I’m Becoming a Morphe Addict! I Need My Fix—-of Eye Shadows!

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Catherine

Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to purchase additional eye shadow palettes.  There are quite a few in my collection. And they are, for the most part, neutrals.

Well, that just about sums it up as to why I’ll keep purchasing more neutral eye shadow palettes!!  I’m weak. In fact, I AM the weakest link!

The first pricey eye shadow palette I ever purchased was Urban Decay’s Naked 2. This was, and still remains one of my favorites—but after receiving a pandering and condescending email from Urban Decay after I inquired why they don’t use older women in their ads, I divorced myself from further purchases of the brand.  Too bad because their eye makeup is great.  But I’m stubborn. Urban Decay no longer gets my Benjamins.

I’ve hit pan on most of these shadows and I’m so ticked off that Urban Decay was so condescending to me. I’m no longer a customer.  It goes against my ethics to buy product from a company that is clearly not mature woman friendly!  But the shadows are so beautiful!

My favorite palette is Mally’s Nude Attitude. I have a backup-in-waiting, just as the royal women have ladies-in-waiting.  I’ve hit pan on so many of the shadows that I will be reaching for that backup in the very near future. Again—a palette of beautiful neutrals.

My Nude Attitude.  I have a backup and am thinking of purchasing another backup for the backup because I know this baby will be discontinued. The story of my life!!! And since this photo was taken, I’ve hit pan on about five more shadows in this palette!

I’m telling you, there are too many neutral eye shadows in my home!!!!!

So then, what would have me purchasing yet another eye shadow palette?

I’ll tell you what would—I was looking for a few peach-colored tones. I figured since I’m wearing lighter fake hair these days, perhaps I should add a bit of warmth to my eyes.

And off I went in search of the Too-Faced Sweet Peach palette.  This palette has gotten a lot of love with reviewers—I figured it would be a decent buy.  Until I got to Ulta and saw the price.

I’m sorry but $49 for an eyeshadow palette doesn’t do it for me anymore.  Not for the paltry amount of shadow product.  Still—the colors in the palette were so pretty and shimmery and tempting.  Like Jesus in the desert during Lent, I had to walk away from that temptation.

Yeah. I know. This IS a beautiful palette.  Truth be told, I’m not spending forty-nine bucks for it.  Sorry not sorry!

I walked over to the “drug store” brand cosmetics at Ulta. It’s so funny.  Ulta’s middle aisle is the railroad track of the store’s cosmetics neighborhood. That middle  aisle divides the cosmetics house into the “good” side of town, being the higher end cosmetics; and the “bad” side of town, being the lower-end cosmetics.  I happen to like the bad side of town—just call me the tramp of Ulta’s wrong side of the tracks.

And then I spotted it.  An end display with an opened palette.  The palette was loaded with peach shadows and browns and coppers.  Oh. It was a display of Morphe cosmetics’ eye shadow palettes!

I passed on the Jacklyn Hill palette and went straight to the Morphe 350 Nature Glow palette.  It spoke to me.  It said. “Hey–lady, buy me”  and I did!

Now—I don’t know how familiar you are with Morphe cosmetics but for some time now, every “big” reviewer on YouTube pontificates the greatness of this brand. I honestly don’t know if its because they are getting free booty or because the brand actually has good stuff.

A while back I ordered an inexpensive set of brushes from Morphe and I wasn’t very impressed.  The brushes were good but they weren’t Holy Grail status.  Don’t get me wrong, I use them but the way some of these vloggers were talking about the brushes, I thought they were multi-tasking and using them as vibrators or something!

I think I may have paid about twelve dollars for this brush set. I can’t remember.  They are good.  Not the greatest but they are good.

The eyeshadow palette was intriguing because compared to the hefty $49 price tag on the Too Faced Sweet Peach palette, this Number 350 Palette was a bargain at $23!!  Besides—Tati, my favorite YouTube beauty guru loves this palette. And I love Tati.  Let’s just say Tati made me buy it!

The palette is “Tati” approved. Need I say more?  Look at her makeup. It’s perfect!

Not only did I purchase the palette, but I also spent an extra six bucks on a brush for blending shadows in the crease of the eyelid.  Why not—right??

Morphe’s M441 Brush. It is excellent!

This brush is excellent!!  Fluffy and soft, it feels like a little pillow almost tickling the eyelid while doing a stellar job of blending without erasing!

My expectations were not high when I decided to use the palette. I didn’t expect good pigmentation and I was very, very surprised when my low expectations were proven wrong.

Here’s how it rolled on the day I was trying to achieve a golden look for my eyes!

Here’s the palette.  The shadows don’t have any cute names like “president orange” or “gimme that copper penny” or “lets taupe about it” (wouldn’t I be great at naming eye shadows?). But–the selection is a great one of coppers, browns, and oranges.

I started off with a light color over the entire lid and up to the brow bone..

Then I went with an orange over the lids..

A brighter orange in the middle of my lids ….

And a lighter brown in the crease and I lightly lined my bottom lids with the same brown.

The oranges look nice, don’t they?

Another look at the finished eye.

Finished look.  A nice eye look!

Another look from the palette.  This was the day I went to Estetica.–Monday.  I wanted to look pretty!

 have to say—I’ve been using this palette all week and it’s great.  This morning, I went with a very neutral look and a bit of shimmer.

I love the shadows I used today!  I’m telling you, this palette is fun!!!

Here’s my casual look for today.  I love the shimmer and the underplayed look. And I love the way the warm shadow tones go so well with my lighter fake hair!

My overall grade on this palette is A+.  Thirty-five shadows are in this palette. All are a decent size. The shadows that I’ve used so far have all been very pigmented.  There was no fallout on my eyes.  The shadows stay put all day—and I don’t use an eye primer.  At $23 USD, this is a great, great value.

If you find yourself at an Ulta that sells this or if you are on the Morphe website, check this palette out.  Number 350 Nature Glow!

My grade for the fluffy blending brush is also A+.  I know it sounds weird but as a non-makeup application expert, my blending skills basically suck and this brush has done a great job for me and at six bucks I may get another for my travel kit!!

And YES!!!  Older women CAN wear shimmery eye shadow!!!!!!  I said so. Listen to me!

If you want to “see” my review you can watch it below. I made a YouTube video. If you like it, please subscribe.  If I get more subscribers, I’ll be motivated to make more videos. Tee Hee!!!

 

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Oh No! Not ANOTHER Foundation Review! (Um. Yes. It Is!)

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Catherine

I don’t know what it is about foundation that makes me such an addict.  Oh wait. I do know.  I’m always searching for a foundation that’ll be an asset to my collection.

And when I find a foundation that makes the cut–it is welcomed into my universe!!

Seriously.  I’m big on rotating my cosmetics—whether it’s seasonal or the fact I don’t want to overuse—there’s always room for another foundation to rotate.

Today I’m reviewing a foundation that I purchased at Sally Beauty.  It seems that there’s always something at Sally that I find and like.   The foundation is from the Sally Beauty Col-Lab brand and is getting a lot of love in reviews except from me.

It’s tough to find a foundation that works on mature skin and that is affordable.  And when I say affordable, I’m talking more about price per use.  My Fenty foundation may have cost $34, but such a small amount needs to be used that the price point is a great value.

And for the price, you would THINK the name of the shade would be SOMEWHERE on the bottle. It isn’t!  So I can’t even tell you for sure which shade I purchased!

The Col-Lab foundation comes in at $14.99—I think I paid $14.29 with my Sally discount.  Regardless, I think that’s a high price for a foundation that is more akin to a drug store brand.

There are two formulas.  The “Meet Your Matte” foundation and the more dewy “Bright Spark Radiant” Foundation.  I purchased the Bright Spark.

First of all, I had a bit of an issue with the range of shades.  This is why I prefer to buy some foundations at Sephora—you can try before you buy and see what the color looks like rather than play the guessing game.  Since I’m fair skinned, it is a challenge because the choice is either the palest shade, which is ghostly looking or a shade that ends up being too dark. I’m pretty sure I went with Sand, Number 3. Seriously–for $14.99 they can’t put the name of the shade on the bottle?

 

Here’s the range of shades.  There are no in-store testers either so it’s a complete gamble.

Before reviewing, I wanted to give this foundation a few tries before getting down to the nitty -gritty.  I wore this foundation three times before placing fingers to keyboard. So here goes.

When I opened the bottle, and pumped a small amount on my wrist, I noticed it was a bit “yellow”—and that’s why I can’t wear MAC or Bobbi Brown foundations.  The yellow washes me out.  But hey, I bought it, so let me use it. Besides, with color corrector, concealer, contour and highlighter, this could work.

This is the first time I used the Col-lab Foundation.  The lighting is weird but it looked yellow.

Again–from the first time I wore this foundation. Applied on my forehead. It’s very yellow

I applied the foundation on one side with a dampened beauty sponge and the other with a brush so that I could get a feel for it.  The sponge worked better.  Now—this particular foundation is low-to medium coverage and is buildable.  But—there’s something to remember when it comes to aging skin and “buildable”.  The more you build—the more the chance of foundation settling into the lines and creases on our faces.  That’s why I try to look for full-coverage foundation.

First time after applying to my entire face. I’m just not impressed …

…but with the contour, concealer, highlighter, blush, it was doable.  I don’t WANT to settle for doable.

Many of the reviews were giving this foundation love for the hydration factor. I’m sorry.  I didn’t notice any hydrating at all.  The finish had a very, very slight and subtle dewiness but not enough to “wow” me.

Here’s how it went on my third day of wearing this–actually Wednesday!

Good morning!  Hope I didn’t scare you!

Now you can REALLY see how yellow this shade looks when I apply it…

All blended into my skin and I’m still not impressed.  I ended up spraying water three times and blotting the foundation that settled into my many lines!

