CONFESSIONS of a 50 Y.O Makeup Junkie...

Why hello there!

How are y'all doing today?

It's just me, your friendly, LAZY blogger:)

What can I say.........

I've been getting a few things ready for my friend's shop AND for some reason,

I've had a run on tutu orders.

The Beach Gypsies are back in business!! 

 I think. LOL

But more about that another time.

For today it's a beauty blog..........

for us chickies who are over the magic number of 50.

(And everyone else, too:)

So let's get to it!

I really am a makeup junkie.

But fortunately, I am a CHEAP makeup junkie!

And when I love something, I will use it to death.

(Or at least until something else catches my eye;)

HOWEVER,

this time, I feel really good about what I have chosen

AND

I have been using this stuff for quite awhile now.

See what you think..........

First up is SKINCARE!

OOOOOHHH.......this is a biggie for us over 50 chickies:)

Some things go unspoken but assumed.

Like...........SUNSCREEN!

~Considering the fact that I grew up BAKING in Michigan as a teen,

and have lived in South Florida (ahem.......the sub-tropics, technically)

for just over 20 years, I know a bit about sunscreen.  

Actually, I know about the PRICE you pay for baking in the sun,

which led me to know a little about sunscreen:)

Here is what I have to say about it...........

Use ingredients that have it added so when you forget, you have some help.

If not, use at least 30 SPF.  50 SPF if you really want to.

But most dermatologists will say the 100 SPF is just hooey.

Don't ditch your 30 and run to the store for 100 thinking it's better.

That's just good ol American marketing at work!

I like SunBum, Australian Gold and Neutrogena.  But that's just me:)

But here's what I really want to show you and it's for every day skincare.

For less than $40.00, 

y'all can keep your skin soft and mostly wrinkle free!

* Prices above are approximate, within 20cents, from Amazon.

Let's face it.........most of us are fighting dryer skin in these magical years.

And wrinkles.

So those are the issues I'm addressing here.............

#1 Coconut Oil  

I've talked about this (as everyone else has) many times before.

But in a nutshell, it's the BEST I have found for removing makeup (especially eye makeup),

moisturizing skin all over your body, and adding shine to hair.
Oh.......and it is a FABULOUS shaving cream:)

Seriously!  

I use the brand pictured above 

but just make sure you get any extra-virgin coconut oil.
I also use Lou-Ana, found at the grocery store.

#2 Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum

It's actually a very light cream in a tube, but we'll go with serum;)

Now, it boasts the claim that you will see improved skin in seven days.

And guess what?????

I DID!!!  I really LOVE this product and slap it on AS WELL AS coconut oil.

#3 Pond's Cold Cream

 If you are buying expensive cleansers, you're kinda crazy.

Sometimes you have to give Grandma credit for her soft skin back in the day.

My absolute FAVORITE cleanser is Pond's Cold Cream.

Again, I'm SOOOOOO SERIOUS!

Makeup...........

For simplicities sake, I am sharing my number #1 favorite drugstore line.

After that, I'll show you a few favorites from other lines.

But for me, the winner in the all-around make-up line,

the one that makes you say your friends are crazy for buying expensive stuff is.............

NYX.  (NEVER to be confused with NYC makeup)

I was a bit of a M.A.C junkie..........and I still could be.

(more about that later:)

But this is a copycat line that is significantly cheaper!

My advice is to go to Ulta for your NYX.  

They carry a HUGE selection and drugstores are only just adding in bits and pieces.

In the above photo, you will see the items I use.  

Shades are individual but I can say I like the brown, purple and black eyeliner,

 mascara in jet black, blush in desert rose

 and the lipstick is awesome in Audrey, Tea Rose or Natural!

Honorable mention goes to:

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer, 

which I also use with the desert rose blush.

Since my eyelashes seem to have disappeared, 

I use a primer before my mascara.

My fav is M.A.C Prep + Prime.

Lip Pencils........

You're gonna love these, cause they are awesome and even CHEAPER than NYX,

 which are pretty cheap:)

ESSENCE Lip Pencils (at Ulta) are $1.49!!!!!

And their lipstick is pretty great too...I like Natural Beauty.

Okay, I think that covers makeup:)

Moving on to HAIR.........

Mine is short these days.  (Very short!) 

So I wear it piecey and I like it soft and shiny.

So.........Garnier Fructis is my choice, partly because of the AMAZING scents;)

I love Pixie Play for the tousled/messy look:)

And next to Coconut Oil, I am in LOVE with shine serums.  I use this one,

 but most work great.

And not just for hair.........they are AWESOME for dry skin too, everywhere:)

Okay BEAUTIES, I'm done.

Rambled enough.

Showed you how cheap I am:)

Shared my confessions with you.

