That topic is aging, and more specifically, why some people age faster than others and how to prevent this.
First of all, I think that someone with dry skin is going to age much faster than someone with extremely oily skin. Dry skin shows its wrinkles more so and requires intense moisturisation.
Some have tried to debunk this, but it's pretty much a fact. Skin that is dry does not have the advantage of oiler skin; of course, the drawback about oily skin is that it leads to more blemishes, and the subsequent disfiguring scars, so you take the good with the bad here. On the other hand, dry and normal skin looks great when you're young -- it generally appears flawless. Those with oily skin will be blotting their skin a lot when younger. I know women in their late fifties (my mother for example) who still have very oily skin.
Sometimes women with oily skin even have no wrinkles around their eyes as they age, or else the wrinkles are just very fine; this is because even their eyelids become oily. Of course, this doesn't help when wearing eye makeup.
Secondly, aging is also due to sun exposure. Always, always, always stay out of the sun as much as possible! The sun's rays destroys collagen, and collagen is what keeps the skin looking healthy.
Here is a photo of very sun-damaged skin:
I have also heard from someone who is vegetarian (as I am), that a vegetarian diet is better for the skin. Something about how the acids from the meat destroys collagen; however, others say that protein is good for the skin. I tend to think that too much protein builds up acid and is not beneficial for the skin.
(Of course, with all of the protein substitutes out here nowadays, it isn't necessary to even have to eat meat; and of course, there are also range-free eggs for protein, but eggs are still acidic.)
A third factor is facial structure. Women with heavier, stronger facial features are often said to age well, but it's actually the opposite. Heaver features, including large cheekbones with lots of fat deposits on them (which look healthy when one is younger), will sag as the muscles and fat on the face weaken as one ages. This leads to a drooping appearance.
(I was going to post photos of celebrities who have sagging facial features, but then I thought it was kind of mean; you can do your own investigation.)
Faces that have a weaker facial structure, generally speaking, like those with round (but not too heavy) faces, tend to age slowly because there isn't a whole lot there to succumb to gravity as quickly. (I would rather say that a weak facial structure is actually a more "soft" facial structure.) Also, women with more defined facial structures such as very high cheekbones and stronger jaws will tend to look older as the fat deposits recede, leaving a more gaunt appearance. Those with softer facial structure, as long as not underweight, will retain a softer look because the bones of the face will not be as evident.
Celebrities with more delicate, round faces often appear child-like into their thirties, forties, and beyond. Vincent Perez said that Isabelle Adjani looked like a teenager while filming La Reine Margot. She was nearly forty at the time. These are three celebrities who have child-like or soft facial structures (Isabelle Adjani, Thora Birch, and Christina Ricci):
It is also said that women past the age of forty should not try to be extreme dieters. It ages you. A little fat keeps one looking healthy. The same with the body. An aging body actually loses fat, and women/men who keep exercising and dieting as they age will look skeletal because the fat will be gone and the bones start to become more evident.
This is a famous picture of a celebrity (I won't say who because this is not "The Enquirer") who has become almost skeletal in appearance:
Of course, it is also a good idea to maintain a healthy weight. Too much weight gain definitely also ages the face and body. This is a famous male celebrity at the beach:
(By the way, famous ex-model Oleda, has some facial exercises she claims can help help reverse or partially reverse the sagging of the facial features. See this link for more information: Face Lifting, Self-Taught. )
Another tip to prevent aging is to stop smoking. It's said that after five years of smoking, permanent damage is done. People are often surprised when they learn that famous model Erin Wasson is only twenty-seven years old. It is said that this is due to her habit of smoking. I was quite shocked myself, as I thought she was in her early thirties, at least.
Despite this, the most important advice I can give to anyone, regardless of their skin type or features, is to protect your skin from the sun. It is the only aspect here which most people can have control over.
I personally never leave the house without sunscreen. There are cruelty-free choices you can try, but I know that these are difficult to find, so I will dedicate my next post to finding good cruelty-free sunscreens.
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