Elsa Martinelli, throughout her career as a model and actress, has certainly tried her fair share of cosmetics. What does she prefer? “Regular exercise is more effective than expensive stimulating creams, and sleep is a wonderful tonic.” Barbara Buchet, a younger actress, believes that a balanced life and calm love are essential to a woman’s beauty. A weekly face mask or compress, along with a daily cream for the face and neck, is more than enough. Those with oily or combination skin should cleanse their faces every two weeks. Once a week, soak in a hot bath with herbal infusions tailored to your skin type, and take a brief daily shower. Massage rough skin on your hands and feet with a pumice stone and apply a thick layer of cream afterward. After each bath, wipe your body with oil or lotion. Opinions differ on how often to wash hair. Some say wash less frequently; others recommend washing as often as possible. Life suggests washing your hair as often as it needs to be washed. Supporters of the less-frequent method point out that great-grandmothers washed their hair once a month and still had beautiful hair. That might have worked before modern pollution. People once used rainwater for washing hair and cleansing the face, but in today’s polluted environment that’s probably not advisable. I won’t go into body care; it’s been discussed so often that repeating it would be pointless. I’ll also skip obvious things like brushing teeth or trimming nails. The key requirement here is consistency.
Day Off. Everyone should organize their affairs so that they have more free time on Sundays. Do only what you want to do. You can sleep in, read a book, play with the kids, visit friends, or dedicate time to a hobby. But here’s a small note: encourage your family members to join in. For example, if your husband likes to sleep in, let him—then visit a colleague in the afternoon while he watches the child. Mutual tolerance and a good sense of humor help sustain a long marriage, and those qualities can be hard to find. Even during the week, carve out time for relaxation. Natural desires for pleasure are often pushed aside by daily chores and worries. So if you’re faced with the choice of going to the movies or standing in line for the latest “shopping junk,” think about whether that item is truly necessary. Over the years, shift your focus from external beauty to inner well-being. As women age, they can become even more attractive, especially when they combine attention to appearance with spiritual self-improvement. It’s easy to become complacent these days. If you stand still, you’re moving backward. Watching the news daily and reading at least one favorite magazine each week is enough to keep you “on the same wavelength” as men. Remember Magdalena Samozvanets’s words: “A man won’t notice the wrinkles under a woman’s eyes who shares his thoughts, but he will certainly notice them on her stockings.” Since almost every woman hears a nagging voice asking, “Why live this way?” let’s explore how each of us can decide what matters most and how we want to fulfill our desires.
Here are five points to help us give aging a run for its money.
I. Eat less, but eat healthily.
II. Get plenty of movement and exercise.
III. Limit alcohol, nicotine, and spices.
IV. Prioritize sleep and rest.
V. Engage in work and activities you love.
