I took these photos in my backyard, on a small hill, above our house in Genalguacil, Andalucia. I wore a vintage 90-year-old kimono that is absolutely divine. I was surrounded by the mountains, cork oak trees, olive trees, and oak trees. Everything around me was OLD, yet astonishingly beautiful and alive.
You, my reader, and I can agree that my kimono and the trees, even if time passed over them, like many, many years, have a beauty that can't be denied no matter the years, the generations, or the tastes. And the only thing they need to thrive is water, air, and good care.
Now, let's repeat the same exercise, but with me; I was not wearing any makeup, only a lip gloss, because my lips were too dry. In 3 weeks, I'll be 38. I don't have any interventions. No Botox, nothing. The photos are unfiltered; nothing was retouched.
What does come into your mind when you see me? My face? My eyes? My skin?
I sometimes receive remarks like:
"Oh, wow, you look so good for your age"; "This photo makes you look older" ; "You have big bags under your eyes. Are you sleeping enough?"; Aren't you afraid to grow older?; "Wait and see when your skin is saggy."; "Oh, you are almost 40".
Almost everything is about being old and getting older, about the physical aspects of this so normal period of our lives, yet too little about taking care of ourselves. I have read and heard many times that how you take care of yourself between the ages of 35 and 45 will affect your health for the rest of your life. So I am living these years now.
Why do we deny or fear getting older? Why can we admire nature's beauty but not our own, as we are part of this universe? Why is it so hard to understand that maybe self-care is the most important thing we can do for ourselves as women, to age gracefully and healthily, not to stop or prevent ageing?
I am almost 38 (on January 31st), and somehow I've never felt better in my skin and with my body. Like never! Even though I have a child, time has passed over my body, I lacked discipline, and my diet isn't exactly the healthiest. But I learnt, and am still learning to understand, that self-care is ESSENTIAL.
I would rather not fight time but nourish myself through it. I know I am lucky to be here, to celebrate my 38th birthday, to be healthy. So I only have one wish for my birthday: I don't promise myself eternal youth, but care; care for my body, my skin, my bones, and my nervous system. I have wrinkles, I have many imperfections, and I am not happy with them, but they are present. I can't deny them, and I don't want, at least now, any kind of interventions.
So I want to age with grace, to develop healthy habits because now I know that ageing beautifully starts from within. And when I say beauty, I am not talking about societal standards. I aim to look like myself, not like others, and I appreciate the beauty of other women without feeling frustrated. I mean the beauty that some women have naturally because they take care of, respect, and love themselves, despite their flaws. I truly wish I could age like the trees above and that surround my house in Genalguacil, Andalucia.
I also chose to use a mirror in these photos because I wanted to look at myself the way I look at nature: without judgement or the urge to correct, to enhance, or to improve. The mirror reflects not only my face and body but also time, care, and acceptance. It serves as a reminder that how we see ourselves matters as much as how we take care of ourselves.
More than simply an ad, this article represents a decision I made, a commitment to my older self: I am prioritising my well-being.
How do I do that? Well, starting last year, in November, I began to consume M18 Beauty Collagen Pro for skin, hair, and nails. I want to highlight this: I don't trust and I don't promote products that promise miraculous results. Taking care of yourself requires hard work and involves many aspects, not just taking supplements. But as I wrote in my previous articles (you have the links below), this collagen helped me so much with my hair regeneration (look at my baby hair!!!) and improved my skin texture. I don't look younger, and I would rather not look younger, but I want to assist my body from within to be healthy and strong. I help it; it helps me.
I also began taking M35 Magnesium Complete Formula. It's far too soon to talk about feedback or results, because I've just started to take the supplements, but as I am a person who struggles with poor sleep habits, with anxiety, and with stress, I am the perfect candidate to try this M35 Magnesium Complete Formula.
You can read here, here, here and here about my personal journey with these products.
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These products represent dietary supplements. Read the leaflet or the information on the packaging carefully. If any unpleasant reactions occur, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
*This article is part of a fantastic collaboration with RepublicaBIO, a Romanian business that I admire.
*wearing the Kimono for Life kimono, the Zea et Sia bracelet and the Atelier Devi necklace.