Hope you enjoyed this and found something you want to try also!

Suzanne

Wait.........I forgot to show you what I'm excited to see.

M.A.C Cosmetics CINDERELLA line, coming out this week.

So pretty............

Aaahhhh...stay tuned.  I'll be sure to let you know if I try it;)

Friday Favorites......Beauty Tips and Favorite Looks

happy friday!

(actually, i thought it was Thursday when i woke up)

i was so convinced that when i saw "Friday" on the morning paper,

i thought they made a mistake!

duh......

i'm just a little freaked out cause

that means it's LESS than a week till Miss Taylor Ballerina

heads to Boston Ballet for 5 weeks.

YIKES!

i can't think about that right now.

because.......

i have to show you a few of my favorites!

beauty tips:

i love when i see something demonstrated so simply,

 like these eyes...

~simply natural eye shadow

light shadow on the lid, light/med brown in the crease,

touch of black eyeliner on top lid and smudged brown shadow liner lightly under the eye, followed by black mascara.

 talk about timeless.

(one make up artist says lining the top with black and the bottom with brown creates a soft, sexy eye.  so there you go:)

~this next eye is obviously more dramatic but the step by step photos are so clear,

no need for words:)

~layer your eyeliner

liquid eyeliners are popular,

but this pro says they are too hard for the average user to apply accurately.

ahem.....she must mean me:)

anyway, she suggests layering eyeliner to get a precise look and stay put wear.

start with an eye pencil and apply to eyelid.  

then put liquid eyeliner on top, following the line you

already drew.

supposedly it's perfect and lasts! 

~make-up brushes

according to total beauty,

we only need basic makeup brushes.

1.  Foundation Brush (?)

2.  Concealer Brush

3.  Fluffy Powder Brush

4.  Blush Brush

5.  Small Blending Brush

6.  Flat eye brush

7.  Precision angle brush

8.  Lip Brush

i guess you could say that means i don't need the other 10

 i must have floating around:)

~get rid of blemishes with vinegar?

that's what they say!

apparently you mix one part apple cider vinegar with

10 parts water. 

put it in a clean glass container and after washing your face.

dab the solution on your blemishes with a cotton ball.

you can apply it several time/day without drying  out your skin.

vinegar helps adjust the PH balance in your skin, treating and preventing blemishes.

go figure!

worth a try:) 

~toe nails

How to get white nails -- make a paste using 1 tbsp peroxide

 and 2 1/4 tbsp baking soda. 

Let this paste sit on your nails for 5 minutes and voila!

 White nails! Totally works!

moving on to my favorite looks.......

i love her hair.

so pretty!

the hair i would have if i could.

but mine is too short.

not straight at all.

and my husband would probably ask me what's wrong with my hair.

but i love it:)

~boho purse/handbag

by the way, which is it?  purse or handbag?)

i grew up calling it a purse.

my grandma called it a pocketbook.

and it seems most people i know down here call it a handbag.

whatever, i LOVE this boho/gypsyish

 purse/handbag/pocketbook!

can't you just see it with jeans, sandals and a white tank top?

(my favorite look:)

speaking of favorite looks,

i am such a casual person.

i would wear jeans everyday of the week.

(and pretty much do:)

so it's no surprise that these 4 looks have a pair of jeans.

starting with my favorite look right now.......

cute, cute, CUTE!

and what do i love about the second one?

jeans, of course.

paired with a dressy/glitzy tank top in cream.

all the gold (i'm into gold or rose gold these days)

basically just all the natural colors mixed with denim!

the one above is a great go to a movie or shopping outfit.

the jeans are the PERFECT shade of faded denim 

and the natural tan sandals and purse are

perfectly.....NATURAL:)

this last one i must have "pinned" 10 times.

every time i see it i love it more!

if i can't wear cream/white with my denim,

give me soft grey!

 but the shoes are not me.

cute, but not me:)

and LASTLY, the most perfect beauty tips of all time......

 CIAO!

Suzanne

"girls in WHITE dresses with"...

..."blue satin sashes;

snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes;

silver white winters that melt into spring...

these are a few of my favorite things."

i love that song!

and spring...who doesn't love spring, right?

i'm going to whip through the rest of the so called spring fashion trends,

which, now that i think about it,

is really QUITE laughable that I am blogging about fashion trends.

oh welllll:)

let's do this.

starting with those pretty girls in their white dresses.

WHITE is always big in spring and summer.

think about it.

white is crisp, clean, fresh, youthful, innocent...

so it's a really GOOD thing white dresses are a hot pick for spring.

because we all want to be fresh, youthful or innocent...and hopefully clean:)

and if you add a pop of lace, even better!

and not just white dresses...

but all-white outfits are "IN"...

if you take my word for it!

and trust me, it's okay if you don't:)

here are a few other ways to add some white...

so there you go...white for spring.

