Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is a tough one. I don't like it when I have a bad outbreak of eczema, for example, and all my husband says is "You look great, honey, you're beautiful." It makes me feel patronized and kind of gaslighted. But I also don't want him to say "You're right, you are hideous!" So you are walking a fine line.
What I recommend: Tell her "Let me take a really close look." Have her sit down and turn on a bright light and scrutinize her face carefully for at least a full minute. Then say "Honey, I have to tell you, I think you are looking really good here." She will feel that you have made an actual appraisal and given her feedback. She may come back and say "But what about my crow's feet!!" Then you can say "Let me look again." Look at the crow's feet for another minute. Come back and say "This looks very faint to me, really not something you want to mess with." Continue to scrutinize, minimize.
THIS IS GOLD.
I have similar insecurities and I would love this-- actually, my DH does something like this and it's totally believable AND...
It has the effect of not really deterring me from a little potential Botox if I feel like it and YET... It pulls me off the ledge of feeling like A) I look hideous now and B) my husband thinks I could use a "touch up."