getting my face back

So, I was going to post some kind of before and after, but I honestly can't do it to myself. The point in writing this is that I've made a couple positive changes in my life that I want to share with you because I'm sure I'm not the only person who this applies to.

I drink a lot of alcohol and Diet Coke, but rarely do I ever drink water. I smoke a shit ton of cigarettes. I eat red meat like it's all they have on sale at the store. I am used to working long hours. If it doesn't have the words "potato chips" involved, I don't want to put it in my body. I usually don't eat before 3pm. Basically, I treat my body like shit.

My entire life I had the luxury of having good skin. When I was 21, I lost about 40 pounds because of stress and give or take 10 pounds, I have kept it off. I have had good luck with all of that stuff. Until this year. I pretty much lost it, you guys. Over the course of about four months, I practically crashed and burned. When I look at my face, I feel like I look my age, if not older. Last year and every other year of my life since I was about 12, I've looked about 12. When I was home for Christmas someone guestimated my age was 14. Now I don't think anyone would ask for my ID unless it was airport security. I look older than ever. And ya know what? I live in fucking Hollywood, so I kinda gotta give a shit because I'm not a physicist. My face is partially involved in what I do. Even if I don't shower or wear make-up, I can't be looking all haggard anymore. I gotta get my shit back on point.

So, for about 2 weeks now I've been forcing myself to get in to bed before midnight. I drink two organic juices before 3pm because things usually don't slow down enough for actual food before then. Usually one fruit-based and one vegetable-based. I've been taking vitamins-- a multivitamin and cranberry. I've been like, forcing myself to wash my face at night which is something that I've never really wrapped my head around. I feel gross admitting it, but let's get with the realness here: most people don't wash their fucking faces at night. It makes a big difference. Also, moisturizer. Use it. Use a lot of it. 

All of this is stuff that every woman magazine and my mother have been telling me my entire life and I never listened. You might not have listened either and I can't blame you-- all of this stuff is boring. I can think of about 20 things I'd rather do than play around in a sink getting my face all hot and soapy at the end of the day, but I can think of 1 thing that I'd rather not do more, which is pay for anything to fill in the visible lines that are showing up on my skin. That's asshole behavior.

I still drink a lot, I still eat like crap for the most part (and the last four days have just been out of freakin' control. I ate about five pounds of caramel this weekend), I definitely still smoke too much... but I'm making an effort and the small amount I've done does seem to be helping. Trust me, you don't want to wake up one day and discover that the bags under your eyes are no longer cured with a good night's sleep, but permanent fixtures on your face. If you have found yourself in that position, do something while you can still try and turn it around.