Sorry, but how annoying is it when someone naturally beautiful with genetically amazing skin and hasn’t even tipped into her forties starts moralizing about cosmetic surgery? Kate Winslet has, along with actress, Rachel Weisz, formed (I think not in seriousness, but between the two of them) The ‘British Anti-Cosmetic Surgery League’ according to The Sunday Telegraph, saying she will never give into it and it goes against her morals.
How very demoralizing then for those who are starting to feel the pinch of age and would like to opt to look younger for longer with the help of a little tweak here or there. When Kate hits a certain age and discovers that she can no longer do a gorgeous, smoky eye because her lids have drooped or her smile is no longer fulsome because the collagen in her lips has all but disappeared, I think she might have second thoughts, not about her choice, but about her disparagement. She has no idea how she will age – nor do any of us really. Flippant, judgemental comments like this are really not at all helpful for the army of women who really, genuinely mourn the loss of their youthful looks and opt for a little tweaking here and there to boost their confidence. Ageing does weird things to people – in the mind, and more obviously, on the face. It’s more to do with how you feel you look than actually how you do look, I think. After all, there are some incredibly beautiful older women who are that way without surgery or intervensions and this can be very often the result of an inner glow (I’ll cite Joanna Lumley but really don’t know if she tweaks or not) and nothing to do with their skin. They’re happy, and it shows.
It’s well documented on BBB that I love a ‘tweak’. I haven’t gone down the actual surgery route yet because I personally feel that I won’t take the risk of a general anaesthetic for the sake of my face, but who knows how I’ll feel in ten or twenty year’s time? For all that we might have to say about Liz Jones, she looks thoroughly rejuvenated since her face lift, and more importantly, happy. Which for LJ is quite something.
If cosmetic surgery, such as a brow lift, an eye lift or even a full-on face lift, isn’t for you, then that’s fine. But personally, I’m not going to judge anyone if they feel it is right for them. The bigger issue of ageing gracefully and feeling the pressure to look younger for longer is a huge one, largely not helped by public figures (such as movie stars) who have continued to look the same age for years (Demi Moore for example) thanks to Botox, fillers and surgeries. But it is an issue that doesn’t have a rewind option, so I really don’t see why women shouldn’t do it if they want to; there’s no reason why any of it should be an elite treatment. I will caveat that by saying I am not including ‘extreme surgeries’ in this. That’s a whole other thing. It’s just my personal view that Kate should just leave well alone on this one and just let others be happy in their skin, no matter how that glowy, taut skin was actually achieved.
Speaking of, I don’t know if you remember but I had some filler put into my cheeks at Court House Clinics (where I always go) a while ago – nine months ago in fact. Now, that is something I thought I’d never do but I was curious to see if it really did anything much at all. It really did give a fabulous look (initially I felt I was a bit too ‘cheeky’!) because it slightly lifts everything – so lines from nose to mouth are diminished because it is as though the natural collagen is all back where it should be. And, needless to say, I’m going to have it done again tomorrow! It’s just my way of looking after the ageing process – it looks totally natural and if I wasn’t blogging about it, nobody would ever know it was there. But I know it’s there and I feel I look better for it, and that’s what matters.
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24 comments
While I disagree with her “anti cosmetic surgery league”, I think you are also being incredibly patronising in this post.
Older people can be beautiful too without cosmetic surgery, it’s down to personal choice weather you get it or not.
Winslet has serious issues about her body image, judging by her very irritating interviews. You, on the other hand, are confident in yourself – to me having tweaks isn’t a sign of not being confident but the exact opposite, it’s saying “this is me, it’s my body and damnit I look good, sod off if you don’t agree.” Sorry, I just find Winslet really fatuous and pointless.
Hi Alexandria..good point.and it wasn’t of course meant to come across that way. Will ‘tweak’ the copy a bit to ensure that it says that I do understand that women can be beautiful at any age, with or without! Which is what I genuinely think..
