An Aging Face…with Artist’s Grace!

Today my vibes are stirring in a humorous and artistic way.  It is interesting how our physical bodies age. And I am part artist, my favorite canvas? The human face.

Yes the human face, and in particular women’s faces. I had a past career as a make-up artist. I actually got paid to have fun blending art with people. It was fabulous work….until one day, after WAY too many encounters with “Mother-Of-The-Bride-ZILLA’s”….I had decided to move on.  Let me just say that dealing with the MOTHER’s of these beautiful young women (especially from a certain income bracket) is a torture that NO human should have to endure. I mean seriously…did they REALLY believe that any make up technique could fill in those wrinkles like some magic youth putty? Come ON. LOL.

Today I sit here remembering these women. And….looking at my own newfound crepe-y eyelids, I NOW am beginning to understand where they were coming from. (Still…they didn’t need to be such b*tches, and  yes….I get it)

SO…for those of you in my age bracket that love to play with and wear eye makeup, here are the results from my last couple of weeks of playing:

1. Get a good eye cream….AND USE IT DAILY! Crepe-y lids are a part of life now, and you don’t want them DRY on top of crepe-y. There are a lot of great ones out there…with a wide price range. Just choose one you like that fits your budget. The most important thing is that it is formulated for eyes….and that you USE IT REGULARLY! (I happen to love AVEDA’s Firming Eye Cream)
2. Let us NOT go Brow-less!  Nothing ages us more then not having the proper frame for the windows to our soul! Get a good angle brush and some powder shadow in a half shade darker  than your hair color. Brush just a tad of the powder through your brows to give more definition. This is key: DO NOT start at the inner corner of the brow. This will deposit TOO much color there…which will only add 10 years. Instead…start at the outer edge of your arch, THEN go back and touch up the inner portion of the brow. If you like…Smashbox makes a great “brow wax” to dab onto your brow…which will keep your brows groomed for the entire day.
3. Use a good eye shadow base. My findings here: Clinique touch base is for a younger lid. It’s GREAT on my daughters, however too dry for me. There are many good ones for us older gals, and my favorites: Bare Escentuals Prime Time (great stuff with moderate coverage) and Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, smooth, creamy, great full coverage.
4. Try Cream Eye shadow! It is wonderful and is a bit more moisturizing then powders….HOWEVER, stay AWAY from metallic. FAR AWAY! It enhances the crepe-y-ness and adds about 15 years. LOL  As far as cream shadows, I have tried many  and returned them all EXCEPT for Bobbi Brown’s cream shadow in “Malted”. This is luscious. It’s a nude color that works wonders as a base color. And her “Bone” is a good highlighter color. There is no shimmer in these, and they apply smooth and creamy….giving a more rested look. (and god knows most of us need this) Powder shadows are fine too….but again, STAY AWAY FROM METALLICS.
5. NO Lower Lid Lining please. Let’s face it….the upper lids are drooping a tad now so let’s not make the eye look smaller by lining the lower lid….leave that to the teens. However, if you take a TINY bit of powder shadow in a color that makes your eyes stand out…rub just a tiny bit along your lower lashes. (this looks great if done with a VERY light hand)
6. Always SMUDGE your liner on the upper lids. A sleek liner on the top lid now only emphasizes the crepes girls…..get a good smudger brush and dip it in a little powder close to your liner color and blur that line. It gives a really soft look…..which is what you want here. Again, stay away from harsh liner.

 

Here is one exception to the metallic no-no rule. Shimmer…is different than metallic….it is subtle. We still need to be careful with shimmers however…so here is my “Shimmer fix” for when I want a dewy glow….without the aging effects. Once my cream shadow is in place (usually Malted w/bone highlighter) I blend JUST A TINY bit of Smashbox’s  “Artificial Light” onto my lids. This stuff IS GREAT. It LOOKS scary. It is a warm shimmery liquid that is so sheer….that when added to your face in ANY area, it creates a tiny bit of glow…..without actually looking at all metallic. It really does what the name implies! I love it and will never be without it.

And in closing….always remember…LESS is MORE unless you are a highly skilled makeup artist! (and sometimes even then!)

