Beauty

  • Best ingredients to have radiant skin during menopause and perimenopause

    What are the best ingredients to have radiant skin during menopause and perimenopause? Skincare during menopause and perimenopause is very similar to what you did before, but as you probably know, it becomes more demanding. In my experience, small changes in our skincare can deliver great results. 

    Skincare during menopause and perimenopause has to address the skin changes that the fluctuating hormones bring, especially the lower levels of estrogen in our bodies.  As the estrogen levels go down, the changes in the skin become more pronounced. Decrease in estrogen levels can cause a range of conditions, including skin dryness, thinning, and wrinkles. By incorporating certain ingredients into your skincare routine, you can help restore radiance to your skin during this time. So here are the best ingredients to have radiant skin during menopause and perimenopause

    Vitamin C

    One of the best ingredients for radiant skin during menopause and perimenopause is Vitamin C. This powerful antioxidant helps brighten the skin, even out the skin tone, and reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Additionally, Vitamin C boosts collagen production, helping to keep the skin firm and smooth.

    Vitamin C is also an anti-inflammatory, which can help reduce redness and irritation. Moreover, this ingredient can help protect the skin from environmental stressors such as UV radiation and pollution. To incorporate Vitamin C into your skincare routine, look for serums or moisturizers that contain at least 10% L-ascorbic acid, the most potent form of Vitamin C. There are a lot of new forms of vitamin C and they are more stable, but because they are new we don’t know yet if they are as effective as the products that have been around for a long time. Vitamin C oxidizes very fast.  That is why you might want to keep it in the refrigerator and avoid dark or colored serums because you won’t be able to see if the vitamin C is still active. If the vitamin C turns brown, it has lost its power.       

    Niacinamide

    Another powerful ingredient to consider is niacinamide. This form of Vitamin B3 helps reduce inflammation and can soothe redness and irritation. It also helps brighten the skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It comes in many creams and it is also great for the skin in the body.

    Glycolic Acid

    This is a powerful ingredient in skincare during menopause and perimenopause. Glycolic acid is a type of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that can help exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin cells and reveal brighter, smoother skin. This ingredient can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. Additionally, glycolic acid can minimize the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Some people don’t tolerate it well, in that case lactic acid is a good substitute.

    Retinol

    This is the standard for anti-aging skin care. Retinol is a form of Vitamin A that can help improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, retinol can help increase cell turnover, leading to brighter, smoother skin. However, it’s important to use retinol sparingly, as it can cause irritation and sensitivity if overused. I use the medical form (prescription), Tretinoin, also known by its original brand name, Retin A.  For Retin A you can get the prescription from your regular doctor and look for deals on GoodRx. It is cheaper to buy that way than on online pharmacies that give you the prescription and use a subscription model.  You can also buy it internationally in India or Mexico. I use the Mexican made original brand.    

    Hyaluronic Acid

    Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant that can help hydrate the skin and improve its overall texture. During menopause, the skin tends to become drier, so using a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid can help keep the skin plump and hydrated. It comes in a lot of products and it is a modestly priced ingredient.

    Alpha Arbutin

    Alpha arbutin is a natural skin brightener that can help reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It works by inhibiting the production of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its color. Additionally, alpha arbutin has antioxidant properties, which can help protect the skin from environmental damage. I use the one from the brand The Ordinary.

    Azelaic Acid

    Azelaic acid is a multifunctional ingredient that can help reduce acne, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce redness and irritation, making it an excellent choice for sensitive skin.

    Peptides

    Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can help stimulate collagen production and improve skin elasticity. As we age, our skin loses collagen, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging. By using products that contain peptides, we can help keep our skin looking firm and youthful.

    Vitamin E

    Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that can help protect the skin from environmental damage. Additionally, vitamin E can help reduce inflammation and improve skin texture. It’s often used in moisturizers and serums to help hydrate the skin and improve its overall appearance. I use a serum that has vitamin C, E, Ferulic acid and hyaluronic acid from the brand Timeless Skincare.   

    What about your hormones in skincare?

    Hormonal balance is very important for the skin. For this reason people on HRT or BHRT see improvement in their skin when they start the treatments. If you would like to improve your menopause or perimenopause symptoms with lifestyle, I recommend my program BLISS in Menopause where you will learn everything to improve your health, energy levels, mojo and skin. You can read more about it here.     

