Category Archives: shopping

From lustworthy to losers 

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Not so lustworthy after all

Have you ever had a crush that ended in disappointment? Lusted after a guy (or girl) for weeks or months, only to realize the fantasy was better than the reality? I’m pretty sure it happens to all of us at one time or another. When I look back, I realize I had pretty good taste in guys, with the notable exclusions of a couple of losers I dated briefly (very briefly) in college.

Beauty products are similarly lustworthy. Slick packaging, strong word of mouth, beauty gurus’ reviews, company reputations … all of these things conspire to convince us that, yes, we absolutely must have certain makeup, hair care and skin care items.

As the number of my Instagram followers grows and I improve my makeup skills, I receive more and more messages from women saying, “I bought (insert product name) because you like it.” I take those messages seriously; I sincerely don’t want to lead people wrong. While some products work well for certain individuals and others don’t, you can count on me to tell the truth — and here’s the truth about four products from well-known companies:

  • Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser: I used this for a week or so, then shoved it in a drawer. Why? Simple reason: It doesn’t take all of my makeup off, even when I use a micellar water to pre-cleanse.
  • Zelen’s Z Pure Cleansing Balm: It’s not particularly cleansing and it’s not at all balmy. I like my cleansing balms to feel thick and emollient on my face — to have that slippery, sliding, soothing texture. Z Pure fails on all of these points. I’m sticking with Sunday Riley Blue Moon Tranquility Balm, which is heavenly. I also like Jordan Samuel Skin Plié Cleanser.
  • Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep: I love sleeping masks. It’s so luxurious to apply a product that repairs your skin while you sleep. This one, though, didn’t repair my skin. Instead, it left it irritated and red. Surprising, given that I don’t have particularly sensitive skin.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes: I bought this mascara for two reasons. First, because I have other CT products that I love. Second, because it was getting rave early reviews from some of the YouTubers I follow. Let me be clear: I don’t like this mascara. At all. It leaves big, black smudges of transferred product under my eyes, every time. I don’t have oily skin and this isn’t a common problem for me, so I have to blame the formula.

So there you go. My honest, unfiltered opinions about four products from respected companies. Again, what doesn’t work for me might work for you, but these four items went from lustworthy to losers in my book.

Anyone can do it: An easy, bright makeup look

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A lot of my Instagram followers are asking me to start a YouTube site so they can follow step by step as I apply my makeup. I do plan to do it, but so far I haven’t had time to learn to edit video. I will make time soon, I promise!

To tide folks over, I thought I’d provide instructions for the simple look I’m wearing today, which is eye-catching but easy. Here’s the finished version:


So, how do I go from bare faced to ready to go? Here’s how:

1. I always start by applying my primer (Tarte Timeless Smoothing Primer is my current favorite) and my foundation. Here, I’m wearing YSL Touché Eclat — the liquid version.

2. It’s time to conceal. I have under eye blueness, which I hide with a peach-toned cream concealer from Judith August, but you can use whatever brand is your favorite. I go over the peach tone with Tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea liquid concealer. I apply it in a triangle under my eye and blend it into my skin with a damp Beauty Blender sponge. I then set my concealer in place with a light dusting of RCMA No Color Powder, using that same damp sponge.

3. My eyes are next. First, I apply a lid primer to increase lasting power. I usually use Mac’s Paint Pot in Painterly. For the pictured look, I applied white eyeshadow all over my lid, then swept a light beige shadow in a windshield-wiper motion into my crease, just to give my eyes some depth. Any white and beige shadow you have on hand will do. I applied black pencil liner to my top waterline and white to my bottom waterline.  I finished things off with black liquid liner and Red Cherry lashes in Wispy. The liner and lashes are completely optional. If you want, you can go with a nice coating of mascara.

4. With my fingers, I applied liquid bronzer under my cheekbones, at my hairline and just beneath my jawline. This gives your face a bit of contour. The goal is to create natural-looking shadows. Foundation alone can give you a “flat” look; adding bronzer or contour powder returns angles to your face. I went over the liquid bronzer with a powder bronzer for additional depth, but that’s optional.

5. I applied a pretty pink-tinged-with-purple blush to my cheeks, just above where I placed the bronzer. Make sure to blend the edges, as you never want to see a harsh line. In fact, it’s crucial to make sure all of the color products you apply flow seamlessly into one another. Blend, blend, blend!

6. I always leave my lipstick for last. Today I chose a bright pink to go with both my outfit and to offset the gentle shades on my eyes.

