41, aging, can’t hide it any longer - Juls Roulston gets honest about aging...

Juls Roulston is the editor of www.fashionz.co.nz - she blogs for Beauty Bible on the honest truth about aging...

About three years ago I made a pact with dear friend Sheena, that we would not buy into the cult of youth and have Botox (nor by extension cosmetic surgery).  I remember feeling proud we were making a stand and slightly superior to those who succumb.  Aging seemed distant and a little humorous.

Well THAT was three years ago.  Now I’ve had another baby and am well beyond my 40th and the pact still stands – but it ain’t so easy to stand firm – if you’ll excuse the pun!  Holding/concealing the aging process is like putting your finger in the dyke – every time you seal one “hole” another leak breaks out.

And yes, I do need to conceal it!  As the editor of a fashion publication I am expected to look as good as my colleagues and competitors, and rogue grey hairs don’t help.

So here my friends is a litany of what you too may be experiencing – and if you ain’t yet, let me warn you it happens to all of us!

Grey Hair

I’m a dark brunette with very thick, straight hair.  Controlling it has been a challenge over the years but now Mon Dieu there is greying to deal with.  Noone warns you that greys have a nasty wire-like texture compared to the rest of your hair.

Cleverly, I thought, my cherished hairdresser Fraser and I decided I would s-l-o-w-l-y go lighter over the years so the greys contrast less.  But you know what?  I am much spunkier dark.  Lighter I look a bit faded out and that’s before the colour itself starts to fade.

Wrinkles

In the past my fellow brunette bestie Meg and I have chortled meanly at our gorgeous blonde friends, whose delicate skin has long been more prone to fine lines.  Ooops.  I now am the proud bearer of three deep horizontal lines across my forehead.  After many years this has led me to reintroduce THE FRINGE which while cute is still a pain in the a%^, even with the assistance of thank-God-for GHDs.

Jowls

Terrified.  Inescapable.  Have a look at the beautifully maintained Paula Ryan’s jawline (forgive me Paula) – if it is going to happen to her, it’s going to happen to all of us.

Wrinkly décolletage

Oh DAMNIT!  I don’t sunbathe any more but I am vainly and stupidly cavalier when walking, only applying sunscreen to my nose.  Have recently realised this is a stupid mistake.  Caught myself at a function a few months ago looking a bit like an old slapper wearing a bit of cleavage, quite a lot of makeup and heels.  Well, wrinkly chest skin just kind of goes with that look, doesn’t it?!

‘noxious Knockers

This has got to be a cosmic joke.  Having been small busted (and self conscious) half my life, I am now more endowed than I’d like.  That middle age spread starts high.  The über-boobs distort your clothing and suddenly your tops are too short, revealing THE GUT.  More about that later.  (Thank you God that I don’t yet have boob sag to deal with, but looking at the rest of this it’s bound to come).

Bingo wings

Not yet thank you Dear God.

Age spots

On my HANDS!  I kid you NOT!

Spare tyre a.k.a. THE GUT

I have recently heard a terrifying term for this – admittedly it may be traveling into the future a little but here you go – MENOPOT.  Tell me, having had a flat stomach and what I thought were big thighs most of my life, how can I suddenly have gone to having no waist, something distasteful I have to suck in on the front of my body, and – I can’t even bear to say it – BACK FAT.  Thigh worry is a distant and fond memory!

Those of you under 40 probably have no idea what back fat is but I am here to tell you it’s like an unwanted surprise guest that arrives and stays, and stays, and stays!   And you can’t suck back fat in.  I’m not going to describe to you exactly where it is, just ask someone post 40.

What next?

Thankfully the decline seems to stop at my hips for now.  Will let you know if varicose veins or some other unimaginable evil comes into play.

Fortunately I know that 2-3 workouts a week over as few as 10 weeks WILL effect the spare tyre (did a Les Mills research trial last year).  Figure as my adored little boy grows older I will have more time in my life and will get back to the gym again.

Considerable comfort in the fact that all dear friends of the same vintage are deteriorating at more or less the same rate (and I think they are mostly more beautiful than ever because I know what they have survived and achieved while age set in).

My 100% younger office mates are never going to look at me in the same light again after this expose (never mind industry colleague) – but if it’s given you a giggle or a “whew!  Her too!” then it’s worth it.

Love
Julie - www.fashionz.co.nz