Sunscreen Again

I am a "fearful" sunscreen wearer-- fearful because my redheaded father has already had skin cancer removed from his face, and also because at 42 my face already shows some signs of sun damage.

I use a lot of lotion with sunscreen-- daily, no matter what. One of my favorites for inside is this product from Korres. I suspect I like this product because of the cream formula and the Wild Rose content-- a natural, oil based source of Vitamin C (my face loves essential oils). Unfortunately, the cream is only spf 6-- from the titanium dioxide I see listed on the box. Korres does make a facial sunscreen with spf 30 but I haven't had the opportunity to sample that one yet.

In the winter I had been enjoying a Neutrogena product, but it now seems to be stinging and running into my eyes-- I'll probably return to it come fall, when I'm outside quite a bit for my job (the lotion is spf 45).

What to do in the summer in the mean time? I'm trying to stay away from oxybenzone, after reading some health concerns about long-term use of this chemical. It's tough to find a US-available sunscreen that doesn't contain oxybenzone and has a high spf. One baby sunscreen from Coppertone does fit the bill: At spf 50 and with a relatively high (for the US) UVA protection rating (the zinc oxide, I think) I can wear this comfortably outside without doing more damage to my face.

I don't understand why it's been so difficult for the US to approve sunscreen ingredients that are available in European and Asian brands. When I've felt particularly rich, I've splurged on Bioderma and La Roche Posay and been quite amazed at the texture and quality of the products (thinner, quicker to absorb, and *no* tanning at all). Possibly this will be of more concern to our aging population.

Wardrobe Matters: Concert Dress

Mr. Caroline is a professional musician and I was lucky enough to attend a free concert his brass quintet gave last night.

As you might expect, dress for the audience varied widely even though it was an evening performance. Many people were in what I'd call "business casual": khakis and nice polo shirts for the men, summer dresses for the women.

I don't have a lot of dressy clothing, because my job can be a messy one. I'm always a little anxious about dressing for concerts. I know I shouldn't wear blue jeans and my Springsteen t-shirt, but I also don't want to wear a suit or an overly formal dress (I've also seen audience members at these events in very formal attire; nice, but too much for this community.)

So what did I do? Back to basic black, with a pop of color. An old (two seasons, I think) black jersey skirt from J Crew, which is full enough to make me feel comfortable about my figure/sitting down, topped with a nicer jersey t-shirt and tank top (again, layers make me feel more comfortable, so I enjoy the performance more).

Pop of color, you ask? Bright yellow ballet flats, cheap ones from Forever 21. I decided it wasn't too bumblebee since the rest of the outfit was so monochromatic. I think "plain" can be flattering if you're also wearing something fun.

Styling the Trends

Is it impossible to wear a trend like a maxi dress? I'm not sure. I bought this at Target recently for several reasons. One: it's a trend that means you're covered up. I don't like dressing like a teenager, since I'm not one. (J Crew, would you please make at least ONE skirt that is long enough for women as opposed to teens?) Second: the maxi pre-dates me, making it safe along the "if you wore it the first time, don't wear it again" guidelines (no 80s brights for me, except in flat *plain* ballet slippers). Three: the print is more sophisticated and the cut, with the cowl neckline, seems more "grown up" than the other halter-style maxis I've seen in the store.

So how to style this thing? I wound up washing it in very hot water because it was really long- almost "trippingly" so. I'm unsure most of all about shoes, because I see most young women wearing these dresses with flip flops. Flip flops are for the beach or for the state park shower, at least where my feet are concerned. My toes are meant to be covered in public! Would a fisherman's sandal work? I've got two pair-- one sporty style from Keen, and a heavier one from Dansko. Both are black, which means either would match the print.

Now to the accessories: a scarf seems a logical choice. I have a lightweight black one would again match the print. I also have multiple pairs of black earrings (I wear them a lot for work). Nothing else, I think, since the dress is still sort of casual.

Will I feel a bit ridiculous? Probably. I think it's important to try the trends, though. Fashion's supposed to be fun, after all.

On TV: The Makeover

Boris Kustodiyev. Merchant Wife with a Mirror. 1920

I just finished watching Oprah and a re-run of "sexy" makeovers.

It strikes me that these shows always select women who are already gorgeous-- what about helping someone look/feel great who isn't going to be stereotypically beautiful when they're finished? As a glasses wearer, it also annoys me that they always select "sighted" women or remove their glasses and give them contacts. I can't wear contacts; I know this, so am I doomed to unsexy-ness?

I do recall one show where the stylist used "familiar" chains like Old Navy. This was one I could appreciate! I do pay more attention now to how pieces are styled in the chain stores-- I may not have the right shirt to make a skirt work, for example, and would need to buy both for them to get a workout in my wardrobe.

