Okanagan Woman Magazine

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Things my mother didn't teach me

If my mother applied nightly skin creams to her face and neck, I never witnessed it. In my parents' home, make-up was taboo,  reserved for 'hussies' or paradoxically, a 'special outing' like a wedding - and even then, only if you were old enough to vote. My high school friends painted their eyelids blue and fluttered eyelashes enhanced with mascara. I, on the other hand, was content to avoid my parents' disapproval and escape what I considered a time consuming task.
 
When I was old enough to go out for an evening, I often waited impatiently whilst friends ritualistically applied moisturizer and make-up.  As long as I didn't have a run in my pantyhose I was a happy camper.
 
So ... here's the thing.  I have never got in the habit of following a skin care regiment.
 
But now, I am the publisher / editor of a women's magazine. Perhaps it is time. There are expectations now. 
 
Based on suggestions from my BFF, Lorna - who understands these things - and from the very nice lady in the cosmetics department at London Drugs in Vernon, I have selected Vichy products.
 
I confess that I was also influenced by the very attractive packaging. I purchased Vichy Liftactiv "global anti-wrinkle & firming care (i.e. moisturizer), on sale for $44 and Liftactiv Serum 10, "youth enhancing" serum (i.e. anti-wrinkle stuff) on sale for $36.
 
I am a novice. Please remember this fact as you read on.
 
You might expect a 53 year old to know the basics of skin care. Some things are so obvious, do they need to be explained in detail on the product packaging? Well, yes. Even my shampoo bottle tells me to wash rinse repeat.
 
So, here I was inspecting my smile lines in the bathroom mirror, wondering which to apply first - the moisturizer or the serum.  I could not find any instructions on the bottles or the boxes in which they came. It is possible that I simply cannot see the instructions, since the text on the packaging is a size 3 font.  Tip for the folks at Vichy - the majority of women who require these particular products will be over the age of 40 and are likely experiencing difficulty reading the fine print. 
 
Without the necessary instructions, I sent a text to Lorna asking for guidance. She immediately questioned how the women who influenced my formative years could have failed me so miserably that I don't even know how to apply moisturizer.
 
"I just want to know which to apply first," I said.
 
Her disappointment at my lack of knowledge was palpable. She inserted a sad smiley at the beginning of her text :-(  and I could hear her judgemental tone whipping through cyberspace.
"After you use your toner, you apply the serum. Then the moisturizer."
 
Toner? Nobody said anything about toner!
 
I'll continue this story after I purchase the toner.