Hi, I'm Linda, the face and voice behind Anti-Aging Beauty Zone. I've always been fascinated with facial aging, but never really understood why - until I sat down to write this page about me...
So why an interest in aging and beauty?
Well, it all started with two beautiful, proud, and strong Polish-American women; my mother and grandmother (Babcia).
My mother loved beauty and celebrated her femininity. Skin, hair, makeup, nails. She loved it all. And despite holding down two jobs, she always looked polished and beautiful.
My grandmother was born in Poland in 1899. She survived two world wars and even spent some time in labor camps. This forced her to become creative with what she had to stay healthy.
My mom was a glamour girl and always managed to look like a million dollars on a penny budget.
She had a signature style that was all her own. She always told me, don't follow trends, wear what looks best for you.
A smart, creative woman with a passion for ageless beauty, she was always experimenting with and researching new skincare products and gadgets.
As a hardworking immigrant balancing two full-time jobs, raising a daughter, taking care of her mother, and running a household, mom always looked elegant. I never understood how she did it!
Whether going to a wedding or just grocery shopping, Mom said it was important to "always look your best."
Mom was always trying out new beauty products and techniques. She learned about face massage for plumper skin, how to apply makeup to accent her best features, and even how to cut, color, and style her hair.
Eventually, she became so good at it that during the holidays, she would often do hair and makeup for half the women in our neighborhood!
She loved helping other women feel beautiful.
When it came to beauty products, mom wasn’t afraid to experiment. The more unusual the more it piqued her interest.
For example, this gadget circa 1996...
Does anyone remember this? A good idea, but if not used correctly, it can over-build the mouth area - causing the look of jowls!
If there was a new cream, face exercise gadget, or skin supplement on the market, you could bet mom tried it. And, eventually, she started sending them to me. Ok, now I was getting hooked!
Soon my
bathroom looked like a beauty retail store!
That's when I realized
that while not every product worked as intended,
surprisingly some did. I finally understood mom's motto “Try it; you might like it.” I also learned that price didn’t guarantee quality.
While my mother was all about the latest beauty products, my grandmother was the queen of old-world at-home beauty tips. The natural beauty tips I learned from her were invaluable!
She taught me the anti-aging benefits of foods and herbs and how to use them to look and stay young.
Some of her favorites included:
Living strong was my grandma's goal.
Talk about strong! I remember my grandma climbing up tall ladders to prune trees, tilling her enormous garden, and even pouring concrete to fix a cracked patio well into her 80s!
And regardless of her age, she always cared about her appearance. “Age is no excuse to give up,” she would say.
She was quite an inspiration!
Being raised by such powerful role models, it’s no surprise that beauty and healthy aging means everything to me.
And now that I'm over 60 (yikes!) I’m mainly concerned with facial aging and what we can do to look our best as we age.
While not all obsessions are good, some can lead to a path of enlightenment and knowledge. I studied Nutrition at Broward College and worked in the anti-aging & health industry for over 25 years.
I retired as an anti-aging advisor with the Life Extension Foundation (LEF). LEF is a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to anti-aging research since 1980.
Spending my days researching the latest anti-aging breakthroughs and helping others look and feel great wasn't just a job -- it was my passion! And I LOVED it!
I wore many hats at LEF
In addition to working closely with LEF members and customers, helping them choose their best health and wellness course; I contributed to the research and editorial development of the Life Extension Disease and Prevention Protocol book.
I also provided editorial copy for the Q&A section of the Life Extension Magazine. A monthly publication that contains up-to-date coverage of the latest anti-aging and scientific breakthroughs from around the world.
Prior to that, I was fortunate to learn about the benefits of herbal therapy by Ric Scalzo, founder of the Gaia Herbal Research Institute. Gaia is a 30+ year old company and is one of the largest makers of organic herbal supplements.
I'm also a proud member and supporter of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
CSPI is an independent, science-based consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving the food system to support healthy eating.