OK…that’s enough from me about make up for middle agers on a Sunday Morning. LOL If I am not ready to leave for the gym in just a couple of minutes, the hubby will leave without me.

Quick….Where is my Artificial Light???

With Love & Laughter AND LIGHT to all….

Leann

Our Physical Bodies…keepin’ healthy & fit.

So here is a new topic for me. My body. Admittedly, I don’t have what would be considered a ”serious” weight problem, however middle age has caught up with me and I am finding that I must be much more diligent about diet and exercise then ever before.

I recently joined Ediets….which is a wonderful site that offers lots of options and for me, it is about re-learning healthy nutrition and habits. Not that I don’t know this stuff…indeed I do. It is just that I am very much a free spirit….not all that aligned with following routine if you know what I mean, so I am using it as a method of accountability. I have a little blog over there….which I have posted on twice so far. Amazingly, I had a number of folks comment back and friend me, stating that they find me both motivational and…funny. Who knew? SO…I thought why not post those posts here as well. Here are the first two, and from this point forward I will copy them in this section here as well in the event that they may entertain and make you smile!

#1:  “DIDN’T I HAVE A BELLY RING DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE?

Oh where or where has my belly ring gone….oh where or where can it beeeeee?????

OK. Today is the day. The universe has aligned a magical week of TIME for me to get all about me. About my self-care that is. (was supposed to have jury duty and voila…they settled! so my calendar is amazingly clear!)

I did Ediets years ago…and lost 17 pounds. It works. I like it. NOW at almost 48 I am up to 169….my most voluminous self ever. I have officially too much middle-aged middle to fit into most of my clothes. And SO….I begin again. I am starting to work out again too….rejoined the gym.

One thing I have committed to myself which I think will be fun….is that while on this journey…I do not WAIT for 140 pounds to look great. I WILL pull together some great looks (outfits/accessories/hair and makeup) right now….every day. I am worthy…I am a gift of the universe after all! Yesterday I make a grey sweatshirt look amazing with the addition of a beautiful scarf and some rose quartz and silver earrings! Today….dont know what I’ll create yet because I am sitting her tying in my pj’s…and it will be something cute. I shopped the winter clearance sales for a few cute things in a larger size to this will be possible….next winter…off to salvation army they will go, because they will be too big!

I feel like in the past…I have gotten on that “when I get to 140 I will….” wagon. I think a lot of women (and maybe men) do this to themselves….and it is not right! We are ALL worthy of love…and looking great….at ANY weight! It is our birthright.

Well, that’s it for now…I have to go re-learn the diet…..

I Love me!

#2 “WHOLE WHEAT CRACKERS HAVE MAGICAL POWERS, RIGHT?”

So as I was eating that handful of Wheatsworth crackers last night, I made up that because I was combining them with red wine…they’d have some mystical magical powers what would absorb all of the crap contained in the box of Good & Plenty I ate while at the movies with my daughter! That works, right? LOL

Well, here I am ….tomorrow is my 1st weigh in. I am not exactly optimistic….because I pretty much blew the week with a wildly happy day of eating whatever I wanted yesterday. Hey…I was in a good mood…what can I say…I am a JOY eater! And, I shouldn’t think that a 48 year old can eat what an athletic 15 year old can eat and not have it show up on my middle. In addition to my daughter…there is my husband…who is REALLY GOOD at keeping routines, including healthy eating and working out…and I am not so much. I am more of a free spirit. And let me tell you…when I say he is routine…..if you looked in his underwear drawer…you’d see neatly folded goods. No kidding! On the other hand…my drawer is a colorful array of crazy fun…all fluffed up and tangled in a beautiful messy art-form! Anyway, my point is, that I am NOT so good with routine. And this 1st week proves it.

However, I refuse to beat myself up for it….I am after all, divinely human. And there is still the same physical volume of me to love today as there was last week!

Reality check: I gradually fell OFF the wagon…so it’s ok that it will be a gradual climb back on. I do not view this 1st week as a failure….I view it as a warm up! I DID get something out of it. I re-learned the basics of how to use this site (though I am still learning) AND I re-acquainted myself with the plan. That is progress!

Looking forward to seeing what progress I am able to make in week 2….while honoring that I am wonderfully human!

Much Love & Laughter to all who read….

Leann