Okay. I’m going to get a bit “real” with this blog post. There’s a lot I have to say. So, grab a cup of coffee or tea. Or, depending on what time of day this is, grab a bottle glass of wine and curl up on your sofa to a decent read.
Curl up and read!!
Back in 2015 I started this blog. It was basically to keep my sanity whilst in between jobs. The company I worked for disbanded and I was in a slight panic. And, if you have been reading this blog, you know that it’s somewhat evolved from talking about my life into a sort of “Style” (trust me I use that word lightly because I’m no pro), Cooking, Makeup, Wig, …and basically a “Whatever” blog. January 12,th blog post 2015 for your reading pleasure
The first photo to ever appear in my blog. Me, Oona, Jake and Roman –and my photography skills have not improved since then!
My delusions were rife with hope that I would not have to return to an office job because I foolishly thought I would become an internet sensation for the “mature” group. After all, how many “mature”, in reality—old ladies have blogs and other social media accounts? Well..a lot of ‘em do!
And they have great little studios with great lighting and great cameras and even people to manage them. They use filters when reviewing makeup. And even when they tell you they don’t—trust me, they do. A number of these older women pose as though they are fashion models—the good thing about that is they are more delusional than I.
This will never be me. There’s too much stuff to crowd my house. My iPhone will have to do.
I’m nobody special. And I’m fine with that because over the years I realized something.
‘Tis true. The only person I’m special to is me, myself and I!
The majority of people do not want transparency nor do they want honesty. They want to see over-filtered faces with no texture. I’ve come to the conclusion that human beings prefer a filtered photograph of a face without a nose.
The fading nose. It’s the new beauty trend. Do we really need a nose anyway?
And while I realize that some noses aren’t all that attractive, we need them. We need them to breathe. We need them to use the sense of smell—to smell the scent of danger as well as the beautiful scents of flowers, fresh bread cooking, little baby heads and even puppy breath. Apparently, that’s all for naught.
Save this photograph for reference dear friends–because at the rate over-filtered selfies on social media are going, the nose will become extinct!
And in our present day of social media, from Instagram ads, to Facebook groups dedicated to everything from reselling luxury items to handmade goods, and TikTok videos. Social media is a huge part of the human comedy—or drama, or even of human bondage! But what bothers me the most is the lack of honesty among “creators”, “influencers” as well as cosmetics companies, skincare companies and clothing companies.
This SNL skit says it all. The glamorous dress. The basic long wavy hair do. The content creator!
It’s all about the disclosure and the dishonesty.
Let me put it this way. I love cosmetics—there’s no way around it. I simply cannot go a day without mascara or brow products or lipstick or gloss. On days when I want a little extra there’s CC Cream and foundation—running the gamut from extremely light to bare coverage or to full-on coverage when a wedding or special occasion calls me.
Yup! I need all of this so I don’t scare people away. Seriously. I love my makeup and skincare because it makes me look better and feel better!
And the thing is..I can no longer trust reviews on YouTube or Instagram because of the filters that creators/influencers are using. When I’m interested in a product, I want to see how it looks on textured skin. Skin with lines. Skin that’s sun damaged. Skin that is old!
YouTube, Instagram, TikTok…I can’t trust any influencers or creators–and this one is still in her 20’s and using filters!
Sadly, I have to rely on my own devices to try the products out because I no longer trust any social media creators nor do I trust cosmetics and skincare companies because they continue to send products to these people fully knowledgeable about the fact they filter.
The photo on the left-hand side shows how I looked in real life at my daughter’s wedding. On the right is how I looked with a FaceApp filter. As ridiculous as it is, many older women–especially those showcasing wigs are using this app and filter to completed de-age their faces. Even the fake hair looks more fake!
Which brings me to yet, another discussion regarding pro-aging. I’ve been on this bandwagon for years—since my fifties. And at the halfway point this very day (October 16th) to 68, it’s even more important to discuss this.
