Moms Earn Their Fine Lines & Wrinkles

This week, we celebrate Mothers across the globe! Moms are often the unsung heros, nurturing and binding us as a family. They're there for us when we are hurting and there to celebrate our joys. We came to the U.S. from Seoul when my Mom was a very young 27 year-old with all of her hopes for a better life, before the years of a difficult life took its toll on her; before I noticed that she was a human being who had hopes and dreams just like I did and do. If you have parents who immigrated, you know first-hand how hard it is to grasp a new language, a new way of life, let alone how to earn a living. I would love to tell you that we had a wonderful, loving relationship over the years, but that wasn't our story. She could be harsh, but somehow, she managed to get across to me how much she loved me in her own way. She taught me how to stand up for myself, persevere, work hard and to be independent. I am a firm believer that we experience difficulties in our lives to set us up so that we can handle what inevitably comes our way later; this is the silver lining. These traits helped me get through some very tough times and for that, I am grateful to be my Mother's Daughter. I have been blessed with my own beautiful daughter for whom I love unconditionally and would do anything to keep her safe, happy and healthy.

Let's celebrate our Mothers this week and share with them how much they mean to us. In honor of all Mothers out there, we will be focusing on how to minimize those fine lines that lead to wrinkles. There's no stopping the clock, but we can make the aging process more graceful, starting with understanding what causes fine lines and wrinkles:

Age - the fine lines usually start in your mid to late twenties. They seriously pop up overnight! For those of us with more melanin in our skin, it takes a little longer. You'll notice that your skin has less bounce or less elastin. The oils and fats in your skin diminish, allowing for more visible lines.

Sun - UV or ultraviolet light damages the collagen and connective tissue. Use sunscreen, religiously! And stay out of the sun as much as possible. I sunbathed in my teens without sunscreen and I now have dark spots all over my face.

Lack of hydration - Think of your skin like a healthy plant, it needs sufficient water to keep up that plump appearance.

Lifestyle Choices - Drinking excessive alcohol and smoking can speed up the aging process. Remember the smoking woman who sunbathed all the time in the movie, "There's Something About Mary?" You don't want to be her.

There's no shortcut to great skin, even with good genes. It's like a garden, weed out the impurities with exfoliants, water with gentles washes and toners, and fertilize with sunscreens, serums and moisturizers. Have a stay-at-home spa day with your Mom...what a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day together!

Happy Mother's Day week!

Lynda