Category: Beauty

Makeup And Menopause. I Found The Products To Get The Glow Back!

Posted on by Shannon in Beauty, Home, Menopause Survival

I believe that all women are pretty without makeup – and can be pretty powerful with the right makeup. – Bobbi Brown

I have had the pleasure of spending the past year buying all new makeup thanks to menopause. My combination skin turned to completely over-dry skin. It felt like overnight I was dragging powder blush and eyeshadows (except for Urban Decay) across my skin and it looked like a dry streaky mess. Instead of blending it just sat there. Even some lipsticks looked horrible and would not blend.  My skin looked dull and flaky. Oh, and I started to get acne again. Lovely. Ashen skin with a zit here and there. I’ve never felt better about myself (ha.). Not to mention the weight gain thanks to my new position in life – Post- Menopausal. Trying new makeup has been easier and more fun than the weight issue. More on that later once I figure that out! Anywayyyyy, so I had to completely rethink my diet, skin care regimen and makeup. Thankfully, I love makeup and had a great time reading reviews and trying new products. As well, I was given excellent suggestions from friends going through the same thing. I tried less expensive drugstore products and other than Maybelline mascara and L’Oreal lipsticks, I can’t find anything remotely close to the quality of higher end lines – at least for my skin.  I will say these products last a long time making every penny worth it. They also contain simple skincare ingredients to nourish skin and combat dryness. Now I have that lustrous glow back! And I am getting compliments on my fresh complexion – who doesn’t love compliments?

Here are the products that have made a huge difference in my skin’s appearance:

NARS Light Reflecting Makeup – An awesome much younger woman at Sephora recommended this lightweight foundation that offers light to medium coverage. I used to hate foundation because it was too heavy and crept into lines in my skin. I have only used Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer for years. Now I need a little more coverage. This one is perfect and gives me a natural dewy glow. My skin looks like skin – not makeup. The best part – it is a hybrid skincare and makeup in one – 70% skincare ingredients and great for sensitive skin. The appearance of my skin has improved!

Trinny London – My absolute favorite makeup right now. It comes in cute little pots, and everything is cream based – no powders. The lip colors can go on cheeks and eyes. The eye shadow is very blendable, and I use it to highlight my cheekbones or anywhere I need an extra glow. Amazing. It all goes on with fingers and takes me a few minutes to do my makeup. Sometimes with only two products. My makeup routine is cut in half because the product is so easy to apply and blend.

I love that they always send samples with orders which is great because I now have two new favorite shades I would have never ordered.  One is a bright coral called Cha-Cha and the other a russet rose called Emily. All the shades are named for women who work at Trinny London or who are important to Trinny Woodall, the founder. This makeup gives me such a healthy and fresh-faced look. Even my boyfriend Kevin complimented me on my fresh face! This makeup line truly is fantastic for mature skin.

Eye2Eye Cream Shadows I LOVE:

Vision: A cool mauvy rose. Looks great with Fortune, Wisdom and Empress.

Sun: Warm sunny gold – I use it on my brow bone, inner eyelid and cheeks as a highlighter.

Fortune: Rose gold – my absolute favorite color and I wear it across my eyelid into the crease. Often it’s the only color I put on my eyes. Looks beautiful in the crease of my eye with Vision on the lid.

Empress: Deep bronze with flecks of gold. Love this shade – it looks super dark but goes on a light bronze gold. You can build it to dark – I put it in the crease of my eye with Fortune and Vision on the lid. I dab Sun in the corner and just under my eyebrows. Makes a very strong but pretty bronzy rose gold look

Wisdom: I received a sample of this and it looked like putty. I doubted it. Now it’s a go-to neutral that makes the creamiest base for other eyeshadow. Wisdom on the eyelid and Empress in the crease is a great neutral that makes your eyes pop.

Lip2Cheek colors I LOVE:

Cha-Cha: Bright pretty coral. Don’t be scared. I was. But it goes on cheeks as the softest peachy coral. I love it! Great on the lips with a gold gloss over it.

