Bonaparte and I celebrated a belated Valentine’s Day dinner last night at our favorite restaurant—Spring Mill Café. I covered the reason why we pushed back our dinner in my Valentine’s Day post. And, I’ll tell you all about our great dinner after I tell you how I got myself all gussied up!
I’ll tell you; it gets harder and more difficult these days to give myself that bright glow my face once had. It’s the fugly truth. A date night when you are older becomes more of a process to look humanly pretty or beautiful! But with a bit of work, it can be done. Cosmetics companies are so obsessed with youth that they forget about old ladies. We are left to our own devices to figure it out. I’m serious.
So how did I go from this?
Yup! THIS is the fugly truth! Wrinkled skin–oops, I just noticed a zit on my chin. Pimples are not ageist! Blotchalism–blotchy skin. Sparse brows. My freakin’ eyes are become more crossed with age. THIS is what 60 looks like without cosmetics or fillers. WTF am I smiling?
To this:
Sorry, but I had to snap this pic in the car on the way to the restaurant. Bonaparte was becoming very stressed that I was taking my time and I was unable to snap a pic of my “after” in the house. Oh well, the lighting in the car is more natural!
I’ll tell you.
First, of all, I pinned up my hair to achieve a nice wavy look. I haven’t blown my hair straight in over a year now. My hair is aging as is the rest of me. But, with less frequent washings, roller sets and air drying, I’ve learned to be friendlier to my hair and it’s looking better.
The Skin Prep
After washing my face with plain soap and water, I slathered Nuxe Dry Oil Huile Prodigieuse® on my face. This oil is fantastic. My skin is super-dry and it gives some nice moisture without feeling greasy and oily. It is also great for the ends of my hair. Seriously, this is a fantastic multi-purpose oil. If you shop around you can find a decent price for this.
If you shop around on the net you can get this for a good price. It’s a wonderful multi-purpose oil that isn’t greasy!
When the oil was saturated, I applied a coating (I sound like I’m frosting a cake—but hey, we old ladies are very sweet—am I right? We’re akin to cute little cupcakes!) Olay Active Hydrating lotion. This is dirt cheap—anywhere from $6.00 to $8.00 depending on where you shop—and is great old-school moisturizing lotion for the face.
This Maybelline primer is great for the money. I hope it doesn’t become discontinued any time soon. The Olay lotion–it’s a bargain and works well!
About an hour and a half before we left for the restaurant, I applied my primer. I use the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer. It’s inexpensive and does the same job that higher-end primers do. I know this. I’ve purchased the high-end! Applying this about 15 minutes before you apply face makeup helps the makeup to cling better.
Over the primer, I applied plain, old-school Chapstick over the top of my mouth and on my crow’s feet to use as a blur. I realize that the ingredients of Chapstick are different from the blur products but for 99 cents a stick, the price point of Chapstick is fine by me. BTW, Chapstick is incredibly useful—you can glide it under your brows to give that area a nice sheen. I freakin’ love Chapstick!
Making Up the Old Lady Visage!
I wanted my eyes to look bright. Not because I would drink too much wine and become lit, but because I wanted to look awake while getting lit! My holy grail is Bare Minerals “Well-Rested”. I’ve written about this in the past and I’ve yet to come across any other product that does such a great job. It’s a powder but doesn’t draw attention to the wrinkles!
Check out the top photo–see how discolored the area around my eye is? Look at the bottom after I brushed Well-Rested on. It really DOES make a difference. I cannot live without this sh stuff!
Whenever I start to become low on my supply, I head to the mall to replenish. This is a holy grail for me.
Ugh. My eyebrows are a bone of contention with me. Long ago they used to be lush and thick and now they are sparse. The brows were filled in with an “IT” brow brush and Ulta’s “Blackout” eye shadow. I paid six bucks for the eye shadow years ago and haven’t hit pan yet. I like my brows a bit on the thick side but because I’m a giver, I’ll do them a bit thinner to please my Frenchman!
I’ve had this IT brow brush since the summer and have continued to use it every day. The eye shadow, as you can see, is old as dirt. I’ve had it forever but use it as a brow powder.
See. It does a good job filling in the eyebrows!
I always tightline my eyes with Urban Decay’s 24/7 Eye Pencil in Perversion. This is a great pencil because the product stays put.
My apologies for not taking a photo but my pencil is almost a nub!
Eyeshadow on the lids is next. I went with a couple of colors from the Urban Decay Naked “Smoky Palette”. What I love about the Urban Decay Naked Palettes is that the shadows are very pigmented and the choices offered are well-thought out. I’m a fan!
I went with “Smolder” in the crease of my eyelid, “Combust” on the eyelid and “Thirteen” under the brow. The liner is NYC Color liquid liner!
