Avon, one of the leading beauty brands in the world, has recently revealed in a global report that the pandemic has greatly affected how women—particularly Filipinas—perceive aging.
At an astounding 76%, Filipinas now think aging is a positive experience and not something to worry about, with about 90% prioritizing products that provide healthy-looking benefits versus simply making their skin look young.
While the aging experience may vary among different women, being forty can hit a little differently. Three lifestyle influencers, Ayn Bernos, Inka Magnaye, and Agoo Bengzon share their own perspective when it comes to this huge milestone.
No Such Thing As Peaking Early
Being one of the fastest-rising TikTok stars of today, Ayn Bernos seems to make life more exciting and manageable through her content. Now almost in her thirties, she sees getting older as a privilege instead of a problem to deal with. “When I was younger, I used to worry about the goals that I had for myself—getting married or having kids at this age,” shares Ayn. “But sometimes, life has other plans for you and I realized that is okay. There’s no such thing as peaking early! I realized some girls tend to worry about peaking at their age, but thing is, you can peak at any age!”
Ayn explains that being in her late 20s now makes her appreciate being older because it brings all the life lessons she wishes were taught. “We were always told you had to look young to make yourself presentable. But now, what I try to achieve is just to look healthy and bring out that natural glow that I have, which I see in the women I really look up to—if they can age gracefully, so can I.”
The content creator admits that the pandemic has helped her see a different side to feeling confident about herself. “There’s definitely less pressure now, but it gave me time to really assess who I am as a person. I want to engage more people and talk about their struggles—find common ground and open the discussion on why certain topics are okay to talk about.”
New Chapter, Same Me
It is said that life begins at certain ages, but Inka Magnaye didn’t really put much thought into it when she was younger. Now that she is in her 30s, she makes sure she uses her voice to make a better impression on younger women in her audience.
“I want to create content that makes women in my audience feel validated and seen, and that’s something that can help them feel more confident when you go and discuss topics like aging. I want to engage with them with a mindset of pro-aging, and usually, talking about the basics can go a long way,” explains the voice actor and top podcaster.
Inka emphasizes that goals can be targets, but they are not set in stone and that anyone can adjust, change, or simply let go of expectations. “I struggled to fit a mold, but I later realized that I can just be a version of myself that I actually like,” she recalls. “In your thirties, you have the means to be the woman you want to be, and it is liberating!”
Inka further explains that finding yourself even when you are older is a different journey but that shouldn’t scare anyone. “During the pandemic, I learned how to engage people in a more dynamic way and I saw that as an opportunity to expand the conversation about dynamic topics that women can relate to. It’s an exciting ongoing chapter, and it’s incredible how you can learn to turn negative thoughts about aging and being a woman into something positive.”
Just a Number
For beauty enthusiast Agoo Bengzon, aging gives her the opportunity to experience new things. “It’s a genuinely great feeling because you’re breaking the rules of what women ‘can’ and ‘cannot’ do at this stage,” she explains.
Social media has played a huge part in making sure she gets this message across. Having achieved so much already in her life—a growing family, a steady career, and an unwavering online presence—Agoo says she still wants to experience what else life has to offer, even though she’s in her forties. “When the pandemic began, it changed my perspective on how fragile our lives can actually be. So I thought, why do I have to make a big deal out of looking younger when I can just look beautiful in my own terms and age?” she asks.
The beauty expert insists that women shouldn’t be afraid of aging but rather embrace it. “It’s an inevitable passage of life, and with proper skin care, you become one—not only with your looks but also with your health. It’s definitely an investment and when you put in the work, you get the results. It shouldn’t be a chore, and if you do it right, you can heal from within.”
The Big Shift
Ayn, Inka, and Agoo, as different as they are, all agree that being the best version of yourself can be achieved at any age, even when you get older.
According to the global study by Avon, most women agree that being in their forties has changed what they strive for: from having it all to having enough.
Turns out, 76% of women in their forties do not prioritize being on top of the hierarchy anymore, but rather define “success” as creating a balance between what they work with and how they want to live. More than half agree that feeling powerful doesn’t necessarily mean having enough money to spend, but having enough self-confidence to just be true to oneself.
With more women prioritizing having healthier-looking skin than looking young, Avon developed and launched the Anew Renewal Activating Serum, formulated with world-exclusive and ground-breaking ProtinolTM technology that offers seven skin benefits in just seven days, allowing women all over the world to embrace aging and future-proof their skin.
With a patented and expert formulation that guarantees faster results, the Anew Renewal Activating Serum can encourage women of all age groups to be their most authentic selves – just like Ayn, Inka, and Agoo.
Follow Avon Philippines on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and shop your favorite Avon products at www.avonshop.ph or contact your local Avon representative.