Here's what seems to be the ideal of beauty, at least on TV: lighten/brighten/highlight your hair. I get that, as my hair looked fantastically expensive when I had it professionally highlighted. Wear "glowy" makeup. I get that, too, although I wish they'd spend more time showing/discussing products. It's really hard when you're over 40 to straddle the line between "glowy" and "shimmer stuck in fine lines". I have fairly decent skin and I know that too much shimmer makes me look ridiculous; blush, as I also discussed before, seems to be an issue for me now. How about selecting a mass-market blush that doesn't highlight age spots?

Also on the "beauty" agenda: long hair. Whoops, sorry Mr. Caroline, I've struck out there, too. Couldn't a famous stylist show how to style very short hair in a sexy fashion? Jamie Lee Curtis, for example, is sexy and her hair is both naturally grey and very short. Why not do that for someone?

Finally on the agenda: high, high, high, high heels. Whoops, I've missed there too. I'm on my feet eight hours a day and there's absolutely no way in the world I can wear heels. Why not show sexy flats? There's tons of them out there-- I should know, as I'd be buying dozens of pairs of Chanel and Lanvin flats should I win the lottery.

I love makeover shows in general, but this one made me cranky. Make them sexy for real life. I work with many beautiful women who make t-shirts, flats, and other "no no's" look great.

I'm Blushing

I'm a girl who loves to buy blush; now that I've gotten older, creme textures (and even satiny powders) seem to suit me more than the matte shades I wore when I was younger.

A recent find is Josie Maran's creme blush in Sunrise. I bought this set, from Sephora. All of the products are good quality- Argan Oil is great for anyone with irritated skin- but the winner is the blush. On my pale yellow olive skin, Sunrise is a pinker version of NARS' famous Penny Lane blush- another product I adore (you can see a great deal of pan in my current Penny Lane).

In terms of texture, Sunrise is similarly "dry" to NARS, but thicker- a bit like Stila's Convertible Colors, but more opaque. Stila's more natural colors in this line seem to exaggerate the sun damage I have on my face (too brown a base, perhaps), but Sunrise is a fresh warm pink that makes me look as if I just washed my face or went for a walk in the sunshine.

Josie Maran also has her own web site, and the blush appears to be safe to use on the lips as well.

NR for Her

Recently one of my favorite scents has been the edp formulation of Narciso Rodriguez for Her. As you can see, this is an award winning fragrance from 2006. Weirdly, I wasn't overwhelmed by this fragrance when it first came out (and trust me, I enjoy sampling everything). I'm old enough that the immense scents of the 80s and early 90s represent my youth-- some beautifully (Lou Lou, by Cacharel, which I adore) and some not so beautifully (Giorgio, I'm talking to you).

According to descriptions, this is a pink chypre, or a fragrance that is built on one of the oldest structures in perfumery. It has a very ambery dry-down, explaining why I like it now (many of my favorite fragrances have amber in them).

NR for Her is sometimes described as being akin to Sarah Jessica Parker's very nice Lovely, but the two are not similar on my skin. Lovely is more floral and less "metallic". There's a slight metallic smell in NR for Her-- which may or may not be helional, I'm still trying to learn-- that gives it the feeling of very good silver underneath the amber, mosses, and slight floral overtones. NR is a very comforting scent for me and one to wear when I need that.

The scent also comes in an edt-- the black bottle-- and this one is described as being quite a bit different on the skin. My semi-educated amateur nose felt as if it had more floral notes and less of the amber/metallic/musc quality that make the edp so interesting and wearable for me.

Lesson learned: don't be afraid to try a perfume again.

In the Shower

I'm a shower person-- not sure if I ever loved baths, probably because I'm sort of tall and most bathtubs are uncomfortable (no place to stretch out my legs, I can't really be under the water, etc., etc.). I alternate between using very lavish shower gels and ones from the drugstore-- it seems like I should economize, but sometimes I just can't resist.

One of my favorite lines for gels is Fresh. I recently enjoyed purchasing a heavily marked down Cannabis Rose perfume set-- it included a mini of a nice thick body cream and a mini shower gel. Fresh gels are clear (no sticking to the tub) and smell like the fragrances. I've also liked many of the bright scents of Fresh for the shower (it seems to me like a shower should wake you up, not help you sleep).



Fresh gels aren't inexpensive, but I also think that they're very good quality-- I want the gel to rinse very clean and I want the fragrance to linger briefly. My only "quarrel" with the line is that they seem to change their fragrances really rapidly-- there's a Sandalwood Vert fragrance I've seen reviewed that I have yet to find in real life.

In this economic climate, enjoying a $28 gel for the month is probably still better than a $100 shirt I may only sometimes wear.