Pia: Bright peony pink. It is the happiest pink punchy color. I love it on cheeks and lips. I top it with a very light pink lip gloss.

Veebee:  Warm sunset coral. It’s almost a very very light peach gold color. I love it on my cheeks – very subtle peachy glow. I dab excess on my lips and top with Emily Sheer Shimmer.

Sheer Shimmer Lip + Cheek Favorites:

Emily: Russet rose shimmer. I love this color – especially in the fall. So pretty over Veebee Lip2Cheek.

Neesha: Fuschia burgundy shimmer. Don’t be scared. It’s very bright in the cute little pot. It’s beautiful on lips and cheeks. It’s a purply pinky shimmery wonder. Gorgeous with navy.

Mama: Opalescent red shimmer. Don’t be scared! You know how red lipsticks can look dried out and bleed into the lips. Not this one. It’s just a beautiful red shimmer. Not like your gramma wore.

Lip Love:

I’ve only tried one shade. It’s more pigmented than the Sheer Shimmers. I will be buying more!

Sacha:  Metallic gold peachy pink. Love it! I put it over Veebee, Mama, Cha-Cha or wear alone. It’s just really pretty. Great on cheeks too!

I love Trinny herself!!  Follow Trinny on Instagram. Her videos are the best! She is hilarious, down to earth, and talks about real issues that real women face. Menopause, saving money, shopping, you name it. I love her! My favorite video series is Friday Twinning that she does with a lovely girl named Chloe. Check her out!! You’ll want to hang out with her. I do.

Oh! And the pots stack. So you can pack them all together efficiently. I love that!

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick – I have not tried these yet. I met my friend Vicki for dinner recently and she looked gorgeous – as always! Her eyeshadow was so pretty making her eyes stand out even more. Of course I asked her what makeup she used – these three sticks by Bobbi Brown. I will be buying them soon!

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Sticks in Dusty Mauve, Vanilla and Golden Pink. My makeup in this picture is all Trinny London – Eye2Eye in Fortune and Sun, Sheer Shimmer in Neesha on my lips and cheeks, and Jones Road Shimmer Face Oil in Cool Rose on my cheek bones, chin, and forehead.

Jones Road Shimmer Face Oil – A dream for dry lusterless skin. Bobbi Brown is the magic behind her new line. She sold Bobbi Brown and is no longer affiliated with the company. Now she owns Jones Road Beauty and it is phenomenal. Clean, simple ingredients and beautiful colors. I bought the Shimmer Face Oil in Cool Rose as it was recommended for dry skin. It’s a highlighting bottle of glow filled with antioxidants with lots of vitamins and minerals such as jojoba seed oil. Gorgeous alone over moisturizer or over makeup. I have put it all over my face and I’ve dotted it along cheekbones, nose, and forehead. It was perfect over sunscreen at the beach. Love! Love! Love!

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer – A must before any eyeshadow – cream or powder. Makes eyeshadow last and is ideal for mature eyelids. I’ve tried different brands. This one works best for my mature eyelids.

Menopause can be frustrating because it changes our bodies and our skin in many ways. The good news is that there are solutions and products just for mature skin. I found makeup just right for me that enhances my skin and features. I love a natural, fresh-faced look and thanks to these products I have it back! Everything I bought lasts a long time, making the investment well worth it – especially the renewed confidence and how I feel about my skin. Women our age going through menopause need all the support we can get. If something you’ve tried works for you please mention in comments!

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation and Jones Road Shimmer Face Oil gave my skin just the glow I love!

Making Up Isn’t Hard To Do. It’s Easy! And Empowering!

Posted on by Shannon in Beauty, Home

Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside, but it doesn’t help if you are ugly on the inside. Unless you eat the makeup.

