Yesterday I did a thing. I filmed a video for my YouTube channel and I went outside of my comfort zone.
I did a “GRWM” or, in layperson’s terms “Get Ready With Me” video.
This type of video is remarkably popular. I’m sure it has something to do with our curiosity and wondering just how others manage to pull their makeup looks together. Most of these videos are filmed by younger women. Those with peaches and cream skin. You know the type I’m talking about.
I don’t know who this YouTuber is but even though she’s younger, I give her lots of credit for the before pic. Yeah. She’s got perfect skin. And yeah. She’s tons younger but it’s about the fact she is pretty honest with the no makeup look. And I have to say. She’s gorgeous without makeup. But..we’re a lot older!
It’s the woman who hasn’t entered into the realm of serious ageing. Her skin isn’t full of wrinkles or age spots and the uneven skin tone hasn’t set itself into her complexion yet. Ninety-nine-point nine present of them, I pass by simply because they are not relevant to me. My only exception is the wonderful Shelby Wilson, who always manages to do the fresh face and natural face video. The. One. Exception.
This is Shelby Wilson. She is the ONLY younger YT makeup guru I follow. and I’ve gotten a ton of great tips from her. Her looks are multi-generational! Please allow me to strongly suggest you watch this video: Doing My Mom’s Makeup
But—what bothers me and, quite frankly, upsets me to no end is when I see the mature, over-50, over 60, old lady, proaging woman, whatever you chose to call her, filming these videos and using a filter to erase the lines and wrinkles and other signs of ageing she has acquired over the years.
No. Your computer screen is not dirty nor are your eyeglasses smeared with Vaseline. It’s me with an over-filtered photo. And it is ridiculous. And it is one of the reasons I left many online wig groups because older women INSIST on filtering their faces. Sure. The wrinkles and flaws are visually erased but it isn’t REAL. It isn’t what an older woman looks like (correction unless she is able to afford the best face lift on earth). I shake my head.
And it drives me equally crazy when women of the mature age-bracket, use filters and Photo Apps on their Facebook posts and Instagram feeds. If you must resort to this way of catfishing people, then you are not happy nor are you pleased about ageing or your looks. And it goes against the thought process of ageing gracefully. Or gratefully.
Hey. I didn’t look this smooth since I left my mother’s womb–and I’m sure upon first sight I was wet and wrinkly. But seriously folks–I’m 65 years old and if anyone believes that this is what I really look like, I have a bridge to sell you.
To be honest, I’m grateful that I’ve aged thus far. In three weeks as I enter into my 66th rotation around the sun, I am very aware of my flaws. In fact, I’m going to go further and be completely transparent.
Over the years, I’ve had the pre-cancerous Actinic Keratosis zapped from various spots above my mouth due to sun damage. This has left me with a very blurred lip line and very uneven lips. It is something that I’m very self-conscious about and for my birthday, I’m treating myself to Juviderm to give myself a more defined lip line. I’ve been saving up for this for six months as my husband isn’t thrilled about my choice. But—my mouth. My choice. In the meantime, it doesn’t stop me from showing how I really look.
I’ve had at least 8 spots on my upper lip burned and zapped off by my dermatologist. It has left me with a less-defined lip, a blurry lip and a very uneven mouth, which has left me very self aware and unable to wear red lipstick. I want to wear red lipstick again. I also want my mouth to be well-defined again.
Truthfully, the only fakeness about me is my hair and my nails..
Speaking of which, I need to get a fill-in next week. And I need to reapply the fake tanner that Chippy licked off this morning…
…..at least my titties are real. I can usually be found lifting them up at least a dozen times a day. I know, I know–sometimes I’m naughty!
And that’s my point. It is okay to let people see you at your “ugliest”. And by that, I mean it’s okay to go without makeup. It’s fine to allow others to see you as you really are. You don’t need to hide behind a filter. Granted, I’m not going to go all filler-crazy and spend every last cent on fillers. No way. I’m just merely correcting the results from sun damage.