Liquid eyeliner. I have so many different liquid liners and used what I grabbed first. It happened to be the NYC Color liquid liner in black. I’m glad I stocked up on this when it was less than two dollars because the price has gone up over the years to almost three bucks. Talk about inflation!
The NYC liquid liner is in the middle. I’m telling you. THIS is a great inexpensive liner. Even with the higher price of almost three bucks, it’s still a fantastic value!
This is where I’m such a giver. I wanted to wear false eyelashes tonight but Bonaparte truly hates them. I applied a couple of coats of Maybelline’s “The Falsies” mascara. For a drug store, lower-end mascara, this mascara is excellent. It really makes the lashes nice and lush.
I have lots of different mascaras but as far as value goes, this low-end mascara is great…
See how lush this mascara makes the lashes of my crossed-eye look!
Face comes next—this is the most challenging for me. I’ve got blotchy skin and over the years I’ve noticed that little dark spots have formed. It’s all a part of aging. My freckles are great in the summer but during winter months—and when I go out, I want more coverage.
See the “blotchalism” up close? Dayum. I’m getting old lookin’!
The blending sponge gets nice and wet!
I’ve reviewed a couple of blending sponges recently, before I purchased the Real Techniques Blending sponge pictured above. Less than six bucks and this one is my absolute favorite!!!!
I used two foundations. Yeah. Plural on the foundation. I used both the Givenchy and Marc Jacobs foundations. Blended together the coverage is pretty good.
Call me crazy but I like to use the high-end stuff for date nights. I also like to blend my foundations to get just that right tone and coverage. I’m happy with these foundations because neither one gets cakey or dry looking.
Since it’s a special evening, I’m going with the highlight and contour. It’s always a good thing to make my face appear *cough* a bit thinner or sculpted. I bought this NYX stick a while ago and it’s unbelievably great for a beginner. Anyway, I can’t begin to tell you how much I am loving this NYX stick. It’s foolproof and incredibly blendable and the price—oy! I paid about ten bucks. I’ve written about this stick in a past post, and the more I use it, the more I like it.
I like this so much I went back to purchase a backup and it was sold out. It is now on my continuous watch!
Ouch!! The highlighter isn’t blended in yet. Don’t you get scared now. It’ll look better once it’s blended..
Highlighter blended and now time to blend in the darker contour. Look to the left!
Blush time! I’m so into cream blushes these days. I used IT Cosmetics Vitality Flush Color Stain Stick. It glides on nicely and isn’t clownish looking at all. It’s got a nice hint of color.
Oh God. The stick is pretty worn because I’ve worn this a lot. But seriously–this is a nice stick of color!
Glossed and ready to go! I used three colors on my mouth. NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream, IT Cosmetics Lip Serum in Love and topped it off with L’Oreal’s Le Gloss in 154, Watermelon Crush. I happen to like shiny gloss on my old lady mouth because gloss makes the mouth look a bit more plump.
I wore three colors. Left to right: IT Lip Serum in “Love”, NYX Butter Gloss in “Peaches and Cream” and L’Oreal’s Le Gloss in Number 154 “Watermelon Crush”
You know, when you’re younger you take what you have for granted. Then one day you catch a glance of yourself in a mirror and the reaction is “Holy Shit!! When did I become so OLD looking?” Am I right?? But with the magic of cosmetics, we can bring our best old lady face forward—and I sincerely wish the beauty industry would realize this. I realize I sound like a broken record but it’s true! We’re a large spending group and remain ignored.
Enough of my rant! I was going to take a pic of my outfit last night but Bonaparte was having a conniption because I was taking my sweet time getting ready (I guess he was right because we were late for the reservation –but traffic was bad!). Below is my date night outfit!
My apologies for the lack of focus but I’m a bit under the weather today. Here’s what I wore last night. Black front-zip Pixie Pants from J. Crew, black J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer (discontinued–what else is new?), white sleeveless shirt from J. Crew, shoes I got at Nordstrom Rack about ten years ago and wore twice. Red clutch bag I got at T.J. Maxx many years ago. I kept the look simple.
Our dinner was fantastic. We started off with the Charcuterie Board – a nice platter of chicken liver pâté, rillettes, and country pate accompanied with grainy mustard, cornichons and crusty baguette slices.
Will ya look at that Charcuterie plate? It was so great!
They had gluten-free bread! I was so happy because I was able to enjoy my love of starch!
Yay! Gluten free bread! I was able to spread the pate on this and enjoy it to the fullest!
Bonaparte was beside himself when he found out that the steak wasn’t on the menu. I thought there would be a second French Revolution and I’m not kidding.
That’s Bonaparte reaching out for his steak knife! Let the revolution begin!
He finally settled on the pork chop and I had the Champignon Bourguignon, a mushroom stew that was perfect.
Bonaparte’s pork–or what was left of it when I finally snapped this pic!
