I Golf, Swim, and Walk at 55 — So I’m Keeping a Skin Diary

I’ve decided to do something I’ve never done before: keep an honest record of my skin.

Not a polished “before and after.” Not a sponsored review. Just a real diary — what my skin is actually like, what I’m struggling with, and what happens as I test products and routines over time. I’m 55, I’m active, and I want to see what truly works for skin like mine. So I’m writing it all down.

Here’s where I’m starting from.

My skin, honestly

Let me be straight with you about where my skin is right now, so this diary makes sense:

• Dark spots are my biggest concern. Decades as a golf pro in the sun will do that. I manage them — I don’t pretend they’re gone.
• Dryness comes and goes, especially with the seasons and after swimming.
• Overall? For my age, my skin is in good shape — not many wrinkles, decent firmness. But it needs real care to stay that way, because of how active my life is.

I’m not writing from a place of “perfect skin.” I’m writing from a place of “working on it, honestly.”

My life challenges my skin every day

This is why a diary makes sense for me. My skin isn’t sitting in a calm, indoor life — it’s out in the world:

• Golf — hours in direct sun, wind, sweat
• Swimming — chlorine that strips and irritates
• Walking — more sun, more time outdoors

Most skincare routines aren’t built for a life like this. So I’ve had to figure out my own, and I want to track honestly whether it’s working.

What I’ll record going forward

Here’s my standard for this diary — the things I’ll note every time I test a product or routine:

• My skin’s condition before and during use
• How long I actually used it (not just first impressions)
• What I used it with — because products rarely work alone
• What I liked, and what bothered me — honestly, both sides
• Whether I’d buy it again — the real test

Why I’m sharing this publicly

I could keep this diary private. But I think there are other women like me — over 50, active, tired of advice from people whose lives look nothing like ours. If my honest record helps even a few of you figure out your own skin, then it’s worth writing down where everyone can see it.

So this is the beginning. My skin, my active life, my honest notes — recorded as I go. Welcome to my skin diary.

— Day one, at 5