– A very deep and thought provoking quote. Maybe Audrey Hepburn said it or maybe someone just made it up that she said it. I don’t know and I don’t care.

People say money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a beautiful makeup palette and if that brings joy then maybe sometimes it can! Anyone one out there besides me who gets a little giddy after mastering a perfect smoky eye? Well, actually I do know someone who is as enthusiastic about it as me. My friend Beth who should be a makeup artist. Her makeup is always perfect. Always! And she watches YouTube tutorials and tells me about them. When I tell her about the 20 / 30 something year old blogger who had the perfect makeup for her skin at her tender young age, Beth knows exactly what products to use to emulate that same look for my 50 year old skin. I love her so much. For so many reasons beyond the fact that she makes me look good. Literally makes me look good. Because she does my makeup.

I even invited her over one day and said “hey Beth, bring your makeup over. I mean, I would like to see you and I have no interest in your makeup, don’t be silly. I just want to talk to you. But bring your makeup just in case. The door is open, come straight to my bathroom.” And she did! We had so much fun. We are both self-proclaimed and proud makeup junkies. I told her that I wanted to learn new ways to apply eyeshadow besides just swirling all the colors together and brushing it over my eyelids. Then we started talking about under eye brighteners and highlighters and blush and before you know it, we were doing a full on makeover. The results were so good that I have purchased the products she uses that have made such a difference. I’m so much glowier and dewier now. I feel pretty. And if that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right! The best part? It’s so easy to do each morning and just takes minutes.

So, I’m sharing this post with you and not just because I want to boast about how great my makeup looks. Many of my friends ask me about makeup. Some of them are going back to work and want to look more polished. Others just feel like wearing it again, but need some tips and tricks. Beth to the rescue!

Often times, makeup and fashion can get pushed to the wayside and some just feel that the importance of it is shallow and trivial. It really is OK to place real value on your appearance. You can be pretty smart, pretty kind, pretty thoughtful, pretty brave AND care about looking your best and just being pretty.

Makeup, hair, and clothes you are confident with can be empowering. Making the choice to wear makeup that is right for you and makes you feel good is a perfect example of confidence and security in who you are!

I don’t know who said these quotes either, but it might have been Coco Chanel or Marilyn Monroe. I think people make stuff up that famous people say. Anyway……these are deep, too, so prepare yourself. “Inner beauty is great but some mascara doesn’t hurt” and “life isn’t perfect but your makeup can be.” Right?!?!? Can I get an amen? I think someone also said “Happiness is the best makeup.” Ummmmm ok. You just keep telling yourself that all the way to Sephora. (I’m sorry if I’ve taken this too far. I am shallow. Everyone is beautiful with or without makeup. But, just a little light gloss never hurts……)..

I am brave enough to say that I love fresh faced pretty makeup. Not too much and just enough to enhance what we already have and hide what we hate – unevenness, splotchy-ness, saggy things that make us a little sad. Life is too short to be sad about anything that can be easily fixed with a tube of something that is less than $20 or slightly more, but lasts a long time and washes off before bed.  So with that, pull out the makeup brushes, eyeshadows, creams, glosses and have some fun creating a look you love. Not sure what that is? Read below for the step-by-step process my gorgeous friend Beth taught me.

Thanks Beth! I love the eyeshadow and it’s easy for me to apply every day.

Here are all the products we used that I now swear by and the steps Beth taught me to apply effortlessly. You can click through the images and purchase on Amazon if you want to.

Sadly, though, one of the eyeshadow palettes we used has been discountinued. It is Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette and it’s my absolute favorite. The good news, though, is that you can still get it on Amazon.com. See below for product links. The other palette we used is my other favorite – Urban Decay Naked 2.

Here are the easy steps for my new go-to fresh faced look!

