The very first product that I wish to highlight and review is the Gina Beauty 5 Piece Brush Set. I purchased this set at Five and Below for $5.00. While I was not overly impressed with the quality of the flimsy, plastic packaging initially, I did appreciate how informative it was. Anyone could purchase and right away know which brushes were included and their uses. The packaging also illustrates that these brushes are cruelty free and how to care for the brushes to keep them clean.
I have to say that these are some of the nicest cosmetic brushes that I have ever purchased. They are top quality brushes that are high density, soft to the skin, non-shedding, and distribute product effortlessly. I was able to apply both cream and powders to achieve a flawless finish. All and All, these brushes ticked all of the boxes for me. Furthermore, after doing a bit of research on the company, Gina Concepts, a subsidiary of the Gina Group, located in NYC, I learned that the company also sells cosmetic brushes on Amazon and Nordstrom’s. Not too bad for only five dollars. I plan on purchasing more of these brushes in the future. They are an excellent value and I was highly impressed with their performance.
NOTE: Please know, this blog is not sponsored. This opinion simply reflects my own personal experience using this product.
Hello! Welcome new Facebook Friends! I hope that you will enjoy my beautiful little corner of the world and that you too find your own special kind of beauty. I am honored that we can partake in this journey together!
Like many busy women, I am always on the lookout for new and interesting hair products to simply my daily routine. I have tried just about every regimen to make my curly hair more manageable, shiny, and clean. I have had deva haircuts, used deva products and just about every curly girl approved regimen, which includes something called co washing, which is a no shampoo approach. These didn’t work for me. Insted, the products simply built up on my hair and made it flat, lifeless, and unpleasant feeling.
Recently, I purchased OGX beeswax hairspray, but I do not use it on a daily basis. I suppose, one could, but what I did was wash my hair and apply a small amount of leave in conditioner and gel. I used OGX beeswax in between washings to reset my style and I have to say…I am impressed. My hair looked fresh, shiny, and amazing.
Per the directives, one should just simply use this as a standard hairspray. I have not tried using it as just a spray as of yet, but I LOVE this product. It sells for about 8.00 and it performs like higher end products for a fraction of the cost.
This is not a sponsored review and like all of my posts, it reflects only my own personal experience using this product.
Today, I have blogged a bit more than usual because I am homebound. I wrecked my car yesterday and I am awaiting new parts. SO, I am going to take this opportunity not to dwell on the bad, but emphasise the good. It is a day that I have to carve out time for some much needed pampering, but where to start?
Somewhere, in the great cyber universe, I read about the importance of creating a self care kit. I have not previously did this and I think it is an excellent idea. It could be a basket filled with anything that makes you happy. It could be anything from new beauty products to experiment with or even a new book that you wished that you had time to read. You can combine them all with wine, bubble batch, chocolate, etc. Mine, I think, is going to consist of my kindle, some new scented body wash, lotions, a conditioning treatment, and some silky pajamas. I will add a bit of soft music and a light dinner before an evening of unabashed reading. Why not? I want mine to carry on over to tomorrow. When I awaken, I want to feel rejuvenated. I am going to drink plenty of water and turn in early. Water is a magical elixir. It is your best beauty weapon throughout your life and at my age, I need some heavy artillery!
If you have created a self care kit, would did you put into yours? Is it ever changing?
I have always had hooded eyes. When I was younger, this was never really an issue for me because I wore a minimal amount of cosmetics and almost no eyeshadow to speak of. In fact, I used to simply line the outer “V” of my eyes with shadow, apply a bit of mascara, and that was it. Now, I am aging and my looks are evolving into whoever I am going to be during the next phase of my life. It’s not a bad thing, in fact, it is a challenge and sort of even exciting. Because my looks have changed a bit, it has provided me with a reason to experiment and spend time playing with a variety of new products to achieve a barrage of different eye looks. I am honestly enjoying it! You do not have to spend a lot of money to do this..anyone can do it.