7. Spray your face with a setting mist to keep everything in place longer. I like Skindinavia’s Makeup Finishing Spray.

That’s it! You’re ready to head out the door. This is one of my go-to looks because just changing your  lipstick makes it completely different!
Here are some of the products I used:

Foundation: YSL Touché Eclat

Eyes: Rock & Republic White Heat all over lid, beige from Viseart Cashmere Palette, Easy Ride black liner from Ardency Inn (no wing), Red Cherry “Wispy” lashes

Lips: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Amalfi

Blush: Lorac Buildable Blush in Vivid

Bronzer: Bare Minerals Bareskin Sheer Glow, Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light from the Ambient Palette

My ‘Misfit’ love 

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My Misfit Shine 2 Activity Tracker

This blog isn’t about a misfit romance — although I’ve had plenty of those in my life. Nope, it’s a about a different kind of love: my affection for my Misfit Shine 2 activity tracker.

Here’s a confession: I hate exercise. I took three hours of ballet and tap daily when I was in my teens. That kept me slim and trim, no matter what I ate. Although it was exercise, it felt more like fun. After I started college, I avoided anything that would make me hot and sweaty (well, anything exercise-related, anyway). You can guess what happened. The pounds began to pile up. And up. And up.

Of course, I’d go on periodic diets, some more successful than others. But, inevitably, the diet would end and I’d go back to eating normally and … you know the story.

In February of this year,  I decided enough was enough. What I needed was a lifestyle change, as opposed to a diet. I could feel my resolution building. I know you’re going to ask what diet I’m on, so I’ll tell you. It’s simple: poached eggs or a fruit smoothie for breakfast; fruit with cottage cheese or a salad for lunch; and a small portion of salmon, chicken or steak for dinner with veggies on the side. I’m an ice cream fiend, so I replaced my nightly bowl of Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate with orange, pineapple or mixed tropical sherbet. Sometimes I’ll eat string cheese for a snack, or perhaps some low-cal popcorn.

Anyway, the pounds started to fall off … 10 … 20 … 30. I purchased a treadmill and began walking every day. I currently do three to five miles. By some standards, that’s nothing. For me, it’s a big deal.

My latest gadget is my Misfit Shine 2 activity tracker. It’s a slim, rose-gold disc that looks like a watch. I wear it on my arm during the day and attached to my shoe when I’m on my treadmill. That’s because I usually walk with my hands on the treadmill bars, and because my arms aren’t swinging with each step, the Misfit can’t track my activity.

In addition to counting my steps, my Misfit Shine tells time, monitors my sleep, vibrates when I get a phone call or text message, and tracks my daily goals. A series of small lights at the edge of the dial provides me with all the info I need. Of course, a well-thought-out app also helps. I use my Misfit in conjunction with the Misfit app as well as the Lose It app, which I use to record my food consumption.

Another thing I like about my Misfit? It’s more elegant than many other types of wearable trackers. Mine is currently on my wrist in the black rubberized band that comes standard, but Swarovski makes pretty accessories. I’ve asked my husband for the gray-suede, crystal-studded slake band for my upcoming birthday. That way, I can switch out the rubber version for something more feminine.

In the meantime, I’m sticking to my lifestyle change. I’ve lost a total of 40 pounds and hope to lose 30 more by the holidays!

Let’s talk about your breasts … er, chest

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Summer is here in full force — at least in North America — and that means a lot of people are spending time either poolside or at the beach. They’re working on relaxing as well as their tans, and they’re sharing their fun-in-the-sun moments on social media.

Those bronze glows often look perfect from a distance, but if you’re a woman over the age of 40, try enlarging your photo. You might see something like this:

Sun damage on a woman’s chest. (Note: not my chest.) 


Full disclosure: That’s not my chest. It’s the chest of a woman whose skin is prematurely wrinkled due to sun damage. This isn’t even a worst-case scenario. I’ve seen Facebook and Instagram photos of women whose entire chest areas, from armpit to armpit, look wrinkled, dry and — frankly — old.

The truth is that a bronze glow can be gorgeous, but also (in the not-unlikely event of skin cancer) scarring or deadly. As tempting as it might be to bake your way to brown, it’s smarter to slather yourself in sunscreen from forehead to neck to chest. And the higher the SPF, the better. Not only will it protect this delicate area from the sun’s harmful rays, but it will also help keep wrinkles at bay. After all, a wrinkled neck and chest — as well as the sagging skin that’s also a sunshine side effect — are extremely aging. My personal choice when it comes to face, neck and chest protection is Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protection Cream, which has an SPF of 50. It hasn’t failed me yet!