Fragrance Finder: Historical Perfumes

Vanity Box, by Malevich

I recently checked out Perfumes: The Guide, by Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez. As you may have guessed from previous posts, I've been lamented the "passing" of my beloved Lou Lou, a Cacharel fragrance that I wore when my husband and I married almost 19 years ago. Yes, Lou Lou's still available, but the "juice" doesn't smell quite the same (either due to my chemistry or the age of the scent) to either me or my husband.

In the interim, I've been experimenting with a number of fragrances to varying degrees of success. I have the type of chemistry that "eats" perfume, so I really need something fairly strong or with a strong base. Fresh's Cannabis Rose turned out to be a winner for me, especially with its bright opening and patchouli-esque drydown. Mr. Caroline likes Angel, but Angel is so strong I'm leery of becoming "that woman who wears Angel", particularly at work.

The Guide is filled with some terrific copy-- enjoyable prose with some factual information added for the reader. I don't think perfume reviews should be anything more than personal-- scent is just too different on each individual. Having learned a bit about the history of fragrance, I ordered some samples from The Perfumed Court and a few have come up winners.

The first, surprisingly, is Chanel No. 5! I'm surprised because I don't remember ever really loving this fragrance, but the sillage is great and once the brightness of the aldehydes have passed, I'm left with a creamy jasmine/rose mix on my skin. I was always a Coco girl when I was younger, but I think I like this better now!

The Guerlains were also winners for me, especially the Mitsouko (it's a vintage sample, with the oakmoss). The drydown the next morning was great-- very peachy/woodsy. L'Apres Ondee is lovely, as is Jicky, although I think Jicky is the superior of the two with my skin chemistry (I'm fond of lavender anyway). You can really tell from the "complete" feel of these fragrances why the house of Guerlain has lasted so long.

Drugstore Delights: Neutrogena Healthy Defense spf 45

I'm a sunscreen junkie; I've tried everything from very low end products (yes, the dollar store included!) to high end sunscreens available only from "fancy" pharmacies like Zitomer or overseas. One of the nicest cheap products I've encountered in my sunscreen travels is this one from Neutrogena.

The Healthy Defense spf 45 is everything a daily sunscreen should be: high in spf, stable, lightweight, and non-irritating. I've been able to wear this under makeup, over serums, and on a daily basis without the white cast or sticky feeling that I sometimes encounter with other products.

Helioplex, a trademarked Neutrogena invention, purportedly makes these lotions as long-lasting as those with Meroxyl. I actually think Healthy Defense is a bit better than the La Roche Posay Anthelios products now available in this country, particularly the one with high spf (white cast). The HD lotion really can be for daily wear.

Neutrogena is as ubiquitous a beauty company as Pantene or Cover Girl, so you shouldn't have any problem finding this product near you. I paid just under $10 for a tube and expect it will last somewhere in the neighborhood of a month with daily use on my face, neck, and hands. Well worth a trip to your local Walgreen's or CVS drugstore!

Natural Wonders: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm

On a whim today at Walgreen's, I picked up three tubes of Burt's Bees tinted lip balm. Glad I did-- the texture is *much* improved from the previous product!

The balms are still very minty and in a slim tube-- both of which I appreciated before-- but the texture has now been changed to something approximating their pomegranate lip balm. It's thinner, but still pigmented. The earlier product was thick to the point of opacity-- often in a way that made it very difficult to select a flattering color.

Definitely worth trying, especially if you like natural products as I do: I paid less than $4.00 for all three!

Wardrobe Matters: The Scarf

Recently I finished a month in a sling: a month in which I developed a great fondness for scarves, particularly since they helped me feel comfortable and seemed to hide the "I'm injured" look in a fashionable way.

One brand that I haven't indulged in yet, but may, is Love Quotes. Although these scarves are pricey at around $80, I do like the colors available and the soft, large size. These are also especially lightweight, something I haven't necessarily found to be true for other brands.

The scarf pictured at left is Love Quotes-- see how it drapes nicely? I'd expect this scarf to be something you could wear frequently-- and comfortably.

My favorite low-cost source for scarves this year has been Old Navy. The scarves I've found there have a nicely finished edge (unlike some others, a danger in a house with three curious felines). I've worn a black one quite a bit this spring, but several nice prints, including a big floral, are now available at the Old Navy web site.

Bargain Shopping: Online Sample Sales

Did anyone else miss out on the chance to buy discounted Christian Louboutin shoes? The web site gilt.com had them available today, at a pretty significant discount. I haven't had much luck in scoring great deals online-- either I'm working (at the start time of noon for many of these sales) or what's left really isn't for me. (I was actually hoping for a pair of Louboutin flats rather than heels-- my husband is shorter than me and wearing anything much of a heel makes me personally uncomfortable.)

Last summer, I did manage to buy a beautiful Hayden-Harnett Pallenberg satchel from the July sale. It's a sensible black-- rather than the gorgeous mustard I'd been lusting after-- but it still looks great after daily use. Hayden-Harnett really isn't in my current budget, so a steep discount was a definite treat.