These were my assistants to try to make this foundation look decent.  Fenty Match Stix in Amber for contour.  Benefit’s Girl Meets Pearl, a nice and very creamy highlighting cream, Chanel concealer,  I also used Nars Universal stick for blush and the Laura Geller highlighting powder to add a bit of extra highlights.

This photo was taken in the room where I apply my makeup.   I’m just not wowed by this foundation.  It is not hydrating at all..

In the light of my kitchen.  This is after two applications of the foundation. You can see the freckles on my forehead. I dared not apply a third time because it would have looked very caked upon. The lipstick and brighter eye shadow brighten up my face more than the foundation does.

I mean, it ended up not looking bad—but it just wasn’t great.

And for the price of $14.99—for less than six bucks I can get two bottles of Wet n’ Wild’s fabulous PhotoFocus foundation that has amazing coverage!

I love the Wet n’ Wild PhotoFocus—as you can see, below are three bottles that I have. I blend two of them and the darker shade, I use for my YouTube videos. (when I remember to apply it).

I mix the Soft Beige with the Nude Ivory to get a nice shade. This is a matte foundation and is, hands down, fabulous!!!  I use the Peach Natural for the YouTube videos.  But the darker foundation will work well during the summer when I’m fake tanned!  At less than six dollars a bottle, this is the best buy ever!

e.l.f. Foundation, at six bucks still remains one of my go-to foundations.  My love/hate relationship with e.l.f. continues, but as long as this foundation is not discontinued, I’ll use it.

This color–Porcelain–it works.  And I like this for traveling because it’s so inexpensive, if I leave it behind I won’t freak out!

The Ordinary.  I have both the foundations and one of each that is on reserve.  This foundation is second skin!

Well-worth the less than eight bucks each, a little goes a long way!  This foundation IS truly like a second skin!

Fenty Pro Filt’r foundation.  At $34, this is the most expensive foundation in my collection and is worth every cent and more.  When and if I ever become hired again, I’ll be wearing this to the office every day!

This–I love the Fenty foundation tons.  And the selection of shades–everyone can find their shade and if you go to Sephora, you can try before you buy!

Laura Geller’s Baked foundation is the only powder foundation I’ll use. It is so finely-milled and gives a gorgeous finish.  You can always find a good deal on QVC or on Geller’s site.

This Balance-n-Brighten Foundation is a fantastic summer foundation. Man–I love this!!!

Marc Jacobs Genius Gel foundation.  Don’t get me started. This was an absolute favorite of mine and it was discontinued.  I’m not sure if it has been rebranded as Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate, but I know I’ll most likely end up making the purchase and comparing it to the Genius Gel.

Image result for marc jacobs foundation

Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate. At $55, this better be full coverage. And I don’t know why the brand discontinued the Genius Gel–it was the best higher end foundation I ever had!!

Finding that “right” foundation is a challenge and I was looking forward to Col-lab’s foundation being one of those “right” ones that I could put into rotation with the others.   I’ll use the rest of the bottle but I won’t be repurchasing.

I just cannot, for the life of me, recommend this foundation.  There is nothing spectacular about it and the shades are just not fair-skinned friendly nor darker-skinned friendly.  The shades are just somewhere in the middle and are too yellow.

Let me know if you’ve tried this foundation and your thoughts. You know—I could be wrong.  This could work for others.  We all don’t have the same skin type.

Sally Beauty just missed with this—I may try something else from the line, but at this point, I’m not sure.

My grade would be a C Minus.  And that is because it does give a subtle dewy finish.

I’m curious–and not curious yellow like the foundation. I’m curious to find out if any of you have tried the new Marc Jacobs foundation. I’m so upset that the gel foundation was discontinued.  But if you’ve tried the Col-lab foundation, please comment on your thoughts!

Thanks!! Let’s discuss!!!

Here’s my YouTube review!

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Here’s How An Older Woman Makes It Age Appropriate!

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Catherine

Let me sigh and shake my head before I continue. 

Seriously, man.  If one more “expert” tells me what’s “age” appropriate, I’ll be using some very naughty words–and worse!

A recycled study from 2016, that was recently featured on a  recent CBS news clip,  states that women should stop wearing jeans at age 53—and the reasoning behind this is that as we get older jeans that fit are harder to find.  Ummm…I’m knocking on the door to 63 and let me tell you something—I find more and more jeans that fit me these days.

Umm. I hate to burst your bubble, but I’ll be 63 in about 10 weeks.  My jeans ain’t going anywhere except over my thighs! And my wigs aren’t going anywhere except on my head!

I’m tired of all the “age” remarks.  I’m becoming both bored and angered when I read about what “women of a certain age” should and shouldn’t wear.  I flip the bird to you.

Clothing is an expression of how we feel.  And just like the Lennon/McCartney lyrics from the song “I Feel Fine”—my wardrobe can be singing that very song when I enter my closet in the morning.  “She’s in love with me and I feel fine”—that’s because I love my clothes and I won’t change my style of dressing as I age.

I happen to like a youthful vibe.  Now—that’s not saying I want to dress like a sixteen-year old.  It is merely saying that I like to dress the way I think and feel.  As an “elder” I am not set in my ways of thinking—we change, we evolve, we are open.  And that means open to welcoming dressing how we want and not listening to those vicious, pandering, and ageist words written—for the most part, by writers who have not even hit the age of thirty yet.

And yes.  I would 100 percent wear this outfit I created on Polyvore–with the white boots too!  It’s very age appropriate for me! Wanna shag?

So, let’s talk about dressing. OK?

A couple of months back, I received an email asking me if I would be interested in reviewing a dress of my choice from an online e-commerce store.  The store?  Top Tier Style. 

banner

This couple welcomes you to the Top Tier Style site.  I could’ve birthed them in my late thirties! OK–so my early forties–but who’s counting????

When I went online to check out the site, my initial reaction was “Oh, shit.  This company must think I’m a millennial.”  Then, as I perused the offerings, I realized something—that even though the models were in fact, of millennial age, many of the clothing, shoes, and accessories would work well for all ages!  Yes.  All ages!  And that includes our mature demographic.

Top Tier also won my respect when I replied that I would be happy to review any item but that I’m also in the “mature” demographic.  It didn’t matter to them.  I picked out a dress, waited for it, and it was delivered yesterday.

Now—the dress I chose was the Long Sleeve Loose Fitting Dress.  It’s a nice, everyday dress that can be worn during the Fall, Winter, and Spring.  The lighter weight lends itself well to layering during the cooler seasons and as a stand-alone with sandals or sneakers during the warmer weather. At $31, it’s a decent price for a dress that is  multi-season friendly and versatile.  I wouldn’t wear this during the summer due to the long sleeves—but that’s just me.

Going outside the “color” box for me, I decided upon the green dress.  Green isn’t one of the colors that works for me, but I liked the lighter hue and figured I could make it work!

I chose the green dress.  I love the way it looks.  Might I add, though, that this model is a few inches taller than my just-under 5’6″ so the dress is slightly longer on me.   I also love the asymmetrical cut of the dress. It’s shorter on the sides. It’s just adorable!

The dress was delivered in a parcel envelope, in a plastic bag.  When I took the dress out of the bag, the only “con”  was immediately apparent.  The dress was very wrinkled.  No problem since you all know that ironing is my “Zen”.  The poly/cotton blend made ironing the wrinkles a cinch.  And if you have a cloths steamer, you are also in luck!

Let’s have a look—shall we?

Like the models, I wore this with a big textured plaid scarf. It’s freezing today and this toasty look is very comfy!

As you can see, the dress falls about two inches above the knee. I’m wearing knee-length boots and boot socks with this.  The color is surprisingly  warm and blends well with my auburn wig!

Another look at how the dress falls above the knees.

Here you can get a better view of the sleeve. I LOVE the long sleeve and the snug fit. The stitching is reinforced too, which makes the hem of the sleeve stay put.

You can see the “flare” or swing of the way the dress drapes. It really drapes nicely.  This dress is extremely comfortable.

I wasn’t sure of the sizing so I went with a Large and  the Medium would have been a better fit through the shoulders.  It’s not an issue though because the rest of the dress fits fine.

Another added feature is the higher cut of the neckline.  It’s “turkey neck” friendly!

I‘m a fan of this neckline.  It’s a good diversion from Turkey Neck!!  

…especially if the scarf causes hot flashes!

When it comes to laundering, I would wash on a low setting in cold water and air dry! This dress will also dry in no time!  It’s also a great choice for a travel wardrobe.  It can be rolled up to prevent wrinkles but is so light that you can pack a dress for every day of the week and store in your carry on luggage!

Look—I realize that many women don’t like shorter dresses and that’s cool.  I’ve also styled this dress with leggings which I think looks absolutely adorable.

Changed up the scarf, added black leggings and black Repetto ballet flats.  A rather toasty look and for those who like more of a tunic ensemble–this dress works!

I’m glad that my husband stopped by the chateau so he could snap this pic! Ugh. I shouldn’t have worn a heavily-padded bra with this dress!  Sorry about that!

Another view.  This is an “any-age-can-wear-this”  dress!  I’m pleased!

And another thing—anything that I wear is age appropriate because I said so! So, don’t tell me how to dress or how to stop dressing!

So yeah!  Don’t tell ME not to wear jeans!  In fact, the way I wear jeans is marvelous AF.  That’s right–AF!!!

In fact, I’ll also wear Bardot hair!

And Off-the-Shoulder tops!!

“Age-appropriate” is just another term for “Of-All-Ages”!

I really want to thank Top Tier for looking past age and sending this dress to me!

The Long Sleeve Loose Fitting Dress in this review was provided by Top Tier Style. If you would like to purchase your own use the coupon code BLOG15 for 15% OFF everything on their store!

What’s your choice for dresses?  Are you a maxi?  A mini?  A midi?  Let’s talk about it!

And yes—my clothes do feel fine.  John, Paul, George and Ringo even say so!

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The Esthetics of Wigging Out—My Visit to Estetica!