One of my Instagram followers sent me this photo from one of Jamie Lee Curtis’ posts. She’s a proponent of pro-aging. Now, usually I don’t put much stock in what celebrities have to do or say, but Curtis is a different kind of animal. I love her. I follow her on social media. She is herself and in no way is she at that “I’m-so-ashamed-of-aging” stage. She embraces aging. No fillers or surgery. Her short-cropped hair is a beautiful shade of gray and she’s happy to showcase her person as she is.
I simply adore Jame Lee Curtis. She’s aging so gracefully. She is what REAL LIFE aging looks like. She. is. greatness!
Take someone like Madonna. I’m constantly flummoxed as to why she cannot embrace aging? I honestly don’t know if her social media posts are meant to be a joke or if she’s serious. But it bothers me. She is a gifted, talented and iconic musical presence. She could, as Curtis does, embrace her age but yet, she doesn’t seem to want to. I must say though, no matter how many filters she uses, her hands give her mature age away.
It’s Madonna. THE Madonna. WTF is she doing this? She is in her 60’s. She should be more relatable to her demographic.
How beautiful is she in real life? Madonna is stunning! She’s gorgeous and THIS is how she should be showcasing herself!
But even young social media presences don’t seem to want to showcase their true age. Mikayla Nogueira is an internet sensation. She does makeup tutorials and reviews—on Instagram and TikTok. She’s all of 24 years old. And she filters the bejezus out of every post. It’s ridiculous. How on earth can someone look at the products she has plastered over her face when her skin texture is smooth as glass. And it’s a shame. It’s a shame because she has admitted to acne and skin issues. If she showcased how the products really worked, it would be not only beneficial, but also helpful to all those out there with the same sort of skin issues. She’s incredibly successful and has amassed a fortune in charging cosmetic and skincare companies to “advertise” their products.
She is incredibly talented with makeup. But the filters. For the love of God, she filters her face even without makeup. It’s disheartening and dishonest–especially for young women.
And what’s upsetting about that is the false advertising. Use a filter? You’re not being honest. The companies are not being honest. All to make a buck. The other upsetting thing is Ms. Nogueira is every girl. She really is, without her filters, she’s a normal, average 24-year-old. She’s cute and perky. And she knows her makeup stuff. So why hide who you are?
It’s disturbing because, as women, we need to be proponents of our bodies and our minds. We can’t allow ourselves to be set up for self-hatred. It starts at an early age. What about all these young girls who think they can use a product and be as beautiful as the perfect creators and influencers they see on the internet? These people also photoshop their bodies into thinness. What are these young girls thinking when they see this?
And let us not forget the impact the Kardashian family does have when it comes to advertising. Although I’m not a fan, I always thought Khloe was the most attractive of the sisters. But look at the left–she’s photoshopped her face to the point she does not resemble herself.
And what about older women? Jesus H. Christ! For any women over 50 who sees an over filtered visage on any social media platform then feels bad because of her own lines and wrinkles—that is sinful. And it should not be.
The woman on the left is beautiful and doesn’t need to filter her face. Seriously. She’s really stunning!
The woman on the right? She has texture! She used good lighting but she’s got texture. Her lips have normal lip lines. Thank you!!!!!!!!
Guess who’s wrinkled face is on the right? It’s an old Buzzfeed article.
Aging is a gift. Ask those who have lost a loved one at a young age and they will validate that. Aging isn’t pretty. Our faces and bodies are not the ones we had in our twenties. We sag, we drag, we’re lined and our features have faded. Our tummies are akin to cloudy marshmallows. Our feet are stiff in the morning. Some of us have difficulty walking down and up the stairs. Some of us fart when we walk fast while other get leaky pee-pee and need to wear special undergarments. Our teeth change. Our hearing is different. Our eyes don’t see as well.
But it’s ok! Put some makeup on (My favorite mature-friendly brands are Subtl Beauty, Trestique, Mob Beauty and Jones Road Beauty).
Wear the makeup–but let the wrinkles and freckles and age spots show through!
.
Better lighting. Darker wig. Same makeup!
Don a nice outfit for the day.
Maybe not this dressy but I’m attending a wedding this coming Friday so it was a new-dress-tryon!
And go strut your stuff. You deserve it!