I'd love to find something great at a site like Yoox, but I feel overwhelmed. It's tough to pick a great piece when your budget also needs to be a part of the equation.

Wardrobe Building: The T-Shirt

I wear t-shirts nearly every day; if you count sleep wear and workout wear, I wear a t-shirt probably very close to every day. My business casual workplace also allows for t-shirts, so solid colors are a staple of my wardrobe.

Additionally, I'm *oldish* tall at about 5'9", so I find t-shirts useful for pants that are low rise (again, nearly all of them by today's fashion standards). I can wear two, one tucked in, and enjoy the second pop of color while being appropriately covered up.

The problem I have is justifying price. When is a higher end t-shirt worth buying? I've never seen Petit Bateau, James Perse, C&C California, or any one of another zillion higher end brands in Marshall's or TJ Maxx (Macy's is as fancy as department stores get around here). While I like the softness of J Crew t-shirts, I had a summer weight one go bad (overly stretched, faded oddly) in less than one season, so I'm currently refusing to buy anything I can easily duplicate at Target or Old Navy.

My issue with shopping for low end basics is that there's no predicting what will last and what won't (I know sizing can be the same way). I had a mid weight boat neck t-shirt from Old Navy in forest green that I'd guess I wore probably close to 200 times (it was one of the few things I owned in this color and I needed to wear green for work). The shirt held up beautifully; I've also had other shirts "die" in the same way as the J Crew model I mentioned above.

Since I can't seem to resolve this dilemma, I just picked up four short sleeve shirts for the warm weather season here (red, deep purple, brown, deep blue). Each was $6 at Target. If they wear out before the summer ends-- no real money lost-- and the deeper colors suit my personality more than the pastels that seem to hit the stores come Mother's Day.

Shopping the Fragrance Counter

(Feodor Vasilyev. Before a Thunderstorm. 1868)

Since it's spring (finally!) I've been paying more attention to the fragrance articles in the nine zillion magazines I get at home and stopping by a store's fragrance counter whenever I get the chance. Why? Mostly because I'm wearing only Angel for the most part, which my husband adores but I consider to be an almost "angry" scent. I can't imagine that Angel's going to be wearable in the (albeit short) humid, hot summer we tend to get here.

Have I had success? Sort of. I think that patchouli is the odd note that my husband likes in Angel-- it's also a fragrance that has about a zillion different notes. I sampled Angel Innocent yesterday after reading that it was "Angel lite". No sale for me-- the two scents were pretty much indistinguishable both on my wrists and on the scent card I used.

I do really like the Prada Infusion d'Iris, but it hasn't ever gotten any compliments from my husband (although a stylish coworker, a female, always notices when I wear it). The Prada is great in warm weather, so maybe I'll just get another small bottle of that-- I actually used up a whole one last year, which is a true compliment for a fragrance when you really think about it.

At Sephora (where I really was shopping for sunscreen/spf lotion, more on that later), I bought a gift set of Fresh Cannabis Rose, more because it seemed a bit "Angelish" to me on my skin and because it was on sale. Maybe the name puts people off-- but at $30, I couldn't pass up a small bottle of edt, shower gel, and body creme. I'm going to try wearing it regularly and see what happens. For the affordable price I paid, it'll be an interesting experiment.

April Fool's! (Or, What Makes Me Look Like a Fool)

Happy April Fool's Day!

While I really do adore makeup/beauty products, some things should probably be on a "forever don't" list for me. I can't seem to get the hang of these items, no matter how much I vary brands or my application technique.

1. Bronzer. Yes, I know that it warms up the skin, which theoretically should work well on yellow-olive me. No matter how many times I try, however, I absolutely can't make it work on it's own-- the best I can do is add it under a bright blush to create something more natural looking. (Which, in my opinion, defeats the purpose of bronzer in the first place) If someone could explain to me why this is, I'd appreciate knowing: I've sampled everything from Smashbox to Bobbi Brown to MAC, and everything seems to scream "dirty face" when I wear it.

2. Bright Eye Shadow. Unfortunate, as I think Urban Decay is one of the most interesting brands to peruse. There's an Absinthe shadow in the box that came out during the holidays that is probably the single most unique shadow shade I've ever seen. I've got good brushes and pretty good blending technique, I think, but between my forty year old eyes and my glasses, bright eye shadow just screams "Mimi" from The Drew Carey Show to me.

3. Floral Perfumes. Again, unfortunate, as I love to sample scents. Most floral perfumes vanish on me-- I need kind of "angry" scents for them to have any real staying power (or "sillage" to use the fancy term). I'd love to find a lightweight, daytime floral that works with my skin chemistry.

4. Red Lipstick. Age related? Maybe, but I shun lip pencils (perenially dry lips) and a lot of great MAC colors (Russian Red) are simply too drying for me. Fortunately, I can wear a stain-- Chanel's Rouge Allures are a good compromise for me here.

