4 Different Approaches to Aging Gorgeously
By Jenny Bailly
Lisa Hallowell, 50
What She's Done
Botox, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, skin-toning laser, highlights
What She'll Never Do
"Never say never."
What She'd Consider
Anything with a proven result (and preferably no cutting)
Why she tried Botox last year: "I had lines across my forehead, and they were starting to bother me."
Why she'll do it again: "I love the softening effect. My gaze doesn't zero in on my forehead anymore when I look in the mirror."
What else she does a couple of times a year: "My dermatologist--who happens to be my brother--gives me a treatment that combines microdermabrasion and a light chemical peel to exfoliate my skin, and a gentle laser that helps shrink pores and calm redness, without any downtime."
How her beauty routine has changed over the past ten years: "When I was 40, I could put on lip gloss and mascara and walk out the door feeling great. Now to feel that confident I also need concealer. And lip liner. And the Botox doesn't hurt."
How she usually feels when she looks in the mirror: "Pretty darn good. What you're feeling inside shows on your face, and most of the time I'm happy. I have wonderful parents, six siblings, a loving husband and son."
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Her Extra Assists
La Roche-Posay Anthelios 45 Ultra Light Fluid for Face
"After some blistering sunburns in my youth, I've been diligent about sunscreen for the past 25 years. I wear it every day without fail."
$30, Laroche-Posay.us.
Burt's Bees Super Glossy Lip Shine
"I think my skin looks more youthful and dewy when I wear a light lip gloss instead of a lipstick. I always have this one in my bag."
$7, BurtsBees.com.
Kérastase Bain Volumactive Shampoo
"I've always had very fine hair-but I never bother with styling products. This shampoo bulks up my hair without adding an extra step to my routine."
$36, Kerastase-usa.com.
Top, Banana Republic, $60, BananaRepublic.com. Earrings, La Vie Parisienne by Catherine Popesco, $44, Emi-Jay.com. Necklace, Helen Ficalora, $240, 877-754-2676.
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Kimberly Cascarino, 42
What She's Done
Monthly chemical peels, light laser resurfacing, hair dye
What She'll Never Do
A face lift.
What She'd Consider
Botox, fillers, an eyelift
Why her job keeps her young: "I'm a registered nurse and medical aesthetician, and I work in a dermatologist's office. With patients looking at my skin every day, I'm motivated to make sure my complexion is smooth and even. I give myself light peels--with citric acid--once a month, and every night I use a lotion with an alpha-hydroxy acid that exfoliates my skin and keeps it clear."
Her first foray into laser treatments: "Several months ago, I got three treatments with Fraxel's Clear + Brilliant laser. It's the gentlest Fraxel treatment you can do--no downtime at all. It lightened some discoloration that I had on my cheeks."
The bullet she's dodged...so far: "I didn't get serious about sunscreen until my late 20s, so I'm lucky more sun damage hasn't appeared by now."
Her nutrition regimen: "I don't diet, but I'm careful about portion size. I drink a lot of water. I'm not a great sleeper, so I quit caffeine four years ago. I've never smoked and rarely drink."
The makeup she uses every day: "Concealer, foundation, blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, lip pencil, and lip gloss. I'm wearing less makeup for this story than I wear to go to work--maybe I've been overdoing it!"
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Her Extra Assists
Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 45
"I'm the lady on the beach under the umbrella in a cover-up, huge hat, and sunglasses-slathered in sunscreen."
$9.50, drugstores.
LaseResults PM Focused Repair Lotion
"The doctor I work with makes this product. It contains a blend of ingredients that stimulate collagen and encourage cell turnover."
$85, LaseResults.com.
CoverGirl and Olay Simply Ageless Concealer
"I have bluish undereye circles, and it does a great job of hiding them without looking cakey."
$12, drugstores.
Blazer, Vince Camuto, $165, VinceCamuto.com. Tank top and pants, Magaschoni, $120 and $248, Magaschoni.com. Earrings, Gioielli by Nikki Baker, $225, NikkiBaker.com.
