I’ve tried a lot weird things for the sake of beauty, from using a lip-vacuum device in attempt to fake a plumper pout to dousing my lackluster locks with a bottle of IPA beer to restore some shine after a bleach job gone wrong. One thing I never imagined doing, however, is spreading warm candle wax on my body with the hopes of achieving supple skin, but alas, here I am.

Before you assume that this skincare-candle hybrid is a product of kink culture or a sexy Valentine’s Day gimmick, hear me out, because apparently skincare candles are the latest thing in the beauty and wellness space. I’m guessing you’re either intrigued or horrified at this point, so I’ll go ahead and get on with my Neom Organics Skin Treatment Candle Review.

To offer some much-needed context here, I’ve been a huge fan of Neom’s luxe candle range for some quite some time now, but I have to admit — when I stumbled upon their Skin Treatment Candle, I was a little hesitant — not to mention kind of confused. But, in the name of beauty (and my job, of course) I figured I had to give it a try for myself. Spoiler alert: it’s not scary, painful, or kinky (unless you want it to be, that is) at all.

In fact, it’s the ultimate me-time selfcare product I’ve been subconsciously dreaming into existence for the past year (I mean, let’s face it: we all could use a little extra TLC after the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020.)

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Basically, you simply light the candle as you normally would, wait 10 or 15 minutes for the skincare-grade wax to soften and pool into a liquid, and then you’re ready to drizzle this yummy skin-enhancing wax-to-oil formula all over your skin — just don’t forget to blow out the flame. Clearly, Neom’s Skincare Treatment Candle isn’t formulated with any old candle wax. The soybean oil base is infused with not only twenty-four different de-stressing essential oils, but also a slew of nourishing skincare ingredients, including jojoba oil, cocoa butter, almond oil and rapeseed oil.

Courtesy of Neom Organics.

Neom Organics Intensive Skin Treatment Candle

It probably goes without saying, but this candle also happen to smell like straight-up heaven on earth — i.e. lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood.

Full disclosure: while I was ever-so-slightly concerned about getting burned, rest assured, it wasn’t an issue. In fact, this is one of the most relaxing nights to myself I’ve had in a hot (pun intended) minute. Neom recommends that you make a night of it too — draw a warm bath, pour a glass of wine, and get ready to have the literal softest skin ever after massage in the moisturizing oil and breathe in the relaxing blend of anxiety-erasing aromas.

Neom offers two versions of their Skincare Treatment Candle: the Scent to De-Stress and the Scent to Sleep. I tried the de-stress version, and as someone with an apparent inability to fully unwind, I found that it really did the trick.

Courtesy of Neom Organics.

Neom Organics Perfect Night’s Sleep Skin Treatment Candle

For all of the restless night owls out there, it’s time to give this sleepy time candle a try. Not only does it smell and feel amazing on the skin, but it also helps you wind down and prepare for some solid shut eye with the help of English lavender, calming sweet basil, and jasmine.

Buy: Neom Perfect Night’s Sleep Candle $46

MIT AgeLab is conducting a series of surveys to understand changes in public attitudes and behaviors toward smart technologies. As they noted, “The pandemic has served as a propellant accelerating the adoption of devices and related services perhaps a decade faster than might have otherwise occurred.”

Home delivery is now a necessity. Video chat is for anyone. Telemedicine finally took off.

I had the pleasure to interview Shaun Mitra as part of our Caregiver Smile Summit. Shaun is CEO of BrioCare, a technology app to help caregivers and older adults by leveraging smart-home technology.

Why So Popular Now?

Shaun notes that there is “a lot of stress, strain and anxiety associated with caregiving and most caregivers are looking for peace of mind.

He goes on to say: “I personally feel that some of these new voice interfaces through smart speakers like Alexa Amazon, Google Home, and Samsung Bixby can really help bridge and connect caregivers with their seniors. And for seniors, they become a digital companion.”

Shaun notes that before now, seniors found it very cumbersome to interact with technology. But now, you just speak to these smart speakers to make things happen. I personally can relate. Amazon can open my garage, turn on my lights, and my wife’s favorite,s turn on the coffee pot in the morning.

Senior isolation, exacerbated by Covid, has also accelerated the use of technology as well as the willingness for people to want to learn and embrace it.

Covid has also created and accelerated a move from senior living to aging in place. Technology is essential for successful aging in place and it is becoming more and more affordable.

Versatility and Endless Possibilities

As a caregiver, you can pre-program various types of reminders – family event dates, doctor appointments, etc. You can program music to be played. You can schedule important messages so that a loved one remembers to take medications, turn off the stove, etc.

Shaun’s BrioCare allows you to record a message in your own voice and when a loved one turns it on, it is waiting. What a great thing when you have grandkids who can send a message just by following a link generated from the app.

A person with a smart device can reach out to family members as well and of course emergency services as needed.

