A question came up at our last co-practice about wrinkles. The dryness of our high-altitude climate, exacerbated by climate change, can accelerate skin aging. Extra care is called for: Pyrrha’s Metafacial Massage lubricates and tonifies the skin, making it visibly firmer; Pyrrha’s Rose Cleansing Cream provides gentle exfoliation, replacing roughness with elasticity. Consequently, wrinkles recede, and moisture retention increases.
Pyrrha always advised applying extra strokes using small, light circular motions to the areas most susceptible to wrinkles and laxity. Initiate this action at the end of the third application of Pyrrha’s cream–stick with it and you’ll see a difference.
If you’re practicing the 20-Minute Metafacial three times per week, cross-train! It’s fun and relaxing, and there are many ways to do it:
FROWNIES-Some people swear by them, others find them minimally effective. Soap & Supply just started carrying silicone patches for undereye use.
GUA SHA-I think it’s great for home use as long as it's performed gently.
RED LIGHT THERAPY: My rule of thumb is that if a device alleviates pain, it will likely also work well for collagen building. MAMAVATION just published extensive reviews of what’s currently out there.
FACE YOGA- I’ve been happily following Trinh Georg (Facelates and Gua Sha) and Sadie Nardini (Face Yoga and Product Knowledge).
FACIAL OIL COMBINATIONS-castor and apricot kernel oil, rosehip and jojoba oil, etc. (check Sadie Nardini for recipes). You can purchase high-quality oils in bulk and gua sha tools/oils at Soap & Supply.
SILK PILLOWCASES-Yes, these can be very supportive for skin smoothing, especially for side and stomach sleepers. I’m extremely attached to the gorgeous pillowcase I bought from Mulberry Park Silks.
For info about aesthetic services, I wholeheartedly recommend Karmella Blea, a highly regarded Santa Fe aesthetician who’s constantly expanding her knowledge base to deliver the best results to her clients.
Pyrrha advised her students to consider the root causes of wrinkles. Heredity, sun damage, inadequate cleansing methods, and neglect can all contribute, but overreacting and hyperfocus are major players. She also asked students to refrain from resting their faces in their hands, a habit that can cause wrinkles and transfer bacteria to the skin.
Pay attention to the way you act when engaging with others (including the constant chatter of your own mind); you may find yourself squinting, frowning, and raising your eyebrows to convey connection and empathy. I certainly do. Coming from a highly animated culture, I’ve had to learn that if someone responds in a subtler way, it doesn’t mean they’re uninterested in what I have to say. In fact, I’m trying to make a habit of modulating my own reactions for the sake of my nervous system as well as my skin.
Hyperfocus is another draining habit when used to excess. The false sense of urgency that compels us to squint our way to a solution is rarely justified by the task at hand (e.g., a computer glitch or anything else that we think is “not supposed to be happening”). A wise friend shared Ram Dass’ advice: see every obstacle not as a burden but as part of the cosmic dance.
Though I still enjoy being visibly expressive, there’s nothing more spacious than a soft focus gaze–just ask the Buddha! Observe your pets, and you’ll notice they spend most of their time in a state of passive awareness until something provokes them into hyperarousal. If neither prey nor danger manifests, they quickly drop back into neutral. We would be well-advised to emulate them.
Next time you look in the mirror, bypass toxic perfectionism by relaxing your eyes into soft focus; not only will you refrain from training your muscles to repeat patterns that deepen wrinkles, but you’ll also find a wider lens through which to appreciate the beauty of your reflection in wholeness.
