A few months ago, I began to notice what I thought was a patch of freckles get darker and darker. I thought, oh, they are really growing closer together. How strange, how annoying, that I now have to buy a real concealer. Upon closer inspection, what I was dealing with was what is commonly known as an age spot.
An age spot. But how can that be? Just an inch below this dreaded spot is the persistent acne I’ve been dealing with since I was a teenager!
I found myself at a frustrating crossroads that I soon realized thousands, maybe millions, of women are at – we’re all just girls. Standing in a Walgreens, or a Sephora. Hoping someone can tell us which miracle product will cure our acne and prevent wrinkles and age spots.
As I am prone to doing, I turned to my two favorite things: my wise friends and podcast land where I quickly discovered a newly launched podcast called Forever35. Ultimately it is a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves, but what hosts Kate and Doree really brand themselves as are “just two friends who love to talk about serums”.
This podcast immediately spoke to me. Maybe it’s because I’m in the same age bracket. The 90s references really get me – the throwbacks to being angsty teens, reminiscent of “My So-Called Life”.
Maybe it’s Doree’s background as a writer at Buzzfeed (so trendy!) and her current journey to conceive. Maybe it’s Kate’s realistic approach to motherhood and her struggle with her smartphone addiction that I relate to. In any case, I immediately connected to the hosts.
And then, they began to talk about products. This was eyeopening to me, as someone who really does not use very many products nor do I use much makeup. I STILL, after all this time, can’t tell you much about serums, but I’m learning! And I know I WANT all the things! They talk extensively about skincare, and each week have fascinating guests on to discuss their own skincare and self care routines.
But it’s more than just skin care. It’s about other things we do for self care as well – hot baths, yoga, meal prepping, long walks, schedules, weekly intentions, reading, organizing, mental health, and more. There are highs and lows, guilty pleasures, silly little indulgences and important investments in health.
Each week (Thursday plus a Monday minisode) it’s like sitting down with your best friends to chat about just YOU and the things you want/need to take care of yourself and how they change as you age.
I’ve discovered the Forever35 Facebook community to be almost, if not MORE, important that the podcast itself. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve discovered a new product, come up with a new idea, started a new read, or laughed out loud based on this awesome community. No drama, at all. Just a few thousand women from across the country (Self Cardigans?) coming together to ask for recommendations, ideas, how-to’s and encouragement.
I have a whole new skin care routine, and my skin has never looked better. I have two new friends to chat with every week (combined with Karen and Georgia from My Favorite Murder, my Thursdays are the best days for self-care!), and I’m learning more and more about how important it is to take care of myself and my friends.
Check out Forever35 on Apple Podcasts.
Originally published April 24, 2018