I really do feel bad about my neck!! I was not careful to always use sunscreen, and I now have severe sun damage there.
The sun has always been my friend. I’m from the generation where we laid out in our backyards slathered up with a mixture of iodine and baby oil. Not until I was older, did I really start wearing sunscreen. When my kids were little, summers were spent with weekly day trips floating the Frio River or going to the beach in Texas. I wore sunscreen, but never paid a lot of attention to my neck.
Enter the 2013 New Orleans Rock & Roll Marathon
I signed up to run it with two friends. I needed it in my life. It was huge in my healing after R passed away. We spent every Saturday morning doing our long runs. As time went on in the fall of 2012, the runs got longer. Weekday runs were done at 5 a.m. so I didn’t have to worry about the sun. I spent several hours each Saturday morning pounding the pavement to train for the distance, and I always made sure I wore sunscreen on my face, but not on my neck.
Even though my mother had always warned me to put sunscreen on my neck and decolletage. I didn’t think about it while I was out running. I also didn’t think about the tops of my hands.
The Damage!!!
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The Suze (my sister) wanted in on the action and agreed to share her neck. She calls it her “waddle.” |
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My neck is a combination of discoloration and “waddle.” |
So for all of you young women out there- don’t forget about your neck, decolletage, and hands when putting on your sunscreen. It is easy to forget because I think we all look for makeup with sunscreen in it. It is an extra step in our already busy lives. But it is a step that has to be taken!!
Be sure to look for a sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide as well as zinc oxide. M and I have been wearing Tarte BB Tinted Primer with spf 30 after finding it while shopping at Sophora. However, I don’t use the makeup on my neck. M recommended CeraVe and that is what I now put on my neck, decolletage, and hands before I go out. Take the time to check your makeup and all sunscreen for titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
And then there is Rita Wilson. I love strong women like her. I noticed this picture on her Instagram the other day, and I thought to myself, “She isn’t letting her bad neck ruin her life so neither will I. I will keep Choosing Life even with a bad neck.”
Where did I get the title of this post? It isn’t originally mine. It is actually the title of a book by Nora Ephron. It is her intimate and funny look at aging!! I highly recommend it!! It can be purchased HERE.
I hope this post acts as a PSA to save the necks of you young women out there everywhere. My neck is ruined, but you can save yours. Now, don’t even get me started on my eyebrows!!
I truly enjoy writing this blog whether or not I have many followers. Since making it public and being featured on the Design Mom blog, I have gained so many people who have been so kind. I can’t thank you all enough. If you want to be sure not to miss a post, be sure to sign up for emails on the right-hand side of the blog page! Thanks for following, I hope you find this a fun, inspirational place to land every once in a while. And, don’t forget you can follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
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