    In conclusion

    Menopause and perimenopause and the plethora of changes that they may bring can be challenging, but incorporating these ingredients into your skincare routine can help restore radiance and vitality to your skin during menopause. Remember, happy girls are the prettiest, so don’t worry, be happy. This is another helpful article about skincare in menopause

  • What no one tells you about skin care in perimenopause and menopause?

    The miracle cream that will erase your wrinkles. Or Better than Botox. The secret to beautiful skin after 50. Nobel Prize Winner Technology in skin care. You, like me, probably have read them all and more, much more.

    how to have youthful skin in perimenopause and menopause

    There are so many creams, potions, procedures and supplements promising us youth in a bottle, an injection, procedure or a pill. If they would work, we will not have wrinkles anymore. So is there a secret to beautiful, healthy skin at 50, during menopause and perimenopause? The pill is the closest from all those promises, the reason is that the secret is our hormones.

    The supple, radiant skin that we had in our younger years depends greatly on our hormones.

    The cream can put moisture, the procedure can force the skin to generate collagen and a more radical procedure can lift and iron out wrinkles, but the overall effect won’t give you beautiful skin. And, beautiful skin can make you look younger and prettier even with wrinkles and flaccidity. Beautiful skin has a characteristic called radiance. Radiance can go away during perimenopause and menopause. In Ayurveda, radiance is part of something called ojas and it means live, healthy tissues.

    Skin radiance comes from our hormones and health. It is affected by emotions.

    Have you seen the face of a bride? Happiness is visible. Audrey Hepburn was right:

    Happy girls are the prettiest

    If your estrogen is out of balance in earlier years then the skin maybe oily. Hormones out of balance in midlife in perimenopause or menopause can cause skin dryness, lack of luster, loss of volume and in some people, very reactive skin (that’s me). If the person has estrogen dominance, the skin is going to be oily. If your hormones, especially estrogen and T3, are not balanced your creams and treatments are not going to be as effective.

    If your liver is not working properly you may develop allergies, redness, discolored patches, etc. A lower thyroid functions will bring dryness, hair loss and eye brow hair loss.

    How do you get radiance?

    Well, this is part of what a healthy lifestyle with low stress, good nutrients and happiness brings to your life. There are a few things you can do.

    The main thing is to try to balance your hormones. This is a big topic and one of the main topics of this blog. In short, in order to balance our hormones we need to:

    • Eat enough good fat
    • Eat a diet rich in nutrients
    • Lower stress
    • Consume a low glycemic diet (low sugar)
    • Sleep
    • Eat a natural diet
    • Make sure you are having all the minerals your body needs
    • Be happy. Make yourself happy. Happiness is an attitude; it comes from within us, not from the exterior.

      If you would like to know more about how to balance your hormones with lifestyle changes read here about my program BLISS in menopause

    Help your organs

    We also need to help our liver and adrenals. The liver and adrenals are going to help the thyroid and are going to help us have more available estrogen, our own estrogen.

    The type of nutrition above will help you liver and adrenals. In some cases, we need to take supplements after a period of neglect. That is what I did and worked out very well for me. I will include a link to the products I took. If the imbalance is deeper, you need to go to a practitioner. I recommend an Ayurveda or functional medicine practitioner. The solutions for hormonal balance don’t give immediate results, you may need months before you see results, but the results are great if you keep trying.

    Other tips for healthy skin

    Follow a simple skin care routine. It should include cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliation once or twice a week.

    Use a star ingredient or a few of them. You don’t have to become an expert or a junkie. Certainly you don’t need to use expensive products. I will be publishing a series of articles on this topic. Star ingredients are retinol, alpha and beta hydroxy acids and many more.

    how to have beautiful, youthful skin in middle age

    Don’t overexpose to the sun

    I am not saying always use sunblock. Use a safe sunscreen when you are going to expose yourself for longer periods of time. But mostly use common sense, wear hats, stay indoors at the time the sun is stronger, don’t tan, etc.
    Take more precautions when you abruptly change to a different weather. For example, if you live in a cold place and take a winter vacation in the Caribbean. These changes are more damaging to the skin.

    If you eat healthy your skin is more resilient and the sun causes less damage.

    These are the products I used. These are affiliate links:

    Adrenal Health – To support the adrenal glands
    Liver support

  • Favorites this week

    This is my collection of interesting things that I read, watched, ate, smelled, tried during the week, and that I think they are so good I have to share them with you. If you have your favorites leave a comment and share them.