Ooo don’t get me started on Kate Winslet!
One minute she’s whinging about vanity fair photoshopping her & now she’s quietly content with getting the L’Oreal airbrush effect for the Lancome ads.
With this flippant behaviour am really rather sure she will regret starting this but she’ll just be one of those typical actresses who will swear blind that they are au natural…erugh!
I would never say never…but I am totally adamant about not lying in the sun, exercise regularly, don’t smoke or drink, am ‘fashiony’, have great hair & careful makeup and more than anything try & retain a young attitude. These things I am sure are all important in fighting against ageing. Not going to confess my age but most people think I’m a good 10 years younger.
And I’d rather spend my money on holidays, clothes, eating well and life! 🙂 (Plus my husband and daughter would kill me!)
Amen to that!! I have no problem with tweaking, and in future who knows what else I might feel comfortable with to feel happy about myself and how I look.
I can’t see me going down the full facelift route (at the moment) but having just had my first Botox at the age of 30 (and loving it) I am more than happy to explore various ways of maintaining as much of a (naturally) youthful look as I can. xx
If you can afford it and you stop before looking like Mrs Wildenstein why not.
In photoshop Winslet and no cupid’s bow Roberts Lancome picked two actresses who really get on my goat. I see them and turn the pages so fast I don’t peruse the products. Lancome would do better saving their money on celebrity advertising and offering a better choice of blushers in the UK. I saw some swatches on karlasugar.net and the US have way more choice.
Kate also has access to the world’s best dermatologists. It’s the surgeons that scare me – MJ/Bride of Wildenstein didn’t do that to themselves, a surgeon did.
Liz J also seems to be with a partner who treats her with respect for first time – surgery aside, wonder how much of that contributes to her new look.
great post! it’s what’s inside that matters… whether we age “naturally” or take cosmetic measures to “enhance” how we look, at the end of the day, our facial features will change everyday until the day we die. beauty is not forever, but nor are flaws. life is too short, and to live fighting misery caused by something that can be fixed by a little “tweak”, then i think it’s the right thing to do if it brings one confidence and better quality of life.
I totally agree ! I had Botox and filler for the 2st time a few months back. And as long as my finances allow it I will have it done again. Each to their own I say ! Great post
First off, I would definitely get fillers if I wanted/needed them later in life (only in my 20s). I already get lots of dermatological treatments for my acne prone skin so I’m not put off by needles being stuck in my face or anything.
But I disagree with you on this. I think its commendable that any famous actress would inform people that it is not necessary or important to get any type of surgery done to feel good about oneself. There are far more media and people out there telling people that fillers and face lifts are necessities to self-worth. That’s essentially how I see the cosmetic surgery industry sells its products and services. Perhaps women (and men) should not tie their self worth or confidence to the image they have of themselves as a 30 year old when they are closer to 50 than 40 or whatever they have in mind. While it might seem hypocritical to some that I would disagree with you yet get the procedures done myself, I would sum it up this way: You, BBB, have every right to say and believe that nip/tucks that make a person happy about how they look is great. Kate Winslet has every right to say aging is a natural part of life and a person should embrace their real looks (not the surgically enhanced version) and age. I think both points of views have valid points.
Reason number 1,010 that I absolutely love your blog! This is what every great reporter should have been saying in their reports instead of kissing Hollywood arse in supporting their cause. Thanks for a brutally honest report on the situation!
I agree with Lynda: when you have a derm on the call and great genes, no wonder you look great. There must be incredible pressure for celebrities to have work done (even in their early 20s) and keeping up with that can result in a very awkward face for the rest of your life. Botox can help get rid of lines but it’s a toxin and no one really knows what the long term effects are. If Botox and other treatments would go by their real names and long term effects, people might really think twice.
The secret to happiness is, no matter cheesy it sounds, being happy with your life. If I could give a 10 years younger me some advice, it’d be stop worrying about your looks – you look great!
