Hashtag Not A Beauty Blogger #2

Hi Friends! Happy Mid-May!

I want to talk about makeup. Specifically makeup for older gals like me.

Yes, I'm 60 and wear makeup. Let me tell you, makeup at my age is a whole different animal. Turns out that it's a tricky thing. One false move or poorly chosen product and you can easily slide into Joan Crawford territory.

(Oh Joan...)

In the past year I made a conscious effort to up the overall quality of my life. As I wrote in a previous blog post, I overhauled my diet, began exercising, I chopped my hair off, and after a 10 year hiatus I started wearing makeup again.

In the beginning it wasn't easy. To start with, gone are the days when I can simply stand in front of the bathroom mirror and do my face. I need to sit down and peer into a lighted makeup mirror to see what I'm doing. I also need a location with good natural lighting. After trial and error, I found that sitting at my dining room table facing the windows was the best place to apply my makeup.

Unorthodox, I know. But this is my house and I get to make and break the rules.

Then came the other issues. My skin is super dry so makeup sits differently on my skin. than when I was younger. The entire "situation" around my eyes now has discoloration, dark circles, crepey eyelids, sparse eyelashes - and worst of all - thinning eyebrows. I was in foreign territory.

My first step was to do what I always do when I need help learning how to do something. I turned to YouTube. What can I say? I'm a visual learner...

After much due diligence (Ok, I got sucked into watching a bunch of skincare and makeup videos) my takeaway was that I needed to up my moisturizer game and use a makeup primer. I also honed in on finding three essential products. A non mask-y makeup base. An under eye concealer that doesn't settle in my fine lines or make me look like a raccoon, and identify some type product to revive my sad patchy eyebrows.

(Sheet masks for the moisturizing win!)

Enter the store Ulta. Or as I call it, my Happy Place.

Unlike Sephora (which, don't get me wrong. Jane is Team Sephora!), Ulta has a combination of luxury AND drug store cosmetic brands. I like options. Plus, there's not the crazy mob scene at my local Ulta. I can shop, ask for recommendations, and get help without feeling like I have to compete with other shoppers. AND they gave me a gift on my birthday. I like gifts. A lot.

Being an "essentialist" I'm very particular about the cosmetics I use. Less is definitely more. Especially foundation. It took a little experimenting, and one very helpful makeup artist at Ulta, but I finally came up with a playlist of products that work for me and can give me that no makeup makeup look.

(My current favorites)

For fun, I thought I'd share with you my curated everyday makeup essentials. These are the products that I reach for day after day.

It Cosmetics CC+ foundation in Medium, $38. I pitched my other foundations when I started using this product. This makeup base is amazing. It evens out my skin tone, looks like skin, and feels like moisturizer. No matter how I apply it (fingers, brush or beauty blender) it always looks great. Sold!

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eyes in medium, $24. This is the BEST under eye concealer I have ever used. A teensy bit goes a long long way! I warm it on the back of my hand, then gently blend it under my eyes. I instantly look awake and refreshed.

It Cosmetics CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder in Medium, $35. I lightly brush this powder over my t-zone and under my eyes to set my concealer.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Blush in Naturally Pretty, $24. I was never a blush girl, but this natural toned blush gives my face a healthy flush. I guess I'm a blush girl now...

Lancome Le Crayon Poudre Powder Pencil for the Brows, $26.50. My miracle product! A neutral light brown powder pencil with an attached spoolie that somehow makes my brows look full. It fills in patchy areas, recreates arches, and yet looks totally natural. I kid you not. Use this product and subtract 10 years from your age. While we're on the subject, get your brows waxed. Instant facelift!

Nyx Cosmetics Bright Idea Illumination Stick in Chardonnay Shimmer, $7.99. I pat this low key creamy highlighter on my cheek bones, brow bones, and at the inner corner of my eyes. It highlights my features without looking chalky, glittery, or age inappropriate.

For mascaras I have two recommendations and a tip. I alternate between Benefit They're Real! Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara, $24, and It Cosmetics Superhero™ Mascara, $24.

Both mascaras are easy to apply, clump-free, dry down nicely, and don't smudge.

And here's the tip: Mascaras have about a three month life span. So I save my money and buy those little introductory sizes at half the cost.

I fluff a bit of satin-y bronzer across my cheeks and eyelids (a YouTube trick I learned in lieu of eyeshadow), and end by dabbing on a little lip gloss. The whole she-bang takes me about 10 minutes.

And there you have it!

What about you? Do like makeup? Hate makeup? Have a regular routine, tips, tricks, or products to share? Let us know in the comments below!

And thank you for letting me indulge in another "Not A Beauty Blogger" post! Yes, I'm a poser in this arena, but I thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog post!

xxoo

Jane