Ok, here’s how I became part of a campaign called #LifePlus It’s a beauty report supported by Superdrug
When you get an email dropped into your inbox asking if you would like to have your photo taken on a busy underground train and at a busy bus stop in London, what would your first thought be? My thought was how CHALLENGING!
The punchline is “Why women are embracing their years not fighting them” I’m all for that! This blog has certainly given shy me (yes really I am!) my fair share of challenges and the more I thought about the email, the more I was daring myself to say yes! reading the intro I decided why not stand up and be counted as one of these women
“Gone are the days of the older customer blending into the background in favour of her youthful counterparts. While in the past the beauty industry may have shunned the over forties, even using twenty-something models in campaigns targeted towards older women, the time has come for women of every age to shine. Superdrug’s customer team is constantly listening to feedback to shape the business’s strategy to ensure it evolving alongside customer needs”
Ok, my first thoughts here are how far have we come, us everyday women in our forties, fifties and beyond. We are being heard and noticed, we are just as important as the twenty/ thirty-year-old.
In the fashion industry, you see far more mature women involved, but the fact that women from all backgrounds not just models are taking part is so much more appealing. Look at JD Williams for instance with their Just Getting Started campaign. I think it’s really good.
The beauty industry I think is a little slower. Ok, we do see the mature famous women involved here but not your girl next door so much. Dove Uk has had a couple of campaigns and one of my favourite make up brands Look Fabulous Forever have always used everyday women and I think that’s one of the reasons why the brand is doing so well.
The Daily Mail I feel are just taking the piss (sorry for swearing) featuring mature women of all walks of life talking about how they spend/save their money to make themselves look/feel better Have you read my interview? I was not a happy bunny!
Let’s get on the train!
So, being asked to take part in this was pretty exciting. Wait for it! Nothing glamorous going on here! I’m asked if I would wear a badge saying ” Menopause On Board”! I have visions of one of those huge party badges that we’re made to wear on a “special birthday” A bit of a slump in excitement I must say! Why not something more glamorous? We’re still fond of a bit of glamour at our age you know!
I thought about whether to take part because of the badge but decided I still wanted to because of what the #LifePlus report stood for and for the challenge of putting myself out there, standing for us mature women.
Sweaty palms I can tell you!
On arrival at the station, I started to get the sweaty palm syndrome but I was determined to do the shoot. The badge turned out to be tiny, so I was happy with that.
I didn’t know what to expect, the reaction of people, but look at the photo, they’re all facing the other way! Don’t get me wrong, a lot of people were intrigued. a lot of people smiled, I smiled back and then tried to remind myself that I was the only one on the train!
It became easier after a while, there are only two photos here on the train but there were loads taken. I’m always telling everyone how you have to take more than a hundred shots of me to maybe get a good one!
One of the busiest places in London – Earles Court!
The next location for the shoot was a bus stop at Earles court. I found this way harder than the train! It was super busy and a lot of people going by stopped to see what was going on. Can you see? I’m quaking in my boots here!
Take a look at the report
Quite an interesting report. I’d love to hear what you think about it and how you feel us more mature women are being looked after in our later years. What point would you like to put across?
Report on behalf of Superdrug
Photo Credits to Matt Alexander
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Laurie, I am sorry I am just reading this now…I clicked over from your recent post…what an amazing opportunity and initiative to be a part of. These statistics are fascinating and I can agree with just about all of them. Menopause is a rite of passage and we should be celebrated for surviving it! And you don’t look nervous at all in these photos. In fact, you look very much like a professional!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Oh my Laurie I would’ve been quaking too! It sounds like a really interesting report though. I’ve never really been that bothered about growing older, it’s a part of life after all. Well done for taking part – you look great as usual.
Thanks for linking to #pocolo
What a great collaboration Laurie, love your photos 🙂 Thanks for linking up last week #WednesdayLinkUp
I agree that older women are listened to more and more these days, and rightly so, the experience that many have is vast. Sadly though many of us still continue to put ourselves down and often there’s a lack of support (from other women) when women do well. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo and I’m glad that badge wasn’t one of those special birthday sized ones!
A fantastic bit of exposure for you Laurie and you look as cool as a cucumber! I love that we are where we are at this place in time – our mothers never had these kind of opportunities did they? It’s wonderful that the role of the middle aged model is being replaced by real women. No acting required on our part, just be ourselves, hurrah! You’re a brilliant role model Laurie. Keep up the great work!