Medication Adherence Important

Studies have shown that approximately 50% of patients do not take their chronic medications as prescribed. Nonadherence can include delaying or not filling a prescription, skipping doses, splitting pills, or stopping a medication early. This leads to poorer health outcomes for patients.

Shaun believes the ability to automate medication reminders is one of the best features of these technologies. A caregiver can program an app to remind the older person of their medication. Or a person can tell the device to remind them, as I sometimes do when I ask Alexa to remind me to take my cholesterol medicine at bedtime.

You can add the small little nuances about taking these medications, like taking before, with or after meals, how many times a day, etc. With many of these apps, caregivers get a daily report on what is taking place.

A loved one can report their compliance. There are also emerging technologies that integrate pill dispensers with these devices.

Increased Independence

“Our mission is to help seniors lead a much more independent, active and purposeful life,” says Shaun. To that end, we are all probably familiar with how smart speakers make smart homes, which make life easier and safer for families.

Set up lights for home automation; program your thermostats; see who is at the front door. Fire TV Cube allows any Smart TV to become Alexa compatible. Smart speakers can consolidate multiple apps into one device by enabling skills and using apps that integrate with them.

If you have a smart speaker with a screen, the possibilities increase. The Echo Show in my kitchen brings up recipes I can read and watch. I can watch the latest news reports not just listen to them.

There are hundreds of thousands of skills that integrate. However, it is not always easy for the older person to figure it all out. That is why Shaun and other entrepreneurs have created companion apps to make it easy.

The Future

As mentioned earlier, a migration toward video will be one trend continuing. Appliances are becoming integrated and your refrigerator can tell you what you need, send a shopping list to the supermarket, and have everything delivered.

Telemedicine has increased by necessity but will continue to grow. More of these devices will be HIPAA compliant to protect your privacy and your healthcare information.

People are able to do joint cooking, read books to the grandkids, learn new skills. Heck, I am talking to people about embedding our Senior Entertainment/Education Network in these devices.

As the Forbes article noted, “High-tech is not a substitute for high-touch. The help of a virtual home assistant does not provide the same warmth of a loved one’s visit. Likewise, the efficient delivery of a meal kit is not the same as a home-cooked meal delivered by a smiling neighbor.”

Have you embraced smart technology for yourself? Are you using it with a loved one? Which devices have you tried so far? Do you have favorite apps that you use the most?

I once had the pleasure to help celebrate a woman’s 100^th birthday – on a cruise vacation no less. She clapped with such joy when the entire dining room chorused Happy Birthday. She blew out her candles with the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old.

This is what a long, happy life looks like, I thought to myself as I posed for a snapshot with her. This is how I want to be when I’m old. I told her about my 100^th Year Project and asked for a bit of wisdom.

“I have wonderful people who care for me,” she said, glancing around at the dozen family members who’d joined her on the cruise. It was obvious she is much loved, and her family gives her plenty of reason to enjoy life.

Not everyone who reaches old age is so lucky. Even if they don’t live alone, too many are emotionally alone. Some don’t live near family or may not have family of their own. For others, it’s just a matter of circumstance.

A Reciprocal Relationship

I have a good friend in her 80s who moved to Florida years ago because her son lived here. Then, because of his work, he moved across the country. While they are still very close and talk regularly, he can’t be there for her everyday needs.

As our friendship deepened, we’ve adopted each other. She’s like an aunt I visit every week, filling her in on what’s happening in my life. I’m the niece she can call for any reason: when she needs help with her car or she’s traveling and wants a trustworthy cat sitter or she’d just like to chat.

If my mom lived nearer, I’d spend this time with her. But she lives across the country, too. My 80-something girlfriend is terrific at offering a more experienced perspective to problems I face. I don’t think any of us are ever too old for a little motherly advice.

As a bonus, I’m a cat lover too, and my friend gets a kick out of hearing my kitten’s latest adventures. It’s symbiosis at its best.

Painting a Brighter Population Picture

The ‘oldest old’ – the 85 and up – are the fastest growing group in America. We’ve been warned for a long time about how our world is changing. Remember the 1977 Newsweek cover “The Graying of America?” Well, we’re there. We’re gray.

Now let’s add a little color to the picture. The Milken Institute’s 2016 Purposeful Aging Summit pulled together thought leaders from around the world. The concluding report offers a challenge for us.

“With the opportunities of extended longevity ahead, baby boomers must step up and join in efforts to redefine this stage of life rather than accepting yesterday’s norms. Summoning their sizable reserves of confidence and creativity, they can establish a new era of aging as a multifaceted, productive experience.”

For all of us in our 60s or 70s, there’s something we can do right now to improve the future of aging. We can befriend one person who is a generation older than us.

Embracing the Older Generation with a Purpose

In his book Drive, Daniel Pink talks about what happens to some people when they hit the bit 6-0. “Sixty, they think, is old. They tally their regrets and confront the reality that Mick Jagger and crew were right, that they didn’t always get what they want.”

