Today’s blog is about our faces. After all, our face is what it used as the first impression to others, so it’s pretty important.  In fact, I would argue our faces are more important than our clothes. A smile, a twinkle in an eye, a wink, a frown, an eye-roll, a crease in a forehead, a grin, a grimace—each of these facial clues tell the world how your day is going.

I have the most precious grandma book someone gave me when John Luke was born titled “The Girls with the Grandmother Faces.” I love that title! When JL was born, I didn’t feel much like a grandma; in fact, except for the fact that I adored that little boy, it was hard for me to admit that I was one. At 42, I still looked like the mom or, at least, I thought I did. But, now it’s a different story. Lines and wrinkles define my face. With good lighting I can hide a few, but there’s no denying they exist.  Sometimes I look in the mirror and am shocked to see my mother’s face staring back at me! Do you do that? Inside I feel young, but my face is the face of a grandma. And, it’s okay. 

Our faces tell our stories. We’ve lived a few years, done a few things, and our faces reflect those adventures. BUT, if you are like me, you still want to keep your face in good condition, just like we do the rest of your body. Keeping skin healthy is as important as keeping bodies healthy. Skin is the biggest organ in our body so it makes sense to pay attention to it. Plus, staying healthy is the key to being able to enjoy our grandkids for many years. A good diet, plenty of exercise, and enough sleep (I’m still working on this one!) are key ingredients for a healthy body and healthy skin. 

Today’s blog is about cleaning that healthy skin.  I know, this should be a no-brainer since we’ve all traveled around the sun a few times, but is it? Gone are the days when every bathroom had a jar of Pond’s cleansing cream on it (I can smell it now, can’t you?). I can remember seeing my mom slather that cream on her face and wipe off all of the day’s grit and grime with a single tissue. Easy, peasy! 

Then, when I was a young wife, my friends and I invested in Mary Kay. Ponds was out; Mary Kay was in. Remember the pink jars all over the bathroom? Sure you do! But, TODAY, like most things in America, we have too many choices. Too many brands. Too many celebrity endorsers. We’re all confused! 

And I’m not really going to help you. How’s that for an honest admission??

As far as skin care products go, there are many good brands today. This is not an endorsement for any brand, however, I will say Korie has a brand that I love (not getting paid to say this) called Naturmetic. You can look it up if you want to. But, there are thousands out there. Just pick one and stick with it. 

Today’s blog is a warning blog about cleaning your face. I absolutely love make-up wipes. We travel a lot so they are convenient, not messy, easy to pack, etc. But, do they get the job done? Well, in a word, NO. Not totally. I’ve been experimenting and have discovered that even the best, most expensive, make-up wipes do not totally clean my face. 

So, here’s the warning. Do not use a makeup wipe and think you’re good for the night. Use the wipe, but go back over your face with a wet washcloth to get all the makeup off before turning in for that seven hours of required sleep.  According to WebMD not washing your face every now and then isn’t going to age you five years, but you are missing the opportunity for several good things to happen to your skin as you sleep. Those of us who have dry skin need more moisturizer. Those with blemishes need special attention. Toners and moisture and medication all help your skin after the makeup is taken off. A clean face is ready for rejuvenation just as a clean heart is revived and renewed. 

So, just keep wiping until you see a white cloth with no makeup on it. God gifted you with one face. Take good care of it! You’ll be glad you did.