Time For Some Changes~ Consider New Make-up For Fall!

Change can be transformative. Exploring new options keeps us relevant and interesting. At least twice per year it is a good idea to rethink our personal images.  Spring and fall are opportune times to try new make-up.

Makeup formulations change frequently. Try a new brand or go to the makeup counter at your favorite department store or Sephora or Ulta for advice from a trained consultant.  I stopped by the Estee Lauder counter at Belk a few weeks ago and found, to my amazement, the perfect foundation, Invisible Fluid Makeup.  The color match is perfect and blends invisibly. It is light - weight, sheer and makes me feel fabulous! What more can one ask for!  Recently I’ve tried Dior, Tarte, Bobbi Brown, Smashbox, and Lancôme, but this Estee Lauder foundation is perfect for me. Experiment! Our skin changes as we age in color, texture and type. And what we are looking for changes as well.  Try something new! Look younger!

For cheeks I am completely blown away by the Nars Multiple stick. It purports to be a multi-purpose product that will work for cheeks, eyes and lips. I’m not convinced it is so multi-faceted. But this is the Holy Grail of cheek tints.  And if you’ve ignored the advice to date, please consider that powder blush is NOT a good product for women of a certain age. Really. Toss yours if you are over 50. I mean it!

There are a lot of fabulous eye shadows on the market, but for me the Urban Decay “Naked” palettes are awesome. I have all three palettes, but if you want to be fiscally responsible, I would go with Naked 2. It is the most versatile. Every color is wearable and build able.

My favorite eyeliner gel is the version by Smashbox. Bobbi Brown invented the concept and it was a revolutionary product. But if I have to give the nod to one, I would recommend Smashbox. It goes on smoothly and the colors are beautiful.

I’m still on the quest for the Holy Grail of mascara. I’ve tried Blinc “Tube”, Clinique, Diorshow, Benefit “They’re Real”, Estee Lauder, Buxum, MAC, L’Oreal, Maybelline, Chanel. Bare Minerals, and numerous others. Currently, I’m wearing Tarte “Lights, Camera, Lashes”.  It is an excellent mascara in a field of fine mascaras. But I’m still looking.

There are any number of really good moisturizers. My current moisturizing products are by Kiehl's. They eye cream and face moisturizers are lightweight and sink into my skin quickly without leaving any residue.

For nighttime skin products I’m sold on Dr. Brandt “Glow”. While it may not have the percentage of retinol that the product advertises, my skin does glow and the fine lines and wrinkles are minimized. I’m now on my 3^rd pump bottle of Glow and am very pleased with the results. Additionally, it doesn’t burn my skin like more concentrated retinol creams.

Finally, I’ve concluded the absolute best product to rehabilitate over-tweezed brows – MAC eyebrow pencil.  I used it 15 years ago and then tried numerous other products. But I’ve kept coming back to MAC. People complain because the pencil doesn’t last. But it is the absolute best product to fill in thin brows and look natural. I buy several at one time. And shipping is free from the MAC website.  Read the reviews. I’m done experimenting with brow products. This is it!