But the 80 million of us crossing the 60 line each year aren’t even ‘youngest old’ yet. There have never been so many talented, creative people with so much time left after what have traditionally been the wage-earning years.

Pink says, “When the cold front of demographics meets the warm front of unrealized dreams, the result will be a thunderstorm of purpose the likes of which the world has never seen.”

If every one of us took just a smidge of that purpose and put it into genuinely caring about one person 10 or 20 years older than us, we could put a bit of sparkle on a lot of people’s days.

Some of the oldest old prefer to be alone. As Einstein said, “I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.” Still, just knowing someone cares is a longevity builder, as is the caring in itself.

Aging Responsibility for the Younger Generation

Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies projects that people over 75 who live alone will nearly double to over 13 million by 2035. That’s us, my friends.

The economic impact of caring for the world’s largest, longest living population will be enormous. The better we care for ourselves, the smaller the economic imprint we’ll make.

It is a big responsibility, but the payoff is living independently and full of purpose for decades to come. And the generation behind us will thank us.

19 years from now, when I reach the big 8-0, I sure hope I have younger friends who care about me and enjoy spending time with me. I plan to stay young enough to hop in my driverless car and meet them at the latest cool spot for lunch.

Then I’ll check in with my dear 100-something girlfriend and see if she feels up to company. Maybe I’ll bring half of my sandwich, and we’ll play a game of rummy. One thing I know for sure: we won’t run out of things to talk about.

What are your experiences with an older friend? Or a younger friend? Is there an older person you can reach out to, just to brighten their day?

And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings. ― Meister Eckhart

I believe there are many women out there that may believe once they have turned 60 there is no need to continue to preserve their health or keep up with personal care.

Many of the people I talk to get to a point where so much has changed in their lives that taking care of themselves seems to become less important. We aren’t striving as hard to keep our best interest.

It’s also easy to let go of many of the daily routines we once had. Suddenly, you have let too many things go, and you find yourself needing to get back into a healthy state.

Knowing you need to do something and taking the required steps don’t always go in the same direction. You may talk and dream about the results, or perhaps someone has made suggestions, but you still don’t act.

Perhaps you need more reasons to change direction or feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.

Bottom line is, it must start with you. No one can make you do something you don’t want for yourself. Wanting something, seeing the future, planning and then committing are stages to get you to the results you desire. Sometimes it means making change slowly to build habits.

You don’t have to make a sudden big change all at once, though you can if you want to. Usually, we try to make small changes that lead to a big change.

For example, if you are looking to move towards a healthier lifestyle, you can start with baby steps. So many people I talk to believe they need to make massive changes to their life to be healthy. Some need more than others but we all must start somewhere so here are tips to begin those baby steps to better health after 60.

Get a Check-Up

If you haven’t had a visit for a wellness check with your physician, or you have health issues, I recommend you see your doctor before starting any program that will change your lifestyle.

Drink Water

Water is one of the most important elements to help you become healthier. Over the last several years, there have been reports that Americans may suffer from chronic dehydration. Some studies showed up to 75 percent of Americans may be functioning in a chronic state of dehydration.

Although opinions vary on the recommended amount of fluid intake per day, health authorities commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses.

So, what are the benefits of drinking water?

Increasing your water consumption can help you focus and have more energy. It reduces hunger if consumed prior to meals. Water will also help get rid of toxins.

If you are looking to help your skin, water is a natural anti-aging treatment. So, the next time you must choose your drink, choose water!

Eat Real Food

Nourish your body with real foods. Choose unprocessed, whole foods. When you eat, do you think about what you are consuming? Do you enjoy the food by tasting and appreciating what you are eating? Are you making healthy choices?

Take time out without distractions when having your meals. Learn to focus on the food, taste without rushing. No computer, phone or television. You may find you enjoy the meals more and you will fill up faster by slowing your rate of intake and paying attention to the cues of being full.

Get Outside

It may be as little as a 10-minute walk, but getting outdoors for fresh air and a mental break can add a world of good to re-energize your spirit. Want to lift your mood? Take a quick walk around the block.

Get Enough Rest

Sleep can be your best friend, while not getting enough sleep can throw your body and mind out of whack. If you have trouble sleeping, find ways to control your environment to help get enough rest.

Look for relaxation techniques before bed. Get into a routine to regulate your body. If you need a specific sound, buy a white-noise machine. Keep your phone, TV and other distractions out of the bedroom. Providing your body with enough rest can help with decision making, willpower and energy.

Use Your Muscles

Strength is important for us all as we age. My sister had a goal to stay strong enough to get herself off the floor without help.

Building your strength can help reduce depression and all sorts of chronic diseases. It can improve flexibility, increase bone mass and lower body fat. Plus, you can do it without going to a gym. Look for body weight exercises you can do almost anywhere.

As you incorporate these small changes, you will see lifelong habits develop. Get excited. Remember you are working on having the best quality life possible as you age.

What steps are you taking to live a healthy and happy life in your 60s? Please join the conversation below and share your tips with the community!