Both Kate Winslet & Rachel Weisz have lucrative contracts with the L’Oreal Group, for Lancôme and L’Oreal Paris respectively, maybe its not in their interests to be pro-cosmetic surgery when they are the “faces” of skincare products.
I read this with interest BBB,
I LOVE your blog read everyday miss them when you are on holiday
I am of a certain age, but love skincare makeup clothes.when i look in the mirror quite like what i see as much as anyone can.I WOULD never tell anyone to not have fillers or other procedures, it,s their choice.BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE you are trying to sway people towards them,so what about all the great skincare reviews fel quite let down
Hi Joy.. sorry if it has come across.. no I don’t advocate it as such, but I do have stuff done so I can write about it with a degree of knowledge and see the results on myself first hand. It is true to say that no cream can do what Botox can. But that said, it has to be down to personal choice. There aren’t many beauty editors who write about their ‘tweaks’, so I hope to help demystify it a bit if that is the route a woman wants to take. You don’t get many ‘real-life’ experiences: only ‘salesy’ stuff I think so I’m hoping to be helpful! But by no means do I feel women ‘should’ do it.. beauty is so subjective and I see plenty of ‘certain age’ women who look and feel gorgeous and sexy without any need for tweaks. As for skincare reviews, if you choose to use skincare to help with anti-ageing, it really can make a difference, but purely based on physiology it will never really compete. Skincare is also very much about self-nurturing and the importance of that is paramount. It certainly does give benefits that you can’t get with botox or fillers such as glowy skin and even skin tone. So it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other in my view. Just whatever takes your fancy x
THANKS BBB,didn,t think you would put my views on the comments.SHOULD HAVE KNOWN DIFFERENT
it,s just i so trust your reviews because if they don,t make the grade you say & explain why.I always go with your recommendations if i am looking for a certain type of product, have not let me down yet x
Great post! I think Winslet should keep quiet on this front. There’s no doubt that she looks great, but she has access to top make-up artists and post production / airbrushing (also nannies and help, stress and children all contribute to aging most ‘normal’ women!).
I love that your candid about these things, I’m becoming more curious about them as I get older myself.
I have to say the way you have handled the comments, and occasional criticism says bucket loads about you. Well done for acknowledging other perspectives, and not getting defensive when people are attacking. Just another of the reasons I love your blog…
At least she’s consistent, Gweneth Paltrow has said that she’d have a boob job to return them to their original condition before breast feeding but dismisses Botox as pure vanity.
I think that the idea behind this is a decent one and the execution is terrible. In a place like Hollywood (where I grew up) there is immense pressure to look perfect all the time (maybe more so than “regular” people). I think that women standing up and saying they don’t need it to be beautiful is a great thing (just look at Heidi whatsherface who had 17 procedures in one day to feel beautiful).
I think saying it’s a bad thing and that no one should get it is a mistake. I think shaming in any way is a terrible thing. I find there’s a terrible shaming around plastic surgery in general instead of respecting it as a choice.
I’m in the never say never camp myself.
xo
Sara
I just don’t get along with altering one’s appearance surgically; it feels a bit like a lie to me. And not that it should be, but it’s also not accessible for everyone. People with enough cash and/or access to have procedures seem already to have the other advantages that wealth gives – better clothes, better nutrition, better shelter. Great. I’m going to 70 one day, looking like an old bag while my contemporaries look 15 years younger (when done well) or like freaky smooth fetuses (when done poorly). Sigh. – Freidra.
this is something i’ve said to myself. if i win the lottery, i am going to offer myself the luxury of demi moore’s surgeons. no hesitation there. i want the whole lot done x
Celebrities always lie about their procedures anyway. Look at Christie Brinkley saying she’d never have surgery and you can’t even recognize her in photos lately because the work she’s had done on her eyes and changed her appearance so much. And Jane Fonda, just last week said she still looked like herself but she doesn’t around the eyes anymore. I get Botox and I love it. People are always telling me I’m poisoning myself but I look younger than they do!