“What the heck is that?” I wondered as I perform my usual nighttime cleansing routine. I was using my newly purchased Super-Duper Anti-Aging Cleansing Cream and moving my fingers in the prescribed circular motion around my face when I noticed that, for some reason, my skin felt a little “fuzzier” than normal under my fingertips.
There was really no other way to describe it - a soft layer of fuzz seemed to have sprouted on my chin. A closer look in a magnifying make-up mirror revealed something even more scary- an errant, tiny white hair poking out of my chin.
“OH MY GOD! Where did that come from? I look like the ugly witch from Snow White, minus the wart!” I exclaimed out loud for no-one in particular to hear. Perhaps I hadn’t used the product properly. It was labeled specifically for “aging” skin. Maybe it had caused an unexpected reaction. Maybe it was actually causing my skin to age. Maybe … Maybe …
“Maybe” didn’t really matter. It was clear I had better do something fast. I certainly did not want to look in the mirror every day and see “that” for sure, so I promptly did what any red-blooded, slightly senior woman would do - I called “Ponce de Leon,” my favorite day spa and booked their next available appointment.
“I’m in a panic” I breathlessly told Margot, the aesthetician. “I found a stray white hair growing from my chin last night and I need to know what caused that to happen. More importantly, I need it to never happen again!” With great tact, she explained that I had “peach fuzz” and that such an occurrence is not uncommon for a woman my age. She also listed all of the many things that could cause this to happen, but I blocked out everything after “not uncommon for a woman my age.”
“Ok, I got it!” I said, perhaps a bit on the testy side. I was not ready to face the fact that I was a day over 50 (not to mention 20 plus years over the mid-century mark). Besides, I thought “peach fuzz” was limited to young men coming of age or referred to the newly minted Pantone Color of the Year for 2024.
“So, what can be done? I’m here and I want you to recommend and perform whatever I need. I don’t ever want to see one of those nasty little things again! Your website notes that you offer a “Forever Young Facial.” How about we start with that?”
Her diplomacy was near perfection; I was obviously not the only woman who had ever arrived in a total panic from facing imminent extinction.
“Yes, that would be a good place to start” she gently replied. “But, if you want to forestall any further ‘complications,’ and look your absolute best, I suggest the “Radiant Results Anti-Aging Facial.” It will leave your skin bright, hydrated and dewy. I would also recommend adding a dermaplane treatment to exfoliate dead skin cells. This will remove any “peach fuzz” and any stray chin hairs that are caused by aging and changing hormones.”
“Okay, let’s do it” I said with no hesitation. I didn’t ask the cost or even what dermaplaning was. I just wanted it all gone and to look radiantly younger once again.
The next thing I knew, I was lying under a sheet on a warmly heated bed, cool cucumbers over my eyes and soft-spa music playing. Margot proceeded to apply creams, lotions and masks, performing magic as she worked. She exfoliated, dermaplaned and moisturized and I enjoyed every minute of being pampered. If it took having my face scraped with a fine blade to remove dead cells to regain lost years (and lose a few stray hairs and some peach fuzz in the process) it was worth it.
Finally, an hour and a half later, we neared the end of our time together; it had gone by much too quickly. A quick look in the mirror showed glowing, youthful-ish looking skin and Margot beamed as I rose from the table, proud of her work. I checked out, happy and assured that I had once again foiled the aging process.
At the desk on the way out I found a basket full of suggested products to keep me looking amazing, along with an invitation to join the “Super Duper Stay Young Forever” spa program, which included an “all-you-can-eat” buffet of spa treatments for a full year. I didn’t even ask the total cost and quickly decided that securing the “fountain of youth” was, in fact, priceless.
And now that the fuzz issue is handled, the Ponce de Leon Spa promises to rejuvenate more of my youth with other treatments to reverse the aging process. Next up, the “Cool Sculpting” treatment that will get rid of the cellulite my thighs have accumulated for decades.
I’ll let you know how it goes; I have an appointment tomorrow.
© 2024 Annie Sokoloff
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