Anna x
Author
Thank you so much, Anna. Not as cool as I looked! The busy bus stop was pretty hair-raising! A crowd of people wondering what on earth this old gal was up too! xx
Laurie great post! I have to say you look like a natural in front of the camera can’t believe you were nervous. I enjoyed reading the reports and laughed at the younger boyfriend bit. It’s good to know that women are not opting for plastic surgery and most are happy being older. With regards to the menopause I’ve ticked a few things of that so I’m heading down that road…can I have a badge please!
Author
Thank you Naila. Glad you’ve enjoyed the post. I do actually have a spare badge! Thanks for stopping by xx
So proud of you Laurie. You are going places..not just on trains and buses. You’ve still disappeared off my feed so I have to hunt you out on Twitter or linkups. Hugs xx
Author
Thanks Anna. You could always type in my address! http://www.? or Bloglovin? I know your on there? xx
Well done on pushing your limits really informative post #truimphantatales
Author
Thanks, Nige! Thanks for stopping by xx
Eek – forgot to add #Dreamteam – sorry!!
Well done on pushing your comfort zones! Hope you felt amazing after doing it, congrats.
Author
Thank you! It’s good to challenge yourself I think? Thank you for stopping by xx
I do think aging has been considered something to avoid. I’m glad the tide seems to be shifting, hooray for you in helping to change that! #DreamTeam
Author
Thanks Heather xx
This was such an interesting post, Laurie, thank you for all the detsils!!
Author
Lovely to see you here Donna. Glad you enjoyed xx
Well done for handling this so well, Laurie, you shined.
I think more needs to be put out there to explain that the peri- and the menopause are multi-faceted, it’s not all about hot flushes and nothing else. And it’s important that women understand they can seek help during what can be a bewildering and sometimes crazy time. After all that’s done and dusted it’s all about having a good attitude to life. Like holding in to your pout!! Keep busy, keep moving, keep talking and the rest will sort itself out.
Hugs, have a great weekend, x.
Author
100% Mary. I had a really early menopause. Arguing with the doctors that your body is changing is a real issue with a lot of women. They need to listen up! xx
Really interesting read, thanks for sharing X #pocolo
Author
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed xx
Go Laurie, good of you to overcome all the fears and jump on board as t is not an easy subject to talk about publicly. You look lovely
Author
Thank you so much Anna xx
Laurie
Very interesting post. Congrats on taking part and challenging yourself. I would have been a bit nervous! Beautiful as always. I am like Robin, I laughed at the sex life stats and also agree with those top 3 things of keeping younger – so important. I know you were hesitant about the pin, but it was small and I couldn’t read it 🙂
thanks for linking!
jess xx
Author
Yes. The size of the pin was a relief! xx
Great post L and such an interesting report ! Yes to older women being used inbeauty campaigns!
Xx
Author
Oh Yes! I’m so with you! xx
Wow. How brave! What a fabulous campaign!
Author
Interesting I think Nancy. Bring it on the over 50’s! xx
Well done Laurie, very important and ground breaking campaign. I’m tired of how older women are patronized. In the papers (and the Mail is a prime culprit) women in crime stories are often referred to as a grandmother. And then you find out they’re in their late 40s. They don’t do it to men. And that’s just one example!
Author
I totally agree with you Gail. We are getting stronger though. Getting there with the stand-up and be counted attitude. xx
You look super confident Laurie, well done on what must have been really hard. Great shots and yes a small badge that looks okay. I liked the report and hope it will gain momentum with other companies so they support us over fifty year olds more. Have a super week Hun. x Jacqui Mummabstylish
Author
Here’s to that Jacqui xx
Laurie,
I love this post and I hope you share it again on my link up parties!
I truly believe having an active social calendar helps many people live younger because you have to dress up and show up!
Dressing up makes you feel better and getting out in the community is so important as we get older because we begin to lose many friends and depression may set in.
Eating well and physical activity like walking every day also helps us.
I laughed when I saw an active sex life only had 18%!!
Hugs,
Robin
I am not there yet, but I really liked to read this article. Also I loved the location of the pictures! All in all a very good post.
Lots of love, Miri
Author
Thank you so much Miri. xx
I think confidence is so attractive and although you were terrified (I am shy, and would have been too) you were able to fake it and in the end that’s all that counts! You look gorgeous and proud – I love it! xx Maria |
Author
Thanks Maria xx