AS a beauty editor who has worked in the industry for more than 25 years, I know all the tricks to turn back the ageing clock.
Yet here I am, at 48, embracing every line and wrinkle.
Beauty editor Donna reveals she refuses to get Botox as she doesn’t want to look frozen[/caption]
Online trolls dissected Hollywood star Brooke Shields’ looks to the point where they were comparing her 59-year-old face to her 14-year-old one[/caption]
It is an unconventional choice. Especially in a world where smooth, expressionless faces are seen as the ultimate badge of beauty. Not least in America where I now live.
The States is the land of frozen faces and plastic-looking pores.
And the pressure to conform is undeniable. Hollywood star Brooke Shields has even written a book about it.
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed To Get Old, published last month, became a New York Times bestseller after the former child model made headlines for, dare we say it, visibly ageing.
Some people were so shocked by her wrinkles and age spots that they refused to believe she was the same person.
Online trolls dissected her looks to the point where they were comparing her 59-year-old face to the 14-year-old face that made her famous in 1980 film The Blue Lagoon.
As though visible ageing was some kind of ugly failure.
One troll wrote: “She looks strange. It’s unfortunate because she was beautiful.”
‘Rite of passage’
Another added: “It’s hard to believe she was pretty at one time.”
We’ve become so used to seeing celebrities erase every sign of life from their faces, it’s no surprise there is this ingrained cultural obsession with looking young.
And just like Brooke, I’ve also felt the pressure to erase any sign of maturity from my face.
In my line of work, Botox and fillers are often considered a “rite of passage”.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve stepped into an aesthetician’s office to interview them about the latest innovations, only to be asked: “So I’m presuming you want to try some Botox on those frown lines . . . ”
My answer of “No, I don’t do injectables” is often met with shock and disbelief. Especially as they are offering their services for free.
But here’s the thing: I don’t want to look frozen.
I’ve always had one of those “I can tell what she’s thinking by the look on her face” faces, and I want to keep it that way.
I want my face to tell my kids that I’m thrilled when they get a good grade at school.
And on the flipside, I want them to know when I’m unhappy that they’ve failed a class.
I’ve always had one of those ‘I can tell what she’s thinking by the look on her face’ faces, and I want to keep it that way
And why should I feel the pressure to erase the very wrinkles that have made me “me”? The features that reflect my life and remind me of how far I’ve come?
Young Brooke in famous 1980 film The Blue Lagoon[/caption]
In fact, I have discovered incredible pay-offs in embracing my so-called flaws.
One of the most surprising is how liberating it feels not to have injectables.
It has given me a unique understanding of what it feels like to age naturally.
Surprisingly, it has made me feel even more confident in my work.
I stand proud when testing skincare products, knowing I can truly assess their effectiveness, as I don’t rely on Botox to fix my concerns first.
And then there’s the amazing feedback I’ve had on Instagram. My expressive face helps my followers relate to me more and they praise me for “keeping it real”.
There is something refreshing about this authenticity and vulnerability in a world obsessed with perfection.
As one of my followers on social media put it, “it’s so nice to follow someone that is ageing naturally”.
I was even invited to appear on American TV to talk about the transformative power of ageing with a positive mindset.
It was a proud moment, as it showed how far this message of embracing ageing naturally has resonated and was a reminder that my story can inspire others to redefine beauty standards and celebrate their own unique paths.
But not everyone is ready to embrace this message.
When I posted a TikTok about not having Botox, I was met with a flood of negative comments.
Strangers mocked my wrinkles, dismissed my decision not to have injectables and even suggested I was “letting myself go”.
Some insisted: “Stop making those wrinkles on your forehead while you talk.” My reply? “It’s called expression and I like it.”
It was a harsh reminder of how ingrained society’s obsession with youth and perfection still is.
Yet, those comments only reinforced my mission: To challenge these outdated beauty standards and empower women to feel confident in their own skin, no matter their age.
Natural beauty
This redefining of beauty standards was at the heart of my podcast launch last year.
I created Smiling Gives You Wrinkles to share an empowering message — starting with the name itself — that we don’t need to “fix” ourselves as we age and that embracing your natural beauty can be a positive thing.
Strangers mocked my wrinkles, dismissed my decision not to have injectables .
Through candid conversations with incredible guests including Sex In The City creator Candace Bushnell, EastEnders star Patsy Palmer and Hugh Hefner’s widow Crystal Hefner (who admitted to me that she regretted all of her surgery), listeners discovered that beauty is about so much more than smooth skin.
It’s about confidence, character and living life authentically and unapologetically.
Of course, I catch myself in the mirror or on FaceTime and think: “Oh, where did that line come from? All it would take is a little jab of Botox to sort that out. No one would know.”
But then I remember how proud and happy I feel when I inspire other women to feel comfortable in their own skin too.
Because, while we’re finally seeing more diversity in beauty advertising, there’s still an overwhelming message that ageing is something to fight.
I have teenage sons, but I have seen how their girl friends are tempted to buy retinols and serums that are designed for skincare concerns that they won’t face for years.
Products are marketed as anti-ageing, as if getting older is the enemy. I want to change that.
Getting older is something to strive towards. It is a privilege and not everyone gets to experience it.
I’m not here to shame anyone who chooses Botox or fillers — it’s your face and your choice.
But I am here to say that there is another way.
You don’t have to freeze your face to look beautiful. Ageing naturally is certainly not something to hide.
How much does Botox cost?
BOTOX and anti-wrinkle injections are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments available today.
Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves.
The effects last about three to twelve months, depending on what you are treating.
The NHS website estimates each botulinum toxin injection costs £150-£350 per session.
The price varies depending on how much is used per session, they add.
Botox prices fluctuate depending on where you go to get it done and the number of areas treated.
Some companies offer one area for around the £200 mark, and most offer packages if you want to add more areas to your treatment.
It is worth doing your research before you undergo the treatment – and remember that going ‘cheap’ isn’t always a good idea.
How to keep your skin in the game…
THESE are Donna’s best buys to bring about “real, radiant skin”.
She says of the Elemis cleansing product mentioned below: “This spa-like balm melts away the day.”
Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, £39.20, lookfantastic.com[/caption]
Clarins Double Serum, £58.50, Amazon.co.uk[/caption]
No7 Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate, £33.96, Boots[/caption]
E.L.F Suntouchable Woah Glow SPF30, £13.99, Superdrug[/caption]
