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10 Things You Should Have in Your Bathroom if You’re Over 50

10 Things You Should Have in Your Bathroom if You're Over 50

1. Magnifying mirror. Because objects seen in regular mirrors are really larger than they appear. The little hair chin – that is actually two inches long, the stray brow – which is actually creating a bridge across your nose, that cute freckle – that is actually a smear of lunch’s BBQ sauce. Caveat: you should have a double sided mirror where the other side is not magnified. Make sure you leave it on the normal side until you’re ready to get serious about the face search – I have scared the heck out of myself more than once by turning on the bathroom light and having that jumbo magnified face staring back at me!

2. Truthful lighting. You’re not doing yourself any favors by having soft lighting that makes you appear to be bathed in the glow of a candle. You are setting yourself up for a heartbreaking double-take when you catch a glimpse of yourself in the rearview mirror as you head off to face the world with a make-up job that wasn’t intended to see the harsh light of day.

10 Things You Should Have in Your Bathroom if You're Over 503. Fierce toenail clippers. The kind that don’t take “no” for an answer. Have you seen the kind with scissor-like handles? Better aim with less slippage.

4. Serious tweezers. “Cute” doesn’t cut it here. You want tweezers with a sturdy grip and a slanted edge – tweezers that can take on the tough tasks and get the job done. Keep them somewhere close to that magnifying mirror.

5. Soothing body powder. You will want to use this anywhere that skin touches skin that it didn’t touch previously. Please don’t make me be specific here.

6. Paper and pen. For when that “must do later today” flashes through your mind – because you will NOT remember it by the time you get to the kitchen.

7. Aquanotes. It’s a pad and “pencil” that sticks to the wall of the shower. Because the chances of you remembering that great idea long enough to rinse off and get to your paper and pen by the sink keep getting slimmer. 10 Things to Have in the Bathroom if Over 50

8. Extra eye or reading glasses. So on a groggy middle-of-the-night visit you can grab them quickly to determine what that large object on the floor actually is – and whether your sudden shaking is making it seem to be moving . . . or worse.

9. Counter-top pump body lotion. If you can fit your body lotion in a drawer, you’re probably not using the volume of moisturizer on your arms, hands, elbows, feet, knees – among other areas – that you should.

10. An object that makes you laugh, smile, or feel inspired. A whimsical shower curtain, a silly toilet paper dispenser, a framed motivational saying. Other than your bed, chances are the bathroom is the first place you go* in the morning and the last place you go* at night. Might as well begin and end each day with a smile on your face!

*No pun intended

What’s YOUR now-that-I’m-over-50 bathroom staple?

44 Comments

  1. What a timely post. Just this morning, I thought, not only do I need the magnifying mirror, but a magnifying glass. Even with my glasses on, I couldn’t read the color on a tube of lipstick.

        1. Have your blood sugar checked! It creeps up as we age and can often result in blurry vision.

  2. Oh cheese, really? I don’t have any of them! I’ve been living in LaLa Land, admiring my new freckles and trying to find the hair n my chin that I can feel but not see – On the plus side, I can’t see any of the things that have gone sadly awry……..

    I really like those handled clippers I need to hunt some of them down!

    1. Well, what I didn’t have was something wonderfully whimsical to make me smile – until today! A wonderful friend sent a beautiful light chaser to hang in front of the mirror – right after I show it off to everyone I know!! SO special – thanks again, Pauline! 🙂 🙂

        1. A hanging beaded creation that has crystals to catch the light and charms that have different meanings – the one I referenced was made by Pauline King, a New Zealand blogger friend. I posted a picture by your comment on the FB page (couldn’t figure out how to post it here – I’ll have to work on that!!)

      1. I’m in the U.S. and had to look that up, Lorraine. I see that Boots is a pharmacy?

  3. This is great, and so much fun. Actually, I have it all except for the Aquanotes, but I keep paper and pen on the counter just beyond the shower curtain.

    1. I pretty much carry paper and pen around with me these days, Marylin! I learned how to leave notes on my phone, but I forget to go back and read them, so I stick with the “old-fashioned” notes that I have a chance to happen upon crumpled up in my pocket later!

      1. I have now started photographing my shopping list and calendar (they both are white boards on my fridge) with my phone. when I hit the store, I look at the photo and “try” to stick just to the list. not always successfully but now I seldom come home without the stuff on my list 😊

        1. That is a GREAT idea, Trina! It will save me walking the grocery store aisles looking for my rumpled list that disappeared somewhere between produce and frozen foods!

  4. Lordy, I love #2 and have finally actually done this. True story: Not long ago I was trying to take a selfie so I could update my Facebook photo. I must’ve taken two dozen of them, each looking worse than the first. I just couldn’t figure out who that old lady with the wrinkles was who kept showing up in each photo. I showed them to my husband, puzzled about why I couldn’t seem to take a ‘real’ picture of myself. He was even more confused, then (gently, thank goodness) explained to me that that’s how I look. He may have thought I hit my head or was otherwise having a senior moment? After much denial and several more attempts to take a selfie that didn’t make me look like I’d put my face in the dryer without a dryer sheet, I realized he was, in fact, correct. With my new ‘honest’ bathroom lighting, I’m slowly coming to terms with reality!

    1. You had me laughing out loud, ODB! Every so often when I’m embracing reality, it give me a jab! Thanks for visiting – I appreciate Chicago files for connecting us!

  5. Love this posy! How about tissues for wiping the tears when you see what is looking back at you in the magnifying mirror!

    1. That can be a bit traumatic, but remember: it’s wild exaggeration – we’re actually gorgeous. I say if anybody is looking at us through magnifying glasses, they deserve whatever shocks they receive!

  6. No bathroom lighting is as cruel as that rearview mirror. I have to take my magnifying mirror in to the tiny computer room. Lots of windows make the mirror mean but still not as cruel as the car. Loved this article.

    1. Lol – I’m with you, Linda – the combination of daylight and a rearview mirror can be a real . . . eye opener!

  7. The thing I can’t live without is personal wipes (more like fabric than paper). Tp isn’t enough.

    1. That’s a GREAT one, Beverly – it’s physical kindness! AND something that should be tossed in one’s purse in a travel-size version for trips!

  8. Oh So True! I seriously shopped for that exact thing. I only found two that were acceptable, and my favorite is the Summer’s Eve at Walmart.

  9. A reach tool so you don’t have to bend over when you drop the bar of soap.

    1. That’s a great idea, Linda – definitely needs to be added to the list!!

  10. #8! Yes, yes! #8! Been there, lived through that! 😂😂😂

  11. A sign to remind me what my name is and who I am

    1. Lol- there are days when I would find that helpful, too!

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