Higher Standards

- Trina Epilepsia Boutain

Many older women admit to starting skincare only in their late twenties. While Millennials and younger have taken to the masks, BB creams and the ten-step Korean skincare routine, those in their 30s and older tend to start late, buoyed by a misplaced sense of immortality and layers and layers of concealer. “Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty, you get the face you deserve,” so says Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, the illustrious founder of her namesake brand. Yes, it’s ridiculously easy to look wonderful when your skin is taut, plump and gleaming with youth. My infant daughter literally wakes up looking like an angel, but what about her harried, chronically sleep-deprived mother? Not so much. In fact, many mothers can attest to looking less than their usual polished selves the moment a baby comes into their lives. Who has the time? The energy? The same goes for all the tireless women who work beyond a 9-to-5 and face Metro Manila’s daily commute.