Apparently, I'm 30.

I turned this year into a full-blown audit of my health, hormones, hair, and everything else — and, honestly, the results were pretty encouraging.

I am turning 40 in a matter of weeks, and I’ve spent the better part of this year thinking about all the different areas of my life and asking myself: Do I feel good about where these stand?

Finances. Fashion. Family life. Parenting. Mental health. And, of course, my physical health — both internal and external.

So I decided to dig a little deeper into that last one.

The Inside

I did a bunch of bloodwork through Hundred Health to assess my biological age — essentially, how well my body is aging on the inside. Most of us don’t know our biological age because our healthcare system tends to focus on treating symptoms rather than looking at the bigger picture of how we can optimize our health before something goes wrong.

So, one early morning after fasting and going off all of my non-prescribed supplements, I headed to Quest Diagnostics and had GALLONS of blood drawn. Truly, the most blood I’ve ever had taken in my entire life. Thankfully, the Hundred app prepared me for this, so I knew to bring water and a snack.

What exactly were all these tests looking for? More than 100 biomarkers across different areas of health — measurable indicators that can provide insight into how your body is functioning, including hormones, metabolism, inflammation, heart health, nutrient levels, and more.

And the result?

I’m actually 30.

THIRTY!

My biological age came back about 10 years younger than my chronological age. WOO!

I chalk some of this up to strong genetics and a predisposition to longevity. But I also think it’s a combination of eating pretty clean(ish), never smoking, working out regularly, and, honestly, having fun.

You are what you eat, and you age how you feel.

That said, there were a few markers that came back needing some attention.

About two years ago, I experienced significant hair loss. And if you know me well, you know I have a very thick, very long head of hair, so it was truly soul-shaking for me. I needed to figure out how and why it was happening, which made understanding what was going on inside my body even more important.

At the time, my testosterone levels were very high, so my OB-GYN recommended that I go back on birth control to suppress ovarian hormone production. And I have to say, it worked. My hair stopped falling out, and adding minoxidil to my routine has helped with regrowth.

Fast-forward 12 months, and I did this mega bloodwork. While, yes, I am basically Benjamin Button, I also have some areas to work on — including inflammation, immune health, and a few markers related to blood health. Luckily, these are things I can work on with some diet tweaks and targeted supplements, especially since I already have the working-out part down pat.

Nothing dramatic. Just a little more information about my body and what it needs.

And honestly? Knowing this makes me feel so much more confident heading into this next chapter of my life.

I’m not scared to age. I just want to age well. I want to feel strong, energetic, healthy, and like the best version of myself at 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

And beyond what my bloodwork told me, I’ve been layering a few other things into my routine that help me feel my best — supergreens powder, creatine, MB1, protein shakes, and, most recently, swapping my morning coffee for matcha.

And while this is starting to read like a really lame “I am perfect and have figured everything out” post, I promise you I have NOT stopped eating fun things or drinking wine and Aperol Spritzes. Everything in moderation.

And one last hot tip: there are tons of no-sugar wines out there now, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer.

The Outside

Taking care of what’s happening inside your body has an enormous impact on what you see on the outside. When I’m taking care of myself, my skin looks brighter and healthier, my muscles respond better to strength training, I lean out more easily, some of the wobbly bits start firming up, my hair feels healthier — the list goes on.

That said, I’m also a firm believer in tackling the aging-gracefully battle from every angle. We are nothing if not overachievers.

Face. Body. Hair.

There are a handful of products and rituals that I genuinely swear by.

The Dr. Dennis Gross LED Mask is at the top of the list. I use the red and blue light settings together as many times a week as I remember, and I’ve noticed a real difference — not just in the brightness of my skin but in its overall texture and appearance.

True Botanicals, a brand I’ve been buying for years, makes some of the most luxurious, sensorial, hardworking skincare I’ve ever used. A few of my favorites are the Phyto-Retinol Serum, Chebula Active Serum, Pure Radiance Oil and honestly probably their entire lineup.

When it comes to body care, I actually make my own lotion. For years, I searched for something that was deeply moisturizing and lasted longer than an hour, but nothing quite did the trick. I dealt with stubborn eczema in my early 30s, so caring for the skin on my body became just as important as caring for my face.

Then my middle daughter started having her own eczema flare-ups, and my mom created a simple beef tallow-based whipped moisturizer for us. We’ve spent the last year tweaking the formula with nourishing oils until it became exactly what we wanted. It’s rich, incredibly hydrating, and one of those things I can’t imagine being without now.

Once a week, I dermaplane and use an at-home microneedling roller. Those tiny, controlled micro-injuries can stimulate the skin’s healing response and collagen production, and over time I’ve found that my skin looks smoother and brighter. And yes — I always bring it down my neck and across my décolletage.

It’s called future-proofing, baby.

Sunscreen is completely non-negotiable. Every season. Every day. Lately I’ve been reaching for the Counter tinted SPF because it gives me sun protection and just enough coverage for my no-makeup lifestyle.

I also sleep on a silk pillowcase religiously (my girls do too — their hair is absolute chaos otherwise), and I rotate between RAEL and Loops masks depending on what my skin is asking for that week. Some days it’s hydration, some days it’s calming, and sometimes it’s simply because I can’t resist multi-tasking while I watch TV, scroll instagram and wear my husband’s Higher Dose Red Light Therapy Hat (hair growth at all costs!).

Everything I do, though, I do because I like it. And if I skip a day — or a week — of something, it’s not the end of the world. Because none of this is about trying to stop aging or look younger than I am. It’s about feeling good in my skin, taking care of the body that’s carried me through nearly four decades, and giving myself the best chance to age with strength, confidence, and a little glow along the way.

Basically, my philosophy is this:

Take care of what’s happening inside. Take care of what’s happening outside. Accept that aging is happening either way. And be grateful you are aging at all!