Champignon Bourguignon a delicious mushroom stew! I know the picture does not do the dish justice but that’s what happens when you drink too much wine and take a pic after eating half of the dish!
By this time, I not only partook in drinking about 4 Kir Royals, but I also had a few classes of Chateau Margaux 2005 and was pretty well-lit. I can’t drink that much—it doesn’t agree with me. My thought process also gets a bit wild if I have too much wine and I ordered a Chocolate ganache and Hazelnut tart and ate the whole thing. Sorry I don’t have a pic but I was too focused on my gluttony!
I had a lot of this.
We had an incredibly enjoyable evening and when we got home, I just about passed out on the bed. But I’ll tell you something. Today, I’m not feeling well. It’s a mixture of the wine and too much rich food.
The food at Spring Mill was fantastic, but since going gluten-free, no sugar, no carbs—blah, blah, blah; it’s been about 7 weeks that I’ve gone without eating rich and decadent foods and my innards are speaking to me right now. I can’t repeat what they are saying to me.
Tonight I’ll have my green shake for dinner.
Back to old lady beauty. Don’t forget the two most important tools. A smile and a great attitude!
We may be old but our best beauty tools are a smile and positive outlook and attitude!
Remember the movie Annie? Remember this? You really are never fully dressed without a smile!
Enjoy the rest of the day. We’re looking forward to watching “Vinyl” on HBO tonight—if I don’t fall asleep!
A smile and a great attitude, that is what is important. These you have and demonstrate with great flair. Thanks Catherine for a very nice and informative post. Happy Sunday! 🙂
Thanks Speary! Happy Sunday to you too. Watch Vinyl tonight! XOXOXO!
You crack me up! Enjoy your Sunday and your green drink…lol
S.A. My eyes are definitely getting worse. I thought you wrote “You green drunk”–hmmm maybe that’s because I feel kind of green today. But I definitely will enjoy that green shake later! XOXOXO!
I need to get every item in your cosmetic bag.You look fabulous, girl!
Thanks Andi! I have a trunk load of shit to make me look human! XOXOO!!!
I love to read your blog! Your posts are always written with healthy humor and they often offer me a light chuckle now and then 🙂 Thank you!
Hi Adryana, Thank you!!! We all need a bit of humor when it comes to writing–we can’t take ourselves too seriously. Ugh. I could use a good dose of make up today but I’m too lazy! XOXOXO!
Look at my beautiful fashionista sista. I think you look beautiful with or without makeup because you’re such a positive soul with a great attitude. I’m glad you and Bonaparte had a great dinner. I can relate with regard to the rich food, too. It’s all so sublime while eating but then it turns on me and reminds me why it’s not such a good idea after all. If only our bodies were made to digest rich food and NOT the healthy stuff…we can dream, right?
Great post, as always! <3
HI Carol. Thanks! Oh I don’t know how you are able to resist all the great food where you live! NOLA is the food heaven of the USA. The food–I could OD on Pralines alone..and gumbo..and ettouffee and Oyster Po ‘boys. I’m getting hungry! XOXOXO!
We definitely have to pace ourselves…although, when Chris gets here next month, it’ll be harder to resist. He’s been away from the city for so long, he plans to go get a bite of everything he’s missed. lol
Hi Carol. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh. Sounds like you are gonna have one great date night!! XOXOXO
I plan to have many great date nights. 🙂 Hehe..
Great post. Thanks to my ‘failing’ eyesight – I need to wear glasses for close up things like reading – it has given me a new perspective on my skin. When I had perfect vision I used to peer critically at my skin and lament its many faults, which includes a bit a pigmentation. Now that I can’t ‘see’ it, I don’t worry about it, and am happy with my visage most days. As I have gotten older, I too have taken a more gentle approach with hair and make-up. My poor hair has always been fine and difficult to style – even the supposedly easy-to-wear bob took a lot of ‘hot air’ and arsenal to look as if I had done simply nothing at all. It took some time but I now only wash my hair about once a week and usually only let the hairdresser blow or hot iron it (as a treat). No one is going to ask me to become a hair model anytime soon but I can see a vast improvement in texture and condition. Oh this means that I wear my hair pulled back or up most days so my ‘pigmentation’ is on display to those who can see it but because I can’t see it, I choose to ignore it. And, like you Catherine, there’s nothing like a bit of high end make-up product for special occasions – for special events I like Chanel primer and foundation and their lipsticks.
Right????? I wore my hair bobbed for years. YEARS! And it took two hours of primping and straightening and making every hair was just “so”. I only wash my hair once a week too–sometimes I let it go beyond that. That’s why I like longer hair so I can just put it up! My high end primer is the Hourglass. I spent 60 bucks on that stuff but I still go back to the Maybelline. How do you like the Chanel foundation? I have some Chanel lip gloss and I like it but it doesn’t stay on all that long! XOXOXO!
