I've been a make-up artist for photographers (actor's headshots, mostly and some film work), and an esthetician for over 30 years. You do not need all that stuff. At Sephora, you were made to feel you needed all that stuff, and in the moment you gave in and parted with all that money. Most of us have been there, including me.
Here's something: Your skin is covered in micro-biome, which includes all kinds of fungi and bacteria. People have been told that you need multiple step routines to get rid of "dirt" and "grime" and to "unclog pores." The truth is, when you OVER wash your skin and do too much fiddling with all those products, you create imbalance. All the acids and added alcohol to creams and potions and toner is killing off beneficial bacteria. Remember douching? Who does that anymore? Think of the bad advice women got about douching when you think of the skincare industry. The beauty industry is what a grifter might call "a long con"... they've been working on you since you were a little girl.
You can wash your face gently with a wash cloth (no scrubbing) and warm water. If you wore a bunch of make-up that day (you only need a tinted sunscreen, some natural colored blush, an neutral eyeshadow, mascara and light lip color at the very most, concealer if you feel fancy) you can use a gentle cleanser. If you use Retin-A or something with retinols, only twice a week! Wear sunscreen during the day and wear hats.
You don't need more than one face cream for moisture, unless you count the tinted moisturizer, which I count as "make-up." I use a cream with simple ingredients, no parabens, not tested on animals. Jurlique is a good example. If you feel dry, add some organic jojoba oil to your cream, it's so affordable and does the trick. Think of all the plastic waste the beauty industry dumps out each year. Think about the money you spend. Take that money and put it in a high interest earning CD. There's my professional opinion.
Wow, thanks so much for your sound advice! I agree with everything you say. Yeah, I remember douching but never did it. I bet the jury is still out on that! So many lawsuits for products, from talcum powder to hair straightener. And I added jojoba to my shopping list.
The Johnson & Johnson talc thing is so disturbing. The company knew for years that talc was linked to cancer, but they kept quiet, knowing all the time it was used on babies. The industry is a disaster, like the diet industry and the wellness industry, with a few exceptions.
Wow, Jane! I'm still trying to wrap my head around how they kept it all locked down, and still...so many people don't know! An OBGYN told me years ago not to use the powder. Like more than 25 years ago. Anything else I should know about?
Great article. All of us over ** can relate. When I worked in the corporate world I used to toss a lot of my makeup and go new every year. I’m now at an age where I can prove that all those expensive creams for eyes and jowls do not make a mm of difference. Just to the wallet. The last makeover I went to was a couple of years ago. While she buffed and polished and applied, I wasn’t allowed to see until she was finished. A couple colleagues walked by. “Nice!” they said. I’m sure I could hear them giggle all the way to the lunch room. Finally the big reveal. She whipped that chair around so fast I almost needed a seat belt. I looked in the mirror and saw a drag queen only with a lot more drag. The cosmetologist was so happy. I was dumb struck. “You need to make plans for tonight,” she said. I was mortified. Speechless! It truly was ghastly. I drove home with one hand over the lower part of my face. Walked in the door and made a beeline for the washroom. “How’d it go?” my husband said from the other room. It was going to take some scrubbing. And he wasn’t going to see this car wreck. I took a picture. Just as a reminder. Rather than look like an actor in Bird Cage, I prefer to be invisible.
Irene, you are hilarious! I want to steal your quotes, like whipped the chair so fast and a lot more drag. And thanks for this, I will no longer get expensive products. It's drug store makeup next. Oh wait, my Sephora stuff won't run out because I never use it.
Oh. My. God. I could have written this myself. But actually, no. You did a much better job, Jane. I turned 70 this last February, and there are these surreal moments (I'm laughing as I type this) when I will look in a mirror and not actually recognize myself immediately. Or I do, but I cannot believe it. It's like my face is not lining up with my energy level. I mean, what are all these weird things that pop up on our skin literally overNIGHT? Does anybody get this? It's crazy. So this totally resonated with me, but it also did something way more important. It made me feel less alone. I've found my tribe!
And by the way, foundation and powder worked when we were 20, 30, and maybe into our 40s, but hell no! Not anymore. Maybe the wisdom we're all supposed to have attained by now includes the notion that when it comes to make-up, less is more! Love to all!
I've been a make-up artist for photographers (actor's headshots, mostly and some film work), and an esthetician for over 30 years. You do not need all that stuff. At Sephora, you were made to feel you needed all that stuff, and in the moment you gave in and parted with all that money. Most of us have been there, including me.
