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The word “anti-aging” is often used in the beauty field. From skincare brands touting “Botox in a Bottle” serums to “non-surgical facelift” tools, having young, firm, plump skin is the standard of beauty. In medical terminology, “anti-aging refers to procedures and medications aimed at reversing or preventing the physical, mental, and psychological characteristics associated with aging,” says the board-certified plastic surgeon. ASPS President Dr. Stephen Williams told ESSENCE. .
Last year, scientists at Harvard Medical School discovered a “chemical cocktail” that could reverse the aging process with just one pill. Their research shows that this whole-body rejuvenation drug not only reduces age-related illnesses and injuries, but also reduces the appearance of aging (wrinkles, gray hair, aging muscles, etc.) within a week. “Since time immemorial, humans have done everything they can to prevent death,” Willams says. “Getting older means admitting that the fight is futile.” In other words, “anti-aging” is the beauty industry’s magic pill for making you look and feel younger.
Profiting from the desire to avoid aging, the aesthetic industry has built a $71.6 billion global anti-aging market filled with retinoids, sunscreens, and tweaks to prevent and treat aging. Did. “It’s easy to be fooled, and it’s easy to believe untrue promises from manufacturers, social media, and people around you,” Williams says. That’s why “the term ‘anti-aging’ is a little misleading,” added celebrity esthetician Shani Darden. Fixing the prefix “anti” to the terms that define our existence can do more harm than good, especially if we don’t know how to find the beauty in an aging look like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. There is a gender. “While you can take proper steps to care for your skin and minimize the signs of aging, aging is a natural and inevitable process,” says Darden.
But anti-aging trends aren’t just targeting mature skin. This year, the rise of “Sephora tweens” and demand for drugstore Active Him serums have shown that Gen Z and Alpha are the latest recipients of preventive beauty trends to maintain their looks. “There’s been a huge boom in interest in skin care among much younger generations these days, and I think it’s great to develop good skin care habits early on,” Darden says, adding that as we age, Build appearance expectations accordingly. “That said, there are a lot of ingredients, such as retinol, that are not necessary for very young skin,” she says, adding that their use for chronic acne is case-by-case.
But in Williams’ plastic surgery practice, his patients “typically don’t use the term ‘anti-aging’ at all.” Instead, they directly seek plastic surgery and medication to adjust their body and facial appearance. She said younger patients tend to seek liposuction, contouring and breast augmentation to improve their body shape, while older patients seek anti-aging facelifts, blepharoplasty and blepharoplasty to correct sagging and wrinkles. He pointed out that there is a tendency to rely on Botox.
However, despite age-reversing drugs and retinol-rich skin care routines, “the term ‘anti-aging’ can create unrealistic expectations and encourage the idea that the aging process can be reversed.” There is a sex.” [all together]” Darden says, which leads to frustration, disappointment, and empty wallets (and promises). “It’s no secret that as we get older, there are subtle negative pressures that affect every aspect of our lives,” Williams added, adding that women are under more pressure to look younger. added. (Think of today’s “girlcore” beauty trend.)
That’s why it’s important to change the narrative of trying to reverse or “fix” age and instead improve the health of your skin and body. “It’s important to allow people to pursue their own personal things.” [aesthetic] But it has to be accompanied by an overall recognition that growing older is a good thing and anything else is generally undesirable,” Williams says. After all, “aging is a natural part of life, and growing older is a privilege,” Darden concludes. “Rather than just trying to reverse the clock, we recommend promoting healthy skin at all ages.”
