Carmen Dell'Orefice, at 76, is the oldest working supermodel. 'How many other ladies of 76 can say that the snapshot on their senior citizen's card was taken by Norman Parkinson?' she asks.
Clearly we all want to know what her beauty regime is. And here it is:
In fact, her big beauty secret boils down to nothing more complex than a unpromising-sounding product called Bag Balm, an ointment developed by a dairy farmer for softening cow teats. Now it's mainly used for equine purposes, 'and if it's good enough for horses, it's good enough for me.' She says it's like Elizabeth Arden's cultish Eight Hour Cream, but a fraction of the price. 'Three dollars ninety-nine for a year's supply!' she exclaims, jubilant. Here is a woman who likes a bargain. When I admire her expensive-looking ring, she takes great pleasure in yelling, 'Twenty-eight dollars! Banana Republic!'
15 comments:
Fabulous bone structure.
Puss
Have a look at the slideshow that accompanies the article. The pictures got better as she got older.
She's gorgeous still, but I have a suspicion that she landed in the lucky end of the gene pool.
I had a friend who used bag balm on her elbows and heels and swore by it.
Heh. Well, as someone who has used Bag Balm for its original intent (though on sheep, not on cows), I can tell you that this is the sort of stuff which is very very useful - anything that needs lubrication can use a dose of this - including your lawn mower. It is greasy. That is why is works to seal moisture IN and seal drying wind, etc. OUT. On the other hand, it gets on everything that you may not want greased up - like your clothing, your hair, etc. I have a homemade concoction of rosewater, glycerin, and a little bit of vit. E oil that works really well, but is not so greasy. I keep the bag balm out in the barn, where it belongs.
and Deja - I agree with you, she's definitely from the lucky end.
A woman like this gives me hope that the whole Sheryl Crow, 40 is the new 30 fad is just that - a fad.
Miss Janey wants to take a dive into a vat of that magic salve.
Deja Pseu - girlfriend, I am so with you on that one. No reason to be envious though, I'm sure she has plenty of challenges in her life like all of us.
My daughters are turning out to be beauties (how that happened is an utter mystery to me, since both DH and I are deeply average in the looks department). As I watch them grow up, I am not so sure it's necessarily a better deal to be so ”lucky”.
I'm always deeply suspicious when fabulous looking people say "Oh, I only use *insert cheap cream here*".
First of all, she is the very picture of lucky genes. Second, before the pictures are taken, there's probably a make-up artist involved. Third, very good photographer. Fourth, maybe even a tiny bit of photoshopping.
The cream seems to be the least important bit in the equation.
What I particularly love about Carmen is her beautiful white hair, worn groomed and long(ish) when other women of a certain age would still be blonde and short. Of course, I realize that her hair has long been her calling card, but it bears another mention!
I've seen her before, and always wondered about her. She's inspiring, but I'd have to agree with deja pseu, she seems to have lucked out to some degree.
My grandma ended up looking fantastic well into old age, and I take after her so it's fingers crossed for me!
I milk a cow every day and thus use bag balm in the barn. I must say that while it may have wonderful moisturizing/antiseptic qualities, its so very utilitarian that there is no joy in scooping into it in the morning. There is no lovely fragrance, and the name is awful -- isn't that part of the whole skin care experience?
"Fabulous bone structure."
that's because she's *all* bone... her hair is gorgeous, but she looks like she should be wheeled around with a blanket to keep her warm. too thin.
she looks great with an edge.
And, for anyone who cares:
"The active ingredients of Bag Balm are 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate 0.3% (antiseptic) in a petrolatum and lanolin base." (wikipedia)
So, basically, what we are talking about here is petroleum jelly, lanolin(which is the fatty acid substance from sheeps' wool and an antiseptic. I could think of many, many other treatments that I would rather put on my face.
I went to a talk she gave with David Downton..it was great listening to her talk about her early modelling days, really funny and refreshingly honest!
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