    Read

    The Sinus Cure
    This is the newest version of an interesting old book. For allergy suffers, or people who suffer nasal congestion, the book offers interesting tips. The author is a MD who worked mostly as a functional doctor. I do not share all the opinions with the author, but I think it has some good advice when it comes to nutrients to treat sinus infections. I want to clear my sinus and there are no effective medical treatments, so I am hopping I can find something natural. This book was a first step in that direction.

    weekly favorites

    Watch

    La Tribu
    If you want to have a good laugh, this is a great choice. I am into comedy and laughs lately, it was one of my New Year resolutions. This Spaniard comedy, La Tribu, is super funny. I am new to standup comedy and I am also loving some old stand up comics such as: Trevor Noah and Ali Wong.

    Smell

    I am loving Tory Burch Bel Azur. It is a very refreshing, but sophisticated fragrance. Maybe it is more summer than spring, but still wonderful for this time.

    weekly favorites

    Make-up

    Viceart mini palette eye shadows. Viceart has an amazing quality. The fall out is minimal, they blend beautifully, and the colors are highly pigmented. Their prices are very high and this small eight color palette sold in Sephora offers a lot of value. It is a very warm palette with four matte colors and four shiny ones. I took it with me to Europe because of its size and versatility and it delivered.

    Skin care

    I tried a new sunblock, Anthelios 60 by La Roche-Posay. It is a favorite of many magazine editors and I understand the reason. It spreads easily, it does not leave a residue, tackiness or color on the skin. It did not cause me any irritation and it held well under the foundation. If you do not have problems with a chemical sun block this is a good product. I prefer a physical sunscreen and for that reason I will not continue using it. I wish I could find the same quality in a physical sunblock. However a few reviewers are saying that with heat it turns yellow on the skin, it did not happen to me, but the weather is pretty cold here.

    making bread

    Eating

    My husband and I are into the Great British Baking Show and it was one of my goals to start baking bread this year. Oh well, he started to bake ahead of me and we have been eating a lot of awesome homemade bread. I got two books from the library and we have been trying a lot of recipes including pop-overs, I used to love them in the Neiman Marcus’ café and now I can make them at home.

    Life

    Days are getting longer and it is time to spring-clean. I am getting ready to celebrate this wonderful season and Easter. I have a list of activities I want to do and cool new things to try. Did you read my 20 ideas for health and beauty in spring?

    How was your week?

    Photos by Nadya Spetnitskaya Melissa Walker Horn on Unsplash

  • Do you want the sexy glow back, masks for woman over 50


    Glow, radiance, healthy skin, hydration. Do you want to get glowing skin after 50? If you want to get the glow back to your skin masks are a great resource for mature skin. When you need some help to add those attributes to your skin nothing substitute proper skin care, but there is a temporary short cut, masks. There are some great masks that can bring back the glow.

    Today I share with you some fabulous masks that leave my skin looking amazing (and younger). These are my favorite exfoliating and hydrating masks that bring the glow back. I have tried a zillion masks, the ones I am sharing today I know work very well and I keep them in my bathroom. The following products are good for all skin types including the temperamental ones (sensitive) like mine.

    masks women over 50


    Farmacy Honey Potion Renewing Antioxidant Hydration Mask with Echinacea GreenEnvy™

    A funky name for a great mask. It is a light skin exfoliant, it hydrates and leaves the skin feeling and looking amazing, smooth, soft, glowing and radiant, the sexy glow returns. This is currently my favorite mask. I have sensitive skin and this mask does not irritate at all. The only con is it price.

    Skincare Concerns: Dryness, Dullness and Uneven Texture, and Loss of Firmness and Elasticity


    Ingredients

    Glycerin, Diglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Honey Extract, Propolis Extract, Royal Jelly Extract, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Echinacea Purpurea Root Extract, Honey, Water/Aqua/Eau, Flavor, Vanillyl Butyl Ether.

    As you can see in the ingredient list, it is made of different types of honey, propolis and some vegetable ingredients. It is considered clean beauty in Sephora.

    Price: US$38 for 50 gr. US$56 for 117 gr.

    How to use this mask?

