It's complicated: celebrities aging "naturally"

 

This is a world where appearance counts for a lot, and because of that, beauty and anti-aging technologies are constantly advancing and evolving.

As the procedures and techniques get better and more sophisticated, it is interesting to watch how the faces of the people who have the means and the desire, change (or stay the same, as the case may be) as a result of the best-of-the-best nips, tucks, zaps, and injections available. 

While there are countless celebs who look like freakish, plastic versions of their former selves (just off the top of my head, Mickey Rourke, Renee Zellweger,Meg Ryan) there are a number of celebrities who are aging beautifully. Whether it's due to great genes, or a great team of derms and aestheticians,  the celebrities featured here still look amazing despite the passing of time that just won't quit...

Julia Roberts (pictured above) still looks as beautiful today as she did 20 years ago when "Pretty Woman" came out, regardless of what she may, or may not, be doing to herself. Judging by the color of her skin then, and now, it appears she is doing herself a great favor by staying out of the sun.

Jennifer Aniston is known for being fanatical about her appearance, and lord knows her diligence is paying off. With the departure of her baby fat, I think she looks better today than she did 20 years ago. 

Whoever does her work is a treasure.

There's something about Ellen Barkin... despite having a look about her that betrays the fact that her appearance is NOT au naturel, she still looks good. (And, after divorcing billionaire Ronald Perelman, she is certainly a woman with the resources to have the best of anything done.)

Cindy Crawford belongs in the same, "Did she? Didn't she? Probably did, but jesus christ it's good work!" category as Sharon Stone, Sheryl Crow, and Andie McDowell. 

She looks too good, in a natural way, to be true-- which ironically is what gives her away. There's just no way she looks so perfect at age 44, due wholly to good genes. 

See, doesn't Sheryl Crow also look too amazing?

Sharon Stone too... amazing, but in the world of Hollywood there's no way she looks so flawless naturally. (Again, please note the clear avoidance of the sun. There might be a pattern here?)

Andie McDowell looks amazing. 

And then there's the men... 

Even though there are the plastic-fantastic Bruce Jenners and Nicholas Cages of the world, there are also the George's and the Johnny's that only seem to get better NATURALLY with age.  

In my humble opinion, George Clooney looks a million times hotter now than he did 20 years ago, gray hair, wrinkles, and all. 

 

While Johnny Depp's dirty, scruffy aesthetic is not my taste, there is no denying that his face looks only minutely different than it did 20 years ago. Since he has never cared about following the conventions of society, he is someone that I really do think is aging naturally. All I can say is-- his children are lucky to have those genes.

It was only while watching "It's Complicated" on TV the other day that I noticed how lovely something is about Meryl Streep. She is definitely not classically pretty, and even though it is my job to look at and improve skin all day, everyday, I couldn't help noticing how beautiful her skin looked despite the fine lines and wrinkles. When she smiled, the skin underneath her cheekbones crinkled and wrinkled, and on her I thought it looked beautiful; delicate, feminine, and the antithesis of what I strive for everyday. Weird. 

Meryl looks great for her age, and if she's doing anything cosmetic it appears to be the barest minimum. (Yet again, note her paleness.)

 

Susan Sarandon is another example of a woman that allows aging to occur, and looks great.

Nicole Kidman was so angelically pretty. 

Maybe I've just been looking at this picture for too long at this point, because although she usually does have the plasticky, fish lipped, too-much-Botox look, I think she looks pretty here? 

 

The celebrities featured here are all people whose livelihoods depend on their faces, and therefore I am not passing judgment on any treatments they may elect to have done. 

If anything, looking at pictures like this is inspiring because it shows that with the proper taste level, skill, and resources, it is possible to advance in age and still look like yourself... fabulously. 

P.S. Not to kick a dead horse here, but if you look closely at all the pictures, George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston seem to be only ones sporting natural looking tans. (Cindy and Nicole look like recipients of a good spray tan.) Practicing good sun health is clearly the easiest, do-it-yourself way to stave off premature aging for as long as possible.