My go-to sunscreen: Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protection Cream


I personally don’t mind having a peaches and cream (translation: very pale) complexion. But if you can’t face going to the beach or pool with a “ghost tan,” give self-tanners a try. The newest versions are l0ng-lasting, streak-free and minus the distinctive chemical odor that accompanied earlier concoctions. I usually reach for Vita Liberata, which elicits an olive cast instead of the dreaded orange tone.
So remember: Protect your face, neck and chest from premature aging with a powerful sunscreen. Your skin will thank you.

My first box from Influenster = Sleep success

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image.jpegI was so excited last week to receive my first box from Influenster containing a free product for review. I’m a noted insomniac, so it was only appropriate that I receive a sample of Zzzquil, the nighttime sleep aid.

I usually take prescription sleeping pills so I was a bit skeptical. The good news is that Zzzquil worked for me. I slept soundly for seven hours and wasn’t even groggy the next morning.

If you’re have trouble sleeping, why not give it a try? If you’re like me and get grumpy from tossing and turning, your family and friends will thank you for it.

Quick and easy hair options 

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My hair is naturally wavy, something I battled with for years. When I was young, I actually liked the texture. I’m a child of the 70s, so I let it grow long and when I used hot rollers, the curl would last forever. The problem came as I grew older. I tried so many hairstyles — even, regrettably, the Dorothy Hamill bob. My hair would look great at the salon, but I could never recreate the look. I’d end up with a wavy mess. (Obviously, I was not adept with hair tools.)

My 70s hair

It took me years to discover that I actually have perfect hair for the scrunch-and-go style. I just take any type of hair mousse, scrunch it into my towel-dried hair and either blow dry or air dry. That’s it. Easy-peasy. (Photo at top left below).

Still, there are times when I want a smoother, straighter look. (Photo at bottom left above.) After years of trial and error, I stumbled across an easy way to get it. I comb Nios Shield Leave-In Conditioner and Marc Anthony Perfect Smoothing Cream through towel-dried hair, then let it sit for awhile, usually while I apply my makeup. Then I finish up with a blow dryer and vented brush. My hair ends up shiny and straight!

If you have wavy or curly hair that leaves you frustrated, try one or both of these easy styling methods!

Modern Renaissance: The new ABH palette is different and gorgeous

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette, liquid lipsticks in Soft Lilac (l) and Dusty Rose (r)

When it comes to makeup products, I’m wildest about eyeshadow palettes and lipstick. After all, there’s something incredibly sexy  about a fresh tube of lipstick. And eyeshadow? The tiny, colorful pans just beg for imagination and creativity. 

Anastasia Beverly Hills takes eye artistry to a new level with its just-released Modern Renaissance Palette. If you’re looking for colors that go beyond the usual neutrals, Modern Renaissance is for you. Mixed in with the shades needed for brow highlighting and crease transitions are rich, unexpected shades in wearable reds, oranges and purples that set this palette apart from the rest. Their names even hit an artistic note, with monikers such as Raw Sienna, Golden Ochre, Tempera and Red Ochre. 

The palette features a nice mix of metallic, satin and matte shades. Fallout is minimal and the texture is creamy and smooth, with easy blendability. Standout colors include Realgar, Love Letter and Buon Fresco, all which are included in the look I created below. 


Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Rennaissance Palette and Liquid Lipstick in Soft Lilac, available at anastasiabeverlyhills.com. 

Other products used: YSL Touché Eclat Foundation, Clinique Cheek Pop Blush in Pansy Pop, Giorgio Armani Maestro in Liquid Summer (contour), Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow (bronzer), Crushed Pearl from the Anastasia Beverly Hills “Gleam” Glow Kit (highlighter), Red Cherry lashes.  Top is from Hautelook.com/Nordstrom Rack.  

Five quick tips for taking a good selfie

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They say that for every good selfie posted to Facebook and Instagram, there are dozens of nearly identical selfies that didn’t make the cut. That’s pretty much true, unless you learn the angles and lighting tricks needed to get it right the first, second or third time.

Because I do makeup looks of the day for my Instagram account, I take plenty of selfies. (Shameless plug: I’m Makeup_Plus_50 on Instagram.) But it doesn’t take me long to get the photo of the day because I’ve learned these five things:

1. When holding your phone or camera, make sure it’s slightly above eye level. If you have any kind of double chin at all, photos taken straight on or (God forbid) from below chin level will exaggerate the chin issue and also make your face look fatter.

