all the testers. More specifically, this applies to aging as what is called "The Sephora kids" have leaned toward products like retinol which is used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. This was one of the many things that, dare I say raised eyebrows, as children are buying anti-aging products. It feels a bit like an oxymoron as symbolically children represent youthfulness and are a hope for society! But now the children God put on earth are buying anti-aging products. From this, another question arises as who is to blame? Is it the parents that are dropping bags for their children to buy these products or is it society that influences a culture of anti-aging? The answer is a mix of both. For one, what parent would spend up to fifty dollars on one Drunk Elephant product for their ten-year-old? Are they drunk? And most importantly, can they spend that kind of money on me because I'm beginning to run out of my supplies? However, playing devil's advocate in regards to the "Sephora kid," as a girl who was once in middle school, I know how hard it is to be a girl in middle school. Though this does not excuse the messes they have made! Overall, everyone in middle school wants to be accepted and now that means using your retinol. But the main reason that these girls are scared of aging is because they see the people who are deemed "cool" online scared about aging.
Now I feel conflicted on this issue because, on one hand, there's the little voice that says, "I look forward to aging I want to have as many wrinkles as possible! Smile lines are memories!" And we all applaud. Because how beautiful of a perspective is that! But in reality, I feel the complete opposite because quite frankly I don't want to have the WIFI logo on my forehead! Yet people boo. Because what a narcissist, horrible example, and exactly what is wrong with society, viewpoint that is! So how exactly, can there be a winner in this game of tug of war? The answer is that we drop the rope because there's nothing wrong with aging, but there's also nothing wrong with taking care of yourself. I think we have gotten this confused. Specifically, real story life story I wear SPF on my face all year round but to someone who has ZERO knowledge about the sun's rays would be like, "You're crazy! Obsessive!" On the other hand, the one that has the whole Miss America speech about "embracing aging," might result in some eyerolls from the crowd. At this point, it's like enough already what do we do? If you want and feel like you should have a skincare routine, then have a skincare routine. But this comes with limitations depending on your actual age and not the one you are pretending to be.
In terms of everything skincare here are some basics you should know. First, your skincare routine does not have to be and SHOULD not be more than three steps. If you have TEN STEPS in your skincare routine to put it nicely that's crazy! How do you even remember all of that? All you really need is a good cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Oh, and how could I forget you need SPF! Don't listen to the non-believers of SPF you should be wearing it year-round! I could go into a whole rant about SPF alone but to keep it simple even if it's cold outside or you are inside UV rays can still penetrate from clouds and windows. To protect yourself from UV rays you should put on a tablespoon of SPF on your face. Also, a lot of non-believers of SPF love to point out that SPF makes you break out or that they have a white cast. To refute this, I say do your research! There are so many types of SPFs out there and there is one that is meant for you and your skincare needs! Following a similar concept, your skincare routine should be based on what your skin needs, not basing it of off what skincare items are trending or in pretty packaging. If you are basing your skincare routine on what products are trending, then you need to touch some grass! Think of it this way skincare products are like musicians; some are really overhyped, and you can never get tickets for them! But then there's that underground band that you can always win the Ticketmaster war and get great seats for a great price! Essentially, if a product that you use isn't trending on TikTok then HOLD ON TO IT! Don't let the wolves get ahold of it and make it sell out!
Finally, as far as using retinol goes the earliest age you should start using it is in your 20s. While retinol is marketed as a product that reduces wrinkles it can also help with uneven skin tones and acne. Furthermore, if you are in your 20s and choose to use retinol you have to go about it carefully. Retinol is no puppy and if you don't prepare your skin to use it correctly it can hurt your skin. First, you have to use a retinol that is appropriate for both you and your skin's age. Some retinols are meant for older skin while others are meant for beginners. First some tips, you should never use it in your morning skincare routine, only at night. Next, you should start using retinol slowly. You can try once a week, and if you don't have issues then try every other day, and if you still don't have any issues then go every night! But if you do have issues specifically if your skin has a bad reaction then stop immediately! Now to prepare your skin for retinol use, first, you should cleanse your skin. Then make sure that your skin is completely dry and clean and now you can apply the retinol. But you should only be applying a pea-sized amount of retinol to your face, no more! After application put on your moisturizer, and do not forget your moisturizer! Then you are all done! Whether you use retinol or not it is all up to you and what you feel like your skin needs. In the end, aging truly is a privilege because you can try all kinds of products and learn what products do and don't work for you!
(Okay, you can talk! Such good listeners! 🤭)
WAIT, I lied shut up again, if you want skincare recommendations let me know! Until further notice, I will be gatekeeping them! Now you can yap away!
XOXO,
Sam 💋🎀
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