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Catherine

Yesterday I had the opportunity to follow through on an invite to Estetica Designs!  You have no idea how happy I was.  It was a chance to give feedback on the types of wigs I like, what I look for in a wig, styles I like and it was the chance to meet great people!!

Classique Collection - Pure Stretch Cap Wigs

The Pure Stretch Cap wigs ARE comfortable!

In addition, I was also looking forward to gaining some education about wigs.  That’s right—education.  My hair loss journey has been an ongoing one for years.  From combing over thicker hair to the thin areas, then using Toppik and other fiber enhancers, then toppers and finally to full-on wigs!  It’s been a process.

And I’m no expert.  Everything I’ve “learned” about wigs has been from either watching YouTube videos, hours of perusing the many online wig vendors and reading about different textures and types of wigs. There’s been a window of trial and error for me.  I’ve learned that the lace front wigs are the ones I prefer and I have a strong tendency to stick to wigs that aren’t shiny and are very much like my bio-hair in texture.

And it also comes down to finding the styles that best flatter your face, coloring and features!

My big decision yesterday morning was what wig to wear to the wig experts? It was easy.  I settled on my FreeTress Equal Swami wig—a shoulder-length “lob” (long bob) that is one of my favorites.  And off I went!

Swami, by FreeTress.  A longer bob in a lighter color was perfect for my visit to Estetica Designs!

The headquarters is tucked behind the hustle and bustle of Conshohocken’s business district. This was a dream to me because it meant that I didn’t have to look for a parking space and I gleefully drove into the company’s parking lot.

Estetica Designs.  Here’s where the fun happens!

Be comfortable. Be Beautiful. Be You.  Nice words to remember–at all times!!

This unassuming brick building has the trademark sign in the robin’s egg blue—the Tiffany and Company of hair!  I entered and didn’t even wait a minute to meet Grace, the Director of Marketing and Development.  She’s a bundle of cuteness and energy and immediately I felt as though we were old friends!

We sat and chatted for a while and I was able to look around the showroom at the wigs which looked so much better IRL than you could ever imagine.

Here’s the Orchid Model, which I had been eyeing!

Mackenzie is another style, similar to Orchid that I thought was very pretty as well!

 

Hey!  Gray haired readers–click on the name of this wig, Emma, and check out the great grayness of colors!!  This is the perfect gray wig, IMHO!!

And before we went into a room for some wig try-ons, I met Erin, Estetica’s Graphic Designer and Tae who is in Research and Development!

Erin, (left), left, Estetica’s Graphic Designer, and Grace,  Director of Marketing and Development!  Look at those adorable faces–we should all be so lucky to be as happy as they are at work!!!

Did you know that it takes quite a bit of time to create a wig?  A design will be drawn up with detailed specifications and then sent to the factory that produces the wigs.  They’ll send one or two models back.  The tweaking will begin.  Then when perfected, the order will be placed.  And it’ll take a few months to create and ship.  It’s just like a fashion collection with the seasonal clothing!  I was fascinated by that!

It felt really good to give my honest feedback of wigs in general.  Questions were asked and I answered them honestly.  I explained that my biggest challenge was finding wigs that match my bio-hair’s texture of dull, wiry, coarse and porous.  I also explained that’s why I gravitate towards Yaki-Texture wigs. And I also gave my honest opinion of the wigs I do wear.  I went on to explain that after a while, on some of the wigs, the ends get super dry, the texture changes when you apply heat and some of the wigs I purchase need to be trashed after washing because they don’t dry the way they should.  But I also explained that the affordability was also a key point—especially with older women on a budget.

I also added that it would be great if all wig companies could produce units with different textures.  Grace, Erin and Tae listened to every word I said.  They were very interested in the feedback I gave.  It was also nice to hear that my Swami wig was a well-made one!!

When the subject of styles was broached, I almost floated off my feet when Tae knew very well about the most beautiful, iconic bob of all time.  The one Vidal Sassoon created for Nancy Kwan!  I’m telling you, ever since I was a child with that unmanageable mane of mine, I coveted that infamous bob!

Tae made a friend for life just knowing about this iconic bob.  I swear, Nancy Kwan’s bob has been on my mind since childhood!

And, knowing my fondness for longer hair, the Orchid model was brought out and I tried a few colors on.

Me in the many faces of Orchid!   Top Row l. to r.  Color RT330RT4–getting my Julia Roberts on; R48, a nice deep brown; Carmel Kiss–my favorite!  Bottom Row–these colors were my least favorite but Bonaparte liked the darker the best on me (I texted him pics!) Color: Left to Right R1B; I think this was RT613/27–I can’t remember but it was too shiny.

This color–Caramel Kiss, was outstanding.  The blend was perfect and the wig looked dense and not shiny like the blond.  If you are looking for a long and blended look, might I suggest Orchid!

It’s funny because the blonde wig was way shinier than the others—and the density of the blonde gave a lighter appearance than the darker colored wigs.

The wigs with the blending of colors—they were my favorites!  The texture wasn’t doll-shiny and appeared to be denser.

The cap construction of  Estetica’s wigs really blew me away.  There’ are no combs and yet, the stretch factor of the caps fit so well that the wigs are completely secure.  Yesterday I wore a wig grip, which was insurance for the wig to stay put. But, today, as I write this, I’m not wearing a wig grip and the wig that I’m wearing (which I’ll tell you about later on in the post) isn’t slipping at all!

Inside out. The lace front is cut so meticulously!

And the comfort stretch cap.  It literally feels like nothing! Light as a feather!

The wig cap is ridiculously comfortable. As snug as the fit on the wigs I tried on was, not once did I feel as though I was wearing a wig.  The other incredible feature is the ear tabs.  Ain’t gonna lie.  The ear tabs on a good number of the wigs I do have are large and hard—and sometimes getting my glasses to “fit” right can be a challenge to the point I’ve had to cut a portion of the ear tabs. Not so with these Estetica wigs.  I did bring up the point that the wigs were very eyeglass friendly.

Feedback also included how synthetic hair behaves when rubbed against various textures of fabric and shedding and tangling.  It felt so good to be able to contribute a little something something!

Let’s look at some of the other wigs I tried on. Okay?

Sky—I saw this layered bob online and featured in YouTube reviews. This is truly a gorgeous unit.  A more layered and edgy medium-length bob. But, it looks better on women with a longer neck.

Sky looks gorgeous both online and on a few of the reviewers I saw…

Here I am wearing Sky in the color  R4/6. This is proof that not every style is for every person.  I think Sky is far more beautiful in the lighter colors or in the blended colors.  My neck is too short and the effect of the edginess is for naught on me.  Trust me–I do NOT do this unit justice by any means!

Violet.  Now—the cut of this is adorable! It’s such a great wavy bob—and much like my own hair when it was bobbed and not blown out.   I would wear this in a blended, highlighted color and would wear it all summer if I owned Violet!  It’s so beachy and “summer fun” looking!  I also think this is a great wig for women of all ages!

Violet–a cute wavy bob with a beachy and summer vibe!

Violet on me. This is  the color  “Vogue”.  This isn’t my color and I would love to see this in a more blended  color like Caramel Kiss–I honestly loved this style!! It was a fun summer look!

And then came Jamison.  I’m gonna tell you something.  I’ve seen this wig reviewed many, many times.  Here’s where you never know what a wig will look like until you try it on.  From the reviews I’ve watched and read, Jamison is one of those wigs that either looks off-the-charts great……or it doesn’t.  It depends on who is wearing her.

Jamison in Caramel Kiss.  Hmmmmmm.  She was very intriguing to me!

When I saw Jamison on the mannequin, I was very intrigued because she looked beautiful IRL.  So, when Grace brought her out to me, knowing I love bobs, I was a bit excited while at the same time wondering how she would look.  I tried the color CKISSRT4, Golden Brown with Copper Blonde Highlights and Dark Brown Roots.  She’s a front lace line wig.

Shove over  ladies–Jamison was made for me!!

The heavens opened when I tried Jamison on.  In the first place, the Estetica front lace line wigs don’t need any trimming. The lace is so finely cut to the hairline that it’s nearly impossible to see where the wig begins.

Back to Jamison.  When I tried her on I was floored!  First of all, this color combo was so well-blended it looked like a salon job.  Secondly, the actual cut of the bob was very natural—it wasn’t a “done” look. In fact, it was more like what a cut looks like after about two or three weeks—it falls very naturally. I swear I thought the wig would be so thin and sparse but it wasn’t.  Jamison had a great amount of volume and with a flick of the fingers, could be changed into a more tousled look.

 

This wig.  I was bowled over!! She’s so natural and gorgeous!

The best part—I was gifted with this wig!  And boy, do I wish I had a backup.  Let me tell you about the rest of my visit.

We chatted some more—and had quite a few laughs!  It’s always more comfortable when you are with people that have a sense of humor! And these guys did! I even expressed my love of dirty hair—and dirty wigs! (i.e., hair looks better when it’s gone a few days without washing—many wigs also look better if they aren’t washed often!)

Fun times with Grace and Tae!  Look at the unit from the side–it’s so natural looking and Jamison is nice and full!!!!!  Just what I love!!!

The day wasn’t over yet.  Grace, Erin and I went to a local café for lunch and you know, I haven’t had such a great girly time in a while.  It felt like I was with my daughter Oona and her friends.  Lunch is grand when you are in the company of women who enjoy each other and we had a blast.

And when we returned, I was given a Goodie bag. Who doesn’t love a Goodie bag?????  Boy was this one chock-full of goodies.

Best Goodie bag I’ve ever received!

My morning coffee was enjoyed in this mug today.  And Erin and Grace must have read the blog post about my laptop turning me into a monster!  Remember the planner that I threw and broke?  Well—I got another one.  This one shall not be thrown.

This morning’s coffee was enjoyed from this mug I received…

This lovely planner/datebook will replace the one I destroyed while angry with my laptop’s printer…

I’ve already started to fill in the dates…

I also received a stand-up calendar—both of which are next to my computer on the dining room table/my office!