For over 50 years, the CSPI has been America’s food and health watchdog. It’s the oldest independent, science-based consumer advocacy organization with an impressive record of accomplishments and a clear and ambitious agenda for improving the food system to support healthy eating.
Now, in the second half of my life, even more focused on aging and beauty, I started a new venture with my website, Anti-Aging Beauty Zone.
Anti-Aging Beauty Zone is an informational website that offers real life solutions to aging beauty concerns based on research and personal experience.
This site offers inexpensive, at-home solutions to facial aging. I'm especially impressed with the anti-aging effects of facial exercises.
With over 12 years of training with Facial Fitness founder/owner, Carolyn Cleaves, I have extensive knowledge of how and why facial exercises work and earned an Honorary Certificate as Facial Fitness authority.
As a baby boomer, I can relate to what women (and men) my age are going through as they watch the appearance of their face and neck slowly change and wonder…
So, feel free to chime in and ask questions. I may have had a similar issue and found a solution to your concerns. Or share your experiences (good or bad). We can always learn from each other.
With all the advances in cosmetic and makeup products, there is no reason to look tired and drab.
I'm not just the owner of the Antiaging Beauty Zone, I'm also a customer. I use many of the products suggested on this site.
My favorites include:
The Kansa Wand: I love and use this massaging wand several times a week. It helps relieve tension, increase circulation and keeps my facial muscles toned.
Facial Exercises: This is the center of my anti-aging beauty routine. If done correctly and regularly, it gives beautiful results for very little cost.
I started taking pictures of my face once I began my anti-aging journey so I can track my progress. This way I can compare my results because sometimes changes are so subtle you need a visual to see it's really working.
For example, look at the increased firmness in the lower part of my face/jowls/chin in the photo below. In the photo on the right, I'm several years older (and a few pounds heavier) but yet my face looks more sculpted and firmer!
Also, look at the firmness of my neck in the picture below. There is a five-year difference between the before and after picture.
I'm older in the after picture and yet my neck skin looks younger and smoother and without those dreaded sun spots.
Personally, I find the difference between the before and after pictures incredible. I owe thanks to Carolyn's Facial Fitness exercise program. I find her program is quick, sound, and easy to follow.
EES Eye Lift Serum: We all have days where we just look tired. Lack of sleep, allergies, head cold...And on these days we could use a little eye lift and something to blur away the puffiness and tiny, crinkly lines under the eyes.
This is where my EES serum comes in. The photo below has NOT been photoshopped. The serum really helps blur and smooth the look of under-eye lines.
I've tried plenty of types of serums over the years, but this is the only one I can tolerate because it's not too tight or drying. I love this product so much I become a distributor in 2012 and offer it to my site visitors who have issues with puffy eye or crinkly under eye skin.
Several of my girlfriends use it too. Now I know what to give them for Christmas. :-)
I can help you find what you need to look your best.
Now, to be honest here - we know some aging issues can't be reversed, at least not without plastic surgery or a magic wand. :-)
But you'd be surprised how a few simple anti-aging beauty tips can make all the difference in how you look and how you feel.
When I recommend a product it's either:
I do not get paid for product reviews. I purchased everything I try out of my pocket. However, I am affiliated with some quality companies and I may earn a small percentage of commission if you buy their products from my site - at no additional cost to you.
I've consulted with Dr. Sarah Hart on the proper use of injectables like Botox to achieve the best results for each individual.
Dr. Hart believes in the "less is more" approach with Botox and other injectables. And offers creative solutions for Botox mistakes that could age your face.
Dr. Sarah Hart graduated as a doctor from Otago University in 1994. She has been practicing Cosmetic Medicine since 2001 and is now an international trainer and key opinion leader.
With her membership in the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine (NZSCM), Dr. Hart has taken part on various committees and boards that shape cosmetic doctoring standards all over this country!
Got a comment or question? Tried a great product you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you.
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