5. Nail Polish. This one's habit/job related-- I need to keep really short nails and I often use small hand tools at my job-- which leads to chipped polish. I actually own only one bottle of polish, an OPI clear that I use for special occasions and in the summer when I wear sandals regularly. I had a manicure once as a gift and I actually didn't enjoy it (no idea why), so I guess that's okay in the end.

What's on your don't list?

Update: Outlet Shopping

I was right-- I enjoyed browsing the TJ Maxx store very much (nicely lit, very clean, well staffed) but there wasn't anything I really had to purchase. A couple of Armani perfumes, Devi Roa jewelry, and Clark flats caught my eye; nothing came home in my bag. I also stopped by Kohl's and saw a fantastic Dana Buchman tunic (pictured) that really would be worth purchasing, but the only one left in store was much too large for me.

Wardrobe Matters: Outlet Shopping

I've got a little bit of time today, so I plan on perusing the closest (less than an hour) TJ Maxx. I can't decide whether or not outlet shopping is truly worth my time or not.

When I read fashion/beauty newsgroups, I'm always amazed at what people are able to find at stores like TJ Maxx (or Ross, et. al). I think I'm probably most envious of those lucky shoppers who score beautiful bags, jewelry, or shoes at good prices-- those things really last a long time, so it strikes me that it might be worth it to get them at an outlet price if possible.

I'd say that in the last year I've only bought one wardrobe item at an outlet-- a pair of ballerina flats, made in Italy, of apple green suede. They have a sort of Gucci-ish horsebit trim on the vamp of the shoe that has small (I'm not a sparkly girl, mind you) rhinestones. I probably paid about $25 for them. Worth it, in my opinion, since I'd never buy flats in that color at full price and I'm coming to the conclusion that cheap ones (Target has some really cute flats every season) generally aren't worth it for my feet that I've bashed up through a combination of age, working out, weird foot genetics, and standing up most of the day at my job. I haven't worn the flats a ton (I live in a cold climate) but I also don't feel bad about them getting bashed up for the price I'm paying.

I've also experimented with perfume from outlets with varying degrees of success. I've got a bottle of Balmain's Jolie Madame that I think I paid $5 for-- very worth it as it's one of those lady like perfumes that's perfect for every situation and in most kinds of weather. Recently I bought a bottle of Cabotine (de Gres) which I like a bit less-- it's very sharp at the opening and dries down on me in an odd powdery/astringent way. For $10, though, I'm not out much, and I will continue experimenting with it as our weather warms up.

I don't live near the outlet mall anymore, but I did enjoy stopping there years ago. My husband and I were young and broke, and the outlet Gap and outlet J Crew formed the basis of much of our work wardrobes. While the clothes didn't hold up quite as well as pieces made specifically for the chain stores, they were pretty good and probably the "best" we could afford at the time.

So-- is the outlet mall stop worth it? Probably, but only if you really have the time and enjoy the "hunt". I enjoy browsing through stores but I'd wager that I won't come home today from TJ Maxx with anything. What's really more cost effective is to decide whether or not an item really will work for you.

Building the "Perfect" Wardrobe

I've been editing my makeup bag for the past few months and feel pretty good now about the amount of makeup I own-- I'm wearing most things quite regularly, which I prefer. The cost per wear of a Chanel lipstick, for example, is negligible if you actually use it up (something I have done in the past). I can actually also see a good sized dent in my NARS Penny Lane blush, something I never thought would happen-- although I've had the blush for somewhere between six and eight months.

I'd like to edit my wardrobe in the same way-- it would be great to have only items that I loved and were worn consistently. So far, I've got a couple of pieces that truly get both a lot of love and a lot of rotation.

One is a pair of J Crew cords, in red. I actually bought these in-store (for the discount, which tends to be better come sale time). The style pictured is accurate. The awesome thing about these cords is the color (a perfect medium true red, goes with everything and can serve as a neutral even though it's also a bright pop of color). The other great thing about these pants is the texture-- the fine wale of the corduroy means that the pants are appropriate nearly year round (I'm in a cold climate) and as versatile as blue jeans.

My other favorite purchase is a Land's End cashmere cardigan in black, bought from their outlet store-- there's nothing particularly fancy about the sweater-- the buttons are actually quite plain, but the heft of the sweater is decent and it's kept me warm during some fairly cold days at work. It's a plus that it is black, although I suppose that any other shade might be just as versatile if it worked in your own wardrobe.

Now shoes? I'm not there yet. I'd love to try Lanvin flats (Sue London or Bloch is probably more realistically in my price range). I'm not a heels wearer, so something with only a tiny heel is really more appropriate for me and my lifestyle. Suggestions? The perfect black flat (no details, no trim, just very high quality leather) would be an excellent addition to my spring/summer wardrobe.