…a sturdy stand up calendar that won’t keep falling over is well-needed.

And a handy color chart and catalog!  I’ve been studying!

The planner, pen, calendar are placed upon my LaRamade menu-as-mousepad.  I’m very classy with the Sriracha sauce in the background!

Overall, I had such a wonderful time. I also learned something.  You don’t have to stick to one particular texture in a wig.  The right style for your face and the most flattering and realistic cuts matter too.  It was a great day of give and take suggestions and feedback.  And I welcome the chance to return to give more feedback and to visit with Grace, Erin and Tae!!!

Here’s today’s looks at Jamison!

Look at that parting space and hairline.  I didn’t even have to manipulate..

…a little tousle from the fingers and she’s looking mighty fine!  This color though!!!!

Sleeked down a bit with the fingers–look how natural she is!!!

Ohhhhh the more I look at Jamison the more she is my favorite bob!  She doesn’t look “done” or like a helmet.  She moves beautifully and the color!!!!!!

And Bonaparte LOVES the style. I think he may be coming around to the color too!

So, ladies, in my mission to attempt to normalize wigs, I hope you enjoyed my visit as much as I did.  Remember, wigs are confidence and esteem builders for women who suffer hair loss.  They put the “pro” into pro-aging!

But they are also a fun and easy way to change up your look. And for vacations—they should be a necessity. After all, who wants to spend precious time spending on your hair when you are away?  Plop on a wig and you are off for some exciting touring without worrying about the tresses!

I’m off to take Chippy out in the snow!  And it’s a wet, heavy snow. I’ll need a hat to cover this beautiful head of hair of mine!!! XOXOXOXO

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Question And Answer Session. A Visit to The BrightenBar!

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Catherine

Nestled within the town of West Chester, about a half-hour outside Philly’s center city, is a building.  It’s off the beaten path, on a little lane—a mews actually.  The building is small and cute. And The BrightenBar is such a cozy and unpretentious place–I could have stayed all day!!!

Welcome to The BrightenBar ladies!!!

Look how cute it is!

The view from Rima’s chair!!!

And Dr. Laurene also performs SculpSure for the neck!

And in this building, is a dentist, Dr. Laurene and her practice.  There is also The BrightenBar™ (click link to find out more!), a girly, fabulous place to offer all things facial and skin care! The BrightenBar is owned and operated by Rima Vanhill-Seal, one of the most beautiful and interesting women I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.

Trust me, it IS her passion!!!!

Rima, her exotic looks from her Greek/Lebanese roots and her lovely accent from being educated in London, can make one feel a bit intimidated.  But her down-to-earth demeanor and vibrant personality make you realize early on, that you can really have a great time with her and ask her anything about skin care related topics!  She loves to discuss all things beauty!

Ladies!  Meet Rima, owner of The BrightenBar!  Look. At. That. Skin. I’m telling you, IRL her skin is even more beautiful.  I was so jealous of  her skin!!!  And she’s every bit as beautiful!!!

And—get this; she left a career in law to become an aesthetician!  What’ not to love about that???

How did I find out about Rima and the BrightenBar™?  Well, do you remember the Buzzfeed article from a few months back?  Not the Fenty one but the one that showcased mature women and the makeup they wore?   This one:  24 Photos Of Women Over 40 In Makeup That Will Make You Smile Uncontrollably.  I was featured and so was Rima.  (I’m Number 19. Rima is Number 24)  She’s on Instagram as @aliveinheels. We’ve started following each and I’m always astounded at how beautiful her skin is.  It’s perfect.  She’s definitely worth following!!

From the Buzzfeed article!!

Anyway…. because I’ve always shared skin care products with you that I use, I reached out to Rima with a few questions that I, and I know you, would love to have answered.  I’m no expert—and I can review, but I’m in no position to advise.  And I thought it would be a great idea to have a Q & A session for you!!

Here’s some Questions and the answers—both answered by Rima and Dr. Laurene:

Q. Fillers are always a great topic but the choices are so confusing. It used to be that Botox was the only filler.  With Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane…how do you know which filler is right for you?  And which fillers are best for lips, around the eyes, cheeks?

A. In fact, Botox is not a filler, it is a botulinum toxin. Botox was the first botulinum toxin, although it is no longer the only one. Xeomin and Dysport are other examples.  All three products do the same thing. Namely, decrease the contraction of muscle movement. Use is determined based on provider and/or client preference.  some people say that one works better than another for them.  Our preference for filler around the lips are Belotero, and Juvederm.  Radiesse works well in the nasolabial folds, particularly in older person, and is a great cheek enhancement for mid face volume loss.  Restylane is interchangeable with Juvederm and Belotero as to where it can be used on the face.  All three can be used to fill lips, marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and fine lines around the mouth and lip.

Q. Are there any studies of long-term effects on fillers—health related?A. Given that this is a medical FDA-approved treatment, there have been many studies described in the medical literature. Although there have been reported allergies and responses, all well documented in the medical literature, because fillers are reversible (via a product called Hyaluronidase can be injected to reverse the Hylaronic Acid), it is quite a safe treatment.

Q. I’m obsessed with fillers—what fillers can a woman take so she won’t have those duck lips? And which fillers are best for those lines above the mouth?

A.Duck lips are generally caused by either too much filler, and/or improper placement of the filler. In Dr. Laurene’s opinion, Belotero and Juvederm do the best job in and around the lips. Going to an experienced provider with extensive experience and expertise working with muscles, nerves of the face (such as Dr. Laurene) is the best way to avoid duck lips.

Q. Is microdermabrasion another way to go for the mature woman? Just what exactly is microdermabrasion?

A. Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical, non-invasive procedure that uses a spray of microcrystals to remove (aka exfoliate) the outermost layer of dry, dead skin cells and reveal younger, healthier-looking skin. Although I am great believer in exfoliation, I’m not a huge fan of traditional microdermabrasion treatments and we don’t offer it at the BrightenBar primarily because it is an older technology and there are many more effective ways in which to achieve the same or superior benefits, particularly for mature skin.

Q.  OK. We’ve all read and seen tons about “shaving” for women.  And many of us lose hair on the top of our heads only to have it grow back on our chins.  So, is shaving okay or should we just wax?

A.  As someone who also suffers from female pattern balding, the irony of it is not lost on me! Even as I began to suddenly sprout dark hairs from my chin, I could see my scalp for the first time in my life. My most requested service is a Dermaplane.   Dermaplaning is a safe and highly effective physical exfoliation procedure. It requires the use of a sterile, surgical scalpel to gently “shave” the skin’s surface, removing the top-most layer of dead skin along with fine, vellus hair (aka peach fuzz).  My younger clients love it because they are left with a smooth surface on to which to pile on the foundation they don’t need.  As for the rest of us, it’s a good way in which to help product penetration of skin care and anti-aging treatments.

Q.  I look at all the products that I have for skin care and sometimes I’m overwhelmed. There are oils, creams, serums. How many products do we really need?  And which ones are better applied in the morning—and which ones in the evening?

A.  Skin care marketing and advertising is complicated. Sorting through the hype is overwhelming. The fact is, whilst a complex organ, skin and its care are relatively straight forward and can be quite simple. What skin needs at age 20 is vastly different that what one needs at 60.  Nevertheless, a few principles apply regards:  am and pm you need to cleanse, stimulate and protect.  There is a short list of key active ingredients skin needs to achieve optimal health.  What percentage or the best formulation is more specific to the individual; generally, you should apply products from thinner to thicker consistency.  It’s worth it to pay a knowledgeable skin care expert who is going to put together a skin care regimen and treatment plan based on your skin needs, your lifestyle and your budget rather than what they sell.  Once you have the base plan in place, you only need to ‘tweak’ periodically.

Q.  How can you a find a reputable administrator of fillers should she decide to go that route? And what is the average price?

A. How can you tell if you are being overpriced? A good way to find a provider is to look on the American Academy of Facial Esthetics website. https://www.facialesthetics.org/ Doctors trained by them have received extensive training. The average cost of a syringe of filler is $500-800, depending on the brand. Be wary of Groupons for Botox.  Sometimes they are selling a unit of Botox for less than it costs the provider to buy.  The only way they can do this is to over dilute the Botox, which means you are not getting what you think you are.  Remember, when things are too good to be true, they probably are.

Q.  Should we change up our routines with the seasons—and how?

A.  Tweaking is important. The fundamentals may stay the same – after all, Cleopatra was using Alpha Hydroy Acids (Lactic) centuries ago (Lactic Acid), technology and science of skin care and the mechanisms to deliver key actives has improved and continues to involve. Periodically reviewing your skin care and treatments is important to maximize effectiveness.

Q.  Hydration. I think that’s the biggest gripe with women in the over 50 demographic. It is so hard to get the skin hydrated.  So many of us drink tons of water but does all that water really help us?

A.  What else can we do to plump up our skin. There is internal hydration and external hydration. Drinking a lot of water is good for overall health but it does not guarantee that your skin will be very moisturized.  Often, women who complain of dry skin are in fact dehydrated because they are using the wrong products.  According to the World-famous Dr. Zein Obagi, we have gotten our skin cells so used to be hydrated by overapply moisturizers and occulusive products, our cells aren’t able to work as effectively as they should because of this.  If you stimulate the cells, wake them up, they will likely begin to again do what they we meant to be doing and hydrate your skin.  Back to the principles I mentioned above:  cleanse, stimulate, protect and clean skin so it can accept the moisture from above and within.  Stimulate cells to regenerate by exfoliating, by increasing blood circulation and therefore nourishment (from within and by accepting topically applied products). And protect skin (from the sun and free radicals) so it is healthy and can function.

My pet peeves are over moisturizing and over protecting.  Similar to the problems we are facing now thanks to the over use of gluten and in over use of anti-bacterial products, we are starting to see problems with overly dry skin and vitamin d deficiency.

