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.
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| Me with my Marathon Buddies. We ran two half marathons while training. This was at the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half Marathon which was in November in 2012. It was so hot with full sun. No sunscreen anywhere near 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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