As I mentioned, things change around the eyes. Hooded eyes become a bit more hooded as time marches on and they have a variety of lines, puffiness, droopiness, crepeness, etc. In lieu of cursing ( which I admit, was my initial go to thought), I have decided to embrace the ever changing me and step up to the mirror and even view it with optimism. I mean, look at all the fun challenges and new techniques that I get to play with!
Like many others, I have watched a variety of beauty gurus on YouTube, but let’s face it ladies ( face it…hmm a pun) we are an underrepresented demographic on that channel. Essentially, there are four different types of cosmetic tutorials on YouTube: there are a few well meaning women putting themselves out there and showing us their botox and their high end cosmetic routines that many of us do not have the budget, the patience, or the time for, there are a variety of gorgeous young women whose years have not yet become apparent on their perfect faces, people who do outrageous glam looks with bold eyeshadows, strong beautiful overdrawn lips, and what I can only surmise to be some sort of bedazzler, and of course, men! Between those niches, are a few well meaning women putting out content that we can actually use. I love the variety of YouTube and I have taken snippets from many and morph them into my own sort of style. You will have to do that as well because nobody else looks like you. I know, I will never look like any of them and many of their techniques do not work for me and my aging eyes. However, I do have a few favorites: Wayne Goss ( He is a genius and I have learned more from him than any other), Bobbi Brown, and Manny MUA. I have taken advice from Tati, but mostly Manny and Wayne are my go to gurus. Wayne Goss not only demonstrates the how, but explains the why. He tends to go with basic looks that are suitable for everyday. I will not highlight my least favorites because they are my least favorites simply because their techniques do not appeal to my own facial features. I admit, Manny MUA is a stretch, but I love his use of colors, overall personality, and I started out watching him first. I know, I will never be as beautiful as he is, but he taught me to not be afraid of color and to blend like nobody’s business! I implore you to watch all different sorts of videos if you want to keep current with trends and learn new things. There are also a valuable number of product reviews that you can learn from.
So, what do I do for my own routine? While mine may vary from yours, there are a number of things that we all can benefit from. Firstly, I use a good under eye cream and always moisturize the delicate area around my eyes. When applying eye make up, I use a concealer to even out my skin tone, which is a bit reddish on my eyes now. I then use an allover shade for my eye lid and apply up through my crease, which is beyond my natural crease in that my eyes are hooded. I go just above the brow bone ever so slightly. I then apply a darker shadow from the area just above my pupil, which is also on that exaggerated crease. I blend it outward and upward just a bit. I then line the under eye with a darker shadow and take it up to meet the other so it forms a “V.” I blend, blend, blend, apply a tiny bit of lighter shadow to the inner portion of my eyelid, and finish off with eyeliner, highlighter, mascara, and the brow. Sometimes, I use concealer to “cut the crease” for more dramatic looks. It all depends on the level of drama that I want to achieve. On a day to day basis, I tend to skip that portion as I am always in a hurry going here and there. Aren’t we all?
HINT: If you do not want to wear false eyelashes and want a bit of panache to your eyes for daytime, do what I do…I take my eyelash curler and hold it under my blow dryer for about thirty seconds. Make sure it is not too hot by testing it on your hand, and then curl the lashes. You will have beautiful lashes! I promise. I also bought an eyelash comb that I use in between coats of mascara to unclump and emphasise my lashes.
As you can see, I am not an expert, a cosmetologist, or anything of the sort. I am just a woman who wants to make the most of what she has and who likes to try new approaches, products, and techniques. I will admit..sometimes I like like a cross between an Olsen twin and Ozzy Osbourne when trying new things..it is ok. I give myself permission to look in the mirror and laugh out loud. When we do things that do not work for us, we still learn something. We are never too old to have fun and try new things. Nobody said that you have to be twenty to enjoy being beautiful. In the end, do what makes you feel your best. When you feel your best, you look your best. There are no right or wrong ways to be you. Enjoy the journey!