Q.  OK. My husband is European and he is always amazed at how American women don’t get facials on a regular basis (I think he means me—lol). With all the DIY products available and the facial masks that are sold in drug and beauty stores, what are your thoughts on this? Do you think the home facials are a good bet?

A.  Yes! Although there are certain treatments you really need to get from a professional, there is so much we could be doing at home. Apart from having the right skin care regimen, the most antiaging and stimulating thing you can do for yourself at home is a facial massage.   DIY is like everything else these days.  Lots out there but overwhelming to try to sort through what’s rubbish vs. What’s good.

Less than 2 years ago I left a very lucrative corporate legal career to become an aesthetician in part because I was so infuriated at all the crap we are being fed every day — the marketing hype, the endless amounts of money we spend only to turn 50 and realize the miracle serum that was supposed to prevent the frown lines did nothing but occlude my face and turn my skin cells into lazy bones.  Why, by now, I could have paid for a half face lift!  I wanted to share what I had been discovering on my own aging journey with others.  I wanted to establish the kind of place I wanted to go to but couldn’t find – good effective non-invasive, low downtime services, at a reasonable price.  A place where advise was based on knowledge and expertise independent of whether or not they sold the product/service I needed.  That is what I hoped to do with the BrightenBar.

*************************************************************************

And I’m going to add a few things here.  When Rima spoke of over-hydration, I listened intently because I have a gazillion moisturizing products and I’m applying then in the morning at night they way a baker applies frosting to a cake.

Over the past week, I stopped and pared down to rotating two of my Ordinary products (Rima is a fan!) and a serum that Rima gave me.  When I was at the nail salon yesterday having my lip and chin waxed, Kim, who does my nails and face said that my skin was looking great!  I noticed an improvement in my skin as well—and in only a week’s time.

Over the past week, I’ve pared down to this….

…and this.  And I’ve been told my skin is looking good!!!!

In addition, Rima suggested rubbing my lips vigorously up to five times a day.  Exfoliating in this manner will lead to breaking the lip balm habit.  I’ve been doing this and it works.  I’ll still keep my Chapstick but I find I’m not reaching for it every 15 minutes like I was doing!

My bare naked chapped-free lips after exfoliation!

Also, Rima is a big advocate for Breast Cancer awareness.  In her office, rather than tips, she has a little box for donations to the cause which is a  great way to be an advocate for women!

Take a visit to theBrightenBar to have Rima take good care of you!

I hope you enjoyed this informative session!  And as this blog evolves, please let me know if you would enjoy more posts like this.  Now—I’m going upstairs to get ready for the day and I’m following Rima’s advice!!!

..from the BrightenBar!!!!  I’ll be back!!!!

XOXOXOXO

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My Laptop Turned Me Into a Monster Today. And I Am Not Ashamed!

Posted on January 25, 2018 by Catherine

Oh yes.  This is the true confession of how my laptop turned me into a monster, how my poor husband had to deal with my tantrums, and how Chippy still remains, at 6:02 PM, petrified of the sound of my voice!

He’s not moving.  His ears are still in pain from the sound of my screeching, Banshee, Long Island accented wails!

It all started out somewhat innocently.  About two months ago, Bonaparte purchased a printer for my laptop.  It was a very nice gesture and one that was well-needed.  I’ve been emailing him documents to print and I am sure he was hoping that I would stop bothering him and use a printer of my own.

The printer stood on the floor, in his office, for quite some time.  I didn’t want to install the it during the holidays because there was too much going on.

The printer that really belongs in the trash!

And so, last week, Saturday to be exact, we decided to configure the printer with my computer.

Things didn’t work out too well.  Apparently, the HP printer could not be configured with my laptop.  I did some troubleshooting and a message popped up stating that the printer could NOT be configured with my laptop.

I told Bonaparte to take the piece of $hit computer back to Best Buy.

Image result for best buy

For me, it’s more like Best Bye Bye!

Alas, Monsieur is just as stubborn as I am, and he insisted that we bring the printer, along with my laptop to Best Buy so that The Geek Squad could set up the printer to my laptop. BTW, the *——-ing printer is wireless.

We pay a fee to have Geek Squad service whatever issues we have so it was no big deal.

Or was it?

I had a bad feeling about this.  Seriously—I wanted that printer out of my domain. But, to comply with the Frenchman’s wishes, we went off to Best Buy.  And I missed the second half of “Ellen” to do this. OK?

Yeah. My pretend best friend Ellen had a great show today. She gave away $10,000.  I coulda been a contenda!!

Luckily, there was no wait as we went up to the Geek Squad counter.  Bonaparte explained that we needed to configure the wireless printer to the laptop.  I explained that the printer wasn’t compatible with the laptop.  Nobody paid attention to me.

All the while, I felt something would go wrong.  I was told the printer was now installed and working—the test paper produced a printed product—but I still didn’t feel quite right about this process.

And then, we arrived home.  I plugged the laptop in, confident that my feelings of wrath were wrong.

My Google Chrome page wasn’t opening.  In fact, nothing was opening.  I tried to gain access to my blog to no avail.  No email.  No internet. No documents that could be opened. No nuthin’ –and I went into such an incredible emotional state that even Linda Blair’s Regan MacNeil character from The Exorcist would have been running for cover from me.

Seriously, had Regan MacNeil witnessed ME, the devil inside her would have been stunned!

Bonaparte, seeing the horrific state that I was in, quickly called The Geek Squad.  And he tried, in vain, to tell the technical support staff member what happened.

And I, just 10 weeks shy of my 63rd birthday, had a bona fide temper tantrum.

This is nothing compared to what I was doing in our house!

Words spewed out of my mouth that even I never heard before. I may have been either shouting in tongues or perhaps I truly was a Polyglot in my ability to curse multi-lingual!

I started to throw things.  Yeah. I did.

Well, what I threw were books and one of my journal binders ripped in half, papers flying all over.

My little binder journal literally broke in two–and I hurt my finger!

And these papers–they were strewn all over the house.

It was at this point that Chippy ran upstairs in terror and hid under our bed.

I had turned into a monster.  All because of a laptop and a printer!

Yeah–this was me–with a wig!

Bonaparte and the Geek Squad tech could not resolve the issue by phone.  We had to drive back to Best Buy.

Now—you must realize, that when we arrived home from Best Buy the first time, it was just after five and I hastily took off my clothes and put my pajamas on.  Going back to Best Buy, I quickly threw on a pair of jeans, loafers and threw a coat on.  Luckily, I hadn’t taken my wig off!

I kept the top on–I should have just gone back in my PJ’s, but it would have given Bonaparte a heart attack!

Also, luckily, upon arriving at Best Buy, the Geek Squad guy who originally helped us was still there.

Bonaparte, carrying the printer from hell, followed me as I marched up to the counter and placed my laptop upon it.  Shouting in my most high-pitched, nasal, Long Island Accent “My Laptop isn’t working!!!!!”  “What did you dooooooooooooo?”.

I was seething!

The look of fear in Bonaparte’s eyes was intense. He knew what I was capable of.  Even in public for I have no shame.  The Geek Squad guy opened the computer while I literally jumped up and down flailing my arms, fake hair moving to and fro, chanting rhythmically “It’s not working!”  “It’s not working!!!”

I didn’t say that, but boy, don’t be surprised if someone took a video of my, jumping up and down and rotating–yes, rotating while whining that my computer wasn’t working.  I know it’s going to show up somewhere!  And I will take credit for my bad behavior!

Under normal circumstances, I love an audience.  But this wasn’t the time as others in the store started walking over to see what the commotion was.    And it was me! Yes.  I was the commotion.

In the end, it turned out that I was correct.  The printer was not compatible with the laptop.  And Bonaparte was unable to return it because he left the receipt home.

Thankfully, upon arriving home and plugging my laptop in, it worked like a charm and I am, therefore, able to confess to you, once again, of my very naughty behavior!

Back to work and always willing to entertain!!!

Tomorrow the printer will be returned, with the receipt, for a refund.  Bonaparte has already told me that I do not have to accompany him.

Well, at least my Frenchman is taking this back by himself!  Perhaps then, I will be able to watch Ellen’s Birthday show????!!!

My finger hurts, my voice is hoarse but we had a few laughs about this debacle over dinner!

And Bonaparte was secretly relieved that I went incognito–as a blonde!  

So, ladies—when was the last time you had a great emotional meltdown or tantrum. I know that I’m not the only one!!!  Spill the beans and make yourself feel better!!!!

And to pat myself on the back, I’m listening to Spin Doctors “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong”!

 

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The Age of Enlightenment. For Hair, That Is!

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Catherine

Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do with their hair—but, I’ve been doing quite a bit of research lately.   And sometimes that can either be a good thing or a very bad thing!

Anyway, it seems that at our age—or as we age, the experts suggest that we go lighter with our hair color.  Now—my natural hair color is black.  In fact, the black tresses that I was born with were so pitch that when certain lighting hit it, my hair took on a blueish tint—like Veronica from the Archie comics.

OK–So my eyes were crossed back then too–but only my hair looked like Veronica’s!

And before I started to lose my hair, the deep, dark blackness gradually started to change.  In my late twenties, I noticed a few gray hairs popping up. And when you have dark hair, those grays stick out like flies on a wedding cake!

The thing is, I wasn’t ready for gray hair.  And as more grays invaded, I noticed that my part looked kind of “off” and the gray made it appear wider.  It was during this time that I started coloring my hair a deep auburn—and it was a gorgeous shade.  I loved it.

“Hair” I am back in NYC with Roman.  My naturally curly hair and natural auburn dye job! Jeez–it seems like yesterday. I can even remember having that picture taken!

But—as my luck would have it, as my hair went deeper into the loss of natural color, the auburn roots would start to fade into a pink color that really didn’t match my personality.  So, I went back to dying my hair black.

When younger, it was fine—the black didn’t really look harsh.  But as I entered my late forties and early fifties, not only was my hair falling out, but the black dye began to look a little rough.