LORAC: New Foundation Sample

I really like the idea of sampling, whether it's a slice of cheese at the grocery store or one of those fragrance test strips in magazines. It's good to know that you'll actually like/use/enjoy something before you spend your hard-earned money on it.

In a recent beauty.com sampler pack was a test vial of LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation. Usually, I don't have the chance to try these out, because the color is normally too dark and too pink (are you listening, Clinique?). I've used LORAC products before, though (the moisturizing foundation is nice) and the shade was 2-- the shade I normally am in most products.

The sampler box advertises this as "Science meets beauty with this innovatively new weightless foundation combining pre-aging, anti-aging, hydrating, and smoothing ingredients along with antioxidants to help skin appear youthful, rejuvenated, and alive." The product also has something called SMS Complex and spf 14. According to the loraccosmetics.com website, SMS complex is intended to increase cell turnover and collagen production.

Worn over a lotion with spf, this foundation is excellent for light to medium coverage; the oil free texture also means that it doesn't run or slip under other creamy products like blush or concealer. Although it appears from the web site that shade 2 isn't yellow toned (nice to see that the site has them marked), I'd say that this is a neutral to yellow product. (I'm pale yellow olive, so it isn't easy to match my skin tone.) It has been quite easy to cover light sun damage on my face-- and better still-- the product doesn't seem to oxidize at all (are you listening, MAC?). Additionally, the foundation is easy to remove with a balm based cleanser-- no need to scrub your skin or double cleanse.

You can see from the picture that the bottle is also designed to be travel friendly. While I'm still on my generously sized sample of the product, I definitely intend to purchase a full bottle when it runs out. At $38, it's also slightly less expensive than other great foundations (Bobbi Brown comes to mind), and I believe it will be excellent for warmer, humid weather.

It appears that there aren't a great number of shades for this product (seven)-- but if you can find one that works for you, this is an excellent foundation.

Cosmetics companies: give us more samples! Many consumers would be glad to pay for them, and we'll become fans of your latest and greatest products when we can try them out!

Lately, What I'm Getting From Magazines

I get a lot of magazines at home. A LOT. I read a bunch of fashion and beauty magazines (Lucky, More, and Allure are my favorites), plus a number of others (Vanity Fair, Harper's, The New Yorker). My husband loves Discover magazine, Science, and a number of car and fix-it magazines (Family Handyman has been a useful subscription for us.)

One of the things I've noticed about magazines as I've gotten older is that I'm less tempted to buy "stuff". I like to look- but I recognize that I'll never be a "femme fatale" or the bohemian princess I'd secretly like to be. Also, I get so many different magazines that the prices often seem ridiculous to me- I know, finally in my 40s, that there's no such thing as the "perfect" $40 t-shirt when practically the same piece can be had at a place like Target for a fraction of the price.

What I'd like to be able to do? Be more minimalist about my wardrobe (I'm getting better) and find a thrift store in my area that has a great supply of clothing. I read a post recently on a newsgroup about a person who looks for second-hand jeans-- finding a favorite vintage fit that's already broken in and past that "will it shrink or won't it" stage. I suppose, though, that magazines wouldn't stay in business if they subscribed to the "minimalist" theory.

Lucky has an especially interesting feature on minimalism sometimes, which shows a month's worth of outfits with just a few pieces. It's one of my favorite columns and I wish it ran on a month-by-month basis. Thank goodness for blogs!

Favorite Things

I'm not sure that my makeup was so great today, but I was wearing one of my favorite sweaters. From J Crew (actually a cross between kelly green and forest green), it was perfect for St. Patrick's Day and made me feel good about how I looked overall.

The color of my sweater is pretty much the top right hand corner of the Pantone color chart. I like green because it brightens up my coloring without being too over the top (something my husband would say that I worry too much about.)

As I've gotten older, I generally like shopping for makeup, skin care products, and bath products more than clothing or shoes. I don't have a "lot" of clothes, and a lot are bought for very specific occasions.

I have many more "favorite" pieces of clothing these days-- my Dad's old camping jacket, pieces that my husband has bought me (including an acrylic sweater that's lasted 25 years), and things in my favorite colors- the green I've already mentioned, and that mustard yellow that's so popular right now.

To those of you that celebrate, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

An Ode to Tinted Moisturizer

As a woman of a certain "age", evening out my skin tone has become a necessity as part of my daily beauty routine. I've used a number of products, but tinted moisturizer is my current favorite. Why? It is goof-proof. Since I'm pale yellow olive, finding matching foundation shades is a real challenge (I've yet to find a truly great drugstore product, although L'Oreal has such a wide range of shades in their True Match Line I need to give them another try).

Moisturizer is meant to enhance the skin, not cover it completely-- therefore, if the color isn't completely perfect, it's still okay, as long as the undertones of the tint are correct (more on that later).

