For about two years leading up to Dec. 21, 2012, I "believed" the world was going to end. OK, so I didn't really think that life as we know it would cease to exist based on the Mayan prediction, but I did like to use it as a YOLO tactic with my best friend. Every time one of us felt like flaking on a brunch date, gym class, or night out, we would remind each other that the apocalypse was near! And quickly, we would man up and stay out dancing for an extra hour or push ourselves a little harder in Spin class. We tried to make every moment count. "The world is ending" became synonymous with "live it up!"
And then Dec. 21, 2012, came and went. And I was totally fine.
That left me with a new doomsday to dread: turning the big 3-0. I was still 28 on Dec. 21, 2012, and just about two years later on Dec. 10, I would enter my third decade. So said BFF and I started prematurely referring to ourselves as 30-year-olds, treating our upcoming birthdays as the be-all and end-all for feeling young and having fun. We wanted to be emotionally prepared for our bodies to change. And while I did experience some signs of aging — a slowed metabolism and more noticeable under-eye circles — my birthday came and went much like the Mayan apocalypse. Nothing happened.
Now as the rest of my gal pals are crossing over to their 30s, I am receiving a flood of anxious texts and emails. "What eye cream should I use?" "Should I start Botox?" "My husband noticed a line on my forehead!" Calmly and gently, I have been confirming that it's a bit early for cosmetic dermatology (something I was told by two top NYC derms) and recommending products. But since I know that the ladies in my crew aren't the only ones panicking, I decided to make a comprehensive list of every hair, makeup, and — most importantly — skin care product you need to use in your early 30s. All of these essentials are handpicked, tried, tested, and used on the regular by yours truly. If you just turned 30, embrace it, own it, and beautify for it. I promise: the end is nowhere near.
This is (just) 30.