    I used it once a week; less sensitive skin types can use it more often. I also use honey masks sometimes (from my pantry) and although the results are similar, my skin responds better to this mask. A yogurt mask may give a more similar effect.

    masks women over 50


    Fresh Rose Face Mask

    This mask feel so luxurious, this is in part because of its rosy smell, which comes from rose water and rose extracts. My skin feels very hydrated, calm, soft and fresh after I use it. It is mainly a hydrating mask and it helps temporarily reduce pore size. It is ideal when we need more hydration; however, I think for extreme conditions it is not the best (such as, after skiing). This is the way to get glowing and smell the roses at the same time.

    Ingredients

    Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower, Maris Aqua (Sea Water), Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Faex (Yeast Extract), Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caramel, Maltodextrin, Parfum (Fragrance), BHT, Citronellol, Phenoxyethanol.

    Price US$62 for 100ml

    How to use it?
    I tried it once a week, but it can be used twice a week.



    Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask

    This is a great mask that leaves the skin feeling fresh, soft and radiant. It has beta hydroxy acids and post-biotics (by-products of fermented ingredients) as well as clay. The ingredients really honor its name, they are resurfacing, they eliminate dead cells.

    Ingredients

    Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Sclerotium gum, Aqua/water/Eau, Lactobacillus Ferment, Maltooligosyl Glucoside, Lactobacillus/Punica granatum Fruit Ferment Extract, Leuconostoc Ferment Filtrate, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Beta vulgaris/Beet Root Extract/Extrait de racine de betterave, Kaolin (Rose Clay), Sodium Phytate, Aroma*, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.

    Price US$62 for 30 ml

    How to get glowing skin this mask?
    Use it once or twice a week.

    Le Mieux Bio Cell sheet mask

    This mask is a wonderful quick fix for radiance. It is very hydrating and leaves the skin looking plum, soft, brighter, more even, and just nicer in 10 to 15 minutes. It is a seaweed mask with peptides and vitamins. It is the best sheet mask that I have used.

    Price
    US$ 30 for 4 masks.

    Ingredients

    Hyaluronic Acid, Lavandula Officinalis (Lavender) Flower Water, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extract, Freeze-Dried Marine Collagen (proprietary formula), Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Saxifraga Sarmentosa Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Morus Alba (Mulberry) Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis (Chinese Skullcap) Root Extract, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Allantoin, Glucosamine HCI, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, UGL Complex (Glucosamine HCI, Algae Extract, Yeast Extract, Urea), Fagus Sylvatica (Beech) Bud Extract, Enteromorpha Compressa (Green Algae) Extract, Chitosan, Glucose, Glucose Oxidase, Lactoperoxidase.


    Just a comment

    When it comes to get our sexy glow back there are many great masks and some of them are very inexpensive. The ones in this list are my favorites. There are also great natural ingredients that can give similar results such as, yogurt and oats, white clay or honey among my favorites for mature skin.

    Do you have any masks that you love? Leave a comment below and let us know which is your favorite mask. Read about my experience with Nuface.

  • A natural facelift with Nuface

    Can you get a natural facelift with Nuface, the beauty gadget? I am very skeptical when it comes to beauty gadgets and products that promise amazing results, especially if they are expensive. About five years ago a blogger I used to follow had a post on how Nuface had helped her to keep her skin firm as she was losing weight. I was concerned about my face looking older and saggy, so after a lot or research I bought Nuface.

    my experience with Nuface

    At the time I bought Nuface, there was not enough information about it although it was being sold on QVC. Now it is loved by many bloggers and Youtubers and many women wonder if they have to buy it. Here is my honest review of Nuface after about five years of usage. I answer the question if Nuface can be a natural facelift.

    What is Nuface?

    Nuface is basically a small beauty device for home use that delivers micro currents to the skin. Some facts about micro-currents and Nuface:

    • Micro currents help improve skin condition as well as muscle tone.
    • They have been used for more than a century.
    • They were originally used to treat injured patients.
    • They have been used in professional beauty treatments for a long time and they are a staple before a red carpet appearance for many celebrities.
    • Micro-currents are sometime called “a natural facelift.”
    • Nuface is not as potent as the professional treatments, but it delivers great results.
    • Professional treatments give immediate visible results.
    • Nuface results are not drastic but they tend to improve with frequent use.
    • Nuface is FDA-cleared; very few beauty devices have this honor.


    Is Nuface for you?

    Nuface temporarily firms up the face and makes the skin look better (AKA your face looks lifted, more radiant and firmer). However, the results are temporary and subtle. For a short time you can get a small natural facelift.

    Nuface will not make deep wrinkles disappear, the improvement will be minimum. People with deep wrinkles will benefit with Nuface and other devices, but the results are not going to be dramatic.

