Hi Kewl! Welcome to MuT, we're glad you are here.
It's scary how stress can affect us physically both on the inside and outside. No doubt a parent's death is one of the hardest things to go through, ever. I'm so glad you've healed enough to start thinking about YOU again! That's gotta be a good sign. I am 32 and first saw myself aging noticeably when I was 27, after the birth of child #3. Not that I was stressed in a bad way...but stressed nonetheless! It was all about putting myself last and everyone else's needs before mine...and I bet you have been doing that too. So, I would suggest that you take on an attitude of nurturing your skin and treating it gently. Think of it as caring for it and giving it what it needs, rather than punishing it for being "bad".
You just might make your spirit feel a little better as you take time for yourself--you're worth it after all! A peel would probably be an excellent starting point to a new skin care regimen. It should lessen the appearance of your pores, lessen or eliminate fine lines, and refine the overall texture. I don't think it can do much in the way of firming or eliminating sag. If you can't afford a derm, there are many at-home alternatives that I have heard/read are really good. Then you can maintain the results with daily skin care at home. Be sure to browse the MuT Review Center for member's opinions on specific brands.
Look for products with antioxidants, vitamins, peptides, copper, soy, essential oils and herbs are a plus IMO...and there's the old standbys Retinol and AHA's but be careful they aren't too strong. (You can always increase strength as you go, as your skin adjusts) And if you still aren't as radiant or breakout-free as you'd like to be...cover it! Go to a department store counter, get a free makeup lesson and invest in some basic high-quality products. Maybe get your eyebrows reshaped by a pro. Highlighting certain parts of your face will detract from the not so good, right? Even if you already wear MU and think you know what you're doing, getting a lesson will give you a fresh perspective and new techniques. You might walk out looking 10 years younger!
If sagging has really got you down, (and surgery isn't an option) why not do something temporary like one of those masks that tighten your face for 8 hours or those adhesive things that pull the skin smooth? Sounds cheesy but, I mean what the heck, why not? No matter how much a cream claims to tighten and firm, they really can't do much. Without surgery, you have to get creative!
Or how about facial excercises/toning? I think there might be some credibility to it...
Sorry this turned into a novel, I didn't mean to go on so long.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