What is age appropriate fashion, anyway? When I was a child and wanted to try something new, I asked permission and utilized the phrase, ” everyone else is doing it for my rebuttal.” My mother always came back, with ” you are not everyone else.” No truer words have been spoken. The same holds true for beauty and fashion. Only you know what to do to make you feel your most beautiful. This is a blog about being yourself and finding your own special brand of beauty at any age, but as an aging woman, it is told from the perspective of a woman who is at midlife, that is, if I live to be 106 ( which I plan on!!!) Why not?
In our culture, I used to think that beauty was defined by youth. Now, as I shop for clothing and products, I honestly do not know what the hell it is defined by. I have a hard time finding clothing that fit me well. I am petite in height, but my aging body is anything but inline with perfect proportions. I am not an hourglass figure and since menopause, I think, I could characterize my body more as a milk jug! Okay, well, at least that is how I feel when I shop for clothing. Ladies, things shift! I always walk away from clothing shops thinking..wow, if only the designer had designed that outfit for a woman and not a twelve year old boy, it would be perfect! Since, I have thighs, arms, legs, and breasts, it is sometimes out of my league! Anyone else feel that way?
I am a wanna be polished looking professional with a bit of a hipster vibe. Let me be a bit more accurate regarding that description… I want to be a hipster, but not the sort that can easily be confused for homeless and certainly not always the woman shopping for career separates because my top is bigger than my bottom. Who wants to go through life wearing that sort of get up? Yes, I wear skinny jeans at almost 53, scour the internet for the latest fashion and beauty trends, and damn it, I still try! We all know people who have allowed themselves to age into a world of wearing appliqued apples, bees, and schoolhouses on their person and seem totally comfortable. Good for them! That is just not me.
In fact, honestly, I would rather be hung than settle into matronly clothing. I do not think I ever will. Put it this way…shoot me if I do! Sure, there may be a time when I am in a nursing home somewhere and as long as I am out of my mind, you can put me into some of those garanimal outfits, but now, NO! Please make sure that I am almost brain dead before you do. If I have one wave of activity and am unable to articulate myself, I will consider that to be cruel and unusual punishment.
I am not saying that I can wear all of the same sort of clothing that I wore as a younger woman. My body type disagrees and I do not want to look like I am trying to be something other than I am, but what am I and what are all of us? Who gets to dictate fashions? My answer is that all of us are the best judge of what makes us look and feel beautiful. Our beauty and our own sense of style is something that we have evolved into and we have a certain level of confidence at our age. One day, we can be sophisticated and the next we can be artsy, fun, and even a bit more dramatic. We each have our own ideas of what works for us and what it means to be relevant. Yes, I try to wear things that are in vogue and even some off the wall things that make me happy! On occasion, I even a very subtle winged eyeliner and or false eyelashes. Why not? I do not over do it..I know I am not a teenage girl, but sometimes a hint of a cat eye is fun. What is wrong with continuing to experiment with various looks as we age? If an outfit goes wrong, people just assume we have dementia!
As we look toward the warmer months, I am already starting to plan my wardrobe. This year, I am going a bit ethnic..Of course, not my ethnicity, but by wearing some bold colors and saree skirts, fun jackets, tassel earrings, and things that look a bit well traveled. I am Italian and there is room for some Italian fashion articles as well. No JC PENNEY expand a belt trousers for this one! What fashions will you try this year? Remember that your own beauty is defined by you and no one else.
This evening, I was treated to a few moments of laughter. A dear friend of mine recently left her home, sold her business, and purchased an RV. She left her husband of twenty odd years and went off on a fabulous journey to find herself. It had been long overdue for her as she had been very unhappy for a long time. She had spent the majority of her years seeking approval from everyone else and in the process lost her sense of self. What an incredible price to pay.