Tinted moisturizer comes at all price points now. I remember a day when this product was a luxury-- something you could only find at a department store counter. Now, even Cover Girl and Wet N' Wild offer tinted moisturizers as part of their product line.

Tinted moisturizer is "skin friendly". A lot of these products seem to offer skin enhancing ingredients (Neutrogena comes to mind, with products that include otc retinols and salicylic acids.) Most have some form of sunscreen, although it isn't truly protective (my favorite has spf 20).

Tinted moisturizer suits today's "natural" aesthetic. I don't like a lot of makeup on my face, and I don't like to look like I'm wearing a "mask" at the end of the day. An extra pop of moisturizer-- as opposed to powder foundation or mineral powder-- seems to make me look "younger" and "fresher" without being overly made up. I also like that it's quick to apply and quick to remove. There's definitely no need to double-cleanse with a product like this.

So what's my current favorite? Laura Mercier, in the oil free formula for spring/summer and the regular formula for autumn/winter. Laura Mercier's shades suit yellow toned skin like mine (as does Bobbi Brown-- try Dior or Clinique, in my experience, if you're pink-toned). The LM has sunscreen but just tint in the formulas I use (no extra illuminating particles, although that's also an option).

While the product is more expensive than many others at $42.00, I don't experience any irritation (a fun part of getting older), it looks natural, and it's still on my face at the end of the day. Laura Mercier products are available at many department stores, Sephora, and on-line at a number of locations including the company's own web site.

Natural Wonders: Dr. Hauschka Lipstick

It’s a banner day for me when I find a little known, but nevertheless outstanding product. Dr. Hauschka- known for great natural skincare- has lipsticks that are moisturizing, long lasting, and natural looking. Score!

Rosehip extract is touted as a primary “care” ingredient of this product—rosehip is high in vitamins A and C, and also purportedly has both soothing and antiseptic properties. I like Burt’s Bees skin care products with rosehip oil, so I thought I’d give these lipsticks a try.

My first purchase was 01 (Amoroso), described on the Hauschka web site as a “soft coral”; on my pale olive skin tone, this description rings true. It is deeper than my natural lip tone, and looks fine with NARS Penny Lane blush, a staple in my cosmetics bag.

I next purchased 09 (Dolce), described as “iridescent bronze”. I like this one even better! This shade reads on my skin/lip tone as “Penny Lane in a tube”.

The shimmer in both lipsticks is very fine—I’d call it more of a gleam. While they aren’t the cheapest products out there at $23.95, I can easily see using both of these shades up, making the cost per wear negligible. I’ve had the first shade since last summer and the tube is approximately half-used. How many cosmetics can I honestly say I’ve used half of? Not many, so I must really like this product!

Dr. Hauschka has web shopping—the products are available at a number of brick and mortar sites (I’ll need to try 03—Giocoso-- when Whole Foods has them on sale next) and at web outlets (drugstore.com, garnethill.com).

Scentimental Over Perfume

I'm feeling very wistful today for perfumes I used to love-- Avon's Sweet Honesty in middle school, Paloma Picasso in high school, and Cacharel's Lou Lou throughout my college years and early 20s. Only Lou Lou is discontinued, I think, but I'm not positive. None of them still smell the "same" to me/on me, although I'd be hard pressed to describe any of them right now. I think it's that fragrance captures memories in a different way than other cosmetics.

As an "oldish" woman, I've been looking for a classic scent that I can wear all the time (my minimalist tendencies seem to demand it, and my budget certainly does), but I haven't found "the one" just yet. My husband loves Angel on me, and while it's certainly a spectacularly unique fragrance, there's something off-putting about it that's preventing me from living with it every day, even applied with a light hand. I actually also have a bottle of NR for Her edp right now, too-- could the two be any more different? The NR for Her is very comforting to me for some reason but just "meh" to my husband.

I'm truly hoping that I'll find a classic Guerlain for me-- none of the Chanels have quite worked out, although the cool green of No. 19 was very pleasing in the late spring and throughout the summer last year. Mr. Caroline doesn't like Mitsouko on me (although I love the peach) and he thought there was something oddly chemical about L'Heure Bleu. Maybe Jicky? L'Apres Ondee? It may be just that I like the idea of wearing a Guerlain as opposed to something created by a "celebrity".

Reading perfume notes, if anything, makes it even harder to try scents as I think you really need to give them time. I've just marked a Daisy Fuentes scent at Kohl's as one to try-- jasmine and peach seem like they may be a great combination for summer.

One thing that web commerce has gotten right in regards to perfume is the number of fragrances available to purchase for trial-- I'm happy to continue sampling (for a fee) from great sources like Luckyscent as a way to truly discover what's "me". I also think I need to do more reading about perfume-- the more I read, the more I am intrigued about this most personal of cosmetics.

