My excitement for the new year continues. Much of this excitement surrounds new soaps, scents, products, and business growth. I LOVE creating new products. I genuinely enjoy seeing ideas become a reality. I like it even more when my new ideas are well received by my soap family. I think of new products from a problem-solving perspective. What problems are my soap family facing regarding skincare? How can I create something that will improve someone's life, make it a bit more comfortable, aid in healing, and add comfort and luxury to self-care? My new mantra is, "There is luxury in simplicity."
Allow me to share my skincare concerns with you. As a 50+ woman, I notice fine lines around my eyes and, even more disturbingly, my lips. I am not a smoker; I have never been one. I naively thought fine lines around one's lips only happened to smokers. Again, no one willingly or openly shares this information about aging. You don't have to live a life filled with harsh habits to suffer the effects of aging. Sigh. I also am noticing deeper lines around my eyes. Oh, and let's talk about eyelids. I have sagging eyelids. My Grandma Tillie was a beautiful woman. She loved to have her hair played with and her make-up done. Doing Gram's hair and make-up was a rare treat as a child. Nobody, and I mean nobody, wanted a six- or seven-year-old to do their hair except for Tillie. I remember using both hands to flatten her eyelids when applying eyeshadow. Rather than a smooth, flat surface, I would chase the saggy skin of her eyelids across the expanse of her face. She would always laugh at me for commenting on her loose skin. Where most women would take offense, Tillie laughed it off. She was a good sport.
I am sad to report, dear reader, that I seem to have inherited Tillie's saggy eyelids. Each morning, I wake up and cautiously look in the mirror, expecting to see my dad's "Boss Hog jowls" swaying in the draft. I am pleased to report this is one Tonkin trait I have yet to develop. I am sure the Boss Hog jowls are in my future, but for now, Tillie's saggy eyelids and fine lines around my lips are my main concert.
I pushed for hyaluronic acid to deal with the sagging eyelids and fine lines. One bib overall-wearing diplomat declares I am beautiful regardless of fine lines and wrinkles, which he lies and says do not exist. Although I appreciate his kindness, I am not a fool. After slathering myself in layers of hyaluronic acid cream, he claims he sees a difference in the appearance of the fine lines and wrinkles that concern me. I believe I see a difference, too. I also notice a new, dewy softness to my skin. I am continuing my love affair with hyaluronic acid.
My next area of concern is my feet, more explicitly, my heels. My dear, twenty-four-year-old buddy Jenna pointed out that my heels are "nasty." Sigh. Jenna still has youth on her side, growth hormones, and doesn't creak and crack when she bends over to pumice the dead skin off her heels. Oh, the things we take for granted when we are young! Jenna is correct in her observation that my heels are nasty. I have always struggled with calloused, dry, cracked heels. Well, dear reader, since my bib overall-wearing buddy has been so open and agreeable to using hyaluronic acid, I am now making my pitch for a line of foot care products. In my little mind, I envision a milk-based foot soak, a milk-based foot scrub, a pumice soap for feet, and a hyaluronic acid-filled foot balm to complete the foot care process. I went rogue and ordered crushed pumice for the soap and scrubs without conferring with my business partner. It's coming, dear reader. I'm going to get this done while he is weak and agreeable. Insert a wink.
What are your areas of concern, dear reader? I would love to hear what you, as my soap family, want to see regarding new products. Is there a problem area, a new ingredient, or something I could help combat? I am open to suggestions. Now is a great time to strike. One bib overall wearing nay-sayer is feeling very agreeable.
On this gloomy, grey January day, stay safe, be smart, and let me know what you think; we can age gracefully together; there truly is luxury in simplicity, and keep washing your hands.
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