PRETTY!

to wrap this up, they also say 

POLKA DOTS.

maybe like this...

this next one is my favorite way to wear polka dots...

and floral patterns...

which i personally think one has to be VERY careful here

 to keep it current:)

maybe just a pretty floral bag...

also, PEPLUMS are getting popular this year, so THEY say:)

i think they're great for hiding a tummy pooch...

if they are not too weird.

then they add to a tummy.

just saying...

i like the subtle simplicity of this one...

which brings me to the next trend...black and white.

)since when is this NOT a trend, right?:)

rather than a graphic pattern, i like clothes simple and a louder accessory...

well, there you have it...

everything you i mean WE need to be 

stylish this spring!

oh wait...i forgot to add my suggestions for the London theme,

(cause of the summer olympics)

and the WINNER is...

WHEW!!!!!

remind me to never play FASHIONISTA again!

it's exhausting.

give me my jeans.

and flip flops.

and tank top.

there...i'm all set.

XOXOXOXO

Suzanne

Spring Fashion Week 2012...Pretty as a Princess

so i think (that's how much i pay attention) that the past few weeks have

been Fashion Week in Paris and NYC.

now, my days of poring over fashion mags are pretty much over.

however, sometimes you can't get away from it...

like when you need something new to wear, 

go shopping, and the store has some CRAZY stuff

that according to the store are "the latest trends"...

or "these were ALL OVER the place

at fashion week."

yeah, whatever:)

Lovely...on a 6' 100lb model.

but what are WE to do?

so i've studied the so called TRENDS,

 and now i'll pass on what i've learned...

to you, me...the average amazing woman who is

supposed to somehow wear them:)

and our fashion MUSE for shabby chicks fashion week is none other than...

Princess Kate!

partly because i really like her style, even if i wouldn't wear some of it

(as if i could:)

but also because in looking at the list of trends, i have seen her in many of them.

the third reason, and the thing i think fashion week missed,

is this is the year of the Summer Olympics in

LONDON.

and WHO do you think all eyes will be on?

Mmmm hmmm...

the Duchess herself.

so there should have been a nod to 

British style/Kate/union jack somewhere in there.

but since there wasn't, i'll fix that:)

okay, here is the list of TRENDS for spring 2012,

from as many sources as i could get my hands on, and in no particular order.

1.  Pastels

2.  Neon

3.  Floral prints and Polka Dots too

4.  Lace and Sheer

5.  Tangerine

6.  White on White Monochromatic dressing

7.  Peplums

8.  Black and White

(proving classics are always in:)

now, i'm no fashionista but i used to think i was, if that counts:)

seriously, i do read, and here is what i have concluded is best for us

average amazing women...

take the colorful trends and use them to add a POP to your wardrobe.

some of you can get away with more than a pop so i'll show stuff for you too.

let's cover pastels today.

i hear people say they "hate" pastels.

too girly, they feel like an Easter egg.

well, guess what?

this year,
F
E
M
I
N
I
N
E
 is in!

see for yourself...

it doesn't have to be the whole outfit, although it can if you want.

but even an accessory or two...like this belt and pastel color block bag.
(by the way, you'll probably see a bit of color blocking this spring)

 maybe it will be some girly, pastel earrings.

supposedly, the NUMBER ONE pastel this year is MINT!

 and looking at these photos, i can see why.

so fresh and pretty!

even the tiniest bit of pastel in your jewelry would update a look.

lovely in lavender.

maybe your pastel will be a pretty pump.

or how about simply using a pastel nail polish to give your look that pop!

and they say you shouldn't be afraid to mix your colors.

see how she has a neutral sweater, jeans, and then a pastel bag, jacket and scarf?

 this mint coat is just gorgeous!

 feminine...

 maybe your pastels will be in one color family, like 

pretty in PEACH!

for early spring...a pastel sweater,

okay...these are killing me!

i hear so many younger girls say they aren't "into" pastels.

well, check these out!

okay, those are amazing!!!

wish i were 20 years younger...at least:)

and finally, did you think Kate's dress was the one and only time she wore pastels?

think again!!!

pink sequined dress, buttery yellow dress, pastel floral dress and the pretty lavender number.

one tip i read was that everyone can wear pastels and look great, it's choosing the right shade.  fair skin looks best in pale pastels, while darker skin tones look best in a slightly deeper/brighter pastel.

there you go...

Trend #1...PASTELS

Trend #2...NEON

and if you think you can't handle that neon, you are so wrong!

take it from me, the original neon 80's girl.

teeny, tiny bits of neon can be fun.

but that's for next time:)

CIAO!