Welcome to How Not to F*ck Up Your Face. For nearly 16 years I was the beauty director at O, The Oprah Magazine, where many thousands of readers confided in me their issues about beauty, and found helpful suggestions in my monthly “Ask Val” column.
My goal continues to be to shift our thinking in the beauty arena from self-criticism to self-compassion. So if you’re interested in feeling happier about your appearance—especially as you age—you might like reading what I have to say about it. I want to tell you about a new way to look at yourself, a strategy that can have serious and lasting implications about how you feel about what you see in the mirror. I’m going to help you understand why noticing the age in your face can be so distressing. It’s probably not what you think. I want to share good news about kindness and how it relates to perceptions of beauty that can give your spirit (and yes, maybe your face) a lift. We’ll look at common complaints women have about our appearance and, of course, the options for resolving our conflicts about them. You’ll get practical advice about skincare as well as over-the-counter and professional treatment options—what really works to get the prettiest skin possible, the fewest wrinkles and fine lines, least discoloration, firmest tone and texture, what exactly telegraphs increased age and how to minimize those cues. That advice may save you considerable angst and a nice piece of change. But I hope it will also save a piece of your soul.
Please let me know what you’re thinking, too. I look forward to answering your beauty questions and hope we can create a forum to exchange ideas (as well as treatment and product suggestions). For now, all posts are free; but there may be exclusive content and threads in the future.
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At my age, I'm just happy to see a face in the mirror! But I always love to reading your writing, so I look forward to this.
Can't wait for first issue!