    I think it works better for people who start to see sagging and fine wrinkles or expression lines. But in general Nuface does help me and other people and it worth the investment in time and money.

    Using Nuface

    Nuface requires diligence and time. It is not a onetime thing. If you want to see results (a natural facelift) and to sustain those results you need to follow the instructions.

    Nuface does not require a lot of time, but for the first month, it is recommended to do it every day and it takes from 5 to 15 minutes depending on how it is used. There is a shorter and a longer protocol. After that, it can be used 1 to 3 times a week to maintain the natural facelift.

    If you stop using Nuface, little by little you will notice a change on the firmness of the skin, because the Nuface effects will disappear. Some people compare the effects of Nuface to working out, is you stop working out the results go away little by little.

    Is Nuface safe?

    Nuface is mostly safe. However some people report problems, such as headaches, dizziness and palpitations. I have seen 2 Youtubers who needed to stop using it; these women have some heart health issues and Nuface increased palpitations for them. This happens to very few people. My experience has been great.

    Most Nuface reviews are positive, but there are a few bad reviews, such as people who claim that Nuface gave them some wrinkles or caused broken capillaries. This has not been my experience and many Youtubers after 50 use the device, love it, and recommend it.

    To buy Nuface or not?

    Nuface is expensive, but if you can afford it, I think it is worthwhile. Of course it will only work if it is used as recommended. I am very happy with my Nuface, I think it has helped me have firmer skin I am not sure if to call it a natural facelift, but I can see the difference.

    Which Nuface to buy?

    Nuface has 2 choices for face use, the regular Nuface or Trinity, and the mini Nuface. The difference is size, the ability to plug in other attachments, and control on power level. The mini is smaller and cannot accommodate other attachments and only has one level.

    The attachments for the Trinity are the Ele, which allows easy reach to certain areas of the face such as the lips corners, and browns (see picture). The other attachment is a red light therapy device. Both of them are sold separately or as a package with the Nuface Trinity. The cost is about $150 each. The package with the three of them is cheaper.

    After much consideration, I decided not to buy the attachments. The Ele leaves lines on some people. The red light is too small and it takes too long, there are better options at lower prices. To use the Ele attachment requires more time and the results are similar to the ones from the original head.

    How to use Nuface?

    There are a lot of videos from the company. It is very easy and it requires a gel or water, so the machine can slide easily on skin.

    I have tried a conductive gel, aloe vera gel and just water. All of them work; with water there is a little friction, so I prefer the aloe vera gel. Nuface sells its own gel, but I originally did not use it (although it came with the package) because I read many reviews that it has given pimples to some people. They have since reformulated the gel and it is working fine for most people. However I prefer to use a simple inexpensive aloe gel or plain water.

    When using micro currents, it is important to have clean skin and not to apply oils. The oils interrupt the currents and the effects are minimal.

    Where to buy Nuface?

    The Nuface Trinity is not cheap and I think that is its only really negative point. It retails for $325.00, the mini is $199.00. However, Nuface goes on sale on flash sales sites on the Internet, such as Nordstrom flash sales site Hautelook and on Nordstrom itself during the sales twice a year. In Hautelook it costs less, but sometimes it cannot be returned and there is a shipping cost. During the Nordstrom annual sale, it costs about $100 less and in Hautelook about $150 to $125 dollars less than the original price. QVC also has frequent sales.

    If you decide to buy, Google it to find the lowest price. Buy from a well known shop. There are fake Nuface being sold in Amazon and Ebay; an over 50 Youtuber had a bad experience with a fake machine bought in Ebay.

    New technology and products

    The ZIIP is another similar machine with nano currents instead of micro currents. ZIIP is also FDA approved. The technologies are similar and the results are also similar. People who have tried both devices think that the ZIIP is a little better. The ZIIP costs $499.00, and uses a more expensive gel and works with an app. I have not tried it yet and I am not sure if I want to spend 500 dollars with a device that is so similar to Nuface. Another device is the Myotone which costs about $250. The Myotone is not FDA cleared as the Nuface is. There are also some Nuface imitations from China, some work most don’t the price difference is big.

    So that is my story with the Nuface and its natural facelift effects. If you have questions or comments please post below. If you like to see it in Amazon this is the link (affiliate) .

    Read: What nobody tells you about skin care during menopause and perimenopause.

