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;)

Fall Beauty To-Do List......

hello ladies!

if you're like me, you don't have the time, money

or even in some cases, the desire to go for 

a bunch of spa treatments every so often.

but after the hot summer, sometimes we NEED some

beauty TLC, right?

SO.......when i saw an article from Total Beauty

 about this very subject,

i thought i would put it in a nutshell and share it with you.

some of it is just good ol' common sense......

and i don't know about you 

but my common sense needs waking up once in awhile

so without further ado, let's talk.......

skin;

summer can leave little gifts on your skin,

like flakiness, peeling, blemishes, dullness.

number 1 tip.......HYDRATION!

but here's the twist.

don't just think of glasses of water.

while you should drink lots of it, 

think about getting hydration from fruits and vegetables.

lettuce is full of water.  cucumbers are good.

mangoes, apricots.....all boost vitamin A which is important

for skin cells.

even better.......green drinks:)

apple, parsley, romaine, apple, lemon, cucumber, ginger......

great for your green beauty drink!

here's another.......

To boost weight loss (and it's just yummy) - 2L water, 1 medium cucumber, 

1 lemon, 10-12 mint leaves. steep overnight in fridge and drink every day.

 Also great for general detox--including clear skin.

tip number 2........SIMPLIFY!

yep....simplify your skin routine.

the article says that all you need to do in the a.m is

use a gentle cleanse, a moisturizer and sunscreen.

that's it!

no brighteners, fillers, deep wrinkle, eye wrinkle.....

at least according to their experts.

sounds good to me.

in the p.m, simply repeat but replace the sunscreen with a retinoid.

retinoids are the most effective wrinkle eraser, 

they unclog pores, boost collagen for fine lines,

and speed cell turnover to even out skin color.

all in one!

just remember that skin can dry out in the cooler months,

if this is you, use a mild soap and gentle moisturizer.

and maybe your foundation can be changed to a more moisturizing formula.

you know what you need.....trust your instinct:)

hair;

anyone have OILY hair?

here's what the experts said to do for this problem.......

STOP WASHING YOUR HAIR SO MUCH:)

seriously, that is the tip.

and i've read it many other places too.  

apparently shampooing strips natural oils from hair

and scalp, possibly over producing oil.

also think about getting dead ends snipped off and

using a weekly deep conditioning treatment.

hair color;

celebrity stylists say Fall is the time to feel free to add

richness to your hair.

maybe some lowlights added to sunbleached blonde hair (hmmmmm:)

rich golds are an easy way to warm up blonde hair.

for brunettes, if you got a little brassy,

deepen the brown a bit, maybe add auburn highlights, 

and a "caramel glaze" over faded ends looks awesome, they say:)

hands and feet;

your new best friend is EPSOM SALTS!

twice weekly, fill a small tub with warm, soapy water

 and a half cup epsom salts;

soak for five minutes then dip a pumice stone

 in the water to smooth heels and balls of the feet.

this is great for easing aches and pains, swelling, blisters and calluses.

hands need help too, especially dry cuticles (guilty)

and guess what......

you probably have the secret treatment in your kitchen right now.

HONEY is a natural healer and is filled with antioxidants.

just warm honey in the microwave a few seconds

and rub it into hands and cuticles.

(warming it makes it easier to maneuver)

for nail polish, the experts here said go with

natural nude/cream or dark trendy colors...either or.

but choose one with a high-gloss finish.

okay...easy enough:)

makeup;

okay, their suggestion is a bit painful.

pull out old photos, check out your pics on facebook.......

see any recurring themes?

shiny skin? maybe you need powder.

small eyes?  work on your shadow technique.

dark eyes?

 maybe tone down the liner.

also, they all agree us girls need to use a primer.

i LOVE the feel and look of my maeup with a primer!

if lining lips is tricky for you,

add a bit of gloss BEFORE so the pencil goes on smoothly.

adjust makeup colors for fall.

your skin color may be different and that pinky/coral

 blush may need to go:)

maybe a richer mascara, eye color.....

how about a bronze eyeliner?

here are some good tips for eye shadow.....

treats just for YOU;

if possible, try to work some of these into your week.

YOU deserve it:)

~start the day with a brisk walk to get your blood pumping.

~take a steaming hot shower, adding lemon oil to a washcloth

and breathing in the calming scents.

(i know you laugh but this is what they do at the spa:)

~once a week use an exfoliating mask.

~give your smile a boost with white strips

~turn the cellphone and TV off once in awhile and 

drink a nice glass of water with lemon.

~then play with the kiddies, read a book or do absolutely nothing:)

~give yourself a mani/pedi.

all simple things but remember....it's all about the simple things.

~lastly.......LAUGH.

it's good for you:)

XOXOXOXOXO

Suzanne

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