Best Beauty Always

Fresh Perspective

There's a compelling quote by Gucci designer Frida Giannini in the May 2009 issue of InStyle magazine. On page 121, under the subhead "Youth doesn't own beauty," Giannini says "I have nothing against plastic surgery but I do think one should always try to look fresher, not younger. Women who don't have any lines are not very interesting." It should be noted that Ms. Giannini is still well under 50, but she makes a point. There are plenty of people in this world who believe that a face that shows a little of the life it has experienced is considered interesting, beautiful and even sexy. Fortunately for us, this world serves up plenty of options for freshening up your look.

Age Appropriate

L'Oreal Paris is advertising its new Advanced Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair. I haven't tried the product, but there are some things I like about the ad. First, it clearly states that the clinical testing was performed with women aged 45-65. That's good, clear targeting. I know this product is being marketed with women my age in mind.

Second, the ad asks for 8 weeks of use in order to see clinical results. I think it's important, in our culture of immediate gratification, that a beauty company tells us when we may realistically expect to see results from its products. This kind of information is good for us and good for the company.

Finally, it is great to see that the woman in the ad, Andie McDowell, is in the tested age group.

I'd love to have your comments on this post.

Prime Spree

So as I was driving off on my little birthday shopping spree, I remembered seeing a product demo for a face primer recently on HSN. I only caught the tail end of the segment, but primers were on my mind as I sped toward the nearest beauty counter. I can get a little tense when I enter a beauty store without specific products on my list, due to the huge number of choices, but this time I knew what I was looking for.

The idea behind the face or foundation primer is to prepare your skin for what comes next, generally foundation, in the same way you prime a wall before painting or wallpapering, and artists prime their canvases – to correct, minimize or hide imperfections in the surface. Product claims for primers vary and may include minimizing pores, evening out complexion and helping makeup last longer. You can find them with and without silicones and in natural formulations. Some are tinted, some are clear.

The Revlon Age Defying Instant Firming Face Primer that I picked up has been available for a while. The label says it will prepare and smooth skin for better makeup application, and is made to help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It immediately gave my skin a velvety soft look and feel. I also tried Rimmel London’s Fix & Perfect foundation primer and Dr. Feelgood, by Benefit, all giving similar silky skin feel and soft, matte finish.

The wide selection of primer products may be a bit daunting but it does mean we can have our beauty our way. And that’s the beauty of living today.

To Living Beautifully...

I’m celebrating another birthday. Really. Celebrating! I am now firmly on the ‘over’ side of 50, and I think to myself, firmly, yes, but for how long? Joking aside, as I look in the mirror I’m generally okay with what I see. Sure, there’s some evidence of my years, of long childhood summers spent outdoors in the sunshine and more recent signs of my rather sporadic sunscreen use. Worry lines and laugh lines have appeared in nearly equal measure, but they’re not too bad so perhaps my life has been more balanced than I thought.

I have done some things right over the years, as far as my skin is concerned. I wore sunglasses and moisturizer. I’m getting better about putting on sunscreen and the skin care products I buy are helping – I’ve been using a moisturizer with SPF 20 sunscreen every morning, and I try to remember to apply more sunscreen before going outside for extended periods. I moisturize at night, too, and the products I use have become a little more robust, filled with antioxidants and peptides that work their magic while I dream.

The beauty of living in these times is that we have so many options for taking care of ourselves as we age. It is now possible to maximize our natural beauty to suit ourselves, with a little help from ever-expanding options in personal care products, cosmetics, spa and medical treatments, the foods we eat and the many ways we take care of ourselves in general that affect our looks more than we may realize.

Women over 50 today have witnessed the evolution of beauty from a basic regimen of cold cream and moisturizer to anti-aging skin care and BOTOX injections. Many of us grew up with Barbie – and doesn’t she look good at 50! Safe to say your reality falls somewhere in the middle of all that, and today we want to – and can – define our own best personal beauty and live it every day, and that’s what this blog is all about. So please leave a comment. Let me know your challenges to living beautifully as well as your joys.

Now, since it is my birthday, I’m going out to buy myself a little gift or two. I’ll let you know what I find in a future post. TTFN.