2. Along the same lines, don’t “turtle” your neck by pulling it in. Extend your chin forward a bit to elongate your jawline. Again, this is especially important if you have a double chin or wattle.

3. Know your angles. Our faces aren’t symmetrical, so most of us really do have a better side. Most of my photos are angled toward the right side of my face, which is younger-looking and fuller than the left. However, when I’m going for chiseled and elegant, I shoot from the left side.

4. Find your light. When you get ready to take a photo, look at yourself on your camera screen from several different angles to find the most flattering light. I personally use my front porch for photos. Depending on the time of day, I get the best light while sitting on my front porch steps or by standing at the edge of the front porch, looking toward the sun from just under the edge of the porch roof. I also find that the light varies by time of day: Morning photos have a cooler tone and evening photos have a golden wash.

5. Beware photo touch-up apps.  There are plenty of apps on Android and ITunes that allow you to “clean up” your photos, but don’t go crazy with them. There is nothing wrong with zapping a pimple or an under-eye shadow, but don’t go wild with Photoshop. You want to look like yourself, not like a cartoon version of yourself. And for goodness sake, avoid the apps that allow you to add makeup to your photos. It may look fine in thumbnail-sized photos but it’s obvious and pixilated when the photos are enlarged!

The bottom line is that everyone can take a good selfie if they follow a few simple “rules.” It’s all about angles, light and composition.

Bonus tip: Want your eyes to look great in a selfie? Think about something that makes them come alive. I always pretend my eyes are sending a message to someone I love!

A frog worth kissing

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imageSometimes the packaging and concept suck me in, and such was the case with Lipstick Queen’s Frog Prince lipstick and blush. After all, what girl hasn’t kissed a frog or two? And who doesn’t want to believe that our lives are touched by the transformative power of magic?

The Frog Prince lipstick and blush are shades of green that would do any hopping reptile proud, but once applied to the lips and cheeks, they turn to a pretty shade of pinky mauve. A bit kitschy? Well, yes. But fun nonetheless, and actually lovely in action. Warning: These shades are fairly light, so they’re probably best suited to fair-to-medium skin tones.

The bottom line? These two handsome princes have something magical going!

What’s in my shower?

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imageI love my shower, not to mention my bath. I’m usually a two-per-day person, taking either two showers or a shower in the morning and a bath at night, simply because I like to feel clean.(One of my idiosyncrasies is that I don’t have breakfast until after I’ve showered because I like to feel fresh while eating.)

With that confession behind me, let’s talk about what’s in my shower right now:

Two facial cleansers: I’m alternating between Skyn Iceland’s Glacial Face Wash and Boscia’s Tsubaki Cleansing Oil Gel. It only takes a pea-sized amount of Skyn Iceland’s product to work itself into a luxurious, gentle, creamy not-quite-foam.  It includes willow bark for stressed skin and I haven’t had a blemish since I began using it. Prior to that, I’d been having stress-induced breakouts in my chin area. The Tsubaki oil is more moisturizing and I use it when I’m removing makeup. I love the way it slides on my skin — it feels like a lovely facial.

A deep-pore cleanser: I genuinely love Soap & Glory’s T-Zone Detox Scrub. It’s tingly and cooling and gets down into my pores, cleaning out all the sebum and debris that causes breakouts and dulls skin.

Body cleansers and scrubs: I love products that make my bathroom and me smell scrumptious. Right now, I’m alternating between Vitabath’s Cucumber & White Tea for a subdued scent and Pacifica’s Indian Coconut Nectar, a longtime favorite, for a stronger, exotic and sultry effect. When I feel the need to exfoliate, I reach for Bath & Body Work’s Sweet Magnolia & Clementine Body Scrub. 

Shampoo and conditioner: I keep brassiness out of my blond hair with AG Hair Care’s Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo and Conditioner, the most effective anti-brass products I’ve found. When I want some sassy bounce, I reach for Bumble and Bumble’s Surf Foam Wash and Surf Creme Rinse Conditioner. 

Cleansing tool: To make sure my face gets the deep cleaning treatment it needs and that my products work to the best of their abilities, I wash with the Foreo Luna Facial Cleansing T-Sonic Brush. I prefer it to Clarisonic-type brushes because the silicone “fingers” seem more sanitary and less damaging to my skin.

Shower puff: I never use a washcloth in my shower. I prefer to use the netting scrubbers I buy in bulk at Rite Aid. One side is netting and the other is a loofah.

Until next time, keep things clean!