Has it really been nearly 3 years since my last blog? Life has been so busy, but I have seriously missed sharing with you and I am so happy to be back in blog world. I'm still adjusting to being forty something. I'd better adjust quickly, because before you know it I'll be fifty! UGH. 

Let's don't waste time. Today I want to share with you a beauty product/ tip I learned from my mother. The product is called BOOM!stick by Cindy Joseph.  

As we age, many times women have a tendency to cake on more make up. Who do we think they are fooling? You can't cover up wrinkles with make up. More often times than not, we just look older with the make up setting into our lines. The idea behind these sticks is to combine very minimal make up with good skin care ingredients. The Boomstick Glo is a safe and effective moisturizer. The Boomstick Color provides a fresh, flushed look for your cheeks, forehead and chin line. The Boomstick Glimmer  highlights cheekbones, brows and body. Cindy Joseph is a beautiful, mature make up artist turned fashion model who has the right idea in keeping make up minimal with these products.

 I must admit, I love all things make up. I was very nervous to give up wearing so much of it. I absolutely reserve the right to glam it up for a night out on the town. For everyday wear though, I have really enjoyed letting my healthy (even if older) skin shine through.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and please feel free to share your thoughts/ tips/ ideas on how you are aging gracefully. 

Make Up For Grown Ups

Until the invention of the time machine, or the discovery of the fountain of youth, we will all have to accept the fact that our skin is constantly maturing. Time marches on, but there is a lot you can do with skin care and makeup choices to help you look as good as you ever did. The way to do this is with color and care, and by forgetting what used to work for you at 18 or even 28. Learn what will work for you now.

I have noticed that as skin matures make up can either be your best friend

Or your worst enemy

Make up can not be used to mask your aging skin, and trendy bright colors will only draw attention to your fine lines and wrinkles. But all make up is not your enemy. It can be a powerful tool in helping you look young, and feel beautiful. 

Here are some tips from make up guru Bobbi Brown's book entitled Beauty Evolution, along with my two cents worth of advise and recommendations, of course.

Essentials for beauty regimen after 40:

1. SPF Lotion- It's never too late to prevent additional sun damage. My personal preference as of late is Avene High Protection 50.

2. Eye cream- It's a must to make your concealer go on smoothly. Again, I like Avene and it's very reasonably priced.

3. Concealer and/or Corrector- It wakes up tired eyes. I use both from Bobbi Brown.

4. Foundation- It can cover redness and even out skin tone. This tinted moisturizer from Bobbi Brown is my best kept secret for younger looking skin. It is super hydrating, and has an SPF of 35, so you can skip step number 1 if you use it.

5. Blush- Your skin may no longer have a natural glow, so add it back. I like the beautiful choices of blush from GloMinerals.

6. Eye shadows- Light shades with a nice contour and highlight color look beautiful. I love the eye trio's from GloMinerals because you don't have to guess which colors to use... it's sort of like paint by number. 

7.  Eye liner and mascara- It can add definition to your eyes. Bobbi Brown makes a wonderful gel eyeliner, but my favorite mascara is probably the cheapest one available from Maybelline.

8. Hair color- It can brighten your face whether you add just a few highlights or do all over color to cover the gray. I've tried several different colors and colorists, but I am always happiest with a Redken Color Specialist. If you need a new stylist, you can look up a Redken Color Specialist from the Redken website.