For me, it was my neck, and then I moved onto the lines around my mouth and then quickly after that and then it was just everything. One day it just decided to age faster than the rest of me. Honestly, I felt like I’d skipped a decade overnight.
I even booked a Botox consultation. (Spoiler: I cancelled it. My husband was thrilled as he didn’t want me to do it.)
The truth? That stage became my focus for a wee while. I obsessed. I compared. I felt like I was fighting a losing battle. But here I am, a few years later, feeling completely different. Stronger. Calmer. Kinder to myself.
A lot has changed since I first noticed the shift. For one, I started being kinder to my body. I cut back on the rubbish food (not all the time), got moving again, and finally shifted that pesky half-stone that made everything feel tight and uncomfortable. It wasn’t about a number - it was about how I felt in my skin. Healthier. More in control. More me.
Somewhere along the way, the vanity softened too. I still love clothes, I still want to look good, but my perspective shifted. I’ve accepted that ageing isn’t the enemy. It’s a gift. One that, heartbreakingly, not everyone gets. A beautiful friend of mine was denied that gift at just 40 - and I hold onto that as a reminder that growing older is something to be grateful for, even when it feels a bit overwhelming.
So here I am, another year older, and honestly? I feel better than I have in years. Not perfect. Not glossy. But grounded. And that’s worth more than any anti-wrinkle serum.
My tips for feeling better in your skin (and your soul):
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Sort your hormones. If you're feeling off, talk to someone. Whether it's HRT or just honest chats with your gal pals, don’t go it alone. You’re not broken. You're probably just missing a bit of balance.
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Move your body - your way. I love a good early-morning power walk or a stroll after dinner. Bonus points for doing both! Add in some dumbbells and 10-15 minutes of YouTube routines a few times a week - you’ll be amazed at how strong you can feel. I do love a good class but it’s just too hard to fit it into my life, but if you can find one that you can do, then do it and stick to it.
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Do it with a friend. Me and my bestie have taken up cycling. It's fun, it keeps us moving, and yes - there's usually coffee and cake involved.
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Look after your skin. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. If it feels good on your face, it’s the right one. A nice facial now and then is good for the soul too - great suggestions to the family for what you want for your birthday!
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Keep laughing. Honestly, sometimes being a woman is chaos. The hormones. The brain fog. The "what’s for tea" every single night. Who signed us up for that?! But there’s magic in the madness, especially when you’ve got a gang of women around you who just get it.
Some days, I wonder if I talk about hormones more than anything else. And maybe that’s okay. Because when we talk, we connect. We feel seen. And we remind each other that this phase of life might be messy, but it’s also part of our life journey and as rubbish it can be, sometimes we just need to accept it and make it work for us.
As Audrey Hepburn said: "And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows."
So, here’s to ageing, embracing, laughing, lifting (our moods and our dumbbells), and living it all with heart.