Still, I continued to color my hair.  I was born with dark hair and wanted what hair I still had to remain dark. And through the loss and the Toppik and the other products I used to disguise the loss, black remained my hair color of choice.

Then came the wigs.  And my journey of fake hair!

One of my fave dark-haired wigs–Outre Perm Yaki 18″!

Now—for those of you who are regulars of this fun blog, you are well-aware of my many dark wigs.

But—after reading so many articles about aging and going lighter with hair, I’ve decided to play around with lighter colors.  Let’s take a look:

My first foray into a different but not really intentionally lighter color was this wig, Konis in the color TT99J/530. This deep burgundy shade is extremely popular with older French women. They cut their hair very, very short and dye it burgundy. Like Red wine!

Lighter with my most favored wig, Carrie Lace Front from UniWig’s LaVivid Collection. This Brown Spice color is just beautiful!

Another absolute favorite is Storm by Model Model wigs. This is a Number 4–a lighter brown.

The darker wigs on the bottom all look fine-but I’m thinking that the lighter ones just may be a tad more flattering.  Clary, top right, is actually a soft black with brown highlights–color number 1B/30. I’m quite fond of that color combo but Bonaparte is not!

I’m a bit obsessed at the moment with lighter hair.  And I know that there are quite a few women out in the blogosphere who are very passionate about going gray.   That’s cool—but I’m still not ready.

This wig, Swami, by Freetress Equal was the straw that broke the camel-colored hair’s back for me.  This color is TS-Mocha, a dark brown base with golden and auburn highlights throughout. I love this so much I purchased another one.  I love this color..

Lighter with Justine by “It’s A Wig” in color P4/27/30.  A lovely blend of honey browns and golden blondes!

The experts write that “cool” colors for aging women are not the best choice—I think that could be debatable in some cases but I have to admit, I’m finding that warmer colors are softening my face a bit—so I think there’s something there. Maybe we should think about going lighter.

And lookie, lookie, lookie!  Here I am in Carrie (not the lace front) from LaVivid Collection. @kathleenryanart on Instagram won this wig and generously gave her winning to me.  I love this color.  I do need to spray some dry shampoo on it to get the shine down a bit, but, boy, is it fun being blonde!

This wig is a blast!  I’m really loving it in a messy updo. Very Bardot!

This is a great way to go lighter!

And that’s another reason that wigs are so wonderful.  If you are thinking about going lighter and don’t want the bother of bleaching your hair or dying your hair with harsh chemicals, then maybe buying an inexpensive wig can be a good solution.   I’m having so much fun with lighter colors!  It really brightens my personality!!

WAIT!!  I went even lighter!  This wig, April by Bobbi Boss. I ordered it from GoBeautyNY .  The site is having a 25% off sale through the end of the month. I paid $19.45 including shipping for this unit. It was delivered in two days and they are now sold out of this wig!   This is a great wig for a look that isn’t completely blonde.  I dig it!

Same thing with hair loss and gray.  I’ve received quite a few emails asking me about wig sites that A. have gray wigs and B. have a silkier texture.

Mind you—my own hair is dull, coarse and wiry. And I want to apologize for being so self-centered and only posting videos that showcase wigs that are similar to my own hair.  I don’t want to be exclusive.

So, if you are thinking of going lighter, or if you are thinking of wigs—you’ve got to check out wig videos by Taz.  She’s so adorable and her reviews are incredibly detailed and educational.  She goes into every nuance of the wigs she reviews.

This is Taz. Her channel, Taz’s Wig Closet has excellent and very detailed wig reviews–and she’s cuter than a speckle-eared puppy!

And for the gray-haired ladies—chick out IvyMUA.  She loves gray wigs, gives fun and entertaining reviews and she’s a makeup wiz!

IvyMUA’s YouTube videos are also great. She rock’s the gray and she has a great sense of humor. I also love her makeup tutorials!!!  

You also might want to check out http://esteticadesigns.com.  This wig company has an entire page devoted to their wigs shades.  Lots of lighter shades and lots of gray shades.  And the brand’s Sky wig is freaking gorgeous.

For a much better view, check out the Estetica website…

And this Sky wig is a gorgeous choice for those who don’t want to go too short or longer than shoulder length!  

Ladies—we’re never to old to go lighter with our hair or to go shorter or longer—and with wigs we don’t even need a scissor! I’m telling you—this gray thing—so many young women are turning gray into a trend. ( Something I find fascinating–who started that anyway?) Maybe real soon, I’ll jump on the bandwagon! I’ll stick to blonding in the meantime!

Oh…I uploaded a video on the blonde  April wig I ordered a few days ago.  Here you go—and Chippy makes an appearance!!!

From me to you.  I have a long way to go before I get anywhere near as good as Taz and Ivy but I’m trying!

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Yet Another Post About “Style”

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Catherine

You know how you’ll see something and it leads you to thinking about something else in connection with what you saw—and then you’ll see something else and you’ll think of that first something you saw?

I know, I know—but this is leading somewhere.  Stay with me.

Last night Bonaparte and I were watching “House Hunters International”.  The episode focused on a couple—I would say they were in their fifties, and their move from Massachusetts to Sarlat, France.  First of all, I was bitterly jealous AF that this couple was able to move to  France and I wasn’t.

Image result for house hunters international sarlat

Sarlat, France.  I can’t watch House Hunters International without either being A. Insanely jealous or B.  Going crazy that Americans expect to get a Chateau for $800USD a month–with an American Kitchen no less!

And while it was great that this couple was able to make the move—I hand it to anyone leaving the States to live overseas; it either takes a stellar job transfer, career move, or just plain balls! I could not get past the way the woman  was dressed.  Hey. I make no apologies for being deeply shallow, but it went further than that.

I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this woman, who was an artist, and who loved French charm and history and who had a good “eye”, was dressed so dowdily and matronly.  She had no style.

It was hard to come to terms for me.  I studied her.  She wore pants that were ill-fitting and about three sizes too large for her.  She wore oversized polo shirts—but also ill-fitting. On her feet were unattractive sneakers.  And her hair—it looked like she cut it herself and just didn’t even bother to put a comb through it.

Not that there’s anything wrong with Khaki pants for women–but it would help if the pants were a more flattering fit…

Image result for ill fitting polo shirts

…..and a slightly fitted polo shirt would be better than an ill-fitting one!

Now—I realize that I sound harsh.  And I don’t mean to be—that’s not my motive.  But all I could think of was this:  She obviously loved khaki pants—if she had a pair of skinny khaki pants, it would show off the shape of her legs.  If she wore a fitted polo shirt, she would enhance her curves and look younger.  If she wore lowtop Chuck Taylor’s, she would take on a hip vibe.  And if she pulled her hair back and applied just a bit of makeup, she would have looked beautiful.

And I fell asleep counting the ways this woman could have looked ravishing had she just purchased more fitted clothing.  And she didn’t have to spend a fortune either.

I created this look for the House Hunters International Sarlat Lady this morning.  I went to my Polyvore account–after over a year from being away.  THAT’S how disturbed I was by the episode last night!  She would rock this look and it’s based on the clothing she was wearing!

Now—this morning I woke up, and Bonaparte brought me my coffee in bed so that I could enjoy it like the lazy princess that I am.  While I enjoy my morning pick-me-up, I go through my emails, delusionally thinking that someone very important would email me to write for them and pay me.  Instead I get bombarded with mostly advertisements and online publications such as InStyle and WhoWhatWhere.

Winter Fashion Trends: Must Have Black Velvet Coats for 2018

InStyle lauds this as one of the “must have” velvet coats.  No. I must not have this!

Being too lazy to unsubscribe from these obnoxious online rags, I still manage to open them up and shake my head as I read their garbage.  Garbage telling me what I need, should, and must wear!

And then it hit me!  My thoughts immediately went back to the lady on House Hunters International.  Being of the “mature woman” demographic, perhaps she was too overwhelmed with publications and articles written by much younger women telling her what she needs, should, and must wear.

French girl

 

And if I see another damned article on how to dress like a French woman, I’ll go insane!  And for the record–I’ve never seen any woman in Paris wear a hat on their head like this one is wearing! I’ve never seen anyone stand like that on a balcony either.

And I’ll bet that House Hunters lady wasn’t the only one who becomes overwhelmed! Those publications are about one thing and one thing only.  Sales!  They want you to buy the mostly overpriced designer goods that they write about.  The celebrities have it and so should you.

They showcase street style.  Ummm as far as I’m concerned, “street style” is just another word for “This-is-how-people-dress-when-they-are-out-and-about.”  Only these publications scout out women wearing Hermes and Dior.  That ain’t the street style I am familiar with.

“Street Style” from Stockholm fashion week.  That plaid style on the left is overkill and you don’t see many women walking the streets with Hermes bags. At least not on the streets by where I live!

It’s difficult to find a style that you like when you’re over a certain age.  But there’s a solution.

Think about what you like. Think about a time when you were thrilled with how you looked and the way you dressed.  And work around it.

Related image

What is the foundation for my style?  My school uniform!  Not kidding!

Say “buh bye” to the husband and whoever else is living in your house.  Take a morning or afternoon to be by yourself.  Get into the car and go to the mall or to boutiques in your town. Study the clothing.  Try stuff on.  Look at yourself.  You’ll be able to see what looks great on you and what doesn’t.

YOU ARE YOUR OWN FASHION ICON.  I’ve said this a million times!

I Want You To Be Your Own Beauty Icon--my interview with Vivant Skin Care. It applies to style too!

Trust me. My style isn’t far out.  It isn’t “street” nor is it artsy.  It is a bit tailored, a bit casual, a bit uniform, a bit preppy, a bit masculine, a bit feminine, a bit fun and a bit classic.  It’s my style and nobody else’s.