Let’s go from ugly to acceptably normal–shall we?
Back to the Get Ready With me. I showed a step-by-step, which I’ll go through below in still photos. To see the video, click this link: Get Ready With Me. From Ugly to Acceptable
Bare Faced and completely hideous to some degree. Look! I have freckles, age spots, scars from accidents and acne, sun damage, a scar from skin-cancer surgery. Wrinkles. I’m the whole package of a flawed face—and it’s okay!
A lazy, naturally crossed eye. Redness. Age Spots. Scars from accidents and surgery. Freckles. Wrinkles. A face only a mother could love–and my own mother loved my sisters’ faces better!
So, after moisturizer and primer, I went in with my beloved Well-Rested to cover the blue and any discoloration around the eyes. And yes. It is a mineral powder and if anyone notices it enhances fine lines then you are too close to my personal space.
I’ve been using Well-Rested since before my face was a wrinkled raisin! I can’t stop using it. I love it. It works to get rid of the discoloration and blue tint. And you can wear cream shadow over it!
Next it was eyeshadow and liner. For the everyday, I go with a very light shadow and I make a very fine line at the edge of my lid with a cream-based liner crayon. I also tightline with it. I also applied my favorite mascara—L’Oréal’s Voluminous Mascara. It’s inexpensive and great!
See what a difference a hint of shadow (Bobbi Brown Shadow Crayon in Stone), Liner (Thrive eye liner pencil) and Mascara make? Hey. Look at my good eye please!
Then I went in with the cream foundation—this by Seint (formerly Maskcara), applied and blended the bejeezus out of it. You can be rough. That skin has toughened over the decades. The more you blend, the more natural the result!
Next I went in with my Seint cream makeup. My facial expression is quite unique–isn’t it?
And after blending with a brush, I go over it all with this InStylish sponge. This is the only one I have left. I had three. Chippy ate the other two.
See? We’re looking a bit better now! The skin tone is evened out. This is NOT a full-coverage look. It is simply evening out the skin tone and distracting from the flaws!
Then a bit of contour, again by Seint and cheek and lip color. I used the Boomstick Color stick and applied with a Real Techniques brush. I cannot praise those Real Techniques more than I do. I LOVE these brushes!
Boomstick Color stick on my cheeks applied with a Real Techniques brush. (I got hooked on this brush after watching a Shelby Wilson video. I now have eight of these).
See what a little color om the cheeks does? I feel so Gidget!
Brows all done. A bit of a finishing touch with setting powder under the eyes to ensure the mascara applied to lower lashes won’t smear and a bit of glimmer and I’m done.
Momma Mia. This brow crayon/pencil from Trestique is an HG item.
Wow. I look so…so….NORMAL!!!
See. It’s so easy to go from “ugly” to decent in a matter of minutes. And let us not forget the hair. I’m wearing Reeves by Estetica Designs.
I tell you that a woman’s crowning glory is her hair–even when it’s fake!!
Mature Beauty Tip! My go-to beauty tool these days is a tweezer. It gets rid of lady whiskers and—ugh—those stray nose hairs. I’m beginning to think the term “menopause” was put into place because you acquire manly traits like chin whiskers and nose hair. Thank God I don’t have ear hair sticking out!
…and those pesky lady whiskers appear out of nowhere. Any time of day.
More of the ugly truth. I stick the tweezers up my nose as well. I’m just waiting for the ear hair. Trust me, it’ll come.
So, do you prefer bare-faced “ugly” (I use that term loosely and with a sense of humor) or do you prefer a cloudy, filtered face. What helps you decide when it comes to cosmetics? I’m curiously nosey on this one! What’s your opinion on filters and face apps? Am I the only one against them? Do tell!
As an extra, I created an “From Ugly to Pretty” Shopping list on my Amazon Store. Seint cosmetics is not available on Amazon but I did find dupes in cream foundation and contours. I do receive a small commission from sales on Amazon, so please don’t think I’m shilling. You can print the list and keep it in your purse so when you go shopping you can compare! thank you!