If you know me, then you may have noticed that I’ve become a low-key anti-anti-aging crusader. It’s not that I’m against the products and practices that encourage healthy, glowing skin, but I just think the youth obsession that’s swept our society is wack. Not only is it an impossible ask to expect women to defy nature by not showing any natural signs of age, but it’s also a super-problematic message to send that we are only beautiful up to the point that fine lines or wrinkles start to appear.

Even though I’ll always advocate for more realistic and less exploitative conversations around aging, I recognize, as well as anyone, the appeal of having a skincare routine in place to keep our epidermis in tip-top shape, starting with a good moisturizer. So I’m going to step off my soapbox for a quick second to give a shout-out to my mom, Gerri, who, at 62-years old, only has half a wrinkle on her face (a single line between her eyebrows that was probably born right around the time of my rebellious teenage years). In fact, I’ll venture to say mom looks about 20 years younger than she is. Cool? Yes! A measure of her value in this world? Absolutely not!