Every year, I remember my dad saying he didn’t like the word 'birthday' because it didn’t really reflect his feelings about aging. He thought the more appropriate way to express it was to say, “Happy New Year” since this was really your personal new year, full of opportunity and optimism. I didn’t get it when I was a kid, but I get it now - and he was spot on!

The older I get, the more I realize the difference between aging and getting older. Aging is about function, getting older is about time. Once we hit our 40s, we begin to have two birthdays and the number attached to our age is the less important of the two.  

Aging gracefully is an active process, and only a small part is genetic. As we get older, it's a more active process that benefits from not only diet and skincare, but also from gentle in-office treatments to help maintain balance and proportion. Most of how we age is related to lifestyle choices like being sun smart, a good diet, a positive attitude, and of course, the right skincare. 

Here's some lifestyle choices I make to look and feel my best at every age:

• Diet: I minimize simple sugar, processed foods, and alcohol.
• Supplements: I take quite a few, but I also carefully monitor and see my doctor regularly to make sure I’m on track and healthy.
• Exercise: I love my Peloton and walk 2.5 miles each way to and from work.
• Mindfulness: I listen to The Waking Up App daily; it makes such a difference! 
• Sleep: I use my Oura Ring to measure my sleep quality and make changes as needed to ensure I get not only enough sleep, but also quality sleep.
• Hormone Replacement: This may not be right for everyone, but the conversation around it is important and is unfortunately not done often enough.
• Skincare: What we put on our skin makes a big difference in how our skin ages. 

My Simple Pro-Aging Routine:

Step 1: Cleanse with the Silky Foam Cleansing Mousse

Step 2: Exfoliate with the Pore Refining Pumpkin Mask

Step 3: Apply retinol using Retinol Level 3

Step 4: Moisturize with Dew Drop Ultra