Here's something: Your skin is covered in micro-biome, which includes all kinds of fungi and bacteria. People have been told that you need multiple step routines to get rid of "dirt" and "grime" and to "unclog pores." The truth is, when you OVER wash your skin and do too much fiddling with all those products, you create imbalance. All the acids and added alcohol to creams and potions and toner is killing off beneficial bacteria. Remember douching? Who does that anymore? Think of the bad advice women got about douching when you think of the skincare industry. The beauty industry is what a grifter might call "a long con"... they've been working on you since you were a little girl.
You can wash your face gently with a wash cloth (no scrubbing) and warm water. If you wore a bunch of make-up that day (you only need a tinted sunscreen, some natural colored blush, an neutral eyeshadow, mascara and light lip color at the very most, concealer if you feel fancy) you can use a gentle cleanser. If you use Retin-A or something with retinols, only twice a week! Wear sunscreen during the day and wear hats.
You don't need more than one face cream for moisture, unless you count the tinted moisturizer, which I count as "make-up." I use a cream with simple ingredients, no parabens, not tested on animals. Jurlique is a good example. If you feel dry, add some organic jojoba oil to your cream, it's so affordable and does the trick. Think of all the plastic waste the beauty industry dumps out each year. Think about the money you spend. Take that money and put it in a high interest earning CD. There's my professional opinion.
Wow, thanks so much for your sound advice! I agree with everything you say. Yeah, I remember douching but never did it. I bet the jury is still out on that! So many lawsuits for products, from talcum powder to hair straightener. And I added jojoba to my shopping list.
The Johnson & Johnson talc thing is so disturbing. The company knew for years that talc was linked to cancer, but they kept quiet, knowing all the time it was used on babies. The industry is a disaster, like the diet industry and the wellness industry, with a few exceptions.
I have been a legal reporter for 22 years and covered this extensively
Wow, Jane! I'm still trying to wrap my head around how they kept it all locked down, and still...so many people don't know! An OBGYN told me years ago not to use the powder. Like more than 25 years ago. Anything else I should know about?
Great article. All of us over ** can relate. When I worked in the corporate world I used to toss a lot of my makeup and go new every year. I’m now at an age where I can prove that all those expensive creams for eyes and jowls do not make a mm of difference. Just to the wallet. The last makeover I went to was a couple of years ago. While she buffed and polished and applied, I wasn’t allowed to see until she was finished. A couple colleagues walked by. “Nice!” they said. I’m sure I could hear them giggle all the way to the lunch room. Finally the big reveal. She whipped that chair around so fast I almost needed a seat belt. I looked in the mirror and saw a drag queen only with a lot more drag. The cosmetologist was so happy. I was dumb struck. “You need to make plans for tonight,” she said. I was mortified. Speechless! It truly was ghastly. I drove home with one hand over the lower part of my face. Walked in the door and made a beeline for the washroom. “How’d it go?” my husband said from the other room. It was going to take some scrubbing. And he wasn’t going to see this car wreck. I took a picture. Just as a reminder. Rather than look like an actor in Bird Cage, I prefer to be invisible.
Irene, you are hilarious! I want to steal your quotes, like whipped the chair so fast and a lot more drag. And thanks for this, I will no longer get expensive products. It's drug store makeup next. Oh wait, my Sephora stuff won't run out because I never use it.
🤣
Oh, Jeez, this was hysterical!
Thanks Nancy!
Oh. My. God. I could have written this myself. But actually, no. You did a much better job, Jane. I turned 70 this last February, and there are these surreal moments (I'm laughing as I type this) when I will look in a mirror and not actually recognize myself immediately. Or I do, but I cannot believe it. It's like my face is not lining up with my energy level. I mean, what are all these weird things that pop up on our skin literally overNIGHT? Does anybody get this? It's crazy. So this totally resonated with me, but it also did something way more important. It made me feel less alone. I've found my tribe!
And by the way, foundation and powder worked when we were 20, 30, and maybe into our 40s, but hell no! Not anymore. Maybe the wisdom we're all supposed to have attained by now includes the notion that when it comes to make-up, less is more! Love to all!
Nancy, love your line 'face not lining up with energy level'. I can relate. And thank go we don't have to get by on our looks alone.
Absolutely! We can write!
So good Jane! And funny ... and true! This aging thing is not for the faint of heart, nor easy on the wallet.... ugh
Our saving grace is that, increasingly, we don't give a damn.
Well said!
I’m right there with you! Great article; hopefully more to follow.
Thanks so much Lynn, glad you like it. And I plan on posting once a week.
you will always be a lamb too me
Thanks so much Glen, you made my day! Baaaaa