  1. After moisturizing, I apply Laura Mercier’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer all over my face including eyelids. Beth likes Clinique Super Balanced Makeup for more coverage.
  2. Gently apply Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Eden to eyelids. It’s the best! Eyeshadow does not crease or melt off.
  3. Using the Smoky palette brush Combust all over – or any light beige eyeshadow – from lash to brow line.
  4. Using Naked2, brush Tease (a medium brown) along the crease corner to corner.
  5. Add Whiskey (dark brown) from Smoky in the corner to 1/4 way across your eyelid.
  6. Add High (frosty gold) from Smoky to the inner corner blending in to Whiskey.
  7. Brush Thirteen (matte cream color) from Smoky across the brow bone.
  8. Line the eye across your lashes with your favorite dark liner. I like to use eyeshadow and prefer Blackout from the Smoky palette.
  9. Gently dab and blend BareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener under the eye. This was new to me introduced by Beth. I’m now an addict and love it! Buy some.
  10. Swipe on dark black mascara – I like L’Oreal Lash Paradise in Blackest Black. It’s just like Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara but less expensive.
  11. Brush FLOWER Heatwave Luminous Bronzer wherever you want to be sunkissed. This is Drew Barrymore’s line and I can only find it by going to flowerbeauty.com.
  12. Brush BECCA Luminous Blush on your cheekbones for an awesome glow. I love BECCA products for highlighting. My daughter introduced me to this line. Thanks SK!
  13. Finish with your favorite lipstick or lipgloss or blend both together. We chose MAC Prrr Lipglass and L’Oreal Julianne Lipstick.

I follow this every morning and it works with any of the eyeshadow palettes I have. I also switch out black liner for colbalt blue or dark green. So pretty! If I’m in a hurry, I skip the eye brightener and bronzer – don’t tell Beth. But, the entire process only takes between 5-8 minutes. This simple effort makes such a difference in how I feel when I leave the house!

And if someone stops you and asks, “Wow! Who are you wearing makeup for?”, you just smile and say “Myself.”

So this is a teeny tiny link to Urban Decay Smoky Palette. I couldn’t figure out how to make it larger. HAHA! It’s hard to find so if you want this gorgeous palette you had better get it now. It’s my favorite!!

BECCA Highlighting Blush – this is Camellia and works for any skin tone. Beautiful illuminating glow!

Peachy-pink neutral that looks great worn alone or over any lipstick color. And I mean ANY color because I gloss it over all of my lipstick colors from bright pink to deep dark red. Just buy it and thank me later.

I’d like to thank my beautiful friend Beth who took the time to come over just to make me look pretty. She truly is so talented in making so many things lovely from home interiors to glowing faces. This post is dedicated to you Beth!

Happy National Lipstick Day! Because There Is No Such Thing As Too Many Lipsticks.

Posted on by Shannon in Beauty, Home

Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick, and pull yourself together. – Elizabeth Taylor

I guess there really is a national holiday for everything! I just happen to love lipstick and lipgloss, though, so I’m all for it. I also just happen to be wearing my favorite lipstick / gloss combination. I was at the beach all last week and am just returning back to work so I needed a little Monday morning pick me up. A cute summer dress (that is also comfortable) and bright glossy lips helped send me on my way. As I get older my skin keeps getting drier making it important to find moisturizing lipsticks and glosses. MAC seems to have the perfect formula for my lips that I count on and I love their colors.

MAC’s Lady Danger lipstick with Lipglass in PRRR (yes that ‘s the color…..PRRR) swiped over it works well with my red floral dress I chose for an otherwise mundane Monday. Lady Danger is a very bright orange red. I love to wear it on its own when I’m out at night but I typically blend it with a nude gloss to lighten it up for day.

Mondays can be tough but the right attitude and a cute dress to lift your spirits makes it better. As my mom always says, put on a little lipstick and everything will be alright.

Here are the two I wore today with the link included…

MAC Lady Danger

MAC PRRR

And a few other favorites I keep in my bag always…

NARS Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint – peachy pink shimmer

tarte Rainforest of the Sea Quench Lip Rescue in Rose – When you want a lip balm AND pretty color this is the one!

