From Debra D. Bass, hands down the most enlightened Fashion Editor in the news industry:
Aging is not optional, so forgive me if I’m a little annoyed by the “anti-age” marketing bandwagon.
It does not fill my heart with glee to imagine a world of Dorian Grays smiling devilishly at every compliment. You can’t cheat time, turn it back or ignore it without consequences.
One important consequence may be your current sense of well-being. Is your happiness tied to looking younger than (pick a number)?
Me? I like aging … as the quip goes “it beats the alternative.”
Yet, right now, we are being convinced that if we spend, slather and baste ourselves enough with the right combination of elixirs and procedures that we can all join Peter Pan in some kind of cosmeceutical Neverland.
I’m worried.
…
In the past few weeks, I’ve been offered samples of anti-aging shampoo, anti-aging nail polish and anti-aging perfume. Yes, perfume. It is now possible to smell younger.
In response to the ridiculousness, I’ve adopted a pro-aging policy.
Read the full column here.
Newsweek recently caused a furor for running a cover exposé attacking Oprah Winfrey for promoting controversial and potentially dangerous anti-aging products and treatments.
It’s unfortunate that someone as influential as Oprah embraces such a strong anti-aging view point. I sincerely hope and believe that will change with time. If I had the chance, I would tell Oprah what I told Debra for the column above:
Age should bring a gradually increasing acceptance of who you are. You become better acquainted with yourself and if you’re lucky you become happier with who you are.
So I’m losing my capacity for arithmetic at bedtime.
I really don’t know if this is off-topic or not, but I heard that today is the birthday of Anne Frank. She would have been 80. I’m almost 71. What hit me is that I have enjoyed 55 years of life since her concentration camp death at age 15. And we’re concerned about wrinkles?