Another Polyvore outfit I created a while back. This pretty-much personifies my style. Uniform and clean. If I could only get my paws on that military jacket……

And you can turn any article of clothing into your style.  Case in point.  I stole a coat from my husband.  That’s right, I stole it right from him.  It belonged to his uncle Yves Robert, his aunt Danièle Delorme gave it to him after Yves passed away.  I’ve written about this coat in the past—it’s beautiful in a very crumpled up, effortless way. It’s oversized on me; the color is not one I would have picked for me.  But the second I saw it, I wanted it and I made no bones about it.  Now—it’s mine and I have been wearing it regularly for over ten years.

This coat–it’s perfectly imperfect in it’s vintage way. It’s roomy and comfortable and I love it…

And yes–I’m blonde today. Very blonde.  I’m having a Bardot moment. But this coat!!

I love the color…

…the way it drapes…

The rolled up sleeves, the huge pockets, the little stains..

I love the little metal clasps at the collar..

..to protect my turkey neck!

And I love the way the buttons disappear when the coat is closed!

….it gives a nice clean line!

The coat was made by Arnys, Paris–and the shop on rue de Sevre, I’m not even sure if it is still there..

And it’s things like this that I love…I had no idea that microfiber was around decades ago!

Another article of clothing that I’ve turned around to work with my style is a bolero or cropped jacket.  Danièle gave it to me as part of a dress/jacket ensemble.  It’s from the designer André Courrèges. She knew he was my favorite designer and she no longer wore the outfit.

Me in the red Courrèges cropped jacket.  I love it paired with torn jeans and a white tee.  I’m also liking the red against my dark fake hair. I took these pictures before the FedEx man rang my bell with my blonde tresses!

The dress still needs to be tailored but the jacket is adorable and I love wearing it with a white shirt and jeans.  I can wear heels to dress it up or flats to wear it in a more casual way.  But it doesn’t matter. I’ve made it mine.  Just like Danièle made it hers with her little gold bow earrings, her kitten heels and her hair pulled back with a headband.

I’m also wearing my red Vince Camuto heels showcasing fabulous toe cleavage!

My new “thing” is wearing a scarf as bracelet.  This one, from J. Crew is a nice match for this jacket!

Overall, I really love this look!  And I believe the reason for the long life of these two hand-me-downs are the fact the clothing was made in France.  By professionals.

We all have our own style and we need to find that style and own it.

If you are having style issues or are in a style rut, look to your inner self.  Take a look at different store’s online shops, take a screenshot of what you like., print the clothes out and put them in a scrap book or your purse and take them with you when you go shopping!

Go on to Polyvore—it’s a great website where you can “create” outfits—and it’s a great way to hone in on your personal style!  Have fun with it.

This is another outfit I created from Polyvore’s site.  I wish I had this outfit!

And here’s another.  

I mean it. Polyvore is such a fun way to really discover your inner style–and it’s fun as all get out!!!!  Try it–you’ll love it!!!

But please—whatever you do, don’t ever let anyone dictate to you what you should wear.  Not now. Not ever. Never!

I’m going now–I’m going to go back and play on Polyvore!  Go. Go find your style. Maybe I’ll see you there!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!

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The Tree and Me

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Catherine

Hey All!  The following is a fun review!  About a Tree.  And Me!

Far be it from me to boast and brag about having a green thumb—-because I don’t!

I’m that person, who, when I was working down on Wall Street at the old Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, would have my colleagues rushing over to my work area to water the plants and trim the leaves because if I so much as looked at the greenery, every one of them would shrivel up and die.

This is what could’ve become of my office plants had my co-workers not saved them!

The only potted plants I’ve ever seemed to be able to keep for the season were geraniums. And that’s because I trained my kids to deadhead the old growth when they were on their way to catch the school bus in the mornings.  Three kids and quite the number of potted geraniums on the front porch meant a lot of deadheading on their part.

Image result for atypical60 geraniums

….and now that the kids are grown, I’ve trained Bonaparte to deadhead the geraniums on the back deck.  How else would they live past a week?

Don’t even talk about what happened this past Fall.  I was becoming quite envious of the neighbor’s beautiful mums.  Apparently, Chrysanthemums are impossible to kill—unless you are me.  Four pots of these yellow puffballs met their untimely demise within one week.  One. Week.

Don’t even ask how, but I managed to kill these gorgeous plants within one week. One week!!  I should have returned them to Home Depot and asked for a refund!

I swear I did everything I was supposed to do.

We have a large potted plant that leads to the sun room.  Bonaparte takes care of it. Had I taken care of it, it would have been gone a long time ago.

A nice potted tree this is. No thanks to me!

And those Poinsettias that I’m so proud of because I take such great care of them—it appears that a certain Frenchman has been going behind my back…

And here I thought the poinsettias were thriving because of me–apparently they like when Bonaparte waters them and speaks French to them!

But—the straw that broke the camel’s back came in the form of a green, struggling Dieffenbachia that we had for quite a few years.  Bonaparte brought it back from near death after I touched it.  Then, sadly, the end came a few weeks ago.  I was honestly very sad.  It validated my lack of horticultural expertise.

You have no idea how upset I was when this plant died.  And it looked so good three years ago!!

I felt like some sort of botanical hit man.  Almost like Alain Delon as hit man Costello in the film Le Samouraï.

I’ve never seen a better trench coat–or a more handsome Alain Delon…

..and me–giving this Basil a kiss of botanical death. I hope this plant lasts till next weekend because I’ll need the leaves for pesto!

And that very day, when our Dieffenbachia was laid to final rest, something happened. It was as though somebody upstairs was watching over me and felt the pain of my failed efforts with greenery.  I received an email.  The email was from PermaLeaf®, a company specializing in all-weather outdoor plants.  Faux plants.  They wanted to know if I would like to review one of their plants!

From PermaLeaf’s site.  Yes.  The plants are–genuine faux foliage!  Our deck needs these for next summer!

Well, you know how I feel about certain tangible items labeled “faux”!  My faux tan, my faux nails, my faux hair!!!!  Now I had the chance to try a plant that seemed to speak to me.  And on the very day my longest-living real plant passed away!

Seriously.  CUT flowers in water last longer than potted plants in my home!

PermaLeaf® generously instructed me to pick a plant from their catalog.  After perusing the site’s products, which was, for me, akin to perusing the J. Crew site.  It was so hard to make a decision—I wanted everything and eventually I decided on a cute Ficus tree.  It would be the perfect solution to filling in a bare corner of our deck during the summer months and would be the perfect solution to fill in either a bare corner by my favorite cupboard upstairs or  the space that was left bare from where the Dieffenbachia once stood.

And last Friday, as I was out and about, I noticed a long, slender box that had been set upon our front step.  It was my tree!  Let me tell you, I took that box, ran upstairs and cut opened that box as quickly as someone who had just gotten a shot of vitamin B-12!

What a delivery!!!!

I felt like Ralphie’s father when he received his major award!

Remember the infamous “Major Award Leg Lamp” from  “A Christmas Story”…that’s how I felt when I received the tree!

Only I had better. I received a genuine, indoor/outdoor faux plant that would give me years of pleasure without the chance of destroying it or worse—killing it!

Let’s take a look at Fanfan.  And yes, I named my Ficus tree after one of my favorite swashbuckling movie characters—Fanfan La Tulipe!

French film star Gerard Philipe as “Fanfan La Tulipe” next to “Cartouche”, the best and most fun swashbuckling, adventure film of all time.  Philipe is the stunner on the left!  Now you know why I named my tree Fanfan!

Out of the box, the tree arrived housed in a plastic planter.  A plastic sheath covering the leaves ensured that the product was well-packaged.

I ran downstairs to grab this ceramic pot which had been with me since 1994.  It was used to throw spare change into–but this was the first time it would actually be used as a planter!  

Leaves unleashed from the packaging, they looked incredibly healthy and realistic!

Chippy introduced himself to Fanfan. Thankfully, he didn’t raise a leg to try to “claim” the tree as his!

Pleasantly surprised at how realistic Fanfan the Ficus looked,  I was particularly impressed with the sturdiness of the  knotted trunk and its mossy finish  It really is a nice faux plant!

 

I moved it over to another bare corner and I’m thrilled that the plastic pot fits so well into my ceramic one!

 

 

Admiring from the dining room where I sit to write.  This looks like the real thing. And I won’t kill it!

 

The best thing is how little my husband pays attention to what I say.  Not being able to contain my excitement I told him all about little Fanfan and how PermaLeaf® sent  it to me.  After nodding his head up and down with approval and a chorus of “Oui, Oui” and “Tres joli” I was happy he agreed with me.

But wait!  Last night as he was watering the poinsettias that I thought I was lovingly caring for, he walked over to Fanfan the Ficus with the watering can and asked how much water the plant needed. Folks I cannot make this up—this really happened.  Bonaparte was ready to water the faux tree because he thought it was real.

The poinsettias were watered but I had to put my foot down when my husband made an attempt to water Fanfan the Ficus!

And when I explained to him—or rather grilled him on why he didn’t pay attention to me when little Fanfan the Ficus was delivered, he stood there and smiled.  He smiled at the tree in wonder and just said in his French accent that he was sorry for not paying attention to me, and that he swore the tree was real.

 

Fanfan the Ficus is now in the spot that occupied our dearly-departed Dieffenbachia.  He’ll be here for a long, long time!

It doesn’t get much better than that!

Thumb’s up for Fanfan the Ficus!  And thanks to PermaLeaf  for sending me a wonderful gift to review.   I’m a faux-tree hugger!

Honestly, if you are like me and for the life of you just can’t seem to grow plants whether indoors or outdoors, or if you just don’t have the time to spend taking care of plants, the faux plants from PermaLeaf are really great.   If you are looking for a realistic faux plant, I highly recommend this company.  I think you will “real”ly like what they offer!

If it were not for our love of real trees and the real plants that grow around us, we wouldn’t be so enamored of their beauty.  But not all of us have the green thumb. Here’s an homage to trees–from one of my fave artists of all time–Cat Stevens. Enjoy!

 

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Come Get Ready With Me. How I Put My Gorgeous Face On!