Color Theory: Are there truly universal products?

I'm a product of a redheaded father and a brunette, medium-olive skinned mother. I got the fair skin but the olive undertone, which has always made it difficult for me to determine whether or not I should be wearing cool or warm makeup colors.

Some articles suggest that looking at your veins is a good way to tell if you're warm-toned or cool-toned-- green veins mean warm, blue or purple veins mean cool. I, of course, have both (predominantly large veins are very green, small veins are blue). I would guess that might make some call me "neutral", but I definitely need a very yellow foundation (Bobbi Brown's products are a very good match for me, and I've always used the yellow-orange shades at Prescriptives counters).

On the other hand, I definitely need a cool toned blush. Benefit's Dandelion is fine on my complexion, but Georgia looks quite unnatural. The same is true for the infamous NARS Orgasm blush- it starts out seeming okay, but quickly turns an unflattering shade of orange on my skin. NARS Sin, however, is fantastic; on a good day, I wear this blush and feel like I've become 25 again. Sin, often described as berry or plum toned, would certainly seem to fall into the "cool" category.

Because my pocketbook won't permit lots of makeup errors and I tend to favor high-end products, I've been experimenting with shades deemed "universal"-- and found some that I believe are very useful for coloring like mine. NARS Penny Lane blush, for example, looks like rose brass to me in the pan-- and applies similarly, like a soft pink/peach/caramel shade. I seem to be able to wear this color regardless of what appears to be predominant in my skin that day. MAC's Viva Glam V lipstick is a very flattering accompaniment to this blush-- it's also a caramelly pink on, and seems to suit me no matter what.

I've failed with other "universal" products-- I'm a bit too long in the tooth for things like cheek stains, as they seem to highlight every flaw in my "oldish" skin, and I think that many lip/cheek products are similarly too pink for my yellow coloring.

So the bottom line seems to be this-- if you aren't sure what shades may suit you, look for blushes and lip products that blend both cool and warm tones. While it seems as if they might not suit anyone, they definitely have worked for me.

Inspiration!

One of my favorite sources of inspiration for beauty and fashion ideas is popular fiction. I'm especially drawn to characters that seem to have a minimalist style-- Robert B. Parker's Sunny Randall is a tough private detective, but she cares about how she looks, works out, and loves to do her hair and makeup. Another character I'd love to emulate, although from television, is Mariska Hargitay's Detective Olivia Benson on Law and Order SVU; she's got a similar kind of minimalist cool. Maybe I just want to be tougher?

Natural Wonders: Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm

I've been addicted to "natural" food stores ever since I discovered the food co-op while attending college. My husband and I were newly married and really, really broke-- Taco Bell was a big restaurant meal out for us. One of the most fun parts about the co-op was the beauty aisle. Today, it isn't so unusual to find an "organic" or sulfate free beauty product at your local grocery store; but back then, it was really unique.

Burt's Bees is one of my favorite lines, and the pomegranate lip balm is one of their best products. This lip balm has a thinner, less waxy texture than the peppermint original. Pomegranate is high in antioxidants; and in my opinion, wearing this balm regularly has improved the smoothness of my lips and helped both glosses and lipsticks to apply more evenly. It's the sheer red-pink color of the balm that's really sold me: I can wear it without any additional lip color and my face still looks "finished", even when I'm wearing other makeup.

Because this balm is loaded with natural oils, really sensitive skins may not be able to wear it; also, beeswax means that it isn't a true "vegan" product. If you like natural products, though, and want to try out a wearable bright pink for spring, this balm probably is for you!

Burt's Bees has their own website, and the product is widely available-- even the rural grocery store in my hometown has a Burt's Bees display.

Choice Serum: when hope is not enough

Now that I'm in my forties, a serum no longer seems like a luxury, but an essential part of my daily skin care routine. I like to apply serums in the morning. My reasoning? Most experts seem to suggest that an antioxidant rich serum is important to boosting sunscreen's effectiveness, and I'm already seeing evidence of sun damage. (Dad's a redhead, even though I'm not.)

One thing I dislike about many serums is a silicone base-- the texture seems heavy to me, and tends to clog my skin. Philosophy's when hope is not enough lists water as a first ingredient- perfect for my needs. Vitamin c, e, peptides, and soy are also part of the formula.

What I've noticed over time (and ALL over the counter skin care products take time to work, I think) is a softening of sun damage and fine lines and a generally improved texture to my skin- pores seem minimized, skin on my neck (where I'm very dry) seems soothed, and what I call "lizard" skin (charming, I know) is gone.

Philosophy products are also widely available- I've purchased this in-store at Sephora and Macy's, you can also buy them on-line at many retailers including drugstore.com and philosophy.com. Worth trying if you want the benefits of a serum but not the sticky finish of silicones!