An adventure of a different type

So, as mentioned last week, I am planning on starting a anti-aging regiment. Well , I have purchased all the creams I can afford now. The brand chosen Loreal . Simply because they were on sale, came with bonus items and well I also had a coupon. It truly was the only way to afford it. And if after a couple months I see no improvement, or very little, I shall dial back to a more simple course of action such as just my tinted moisturizer and night cream.

I shall give updates via Tuesday's check in days. So we will cover weight loss/ fitness journey that day as well as anti-aging, and maybe even a way that I have pampered myself in the past week...something that does not cost a lot, but will reward all my efforts.

I am going to be brave here and share some really horrible photos. My face, naked for the world to see and close up, and because I am using my husbands computer ( mine is in the repair shop for up to 8 weeks!!) and he does not have photo shop...there will be no editing either !

So Photo number one. It is of me, not smiling, and fresh out of the shower. I do not even recognize myself, but I suppose it is what my family sees and the lady at the gas station when I go in for morning coffee:

 

Photo number two is me smiling, and the way it shows all my deep lines....

Photo three...bigger grin..yes I am faking wanting to smile. Besides it really shows EVERYTHING, I am also sick at the moment and very tired and sore all over. BUT it truly does show what the last two years of HUGE amounts of stress, being an insomniac for many years an just not doing much for my skin over the years and sun exposure has done to me at age 44. Just about three years back people could not believe that I had a daughter that was 23, now there is no question.

 

Now here in photos 4 and 5, I did them in black and white and really close up to really show the deep set lines....

    

And in this final photo...taken recently on a road trip adventure that I hope to share with you over the weekend, is me with make up..you can still see the crepe like skin..my eyes are covered, but it is more so to show the texture of my skin even with make up....something I had not really noticed till this photo and while cropping it, saw...maybe I was trying to ignore it. 

I also see all the deep lines, given some are earned from smiling , and it is just the lines I got from doing so over the years. But I would like to firm up that crepe look ...maybe reverse some of the damage. 

I also see that now I have colored my hair again, that it is lacking highs and lows, so may be of need of highlights...still trying to decide on a perfect length that is easy care, easy to color and easy to style, now that I have decided to go back to short hair and stay there. 

Then I would also like to whiten my teeth....with all the coffee and red wine, health issues and such, they have taken a beating. I NEED dental implants, and I pray daily that my teeth will last until we can swing monthly payments so that I can indeed, if I qualify get them. I was told many years ago I would need constant dental care and may have dentures by my mid 30's, well I am in my mid 40's and have not been able to afford dental care for a very long time...what with no insurance, or if we did have it, one of the girls needed their teeth worked on, have oral surgery or braces or all of the above. Time and time again I have put myself last, as has my husband when it comes to dental and health related issues. We have resigned ourselves to our fate, whatever it may be for our teeth and just pray it does not effect our health health and life, as I know that it can. Till then we care for them the best that we can. 

So below is a photo of the products I shall be using in my mini battle ...

So let the anti aging, self improvement adventure begin!