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Catherine

It’s that hour of the morning.  Coffee has been gloriously sipped and I’m now awake for the day.  Not much is going on.  It is biting 15 degrees outside.  I need to do some grocery shopping, baking and writing.

Ahhhh. I simply cannot function if I do not have my morning cawfee!!!

Is it that important to get out of bed at this early hour and get ready and dressed?  Yes. It is.  Because the simple act of putting my face on is the one act that will make me feel good about myself.  I like the whole process of “getting ready”.

For me, it is methodical.  I’m careful about what goes onto my face.  I’m thoughtful about what hair I’ll wear and I ponder which clothes to wear.

It keeps me from feeling bad. It’s empowering!!!!

So, come with me.  And I’ll show you how I get ready.  I started at exactly 7:20 in the morning.  By 8:20 I was dressed. This is my hour to polish off my shine!

Watch how I go from…well, THAT–to THIS!!!!

Face washed and moisturized.  Primer goes on first. Today I’m using Hard Candy Primer. At eight bucks a pop, this is better than many of the high-end primers I’ve used in the past.

The tiniest amount of this primer is all you need for a great finish.  I let it “set” for about five minutes before moving on! 

And while primer is soaking in, I’ll treat myself to a game of Candy Crush!

Bonaparte can’t stand when I play these games. He said it isn’t normal. OBVIOUSLY!!  I’m not normal–what did he expect???

Now it’s time to brush Well-Rested in the blue corners of my eyes. Oh well, I’ll just swipe the brush all over my eye.

I’ve written about Well-Rested way too many times but it’s such a great product.  I can see that I need yet another repurchase. I’m not a powder person but this powder is so finely milled and it does a great job of concealing that blue tint that you get by the eyes!

Oh..almost forgot to condition my lips!!  It’s funny because at first, I wasn’t crazy about this product but now–I use it every single day!  It does a great job of conditioning dry lips.  Skin Actives Liquid Rainbow. The can be purchased on the Skin Actives website!

I’m not one to go crazy with bright eye shadow so I stick with neutrals. Today I’m using a very neutral and very inexpensive palette by Revolution. It was all of seven bucks at Ulta.

As you can see, I’ve hit pan on a couple of the shadows in this palette. The shadows are extremely silky-textured and very well-pigmented.

A softer and more natural look. Maybe I’ll add more!

The brows.  I need to replenish this Dip Brow pomade from Anastasia.  Not only have I hit pan, but I’ve had it for so many years that it probably has makeup mites in it and they are probably eating what is left of my brows off my face.  But this brow product is just so gooooood!

This brow product retails for $18 at Sephora. It’s a great deal considering I’ve had this for a few years and have hit pan recently.  I’m sure this is so old that it’s expired and contaminated–I’ll keep using it!

Uh oh.  Thank Goodness my guru Wayne Goss doesn’t subscribe to this blog. He would be so angry with me because I still need to blend my eye shadow and clean up my brows.  Don’t worry Wayne, I’ll fix this mess!

Next is mascara.  I’m reaching for the first one I grab.  Today it’s Lash Paradise. Not my favorite. Everyone makes a big deal out of this $9.99 dupe for Too-Faced Better Than Sex mascara. First of all, NO mascara is better than sex. OK?  Secondly, this stuff dries out after the first two weeks and it flakes—but I bought it, so I’m using it.

 

Lash Paradise. Hey, this has a huge following of mascara lovers. I’m not one of them.

Eyeliner after mascara!  I’m using Tarte’s liquid liner. The tip of this is excellent. I think this is the ManEater liner. I can’t remember.

I’m not a big fan of Tarte Cosmetics–but the brand’s eyeliner and some of the mascaras are great. This liner is one of them!

Now—in between each “step” I reach for this little spray bottle. It was once filled with product to set my makeup.  I refilled with tap water and spray my face for hydration.  The indoor heat during the winter months wreaks havoc on my skin and dries it to no end.

Truth be told, I don’t know how much cucumber, green tea and vitamins were in this before I used it up–but now there’s tap water and I can’t tell the difference.

 

Oops!  Time to get back to Candy Crush.  I love hearing the Candy Crush man talking dirty to me.  He tells me I’m “Tasty”!

Is it his voice constantly telling me I’m tasty or is it the fact he’s in uniform?  But I’m Candy Crushin’ on Mr. Candy Crush!

Back to the face.

Lately, I’ve been getting into this color corrector palette from e.l.f.  Surprisingly, it’s an e.l.f. product that has a good amount of…. product!  And the creamy texture of the correcters is very mature skin friendly.  I dab a bit of green on my nose and cheeks because that’s where the redness is.  Then I dab a bit of yellow under the eyes.

I have such a passive/aggressive, love/hate relationship with e.l.f. but this is a good product. I think it’s $6.00 or $5.00.  I like this. 

Time to see how many people unfollowed me on Instagram.  Honestly, between being unfollowed by people I thought were my “friends” and those who follow-to-unfollow, my fingers are kept busy unfollowing them back!   A friend of mine unfollowed me yesterday because she had too many followers.  I unfollowed her back. I have the app! She’s still my friend too!

Seriously, I can’t stand that.  It is so unethical.

Back to the face.

Foundation time.  Today I’m wearing Wet n’ Wild’s Photofocus foundation.  The availability of shades isn’t that great—so I blend two of them together.  At less than five bucks for a bottle, this is still a fabulous find because it is one of the best foundations out there.  It’s matte but doesn’t dry to a chalky or drying consistency. It bends in so well to your skin.  I use a large spoon brush to blend this in because it does a better job than a blending sponge.

A combo of Nude Ivory and Peach Natural make for a good foundation shade for me.  Hands down, this Photofocus is one of the best foundations ever!

Ugh.  The lighting in the room is horrific but trust me, things ARE starting to look pulled together!

But, I blend really, really well. Then when I’m done, I spray my face with the water before moving on to the next step which is…

This–I love this concealer. It glides on and is so hydrating and not drying.  It hides what you need to be hidden and brightens at the same time.  Seven bucks at Walmart!

Concealer.  I don’t even know why this is concealer it’s more like a brightener but his Maybelline Age Rewind is better than a ten-dollar meal at Taco Bell—it’s that good!  Applying this over the foundation also ensures that my redness will be securely hidden.

Concealer to brighten my cheeks, nose and forehead!

Contour after concealer.  OMG. I love contour.  I started using it about two years ago.  My first was the contour/highlighter duo from Marc Jacobs Beauty—but as my skin become drier, I switched from powder to cream. And my two favorite contours are the Fenty MatchStix in Amber and Charlotte Tilbury’s Ibiza. Both are super creamy and do a great job. Today I’m using Ibiza. And, might I add, this Ibiza stick is hard to come by. I waited over a month for Nordstrom to restock and today I see that it is sold out on the Charlotte Tilbury site!

I’m very concerned.  I just went on Nordstrom’s website. They are out of Ibiza. WTF?  It’s sold out on Tilbury’s site?  Why don’t they start making more.  I should have bought two of these but at $45 per………

Dammit. I’m so unpopular. I got another unfollow on Instagram.  Oh well, back to my face!

I’m a living work of art–or I look like Howdy Doody’s mother–take your pick.  Don’t worry, all this contour will be perfectly blended with a sponge!I’ll tell you, this Real Techniques blending sponge is great–and Chippy hasn’t eaten it yet!

Blush—isn’t it funny how we cover up our natural redness only to eventually apply various shades of blush?   I’m using another Charlotte Tilbury product—Beach Stick in Las Salinas. It’s a nice flush of color!

The Las Salinas Beach Stick gives a nice flush.  Also $45.  Tilbury has great products but they are so expensive!

Blending the blush in with a brush.  My hands get such a workout from blending all these products into my face. I wish my body got such a workout!

More water to the face.  Grabbing my NYX highlighter a bit on the apples of the cheeks (Thanks to reader Hipchick66 for that tip) and on the nose.  Almost done.

NYX Bright Idea highlighter is fantastic. It gives the faintest highlight and illuminates the face so subtly.  Goes on creamy too!  It was eight dollarzzzzzz!

Lips are last.  I apply lipstick after getting dressed because when I put a sweater on over my head, lipstick always transfers on.  Today is three colors.

First I line my lips with NYX Wonder Pencil…

 

elf lip pencil, NYX matte lipstick and Revolution lip gloss. All lower-end brands…


The NYX  Matte lipstick in Nude is applied first…

….followed by a fill-in with the elf pencil and then..

the Revolution lip gloss to finish it off..

A berry, berry, nice lip look!

That’s not the end–now I’m ready for hair!

Today it’ll be Model Model’s Shine Meadow, A longer length non-style, style!

I’m all blended and hair on. I’m ready to roll!

Hair in place and I’m good to go.  Let me turn my phone off.  That Candy Crush Man is making me excited and the last thing I need is for my wonderful husband to accuse me of having an affair with Mr. Candy Crush—he already feels I’m addicted to this phone as it is!

Overall, it took an hour to achieve this look. However, I did dawdle with the Candy Crush man and Instagram!  

And the new velvet pants I purchased at Old Navy, A plaid blazer, a scarf, no socks even in the snow, a hat and a positive attitude and I’m off to run the day’s errands!

The cordovan loafers match the pants. Cordovan–why isn’t that lovely color more popular? I didn’t match the shoes to the bag today…

And I’m off!

Thank you for joining me in my endeavor to get ready!  I also want to add–I still have lines on my face–no amount of makeup is going to erase those lines and wrinkles–but the key is to BLEND that foundation and other products so that they don’t look cakey–because if the products look dry and cakey, it’ll accentuate the lines we have.

Anyway, when I arrived at Wegmans, the song “Escape” came on the radio. You know it as The Pina Colada Song.  I have to say, it’s one of my favorite pop songs of all time. So I stayed in the car to listen to it.  Do you ever do that?  A song  comes on the radio that you love and it comes on as you are ready to park your car. Do you stay to listen?  I do!! XOXOXOXO!!!

 

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