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Genevieve Young, 81
What She's Done
A facelift, an eyelift (twice), laser treatments for dark spots
What She'll Never Do
Botox or fillers, hair dye
What She'd Consider
Another eyelift
Why she decided to get plastic surgery: "Vanity. I'm not concerned about passing for younger; I just wanted to look better. My droopy eyes were making me look tired, and my sagging jawline really bothered me."
Why she's never considered Botox or fillers: "I'm completely needle-phobic. I don't even have pierced ears. But a facelift? No problem, because I'm asleep the whole time. I know--it's ridiculous."
Why she let her hair go white: "My hair grows quickly, and I couldn't be bothered to color it every four weeks."
How she's not her mother's daughter: "My mother is 106 and still colors her hair pitch-black."
What keeps her active-despite a professed lack of athletic ability: "Lots and lots of lessons--tennis, ice skating. I had to stop skiing in my late 70s. Now I do ballroom dancing three times a week. That really works up a sweat-and it's easier on my knees."
The person she credits for her age-defying posture: "The 'secret posture marker' at my boarding school in the 1940s. No one knew who he or she was, but we all got a posture grade every month; if it was below a B you had to go to posture class. I always got an A."
Why she thinks she looks better today than she did 40 years ago: "My haircolor is more beautiful. And I've gained 20 pounds."
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Her Extra Assists
Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo
"I use it every once in a while to get yellow tones out of my hair."
$10, drugstores.
Eyelash extensions
"My lashes have gotten sparse, so I've tried extensions. Without them, I always wear mascara. And every morning, I line my eyes with a black kohl pencil."
Lubriderm Daily Moisture Lotion
"I put it all over my body and my face after I bathe. I had acne in my 30s and I'm still afraid of breaking out, so I would never use a heavy cream on my face."
$8.50, drugstores.
Shirt, Marina Rinaldi, $150, 212-734-4333. Pants, Lafayette 148 New York, $278, Bloomingdale's, 800-555-7467. Bracelet, Robindira Unsworth, $150, Robindira.com. Thread bracelet, Chloe + Isabel, $32, ChloeandIsabel.com.
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Nancy Gibson, 53
What She's Done
Monthly spa facials
What She'll Never Do
Anything that involves a scalpel
What She'd Consider
Anything short of a scalpel
Her beauty role model: "My mother is 88 and stunning. She's never put anything on her skin except moisturizer, and she's always been very active--she still swims four times a week. I'd love to look like her in my 80s, so I'm following her example."
A portfolio of her beauty investments (she spent 20 years in finance): "Ninety-five percent fitness and nutrition. Five percent haircare, skincare, and makeup."
The 95 percent: "I do Pilates two or three times a week and walk and hike regularly. I consider sleep part of fitness--you have to be disciplined about getting quality rest. I eat a lot of green vegetables and drink green vegetable juices."
The 5 percent: "My makeup consists of ChapStick, an eyebrow pencil, and a pair of sunglasses...do they count? But skincare is a different story: I love experimenting with products. Every morning and evening, I wash my face, then apply a serum and moisturizer."
One age-defying secret that's hard to quantify: "Love. The comfort and support of feeling loved keeps me from focusing on, or stressing about, physical imperfections."
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Her Extra Assists
YSL Eyebrow Pencil in #5
"This is the only real makeup I own. My brows are thin; filling them in gives more definition to my face."
$28, yslbeautyus.com.
Murad Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement Pack
"These vitamins claim to firm your skin. I don't know about that, but they're great multivitamins, and they come in convenient morning and evening packets. I also take extra vitamin D, fish oil, and probiotics."
$138, Murad.com.
Water
"I drink two to three liters of water every day because I believe hydration is good for my skin."
Dress, Edith A. Miller, $180, Bonadrag.com. Belt, Burberry, $275, Burberry.com. Bangles, T Tahari, $85 and $95, Dillards.com. Shoes, Bottega Veneta, $610, Couture.Zappos.com.
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