I have a bottle of lotion with sunscreen in my car now. Trying to get into the habit of using it everytime I get into my car. I really don't want my hands to look any older. So sunscreen, early and often.

I keep GLOVES in my car. Vintage (almost-)elbow-length cotton gloves. That's how much I fear the effect of the sun on my hands.

I wonder if the crap hair and skin is all just aging. Forty is turning out to be harsh on the body.

Forty is harsh, no lie. The change in hair is definitely a sign of aging. I switched over the demi permanent hair color and that seems to have helped, and regular oil treatments.

Do you wear the gloves outside of driving? I mostly just want freshly applied sunscreen if I am going to be outside. And that's working to an extent. But covering them would achieve the same results.

I need to remember to put sunblock on my hands. I'd wear gloves, but I'd have to not wear the enormous rings, and that is just not an option.

For me the hardest effect of aging has been the veins in my legs. Yes, pregnancy has made it worse but it's not like I have Duggar-levels of children. But I'm 37 and my legs look about 70. Lots of varicose veins up and down each leg and spider veins everywhere. They don't hurt (much) yet but I am considering medical options because I think I will need it eventually and at this point in life, I would still like to wear dressed and shorts. (if I wear leggings, you can see my bulging veins through them.)

I've just noticed the line in my forehead. Hi Dad! Thanks!

Also, this waking up at 5 (actually, earlier)? For the birds. Or whatever. Officially got to work before sunrise. In the winter.

My teenage aversion to lying out in the sun for hours to get a tan seems to have paid off, as my skin seems to me to be pretty good for 52. Avoiding sun damage by accident! Aside from that, it's all genetics, which I can't take much responsibility for.

Lake Sharks!

I don't know if you were meaning this at all, but I grew up being terrorized by tales of the canoe-eating river shark. I'll have to share that link with my dad.

Retin-A. Much cheaper than injections and plumpers - those don't last anyway. I need to go back to my derm and get a new prescription for it. Until about a year ago I was using it about 3 times a week. Then I got lazy. I can tell the difference.

I started using a Retinol lotion at night about a month ago and that stuff rocks.

I stopped doing the tanning thing when I was fourteen and my mom had her first malignant skin cancer removed. I do think my skin is in pretty good shape for my age as a result. I have noticed that once I hit forty, I don't have the abilty to bounce back from injury or illness as well as I used to. If I don't get adequate sleep, my ability to function takes a steep nose-dive. Also, travel takes a much harder toll on me than it used to--I now need to build recovery time into whatever travel plans I make.

In general, though, I do feel shitloads better at forty-two than I did at thirty-two, but I think that's largely a result of being in better shape and eating more sanely. The strength training program I've been on for the past couple of years has paid off immensely in terms of general well-being and ability to do stuff that was extraordinarily difficult and taxing just a few years ago (moving furniture, flipping mattresses, doing yardwork).

They don't hurt (yet), which is good, and I have full range of motion (for now) (also good), and I'm not sure I've ever been bouncy. But OH GOD THE NOISE.

My knees and hips made noise 6 years before I had any pain. Now I have pain. It's not good.

Again, this aging things BLOWS.

Retinol? Will have to check. Hate my face.