  • Learning to apply make up at 50 and free

    Our faces change with the past of time, and therefore, the way we apply makeup should also change. That is the reason many of us have to relearn how to apply makeup at 30, 40, 50 years of age or more. After 40 it is called mature woman’s makeup or older woman’s makeup, before that it is immature probably .

    We want to learn how to apply makeup after 40 or 50, because we want to look good. It is not an attempt to look younger, hotter or fu..able, it is among others the desire (and pressure) to look current in the workplace and to avoid nasty age-related stereotypes. There is a lot of age discrimination and makeup can help us look our best. And of course, we all like to look good no matter the age.

    If we see the makeup advertisements, we can think that women over 40, 50, 60 or more are not interested in makeup. I know that that is not the case. This article is not a tutorial; it is almost impossible to have a tutorial for all “older woman.” I am just suggesting some places where you can learn clever tricks and update your look with pros and cons.

    Sephora makeovers

    This is was one of my favorite places to have a makeover. I like the fact that they have a great variety of products, not just one cosmetic line. Sephora doesn’t offer free makeovers any more, you need to book and pay for the service. You can have free mini make applications.

    Generally speaking the Sephora makeup artists are very well trained and makeup is the only thing they do, they are not aestheticians or half trained people. They are up-to-date on all trends and products and they do not make commission, so they do not put any pressure on the client to buy.

    In general most of my experiences in Sephora have been positive, but I had one negative experience. I did not like the makeup, I think in part it was my mistake, perhaps, I did not make myself clear on what I wanted. The lesson is to be clear about what you want, bring pictures etc. The clearer you are about what you want, the better the experience will be. Sephora also has free classes and they are very good.

    Department stores

    Generally speaking I do not recommend makeovers in department stores. The employees make commission on sales and their salaries are very low, they need to sell. Unless you love a makeup line or know the person applying makeup, it is better to go elsewhere. Also, many people working in the shops are not well trained.

    I do not think it is a good idea to use everything from only one cosmetic line. On the plus side, there is no specific amount you have to spend, technically you could walk away not buying anything, but in reality most of us will want to buy something, so the person did not work without pay. In some places you can tip the person and avoid shopping if you do not want to.

    Cosmetic lines studios

    Such as Mac, Benefit etc. It is similar to department stores, but the makeup artists are better trained.

    Cosmetic shops

    Usually same as above.

    Spas and salons

    Now we are talking of a paid service. They tend to have lessons and applications. In many places there is no makeup artist on the premise. The person applying the makeup could be a hairdresser or an aesthetician. This does not mean that that person is not fabulous and cannot do a great job. In fact for weddings and special occasions these are the best places, but I always recommend to have a try run before the big day.

    For special occasions makeup usually there is no pressure to buy. The pressure can be there for a makeup lesson. A makeup lesson can be valuable, you just have to be prepared to say no if you are not ready to buy. The people working here are decently paid and you are already paying for the service and usually have to leave a tip. The return policies in these places are not great. They usually have limited amount of products, so buying may not offer you the best choices.

    Ulta

    This cosmetic shop deserves its own category because they have makeup applications and lessons. You do not need to buy anything if you don’t want to and you have to tip. The price is lower than in most salons and the employees are well trained. The makeup artist will recommend products from great variety of lines Ulta sells. Ulta sells lower priced lines as well as luxury lines.

    An independent makeup artist

    A lesson with a makeup artist anywhere, independent or part of a service or a salon or spa, can be a great experience. This is probably the most expensive option and the most personal one. I recommend you start with one of the others if money is an issue. The makeup artist will only recommend products she or he sells.

    Ask a friend

    If you have a great friend who is fabulous doing makeup you could ask for advice. Free and hopefully unbiased.

    Learn by yourself

    Youtube, blogs, videos and books, all wonderful resources to learn at your own pace and experiment at home. Be careful because you can end up owning dozens of makeup products.

    Do not believe stereotypes

    Many people, especially younger people or men, refer to older women makeup or mature women makeup in a way that doesn’t make sense. People over 40, woman over 50, sure a woman over 50 looks exactly the same as a woman at 80 or more, they need the same makeup. There are also gross generalizations, such as do not use …., red lipstick, this or that eyeshadow, etc. This is just nonsense ageism, if someone talks like that do not listen, they don’t know what they are talking about.

    Do you have any favorite place to learn makeup tips? A shop or youtube channel?

    Photos by:  ian dooley on Unsplash  Element5 Digital on Unsplash  Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash