Skincare - Flattering50

Moisturizing Gloves Repair Hands Anywhere, Anytime

Flattering50 — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2015-09-27. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Editor’s Note: I was recently asked me to review a new product, James and Lourdes Moisturizing Gloves. The following is my review.

Health and beauty experts tell women over 50 to moisturize year round. And sure, I’m devoted to daily facial moisturizing—even in summertime. My hands, however, are another story. Sadly, I tend to ignore my hands until they start to burn and itch. My problem: I never think to moisturize my hands when there's time for the hand lotion to be absorbed. Granted, tacky hands isn't a huge problem. However, it's been enough to squash anything close to daily hand moisturizing routine.

Over the summer, the folks at James and Lourdes contacted me with a possible solution: gloves that allow hand moisturizing anywhere, anytime. Unlike spa gloves, they told me, James and Lourdes moisturizing gloves are made from microfiber polyester yarn with a bit of stretch for use indoor or outdoor. The James and Lourdes folks suggested that summertime was the perfect time to start moisturizing, before the onset of cold weather. I liked the idea of being proactive and agreed to try the gloves.

A COMFORTABLE, CONVENIENT WAY TO MOISTURIZE
The James and Lourdes moisturizing gloves are available in 3-finger and 5-finger styles as well as three sizes. I thought the 3-finger style, which leaves the tips of the thumb and pointer finger uncovered, sounded ideal, since most things in my world—cell phones, appliances, and car, to name a few—are operated with a push of a button by my pointer finger.

It was super easy to start using the gloves. I simply applied my own hand moisturizer and slipped on the gloves. I'm happy to report I've been using the moisturizing gloves faithfully while reading before bedtime for over a month. The gloves are comfortable and slip on/off easily. When it's time to clean them, I just toss them into the washing machine (the dryer isn't recommended). I've been a faithful hand moisturizer even when traveling, which I've done a lot in the past two months. The gloves come with a handy travel pouch. I also love knowing that if I forget my nighttime moisturizing routine, I can always moisturize the next day, while reading the paper or driving the car. The gloves' fabric and construction are durable and comfortable for any number of activities. I like having options!

The best part, though, is the difference the moisturizing gloves have made on my hands! After only a week's use, my hands felt softer and smoother. (It was quite clear that my hands, while better off than they are in winter, were quite rough and dry in August, despite the humidity.) For the first time ever, I’m not dreading winter's attack on my hands. Since my hands are well-moisturized now and they should stay moisturized—thanks to the moisturizing gloves—I’m confident they won't suffer from dry skin the way they have in the past. If like me, you've had trouble establishing a hand-moisturizing routine, I highly recommend these gloves. The gloves can be purchased online for $9.35 ($16.40 for two pairs). And be sure to start using them right away—before the first frost.

Still Learning: Creating Your Own Nail Art

Flattering50 — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2015-08-23. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Photo credit: Jason Setiawan

I'm happy to report that Astrid and Vicki are the winners of the recent Flattering50 Giveaway of Designer Nails: Create Art at Your Fingertips, a new book by nail artist Ami Vega. This new book, filled with gorgeous photographs of nail art by Jason Setiawan (like the photo above), tips and resources, and lots of encouragement from Ami, recently inspired me to dip my toe, or rather fingernails, in nail art.

TIPS FOR BEGINNING NAIL ARTISTS
Following Ami’s suggestion, I ran out to a craft store and bought a set of very fine paint brushes. Next, I flipped through Ami's new book and settled on the Blue Moon design (p. 62) for my first attempt at nail art. It seemed less complicated than many of the other designs. For the polish, I chose a light blue for the base and then applied a navy blue for the half-moon of color at the nail base and for the stripe across the top of the nail. With the paint brush in my left-hand (I’m left-handed), I went to work on my right hand's nails. Was I successful? I would say 'marginally' (see photo below). That is, the results were neither great nor awful (though pretty close to awful). However, I went ahead and polished my right hand. My thinking: If my right hand came out better, I would redo my left hand.

Things got much worse, however, when I painted my left hand’s nails. There is very little I can do well with my right hand and nail polishing turned out to be particularly challenging. However, Ami warns readers that nail art may take practice, so I persevered.

For my next nail art attempt, I invented my own design, something that didn't require straight or uniform lines or mirrored shapes--in other words, something I thought I could handle. I chose a bright green and pale blue nail polishes. This attempt came out better on both right and left hand finger nails. However, it was far from perfect and the mistakes were rather glaring because of the contrast between the bright green and pale blue colors.

After a little nail reflection, I came to the conclusion that beginner nail artists, like me, should:

Beware of geometric designs. Drawing straight lines or repeating shapes takes practice, practice and practice!
Stick with organic designs and shapes—that is, designs or shapes that don't repeat or don't have look uniform.
Use subtle color combinations. Mistakes are much more noticeable with contrasting colors.
Be patient and don't expect perfection right away. Even if my suggestions help, nail art is something that takes time to master.It's best to enjoy the process and appreciate each time you improve a little.

For my most recent attempt, I used my own design again. However, this time, I used a pale blue base and a design in a pale green. The two pale colors blended well, creating a very subtle design. The look is still pretty wobbly, but I'll keep practicing.

Designer Nails provides directions for creating about 50 different nail art designs. Many of the designs look like they need some serious practice to perfect. However, others don't require you to draw straight lines or mirrored shapes, thus, making them a little easier to recreate.

Happy Polishing!

Flattering50 Giveaway: New Book on DIY Beautiful Nail Art

Flattering50 — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2015-08-05. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Editor's Note: This Giveaway has now ended. Thanks to all those Flattering50 readers who entered!

In recent years, I've become a huge fan of polishing my nails. It's one of those things I find I have more time for now that I'm an empty nester. For a very small investment, I can change my nail polish with my mood; it's a great pick-me-up. Lately, I've been experimenting with colors I never imagined I'd like: green, powder blue, lavender, navy. So...when the folks representing the nail artist Ami Vega contacted me about Ms. Vega's new book, Designer Nails: Create Art at Your Fingertips, I was thrilled. Ami, the creator of El Salonisto, a nail art business and blog (elsalonsito.com), has compiled a beautifully photographed, easy-to-follow book on creating nail art for everyone--from beginners, like me, to experts. The folks promoting the book (Perigee Trade), which was released August 4th, would like to give two lucky Flattering50 readers a copy of this gorgeous book.

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR 'INNER ARTIST'
Ami Vega has worked with major beauty companies, such as Revlon, Essie, and Maybelline, and has a monthly column in the British magazine Scratch. She has contributed her nail designs to fashion shoots as well as worked with designers like Donna Karan and Monika Chiang. "Nails are like tiny canvases to me," Ms. Vega writes in her new book's introduction. She hopes her book will inspire and encourage readers' "inner artist." The book's designs are an "open platform for your own self-expression."

I received a copy of the book a few days ago and I'm loving it! It includes how-to's on everything you need to know to create dramatic nail art, including tips on proper care for healthy nails, correct nail preparation, maintaining your polished nails, and step-by-step directions on 50 really cool nail designs.The tone of the book is very encouraging for novices like me. While I'll need to work my way up--with lots of practice--to some of the intricate designs, the collection includes less complicated designs to get started. When ready, Ms. Vega writes, "move to the more intricate patterns without fear; after all, there's no right or wrong when it comes to nail art. (Look for my nail art creations in future posts.)

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
Two lucky Flattering50 readers will receive a copy of Designer Nails: Create Art at Your Fingertips by Ami Vega.

To enter for a chance to win "Designer Nails: Create Art at Your Fingertips"...
1. You must live in the United States or Canada.
2. You must enter your name and email in the Giveaway Box below. Please be assured that your name/email will not be published or shared with anyone.

To receive a bonus chance to win...
1. Subscribe to the Free Flattering50 Newsletter (at the top of the right-hand margin of Flattering50).

2. Please note: If you are a current subscriber of the Flattering50 Newsletter, you will automatically get a bonus chance to win when you enter this Giveaway. However, to be included in this Giveaway, you must enter your name/email (which will never be published) in the Giveaway Box below.

All entries must be received no later than Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 11:59 PM EST.

Good Luck!!

Probelle Nail Repair: Help for Damaged Nails

Flattering50 — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2014-11-12. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Thank you Probelle for letting me try your nail repair products!

I like to wear nail polish. I don't wear it all the time, but I do go through a nail-polishing phase for three or four months every year. The minute I stop polishing my nails, however, I have to deal with the punishing effects of nail polish. The polish seems to zap the moisture out of my nails, leaving them chalky dry and rough. A sad sight, indeed. In the past, I've worked my strongest-acting body cream into the nails to restore the lost moisture. Eventually, the nails return to a healthier state.

Six weeks ago, after nail polishing during the spring and summer months, I stopped polishing. As usual, my nails looked awful, like frosted window panes on a bitter cold winter day. Instead of reaching for the hand cream, however, I tried Touch 'N Glow ($14.00) nail repair formula by Probelle. The 'Touch 'N Glow' formula has been developed to repair and restore damaged nails, especially thin nails prone to cracking, splitting and breaking often. My nails aren't particularly thin and they don't crack or split. However, I was hoping the product would restore my nails' natural color and moisture, and help them grow.

I used "Touch 'N Glow" regularly for a month. After just a few coats of the protective formula, my nails began to look better. Over the weeks, they continued to grow healthier and longer. In fact, after six weeks, my nails were the longest they've been since high school. People don't usually comment on my nails. In the past six weeks, two people, a girlfriend and work colleague, have noticed my nail and said they look good. This is how my nails looked after a month. Two weeks later, I had to cut them because they were getting too long.

STEP 2: KEEPING THE NAILS HEALTHY
The folks at Probelle have also developed a second formula, called Touch N' Glow Plus ($14.00), to help maintain a woman's healthy nails once they've been restored by the original 'Touch 'N Glow' formula. The Plus formula includes ingredients extracted from garlic and lime, which are intended to make nails look healthy as well as protect them against fungus. I've been using the "Plus" product for two weeks and will continue to use it, including as an under coat during my next nail polishing phase. It will be interesting to see if the product keeps my nails from turning chalk dry and rough after several months of polishing.

By the by, Probelle has an extensive line of nail care products for specific nail concerns as well as colored nail lacquers. Visit the Probelle website to learn more.

Giveaway: Sunscreen and Skin Repair in One

Flattering50 — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2014-08-24. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

While the dear old summer may be ending in just a few weeks, the need to protect your skin from potential sun damage is never-ending. Dermatologists recommend we apply a product with SPF to our skin year-round. Recently, I learned of a new product called Regenica® Renew SPF 15 that is formulated to offer SPF protection and skin repair benefits. How great does that sound?!? Through Sunday, August 31st, a bottle of Regenica® Renew SPF 15 ($175 for 1.5oz) is being given to one lucky winner each day. Scroll down to learn how you can enter for a chance to win.

SUN PROTECTION PLUS SKIN RENEWAL
The Regenica® formula, which is based on MRCx™ next generation growth factor technology, is designed to stimulate your skin’s natural repair and renewal mechanisms while providing much-need protection against the sun's harmful UV rays. To learn more about Regenica® Renew SPF 15 and the other Regenica® products, visit regenica.com.

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN...
Each day between now and Sunday, August 31st, Suneva Medical, Inc. is giving away a bottle of Regenica® Renew SPF 15 ($175 for 1.5oz) to one lucky winner. For a chance to win...

Share a selfie on your Instagram or Facebook page with the hashtag, #RethinkYourSelfie. Don’t forget to tag Regenica’s Facebook or Instagram pages.

Good luck!

This post is sponsored by Regenica.

Hair and Skin ProductS For Moms of All Ages

Flattering50 — Sat, 10 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2014-05-10. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about my two sons. (My sons would tell you I never stop thinking about them!) Both of my boys are twenty-something, done with school and largely independent. They don’t need dear old mom the way they once did. Consequently, I've had a little more time to pursue a few personal interests. One of my interests is looking for ways to live healthier and reduce my carbon footprint. Next to showering my sons with love and support, I can’t think of anything more important than taking care of myself and our planet for them. As a result, I have encouraged companies with natural products, especially ones made in responsible ways, to contact me. I'm interested in finding good products and sharing them with Flattering50 readers. Recently, Hannah, founder of Sienna Naturals, sent me samples of her Baobab Oil Moisturizing Collection. The collection is specially-designed for women of all ages who are looking for natural solutions to combat dry skin and hair. Here's my review.

NATURAL MOISTURIZING
The Baobab Oil Moisturizing Collection includes a hair and body shampoo, conditioner and body cream. Before agreeing to try the products, I looked at the ingredients. Apparently, Hannah, who has had dry skin and highly textured hair all her life, is as concerned as I am about avoiding parabens, sulfates, petroleum and other harsh chemicals. When formulating her products, she avoided all those nasty ingredients. Instead, she chose Baobab Oil, a natural moisturizing substance derived from the seeds of the Baobab tree in West Africa, as the key ingredient of her product line. And what makes the new product line even more exciting: the Baobab oil is acquired under fair trade practices from West Africa. I love that!

Hair and Body Shampoo
The collection's shampoo can be used either for your hair or body. I've used it several times on my hair. The shampoo, which is made with the Baobab Oil plus aloe vera and vegetable glycerine, creates a soft lather. I like the light, fresh scent, which is derived from the essential oils of lavendar and geramium. Unlike my experience with other shampoos that leave my hair dry and tangled, the Sienna Naturals moisturizing shampoo left my hair surprisingly manageable. When I used the shampoo alone, without a rinse-out conditioner, I was able to slide a brush through my hair without hitting a lot of knots. That's unheard for me!

Three-Way Conditioner
Normally, I wouldn't dare wash my hair without applying a conditioner immediately afterwards. Since menopause, my hair has had the consistency of a dead lawn. However, Hannah recommends using her conditioner either before shampooing, as a rinse-out step, or as a leave-in moisturizer. So...I decided to try all three methods.

The conditioner's combination of ingredients--Baobab oil plus coconut and shea butter--sounds heavy, but it isn't. I found the conditioner easy to apply and wash out when I used it as a pre-treatment and a rinse-out step following shampoo. However, my favorite application was as a leave-in conditioner. Following Hannah's advice, I applied a small amount (pearl-size drop) to my hair tips and combed it in. I continued to apply drops of conditioner as I worked towards my roots. It took a couple of hair washing/conditioning to figure out the right amount of leave-in conditioner. (For my hair length and texture, it only takes 2-3 drops.) Now that I've got the hang of it, though, I'm quite pleased. My hair looks and feels the best it has after using at-home products in years. It's more manageable and less dry looking and feeling.

Body cream
Hannah recommends using the body cream after a bath or shower. I read somewhere that moisturizing after a bath/shower is the best time because the hot water opens your pores, thereby absorbing more of the cream. The body cream, which includes Baobab oil, shea butter, and grape seed oil--is lightweight, but very moisturizing. Lavender and vanilla extract create a light scent. Hannah recommends using the cream all over. I've become a bit of a fanatic about moisturizing my arms (especially with the warmer weather on the way) and really appreciate how smoothly and evenly the body cream covers.

A GOOD VALUE
As we all know, it's very easy to spend a fortune on beauty products, especially skin care. I was happy to see that the Baobab Oil body and hair shampoo ($18 for 8 oz.), conditioner ($16 for 8 oz.) and body cream ($24 for 8 oz.) have moderate price tags. The fact that I needed to use a lot less of these products than I do with the typical drug store brands makes the products an even better value. And, of course, I like the peace of mind of knowing I'm using products without harmful ingredients.

You can learn more about the Baobab Oil Moisturizing Collection at the Sienna Naturals website. If you'd like to try the products, you can purchase them on the Sienna Naturals website or on Amazon.com. There is a travel size ($12) of the collection (below), which might be a perfect way to test the products on your hair and skin.

In the meantime...Happy Mother's Day!!

Still Learning: Primers for Over 50 Faces

Flattering50 — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2013-01-23. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Last weekend, while cleaning out my makeup bin, I came across Tarte primer. It was part of a makeup “starter” kit I’d purchased several years ago. After turning 50, I decided it was time to get serious about makeup. (Before 50, my makeup regimen consisted of the very occasionally applied lipstick, blush and mascara.) The Tarte primer was the only product left from the starter kit. It was the only product in the kit that seemed more trouble than it was worth. Recently, I read an article about the many wonderful things primer has to offer the over 50 face. Is that true? I decided it was time to learn more. Am I the last over 50 woman on the planet who doesn't know about primer? (I wouldn’t be surprised!) If not, click “Read More” below for the scoop on primer and which ones are recommended for over 50 women. And if you're already a primer user, let me know which product works best for you.

WHAT IS PRIMER?
Originally, primer was a product to help makeup go on smoother and last longer. However, primers have evolved and reportedly correct all sorts of skin concerns. Specifically, primers are said to…

Fill in fine lines and enlarged pores

Conceal uneven skin color

Brighten and illuminate skin

Camouflage age spots and darkness around the eyes

Smooth uneven skin texture

Firm skin

Help makeup last longer and work better

What's more, the primer category has grown to include products for eyelids and lashes, lips, hair and nails (maybe even elbows—who knows?). I suspect a small book could be written on all these different primers. So for this post, I’m going to focus on face and eye primers.

WHAT TYPE IS BEST FOR OVER 50 SKIN?
When I read the long list of potential primer benefits above, I wondered: Could one product really do all that? As it turns out, the answer appears to be "no." While the best ones may help makeup go on more evenly and stay in place longer, only certain products offer illuminizing or age spot camouflage. For example, Smashbox offers 11 face primers, all targeted to specific concerns! With so many face primers, how does the over 50 woman choose one? The first step, is to evaluate your skin type and tone.

Skin Types
Primers are made for three basic skin types: oily, dry or a combination. For acne-prone, oily skin, expert recommend a lightweight, silicone-based makeup primer. The best ones don’t contain irritating ingredients and feel like a smooth gel. Often, the label says “oil-free.”

For dry and/or aging skin, primers tend to be heavier. They contain waxes, lotions or emollients for hydration and suppleness. Some primers offer SPF and conceal dark spots.

Skin Tones
Primers may be clear or come in a color. The different colors tackle specific skin issues. For example, green-colored primers fight redness from rosacea or acne. Light purple neutralizes sallow undertones. And pink primers tend to work to brighten the complexion.

WHICH ARE THE BEST ANTI-AGING PRIMERS?
When I googled “best anti-aging primers” and “best primers for mature skin,” I found lots of professional recommendations and user feedback. That said, the Smashbox line of Photo Finish Primers was the most frequently listed. Just so you know: I have no association with Smashbox—I’m just reporting what I found. As I mentioned earlier, there are 11 Smashbox Primer products, including 9 for the skin ($34-$49) and 2 for the eyes ($20-$29). Here are a few notes I made about them...

The original Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer is colorless and has all the benefits of makeup primers except for skin color correction. Apparently, this product is designed for women with good skin color and clarity, but want to correct skin texture and reduce lines and wrinkles.

My over 50 complexion tends to feel pretty dull and dry, especially in winter, so I read up on the possibility of perking up my skin color with one of the Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correct Foundation Primers. This series of primers comes in three basic colors…

BALANCE is lavender-toned to brighten dull or sallow skin. Quench the skin with hydration.
ADJUST is green-toned to neutralize and reduce redness.
BLEND is apricot (peach)-toned to even out skin tone and counteract discoloration and dark spots.

But wait! Smashbox also has Photo Finish Primer SPF 15 with Dermaxyl, a product created for women with mature skin.

And if you're a gal who likes lots of choices, there is also a Smashbox primer that Luminizing, another one that's Light, one for Hydrating, and a primer that tackles Targeted Problems and Line.

After reading all this, my head was spinning! If yours is too, you might want to check out the Smashbox Primer Guide.

There is also this Youtube video:

Original embedded media (historical link)

Still confused? I was, so I recently went to Sephora to try some of the different Smashbox primers. While the prices are usually better at Amazon, I like to try products, see how they feel and look at Sephora. This is especially important when I'm thinking about spending roughly $40 on a product. What I discovered was that Sephora has sample sizes of Smashbox primers for $15 at the checkout area.

But enough about Smashbox! Here's a list of other frequently-recommended Age-Defying Primers ...

Stila Hydrating Primer SPF 15 ($43)

Revlon Age Defying Instant Firming Face Primer ($14)

Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Anti-Aging Face Primer ($34)

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer Skin Transformer

Tarte Recreate Silicone-Free Anti-Aging Primer

Roc Brilliance Anti-Aging Face Primer CoverGirl &

Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer ReCreate Silicone-Free Primer with Wrinkle Rewind Technology

HOW TO APPLY FACE PRIMER
Once you've bought the right primer for your needs…

Apply the primer after your moisturizer.

Allow 5 minutes for the moisturizer to settle into the skin before applying the primer.

Use a pea-size amount of primer.

Apply gently to the skin, paying attention to the under eye area.

Spread the primer over face or focus on problem areas, such as noticeable pores and redness around the nose.

Remember: A little primer goes a long way.

Most sources refer to face primer as a base for foundation. However, primer is intended to give softer, smoother, more even skin tone—with or without foundation.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT EYE PRIMERS
Some makeup artists believe that eye primer is much more important than face primer because the area around the eyes has so many creases and lines. Like face primers, eye primers are used to reduce the appearance of lines (ie, crows’ feet), smooth the skin (ie, crepy eyelids) camouflage dark circles and hold makeup (ie, shadow) in place longer.

Best Eyes Primers…

Lancome Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base ($24.50)

Clinque Touch Base for Eyes ($14.50)

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer ($20)

Urban Decay Eeyshadow Primer Potion ($19)

Mary Kay Eye Primer ($12)

Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($18)

Trish McEvoy Eye Base Essentials

Elizabeth Arden Eye-Fix Primer

For more about the primer industry, take a peek at Primer on Primer in the New York Times.

Over 50: Making Sense of Makeup

Flattering50 — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2011-07-29. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

I just got Vogue’s “Age Issue.” I chuckled as I flipped through it and found one after the other advertisement for anti-aging products. For example, there’s a two-page spread for Estee Lauder’s “Idealist,” an even skintone illuminator that supposedly reduce redness, sun spots and dark spots. Then, a few pages later, there’s an ad for Clinique’s “Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector,” which apparently can wipe away the dark spots and age spots all over your body. And I saw an ad for Clarin’s “Vital Light Serum,” an anti-aging skin product said to “correct the appearance of dark spots, while visibly lifting, firming and restoring the deep luminosity of young-looking skin.” Three skin care choices, all before the magazine’s Table of Contents page. The truth: I’d love to find a product that would fad dark spots—those cute childhood freckles that have now exploded into murky brown ponds—on my face. But how do I know which product is the best?

To the rescue: Makeup Alley. This website invites visitors to become members (for free!) and rate beauty products for other visitors. Currently, there are over a million members reviewing products and rating them with one to five lipstick icons (5 lipstick icons are given to the best rated products). The site has a minimal amount of advertising, but it doesn’t sell any products.

THE REVIEWS ARE IN
I went on Makeup Alley or (MUA to its members) to see what I could find out about the three age spot creams/serums I saw in Vogue. You have to become a MUA member (which I may do later) to see the actual reviews, but anyone can get summary information. For example, Este Lauder’s “Idealist” has been reviewed by 19 members on the website. Overall, the product gets a rating of 3.2 lipsticks and 42% of reviewers say they would buy it again. Clinique’s “Dark Spot Corrector has been given 2.6 lipsticks by 118 reviewers. Only 33% say they would by the product again. And as for Clarin’s “Vital Light Serum,” it is new and hasn’t been rated yet. What did I learn from this? Well, women who’ve tried the Este Lauder and Clinique products aren’t ecstatic about either product, but they aren’t saying they're a waste of money either. Clinique’s product has a slightly lower rating than the Estee Lauder product, but that might reflect the number of reviewers—almost 10 times as many people rated the former product as did the latter one. At this point, my next move would be to go on Amazon.com and see what, if any, is the price difference—always an important factor for me. (Some, but not all products on the Makeup Alley site have links to Amazon.com already.)

PRICE SHOPPING
At Amazon.com, I found...

Estee Lauder’s “Idealist,” (1.7 oz) is priced at $109.99

Clinique’s “Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector” (1 oz, 30 ml) sells at prices ranging from $17.99 to $48, depending on the shipping source. Even if you take the higher price, it’s half what the Estee Lauder product costs.

Clarin’s “Vital Light Serum” (1 oz, 30 ml) is priced at $219.99. Gulp. No wonder there aren’t any reviews for this product on Makeup Alley or on Amazon—women are too busy saving up for it.

If you want a site (other than Amazon) where you can read reviews and shop, you might want to check out Bloom.com, launching in August 2011. This site is being classified as a “social beauty store.” Members will fill out a profile—things like skin type, age and concerns—and the site will recommend products based on reviews by a focus group of 20,000 women.

MAKEUP TIPS FOR WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE
While I’m on the subject of makeup and media sightings, have you heard about Makeup Wakeup: Revitalizing Your Look at Any Age (Running Press, $23), a beauty book for women over 40? Authors Lois Joy Johnson, 60, a founding editor of More magazine, and celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter have compiled information on buying and applying makeup for older women. For example, I’m foundation phobic. I see older women with caked-on foundation and cringe. Johnson and Linter say women often choose a foundation that’s too light for their skin. They advise us to choose a shade that is a half-shade to a full-shade deeper than the one we think is right. And that’s just one of the tips in the 7-page section of foundation! The book also reports the current treatment alternatives (surgical and non-surgical) to consider when makeup isn’t enough. At Amazon, you’ll find the book in paperback for $13.21.

Anti-Wrinkles: What’s in Your Skin Cream?

Flattering50 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2011-03-30. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

What’s your strategy for choosing anti-wrinkle skin creams? How do you pick one from the ever-growing arsenal of anti-aging creams and lotions? My skin care strategy has always been to just keep trying new products. I do this not because I expect to find a cream with benefits, but because I don’t think it matters which product I use; the results are always the same—elusive. But what if there was a list of ingredients that might really, truly help to reduce wrinkles? And what if this list was complied by independent, highly-respected researchers (instead of scientists paid by skin care companies)?

Recently, I came across a list of topical agents that could provide “slight to modest improvement in the appearance of wrinkles,” according to Mayo Clinic researchers. Apparently, no over-the-counter (nonprescription) ingredient is going to provide a “facelift in a bottle.” Sorry, ladies. But if you apply enough of certain key ingredients continuously, you may actually see some improvement.

AND THE ANTI-WRINKLE WINNERS ARE…
Mayo Clinic researchers offer the following list of potential useful topical agents.

Retinol. This vitamin-A derivative was the first antioxidant to be widely used in nonprescription wrinkle creams. Retinol should not be confused with tretinoin, which the vitamin-A derivative available only by prescription (marketed as Retin-A, Avita, or Renova). Retinol is less potent than Retin-A.

Hydroxyl acids. Alpha hydroxy acids ((glycolic, lactic, tartaric and citric acids) , beta hydroxy acids and poly hydroxy acids are derived from fruits with high sugar content. They exfoliate the skin. Not surprisingly, these acids make you more susceptible to sunburns.

Coenzyme Q10. This nutrient “helps regulate energy production in cells.” It may also reduce fine lines around the eyes.

Copper peptides. These peptides promote collagen production and may help the action of antioxidants.

Kinetin. This plant growth factor may “improve the appearance” of wrinkles and uneven pigmentation. Though it’s unclear how it works, the Mayo Clinic researchers suspect it may reduce wrinkles by promoting moisture retention and enhancing collagen production. It may also work as a potent antioxidant.

Green tea extracts. Green, black and oolong tea have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

LET’S GO TO THE MEDICINE CABINET
After reading the Mayo Clinic article, I thought: Now that I have a list, maybe I can make an informed skin cream decision, instead of making my selection based on the eenie-meenie-miney-moe approach. I decided to test this idea on the products I already had at home. Here’s what I found.

StriVectin($135 for 5 oz). Recently, I was given a sample tube. According the ingredients’ label, this cream includes Tetrapeptide-21, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. The promotion material says that the peptide levels are 4 times what they’d been in the past. I happen to liked this product. It has Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, which seems to wake up my skin a little.

Korres Wild Rose 24-hour moisturizer ($32.50 for 1.5 oz). A Sephora sales clerk sold me this product, saying it was all natural—no parabens, artifical dyes, or petro-chemicals. I have to admit it smells gorgeous and goes on nicely. But none of its ingredients are the Mayo Clinic list. What's a girl to think?

Regenerist Micro-sculpting Cream($23.67 for 1.7 oz). Consumer Reports ranks Olay’s Regenerist products #1 among wrinkle fighting products. Its ingredients include citric acid, green tea leaf extract, and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. By the way, I saw this same, exact product available on Amazon.com for $13.89.

Olay Anti-Wrinkle Enriched UV Lotion for Mature Skin SPF 15 (13.99 for 4 oz). Since the Regenerist cream doesn’t have a SPF, I apply this lotion with my foundation. (I’ve got a dermatologist in the family who’s always yelling at me to wear sunscreen.) I’m glad to have the SPF, but it doesn’t have any of the must-have anti-wrinkle agents in its formula.

Boots Triple Action Day Moisture Cream SPF15 ($12.99 for 1.69 oz). This is what I used before I got the Olay lotion with a SPF. Again, the label doesn’t have any of the recommended anti-wrinkle ingredients.

My best friend who lived in London for years tried to get me to buy Boots No. 7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream SPF 15 ($19.99 for 1.69 oz) (Boots is a great pharmacy chain in England.) Now that I’ve looked at the label, I may take her advise. The cream contains C18-36 acid glycol ester, Citric acid, Palmitoyl oligopeptide, and Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. It also has sunscreen.

So what did I learn from this little exercise? Well, I learned that you can find some of the ingredients that are currently believed to offer anti-wrinkle benefits in reasonably priced drug store and online products. However, there is no way to know if the amounts used in these products are enough to provide the potential benefits. I also learned that reading labels isn’t easy. (No, wait—I already knew that.) It’s quite possible that some of the other promising ingredients are on the labels of the products I looked at, but under names I didn’t recognize because, quite frankly, I’m not exactly an expert on Coenzyme Q10 or Kinetin. So while I’ll probably look for peptides, green tea extract, and hydroxyl acids on skin cream labels in the future, I don’t know if my wrinkles will benefit from this new knowledge.

By the by, you may want to take a peek at the rest of the Mayo Clinic article, which gives tips on buying an anti-wrinkle cream and how to maximize your wrinkle fighting efforts. I found two things interesting. First, the cost of a skin cream doesn’t determine its effectiveness. However, drugstore products may contain lower amounts of the useful agents, and therefore, require regularly use indefinitely to maintain benefits. That doesn't really bother me. When it comes to moisturizing my poor dry skin, I figure I'm in it for the long haul.

No Skinny Snowmen Here!

Flattering50 — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2010-12-30. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

In a city where people go to all sorts of crazy lengths to stay reed thin, it's nice to find a snowman in Manhattan after "Blizzard 2010" who obviously didn't hold back on frosty cookies and other treats during the holiday season. My husband took this photo with his cell phone last night. It made me laugh, so I wanted to share it with you. It's an awful small pic; I hope you can see it alright.

For my small band of followers, who I appreciate tremendously, I just wanted to explain the change in my blog format. I was tired of the old format cutting off the toes when I posted photos of shoes, so I found a template with toe room. In my most recent "Pumps Sale" post, you can now see the whole shoe! I've also been doing this blog for over a year and it was time for a little redesigning.

Discount Makeup for the Over 50 Face

Flattering50 — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2010-08-12. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Cosmetic and skin care companies are constantly developing new ingredients that promise to do all sorts of wonderful and magical things for the over 50 complexion. However, short of spending a small fortune, how do older women know which products are the most effective and the best value? That’s the beauty of the Target’s skin care department, according to reporter Catherine Saint Louis.

In a recent New York Times article, Target Touches Up Manhattan’s Makeup , Saint Louis gives an overview of the discount chain's cosmetics and skin care products and some of the savings you can expect to find. For example, Boots Highlight with mica, designed to hide fine lines, is available for $12.99 an ounce. Elsewhere, products with mica can cost $50 an ounce.

I intend to bookmark this article for my next Target trip. Two other product lines that interest me…
-- Boots No. 7 Protect and Perfect Intense Beauty Serum ($22.99 in store, $20.99 online). Boots is an English pharmacy and Target is the only U.S. chain with its products. I have several friends with English connections and they can't stop talking about this line.

-- Pixi line , which Saint Louis reports "aims to demystify makeup for women ages 30 to 100." I could certainly use some demystifying!

Hair and Make Up Over 50

Flattering50 — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2010-04-18. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Changing your hairstyle or choosing a new makeup product is a tricky proposition when you’re over fifty. I’m always looking for help on how to use makeup and hair products to my 50+ advantage. For example, how can I use bronzer to get a brighter over 50 look without making my face look like a tired, old tangerine? Recently, I found some useful advice online. The tips included:

Navy eyeliner brightens the whites of older eyes.

Bronzer should be applied sparingly along the hairline, cheekbones and jawline. Skip the nose, this tip advised.

Subtle lip colors are much more flattering after 50. Did you notice the really bad, bold lipsticks on many of the over 40 actresses at this year's Academy Awards? It cured me of ever wearing red lipstick again!

For more hair and makeup tips for women over 50, check out...

Truth in Aging offers…

10 Beauty Blunders that Add Years to Your Face

Allure Magazine
The mag has several slide shows with tips. The tips are for women over 40, but they are useful to women over fifty, too.

All New for 2010: 10 Beauty Mistakes that Add 10 Years

10 Hairstyles that will Make You Look 10 Years Younger
This slide show offers some good tips. However, as usual, the models are almost all 30-somethings (or younger). Each one is shown with an older-looking hairdo and then a younger one. The tips work, I think, even though the photo examples are kind of silly.

20 Products that Will Make You Look Younger Instantly
These are mostly drug store products that won’t break the bank.

Makeup Essentials for Over 50

Flattering50 — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2009-12-26. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Isn’t it supposed to be the ‘season to be jolly’? On Monday, I was driving through town and noticed the local movie theater marquee advertising four movies, none of which sounded the least bit jolly. The current movie offerings: Transylmania, New Moon, Ninja Assassins and Armored. ‘Tis the season to be bitten or pummeled to death, it would seem. The usual questions crossed my mind—Who’s in charge? And—Is it time to build an ark? Fortunately, I’m too busy at this time of year for movies or for dwelling on society’s cultural breakdown. I did, however, find time in December to update my makeup at Sephora. It seemed like a good idea, since I probably do more socializing in December than in any other month of the year--which isn’t saying a whole lot. Sad, but true.

I needed to go to Sephora for holiday gifts for work colleagues and my two nieces. When I mentioned it to a girlfriend, she suggested we go together and have dinner afterwards. My girlfriend is gorgeous and wears makeup expertly. By expertly, I’m mean I'm never conscious of her actual makeup, but I’m always aware that she has a bright, even glow about her aging complexion. I had mentioned to her that I wanted to get a makeup consultation for my “over 50” face. “Why don’t we shop and get you a holiday makeover?” she asked.

We met at Sephora at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. A pleasant ‘store greeter’ was at the entrance, ready to assist us. We told her I wanted a makeup consultation and she escorted us to the far corner of the store, where Tony was waiting. Tony, a ‘color expert,’ invited me to climb into his director’s chair and tell him my aging troubles and what I hoped to achieve with makeup.

“I’m not looking for miracles,” I said straight away. “But I would like to find products that can cover up the dark circles under my eyes, those nasty age spots, and my blotchy skin.”

Tony listened attentively and, I might add, compassionately. “So what I’m hearing,” he said and then repeated what I had said. The fact that he didn’t burst out laughing was a good sign.

Tony introduced me to Tarte products. Apparently, the Tarte makeup line isn’t loaded with a lot of strange chemicals and is well suited to the aging complexion. I was excited about the line because it had a reasonably priced ($54) starter kit for different skin tones. At home, I had a coffin-size (perhaps, a slight exaggeration) plastic bin of old makeup, the majority of which department store cosmetic consultants had recommended. Over the years, these consultants had encouraged me to buy expensive creams, gels, powders, roll-ons, liners and more. Afterwards, when I returned to natural lighting, to reality, I would find I’d been sold the wrong colors for my skin tone and enough makeup to paint a barn. I could never admit I’d wasted money, so I’d throw the makeup in the plastic bin and tell myself I might wear it someday—when ridiculous shades for a person’s skin tone became vogue. And then, I’d returned to the makeup regimen I’d used in high school: blush, mascara, eyeliner and lipstick.

It was time to break this cycle, however. My 50+ face needed serious help. According to Tony, the Tarte starter kit includes the “correcting essentials” my 50+ face needs. Specifically, the kit comes with…

THE ESSENTIALS
Face Primer—which is supposed to help makeup stay in place longer and prevents creases from forming in fine lines and wrinkles. (I’m not sure it does, but I’m giving it a try.)

Foundation—with SPF 15. Sunscreen is a must-have for me. These days, the slightest sun exposure burns my nose. Tip: Makeup artist say the biggest mistake older women make is putting their makeup on too thick. If you’re worried about being too heavy-handed with your foundation, mix a little foundation with a fingertip of moisturizer and then apply it. I like Korres Wild Rose 24-hour moisturizer ($32.50) because it’s so light, not greasy and smells great.

Concealer—to help erase those dark circles, age spots and red creases. There’s some controversy among makeup artists about when concealer should be applied. Some say that after age 40, concealer should be applied before the foundation, others say afterwards. Personally, I find it easier to blend it, if I apply moisturizer, then the concealer, and then the foundation (mixed with a little more moisturizer). Tip: Concealer is tricky around the eye’s fine lines. Tony says apply it in a couple of thin layers to avoid getting a look that exaggerates your wrinkles. In addition to dark circles and age spots, dab concealer along the side of your nose, corners of your mouth and just above your mouth in the center. It’s supposed to give your face a little lift.

Pressed Powder—is designed to even out your complexion after you’ve applied the other products. The Tarte product has a SPF 8.

Bronzer—gives your face a boost of color. I’m amazed how it brightens the older, faded complexion.

Tony began my makeup lesson by cleaning my face and putting on moisturizer. Using various brushes, Tony applied the makeup in the Tarte starter kit with little strokes, dabbing here and there like he was filling in tiny ‘paint by number’ shapes. My girlfriend said impatiently, “Are all those tiny brush strokes really necessary?”

“I’m a color artist,” he replied. “With little strokes, I will make her color perfect.”

My friend rolled her eyes behind Tony’s back. I gave her a warning look that said, “I like Tony. Be nice.”

BRIGHT EYES
After Tony worked on my complexion’s imperfections, he moved to my eyes, which, unfortunately, are very deep-set. Here are the eye basics…
Eye cream—very important for aging eyes to keep the eye shadow from caking.
Eye shadow in a light shade (Sephora brand, Colorful Duo, $16)—all over. Eye shadow in a darker shade (included in Colorful Duo)—to the eyelid crease or across the whole lid.
Eyeliner pencil (EmphasEYES, $18)—along the lash line—top and bottom.
Mascara (Tarte, Lights, Camera, Lashes, $18)
Tip: When you’ve finished applying your eye makeup, brighten your eyes by dabbing a little more of the light eye shadow in the inner corner of the eye, between the eye and the nose.

Tony began my eye makeup by working on my brows, filling them in. Makeup experts say the well-defined eyebrow acts as a facelift. I probably will eventually add a brow pencil or powder to my makeup regimen, to see if there is any truth to that. But I decided to hold off for now. I was already adding a lot of new products.

THE FINAL TOUCH
Lipstick (Sephora Brand, $12)—Makeup experts recommend adding a little lip color, but not too much color when you’re over 50. Years ago, common sense alerted me to the fact that ruby red and other bright lip colors are not appropriate for older women. Tony did not use a lip liner to add lip dimension, but I’ve seen that recommend by some makeup experts. Again, I might look into that at a later time—perhaps, for special occasions.

Though my girlfriend had grumbled about Tony’s technique, she now declared, “You look 10 years younger!” She claimed that Tony had made my deep-set eyes “really pop.” Of course, both comments were utter lies. But I had to admit Tony had achieved what I was looking for—he’d concealed my dark circles, age spots, and blotchy skin, especially the red gullies that appear from the corners of my nose to the sides of my mouth. And it all looked natural, subtle, not caked on.

SEPHORA IS AGE-FRIENDLY
After we said good-bye to Tony, my girlfriend and I went to look for makeup brushes. The brushes were necessary to achieve a light, even appearance, my girlfriend said. (However, she assured me that I could achieve my new look in a fraction of the 40 minutes or so it took Tony.)

The brush display was near the entrance to Sephora. While my friend was choosing brushes for me, I noticed two makeup consultations happening by the store entrance. Both women having their makeup done were young, twenty-something. I nudged my girlfriend and laughed. “The store greeter must have seen me—an old lady—coming and whisked me to the back of the store where I wouldn’t scare the younger shoppers,” I said. For once, I didn’t mind the age discrimination. I’ve never enjoyed the limelight and would have been uncomfortable getting my makeover in front of everyone entering the store or passing by. And besides, the store greeter hadn’t made me feel like I was being whisked away. In fact, whenever I’m in Sephora, I find the sales help to be very nice. They treat me like a respected female customer and not like a sad, unfortunate old woman on her last legs. And while the majority of their products seem directed at young women, they do have lots of great, reasonably priced choices, like the Tarte line, for older women.

If it isn’t obvious by now, I’ll tell you plainly: I spent a small fortune at Sephora to get my new 50+ look. While no individual product was outrageously priced, they added up. The good news is, only one product is going into the plastic bin of useless makeup: the EmphasEYES. While the pencil creates a fine line, I found it difficult to use. The pencil tip is hard and prone to breakage. I plan to go back and get the Sephora brand eyeliner, which I’m told is softer and easier to apply. As for the rest of my expenditure, I figure I paid for the makeup consult plus a lot of stuff (especially the brushes) that will last. And now that I know a little more about what I should be applying to my 50+ face, I’ll try to replace a few of the products with cheaper, drugstore versions.

OVER 50: USE CREAM PRODUCTS
In addition to the Tarte starter kit, I bought Tarte cheek stain ($30). Although Tony said the blush was unnecessary when the bronzer is used, I was a little nervous about applying the bronzer too heavily and looking like one of those ridiculous, kumquat-colored makeup consultants at the department stores. (Or worse than those twenty-something gals—like a moldy old kumquat.) I plan to ease into bronzer use by applying a little blush and then a little bronzer. I bought the cheek stain even though I have powder blush at home because I’ve read that the 50+ woman should dump her powders and use cream products. I really love the way the cheek stain goes on—really subtle.

My girlfriend was right, by the way. I’ve been using my new makeup everyday and it only takes about 10 minutes to apply.

Has my new look made a huge difference in my appearance? Apparently not. In the two weeks since my Sephora trip, I’ve attended a bunch of holiday get-togethers wearing my new makeup and no one has said, “You look 10 years younger.” Still, I feel a little less washed out and when I look in a mirror, I don’t see the dark circles or red blotches. That’s good enough for me because I do believe: If you feel better about yourself, you look a little better to others.

Lastly, I’m happy to report I finally dumped that coffin-size bin of old, ridiculous makeup.

OTHER MAKEUP TIPS FOR AFTER 50
Here’s a few useful websites…
WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/makeup-tips-for-aging-skin

eHow
http://www.ehow.com/how_2199090_choose-right-makeup-aging-skin.html

WCBSNews
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/28/earlyshow/living/beauty/main5271131.shtml
Best Anti-aging Solutions
http://www.best-antiaging-solution.com/anti-aging-makeup.html

Everyday Health
http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/anti-aging-makeup.aspx

More Magazine –
Younger Looking In 3 Minutes
http://www.more.com/2020/3682-look-younger-in-3-minutes#1

Mini-Makeup Lesson
http://www.more.com/2021/9152-makeup-tips