possibility of having wrinkles in the next few years. One major issue is tanning. Frequently tanning not only increases the risk for skin cancer, but also speeds up the aging process of our faces and necks. There’s also so much pressure in today’s world to have perfect, smooth skin. The media is full of advertisements for Botox and similar products that reduce the appearance of aging. As a result, younger and younger women are taking note of the possibility they could soon develop wrinkles. The author of this Glamour article started using anti-aging cream at age 21, but one of her readers started at just 14 years old!
MU sophomore Cassie Yager has been using anti-aging cream for about a year now. She uses Arbonne products as a preventative measure. Because Arbonne products are made in Sweden, the ingredients are carefully chosen. There are more restrictions about what can be used in beauty products in Sweden, as opposed to in the U.S. Cassie uses RE9 Crème for her neck and body and FC5 Lotion for her face. “I use wrinkle products because I’m hoping to prevent wrinkles in the near future,” Cassie says. “I think it’s perfectly normal for women in college to use these creams and lotions because girls tan more often, spend more time in the sun and develop wrinkles much faster.” Cassie’s older sister, who is 31, gave her the idea to start using these products now. She told Cassie she wished she used them when she was in college.
Junior Megan Bocklage uses Estée Lauder Time Zone Line and Wrinkle Reducing Creme on her face. Her mother has used this product for as long as she can remember, and Megan began using it herself as a junior in high school. Megan remembers her mother always having mini packets and samples of it around their house.
Her mother would give them to her to use. Megan believes she’s already beginning to show early signs of frown and squinting lines and crows feet near her eyes, so she wants to stop them from worsening. “I feel like TV ads and new face lotions are coming out all the time and are promoting fighting wrinkles,” Megan says. “This causes young women to feel like they should use them.”
Not only is the media promoting these items, but so is the MU Bookstore. Its Clinique counter sells three different anti-aging products. The gentlest is the Superdefense Cream, which helps prevent visible aging. The next level up is the Youth Surge Moisturizer, a product that helps defeat lines and wrinkles. The most intense product is the Repairwear Cream used to visibly lift lines and make skin more firm. This product is meant to be used on women who have very noticeable wrinkles and lines on their faces. Yet it’s being sold to MU students.
Many college students are taking a stand against wrinkles. They hope that by using these products now, they won’t have to result to Botox and plastic surgery when they’re older. In a culture that emphasizes beauty and perfection, having imperfect skin can be stressful. But we collegiettes™ need to remember there’s no such thing as perfection. American women spend $2 billion on anti-aging creams and potions annually. Is it really necessary?