This afternoon she had phoned me to chat and check on me as I do her. Even though she is miles away, we are still dear friends and like most friends, can catch up and laugh as if we were sitting across the table from one another. Today, was a day that I needed checking on. I had wrecked my car by hitting a pole at my doctor’s office and I was a bit upset about it, but she has this amazing way of making me smile about all of life’s little disasters. We ended up laughing about it and I decided that it isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me and this too will eventually pass.
As we spoke, she told me how very happy she was in her new space. She had moved to a southern state and has recently secured a job at a chain retail store. It’s the happiest she has been in a long time. She told me of all of the beauty in the area and went on to tell me that around the corner from her is a mountain, which oddly translates to Healing Mountain. We discussed how ironic that it was and how from her first visit to the area, she felt a calling to live there. WOW..some things are simply meant to be. Although I miss her, I can still feel her presence of spirit. She is everything that a woman should be..supportive, in love with imperfection, and courageous!
I too am looking for my own healing mountain. It doesn’t have to be a change in geography, but a chance to see the world around me in a different way. It is a chance to appreciate the little things, feel the grass between my toes, enjoy the beauty of a sunset, and to unabashedly laugh out loud. Its amazing the things that we take for granted while trying to be what others want us to be. Being your authentic self is not an easy journey, but it is a fulfilling one. All one has to do is to create a roadmap of where you long to be. Its okay to deviate and take the scenic route. We have all done that at one time or another, but the important thing is to get back on the path and appreciate its beauty and its obstacles. Each shape us in their own special ways. Where are you going in life and what route will you take? Maybe, your journey is unknown and will reveal itself to you after you reach your destination. One never knows. Sometimes, it’s more about the journey and the friends we make along the way that make our trials light through support and laughter.
About three years ago, I met a very special man who was going through what he said was a mid-life transformation. I said, “Oh, a mid-life crisis.” He said that it was not in that it was a positive change. It was like morphing into a butterfly and becoming the best you and living life on your own terms.
Like he, I had been involved in a relationship that had grown stale and offered little excitement and I began to actually question what I really wanted out of life and had I achieved it in my forty something years? The answer was no. Now, I too am in the process of rebuilding my life by being my authentic self. It is a bit daunting to take a truly introspective look into oneself. To be totally honest, takes a lot of courage. I didn’t like everything that I saw and thought that life must be better than this..It is.
Now, I find myself at age fifty two starting over. Yes, its scary as hell and there is a lot of uncertainty. In my younger years, I would have perceived uncertainty with a level of anxiety because it meant that I had no control over the situation. Guess what? Whatever is going to happen is going to happen and I have learned that uncertainty means ANYTHING is possible. I have embraced the whimsical serendipity that is my life. It is unpredictable and I am on my own, but now, I am the master of my own universe. I have a boyfriend and adult companionship, but I answer to me and it is teaching me so much about my own strength. What a gift.
With mid-life, comes extra pounds, more experience, and a certain measure of knowing who you are and what you want. Its also a time in which we reflect on previous years with a more informed opinion. We have learned from our past at this age and bring wisdom and poise to the table.
Now I look at younger women and think that they are beautiful and I wish for them the same beauty of being content with who they are. In my day, there was body shaming, slut shaming, and all the like. In the end, be you. If you enjoy who you are, nobody can ever take that away from you. Be kind, be patient, but most of all, be yourself. Beauty is in imperfection.
If you have never tried Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation, it is an amazing formula that goes on even, is buildable, and creates flawless coverage. Even without a primer, this foundation looks amazing and lasts an entire day. Of course, with a price tag of $43, one has high expectations for this product. Honestly, it delivers and is an exquisite product. But today, I found what I think to be a better than dupe of this product..if that is even possible.