MAC Date Night – It’s purple and it’s fantastic. But it doesn’t look purple on your lips – just the most perfect plummy glossy color for day or night.

Gloss it on, get out there and smile! And every little thing is going to be alright.

Lipgloss Can’t Solve All Our Problems But It’s a Pretty Great Start

Posted on by Shannon in Beauty

Put on some lipstick and you’ll feel better. – Judy Erickson aka my mother

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I have at least 25 or more lipsticks and lipglosses. I am obsessed. My grandmother Maxine always wore red lipstick. British Red by Loreal was her favorite. She also loved Cherries in the Snow by Revlon. I don’t deny that I am a devout believer in retail therapy. If I need a little pick me up a trip to Nordstroms or one of my favorite stores does the trick. While my heart and soul says yes to shopping, my budget says no. But I still need a little something something. now and again. Enter lip gloss. Or lipstick. For me, it’s the perfect way to satisfy my craving of something new to brighten my day, mood, outfit, etc…. So I invited a few friends for lunch and to join me on my quest for a new lippie.

We decided on Nordstroms because they have an amazing restaurant and one quick escalator ride down lands us right in make-up beauty mecca. We had one rule. We weren’t allowed our usual go-to. Meaning Beth was not allowed to reach for another nude gloss, no baby pink for me, and Tina couldn’t even say the word rose. The mission – step out of our lip color comfort zone. It was hard. We had the right person for the job though! We started at MAC because it was right off the elevator. Marlene was the makeup artist working that day and I think it was meant to be. We loved her! She was so helpful and fun that we stayed there the entire time. She went to other lines and brought us all kinds of new products we had never tried. She was tough, too. She fought through all of our hard stares, grimaces, eyebrow raising and “no, that’s not for me statements.” I really don’t think the experience would have been the same without her!

Nymphette was a gorgeous shade that Beth loved but it was too light. I loved it but it turned out too light for me, too. We both ooohed and ahhhed over Money Honey and it didn’t work. It was perfect for Tina though. Beth and I thought we might strike out until Marlene introduced us to Deelight Cremesheen Glass. Neither of us would have reached for it on our own and it was absolutely stunning over Edge to Edge lip liner. Beth was sold! It looked pretty on me but Marlene thought I might have better options for my skin tone. She pulled out a purple glittery gloss. Purple. I smirked. She smirked. I swiped it on just to play nice. And LOVED it! Purple. Gloss. Date Night Dazzleglass! It’s my absolute favorite. On it’s own it’s just a nice plummy shiny hint of color. It brings out gorgeous colors in my favorite lipsticks. I also tried Rags to Riches because my beautiful friend Wendy wears it and I love it on her. So I asked to try it and luckily it worked. It’s a beautiful pearly pink that stands on it’s own or great blended with a lipstick.

Tina struggled a bit to find her perfect shade. She is blonde with fair skin that has pink undertones. Pink shades can compete with her skin tone. Marlene was awesome bringing other brands in for her to try. Bobbi Brown’s Bright Pink gloss was gorgeous on Tina and it’s her new go-to!

What did we gleefully walk away with? Here’s what worked for each of us based on our hair and skin:

Tina – light blonde with fair skin and pink undertones:

  • Bobbi Brown Bright Pink Lip Gloss
  • Kiehls Ultra Face Cream
  • MAC Eyebrows Styler in Lingering

Beth – medium blonde, light complexion with pink undertones:

  • MAC Deelight Cremesheen Lipglass
  • MAC Edge to Edge Lip Liner

Shannon – Strawberry Blonde, fair complexion and pink undertones:

  • MAC Date Night Dazzleglass
  • MAC Rags to Riches Lipglass

Want a pick me up and a fun afternoon? Invite a few friends for lunch and shop for a new lipstick or gloss. Your face will look a little brighter and you’ll feel more energized. It worked for us!