<3
And what's with the vanishing eyebrows ? Spent many years trying to tame and rule them in (even started with almost , just almost …an uni-brow as a teenager 😉 ) and now when we need them most they go into disappearance ???
Having a day just like yours today ( had a great dinner last night at my sisters ) , but a bit too much gluten and margaritas and wine for my innards to take 😉
Wishing you a great movie tonight 🙂
Turtle Hugs
Turtle. I thought about my eighth-grade class pic and I was the girl with one eyebrow. Thick bushy and uni! LOL! It’s so true though–where did those brows go???? I hope you feel better soon! But the gluten and drinks were worth the bad innards–right?? I’m wishing you a great night! XOXOXO!
And how come the few new hairs that get to be born come white ?? How dare they ?? 😉
The gluten issue was a just a small trade off for a Totally Worth it Night with great company 😀
Turtle Hugs
Wow, so many tips and what a dinner. I really gotta try the chopstick. Who’d thunk.
LOL. Bermadette–you mean the Chapstick? Right? Seriously, Chapstick is the Windex of beauty products! XOXOXO!
Love and use a lot of the same products. I love Nyx, L’Oréal, Urban Decay and Maybelline. I really like how you used high and low end together to come out looking great. Happy Valentine’s Day.. belated!
Hi Trudy! Oh. Part of the fun is mixing the high with low end. Before my skin started to get really blotchy, my go-to foundation was actually a lower end “L’Oreal’s True Match” in C3. Then my skin just started going all “old lady” on me. But–the ONE lower-end foundation I love is ELF’s Flawless Finish foundation. $6.00!!! It’s also fun to find different uses to make products multi-purposed. Like using black eyeshadow as a brow powder and chapstick as a blur. Thank you!! XOXO!!!
I’ve been looking through ELF but no color match for me so I think right now I’m using CoverGirl but I understand what you’re saying. Since I worked with cosmetic long ago I would’ve never been exposed to the higher end stuff because it’s just too ridiculously priced. But then you fall in love with them and scrimp till you can get it again. Love Estee, Chanel, Clarins and Guerlain btw. I was so spoiled and that’s how I first met my love Urban Decay before they got huge.
Trudy. I LOVE Guerlain. And you just gave me an idea for a future post. The time that Bonaparte’s aunt, Daniele, treated me to a shopping spree at the Guerlain Boutique in Paris. It was a Cinderella moment. Especially when she told me to “pick out anything I wanted”. UD has the best eye shadows of all time. So pigmented and not a lot of fallout! XOXOXO!
Yes I love their shadows, I want to splurge and try the foundation but I need to get color matched at Sephora first. And that means going there barefaced and I would have to remember.
You go girl! I can use all the help I want as I transition from middle-age to crone come September. And in some ways I’m just starting to live my life. You are an inspiration.
Oh..Thank you DB. That’s a very touching compliment. It’s difficult to make the transition, but we all have to work on it–and the work is fun! XOXOXO!
Looking beautiful! Thanks for sharing your hints and tips!
Thanks Faye! It’s always a pleasure to share! XOXOXO!
No steak! I don’t blame him for contemplating starting another revolution — although I should add that the pork actually looked pretty good. 🙂
Bun. I’ll tell you, we were pretty surprised that a French restaurant would not have Steak Frites on the menu! XOXO!
It is a bit of a shocker. 🙂
So glad you had a great time. I’m still chuckling about the Chapstick from weeks ago! 😀 Oh, and Bonaparte really DOES bear a striking facial resemblance to that picture!!!
Hehehehe! Lady Calen. I thought you would get a chuckle about the Chapstrick reference! And my Bonaparte! What a handsome tabby! XOXOXO!
You know I love your posts, Cathe, but please do not call us old ladies!! (I am a year older than you!)
Lol. Judy. I refer to us as “old ladies” in an endearing way. Also as an incredibly sarcastic way because we are not “old”! XOXOXO!
I laughed so much reading this, thank you Catherine! You are so right, a smile is so important. We need to wear it every single day. Grumpy people are not nice to have around. Your dinner looks delicious and well worth a bit of a blip the day afterwards.
Ugh, no matter how much I practice I can’t do a decent cat eye. Yours look fantastic! I work from home, so I go barefaced much of the time (I know, scary for a 50+ year old, right?) I seem to have lost my make up application ability.
Hi Leah. Cat eye liner takes a while to get right. Since I lack sight in my right eye it’s worse but I use a liquid liner and an incredibly thin brush. I find there is more control with the thinner brush. Practice. Practice. Practice! XXOXOXO!
Hi Judy! Thanks–glad you got a good laugh:) It’s true, smiles also make you look a lot younger! XOXOXOXOXO!
Seems the dinner went off without a hitch! Good for you Catherine! 🙂
Thanks Pineapple! It did and we had a great time! XOXOXO