Earlier, I had an appointment and reached into my drawer for some foundation. I had already made up my mind that I was going for a minimal look in that I wanted to achieve a fresh clean, daytime look. I used LA Girl Pro Matte Makeup and WOW. I fell in love with this product! Its formula is better than the Estee Lauder formula in that it was a bit thinner, but the payoff was just as amazing If not a bit more polished. I have been wearing it the entire day and it still looks beautiful. I have cooked, eaten, drank, and napped…It still looks gorgeous and I have had it on for over twelve hours. It has an ethereal air brushed finish for just $8.99! I am going to go out on a limb and say that I even prefer this product to Estee Lauder! Not only for the price, but for the overall look and feel of this foundation. It feels smooth and natural, appears clean, and is going to be my new go to foundation for everyday wear.
I will say that this is simply my own experience with this cosmetic and its based on my own combination skin. I am also 50 something and have rosacea. This product performed beautifully and looked amazing throughout the day.
Okay, my hair has the ability to look like Chaka Kahn. Its very curly and tends to grow up and out in lieu of down. Sigh..woe is me. If you venture into my bathroom, you would see a barrage of hair products because my hair requires different products on different days and different products during different seasons..In short, I have a ton of products in my arsenal. Yes, yes I have tried them all..curly girl routine products, no poo co-wash, and even ethnic products ( I am Caucasian). I am always buying and hoarding hair products and cosmetics. It’s just who I am. Tell me it’s my last dollar and I will spend it on beauty items..I am a self confessed beauty junkie.
In the not so distant past, I acquired a bottle of Identity Illuminating Mist by Gene Juarez Salons. The spray works almost like a shine serum. Per the directions, one mists the spray on damp or dry hair and style as usual. Hmmm..seems fairly easy enough.
Upon misting the spray, I immediately noticed that it smelled amazing! It has a fresh, clean scent and an easy pump, non aerosol bottle. I didn’t mist onto my hair, but onto my hands and worked it in from the ends upward. I was a bit conservative with the product because I was afraid it would weigh my hair down or look a bit greasy. It didn’t! In fact, it looked fabulous. I had bouncy, shiny curls that were well defined and exhibited no signs of frizz. I do not know what is in the bottle, but it is a true miracle if you have curly/kinky hair like mine. AMAZING! (said in my best, loudest Oprahesque voice) I do not recall the cost. I confess, I use both high and lower price point products, but for the sake of this blog, thus far, I have chosen to highlight products from lower price points or products that one simply cannot live without. Because this product requires so little product per use, I am going to say its a great value for the money. I hope that all of you will try it. If you do, please let me know what your results were.
Perhaps, one of the best beauty secrets ever is slicing off a bit of time to one self. In this hustle, bustle world, such a concept is easier said than done, but in order to really look and feel your best, it is absolutely essential. So, what are these little ways in which we can pamper ourselves when there is seemingly non existent time to do so? I have listed five absolutely free ways in which you can find moments of zen throughout your day. When we feel beautiful, we look beautiful and can approach the world with fresh perspectives.
Drink a cool glass of water. Did you know that water not only refreshes you, cools, you and adds moisture to your body, but it has also been linked to mental alertness. By removing yourself from a daunting task or a busy day and drinking a few sips of water, you have not only quenches your thirst, but rejuvenated your mind and body.
Take a walk to destress. Studies prove that walking helps us to put our thoughts in perspective and provides us with the ability to refocus and solve problems. Regardless if it is outside or inside, walking releases endorphins.
Take a nap. While this is not always an option during a busy work day, if you can, remove yourself from your task, set a timer on your phone, and take a bit of a power nap. You will be surprised how much a little bit of sleep can energize you.
Light some candles, put on your favorite music, and soak in a warm bath tub. Is there anything better? This is my favorite treat to myself after a long day.
Put aside a bit of time for reading. Losing oneself in a favorite book is the perfect way to escape a chaotic day. Take a book to work to read on your lunch hour or simply listen to a book while commuting to work.
While these little things seem minimal, they have a large impact on our levels of stress. I hope that you will take a bit of time to yourself and enjoy the little things.
Finding Beauty 