Justine Bateman, age 57, embraces her ‘old’ face: How to accept aging.
In a world where women of all ages continue to face pressure to conceal fine lines and wrinkles, Justine Bateman doesn’t mind seeing herself get older.
It’s an attitude experts say society can learn a lot from.
The 57-year-old actress, who shot to fame as a teen on the ’80s sitcom “Family Ties,” recently shared in an interview with “60 Minutes Australia” she thinks she looks “rad” aging naturally, despite online commentary over her “old” looks.
The actress said she stumbled upon internet fascination over her face while looking herself up online.
“I put in my name, googled my name, ‘Justine Bateman,’ and an autocomplete came up which was ‘looks old,’ ” she said, adding she was around 42 at the time. “I was like, ‘What?’ … I couldn’t see what they were talking about.”
Bateman added she thinks cosmetic procedures “would erase” the authority she’s gained through the years.
“I like feeling that I am a different person now than I was when I was 20,” she said. “I like looking in the mirror and seeing that evidence. … I think my face represents who I am. I like it.”
Bateman’s not the only public figure who’s embraced aging naturally in recent years. In August 2020, Kelly Ripa poked fun at her gray roots, and, in March 2021, Katie Couric went makeup-free for a People magazine spread, saying the experience made her feel “liberated and vulnerable.”
Susan Yara, founder of Naturium Skincare and the YouTube channel Mixed Makeup, previously told USA TODAY that Couric’s People spread pushed back against the norm “that women disappear into the background as we age.”
Justine Bateman reacts to internet’s fascination over her ‘old’ face: ‘I think I look rad’
“Men seem to thrive more when they age,” she said. “It should be the same for women. We’re more confident and self-assured, and we bring wisdom that you can only get with age.”
Cassandra Bankson, a medical esthetician and YouTube skincare personality, previously told USA TODAY that “being able to age is a privilege” and “we should embrace how our skin takes care of us and the stories it tells.”
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Remember that social media isn’t real: Michael Keyes, M.D., a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Louisville, believes that “celebrities and influencers often use filters and photo editing apps to minimize skin discoloration, wrinkles and extra fat in unwanted places.”
“It’s important from a wellness standpoint to recognize what’s real and what’s not,” he previously told USA TODAY, and encourages following influencers who post unfiltered and raw photos instead.
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Adjust your makeup routine: Aging is inevitable, but you can still take steps to look and feel good. Heidi Goodarzi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology, suggested replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen for a wash of glow that won’t conceal your natural features.
Be kind to yourself: Yara reminds us that as we age, we should be proud of our bodies for the experiences it has gone through. “My confidence is truly my secret weapon, and I gained it through years of experience and becoming comfortable with myself,” she previously told USA TODAY.
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Contributing: Jenna Ryu
