You are only as old as you look.

Harsh, I know. But it's true. When you look at someone you see their face. Without consciously doing so you decide their age. 30's, 40's, 50's, mid, late. Based on that decision you adjust yourself and your personality to 'fit' someone of that demographic. Ever do this and find you are a decade off?? Yeah, happened to me. 
I was assisting, what I thought was a more than middle- aged (and by that I mean 60 years old) woman with some products. Near the end of our conversation she tells me she is 46. WHAT? How can someone with such deep expression lines, dry/ textured skin, lacking volume in the skin and frown lines only be 46??! Those are markers of someone 15-20 years her senior.... She didn't take care of her skin.
Like many she has an out-of-sight/ out-of-mind attitude. Just cover it- it'll be fine. You can't just cover something up & expect perfection. Don't hide imperfections get rid of them. 
Sign of aging #1- Pigmentation: Everyone should know by now the leading cause of pigmentation is the Sun. You can't wear enough SPF. EVERYDAY- UV is everywhere. It reflects off everything you see.  If it's daytime you need SPF. Now, pigmentation can also be caused by hormonal changes (like during pregnancy) or taking hormones. Another cause is post trauma- post acne, injury or allergic reaction. With any pigmentation the concern is getting rid of it and preventing more from appearing. 
There are many product on the market that can brighten & lighten the skin. You need to decide whats best for you- botanical or pharmaceutical. Talk to your DR.
Sign of aging #2- Lines & Wrinkles:  You smile. Muscles contract, skin tissue moves, creases form. It's what our faces do. When you stop smiling & the lines remain, it's time to boost your regimen. Did you know that sometime in your 20's your skin starts to slow down the production of collagen & elastin?! YIKES! The production of it begins to slow and by our mid 30's the amount we're loosing is more than we're making. How can we fight this? Good SKINCARE. Using ingredients such as a mild retinol, vitamin c, resveratrol, anti-oxidants; all these 'collagen stimulating' ingredients to protect what you have & keep the collagen factory working! Again, SPF! Let's go back to the 1980's here for a minute- all that spandex! After so many times in the dryer the spandex stopped going back in to shape & stopped stretching. Similar effect with your skin & the sun. It causes dryness, over works the cells (a tan is the body trying to protect itself from uv rays) and can damage collagen & elastin. Over time your skin looses its fullness, bounce & begins to sag.
Sign of again #3- Dullness/ uneven texture: Dullness & uneven texture are usually caused by the same thing. Dead skin. Your skin stops sheding as fast as it used to and skin can hang on longer than we'd like it to. Get back that glow with EXFOLIATION. Time to choose your weapon: physical, enzymatic, glycolic, oh my! You can even find tasty blends of all of the above as well- yummy!
Let your skin determine what type you use. Uber sensitive, sensitive- dry skins usually enjoy enzymes. They tend to be more gentle and there is no harsh rubbing involved. Dry- normal skins can go either way. A physical scrub with beads (not shell) feel great on the skin & give a little bit more power to an enzyme or AHA. A strong aha or glycolic is fantastic for getting through very dry skin. Combination- oily skins tend to enjoy scrubs. A nice beady scrub with some AHAs & BHAs are great for breaking down oils & getting a nice deep clean.
You can be smooth as a baby's bottom!
Signs of aging #4 Dark circles: Some of us are lucky enough to be born with these (thanks, mom). Others have started to notice shadows later. Lack of sleep, stress, certain medications, spending too much time on the computer, allergies or dehydration can cause dark circles. Somethings you can control- allergies, dehydration, sleep and stress (to a point). Now it's time to treat! You need to hydrate not only inside but outside. Finding an eye cream that works for you (no, you don't want to use the one you use for your face). Coffee berry/ coffee/ caffeine are all good things when it comes to darkness & puffiness. It stimulates the circulation and gets everything flowing out of the area. Hydrating is also key to youthful looking eyes.  There are many great eye creams out there that offer solution for darkness & will give great results for fine lines as well. And YES, there are eye creams with SPF.

Remember: hands & neck show signs of aging really early! Don't neglect them.  You don't want a 30 somethings face with a 50 somethings hands and neck.


Always know any effort you put in to taking care of your skin- no matter how little it may be- it's worth it.

Makeup 'rules'?

Every day I get asked 'what should I wear?' ' What's the rule on shimmer? I 'm over 40'.' Should I have a dewy look?' 'I'm a autumn/winter/summer. What colors am I suppose to be using?'... I don't like rules. I don't follow most rules. Sticking to all the makeup "Rules" you see in every magazine and hear on TV will make you crazy & you will get bored- and fast.

Last I checked, makeup was about having fun! Creating your own look. It's taking your natural beauty & turning it up an notch. Makeup is about making you feel beautiful. Ditching the rules will set you free...

Rules you should FOLLOW:

1. Have a proper skin care routine that includes SPF. The better your skin is the less you'll need to cover, right? And always always always remember what goes on must come off. That means every night.

2. Feed & Hydrate. Inside & out. Good food in- good skin out.

3.Throw out mascara after 3 months of regular use. They are just gross & lacking in performance by that time.

4. Prime your eyes! Lashes to brow & at lower lash line. You're putting in the time & the effort to put shadows & liners on, keep them there! 

5. Have good Tools- invest in & take care of your tools.

6. Find a signature, no fail look. You never know when you'll get a last minute phone call for a fantastic night out. You need something quick & simple you know you can rock. 

Rules you should BREAK:

1.Never wear shimmer after 40. YES YOU CAN. You just have to be smart & strategic with the placement of it. Looking like a disco ball is not what your after, but some soft highlighting around the eyes, temples, brows and cheeks can give a fresh, glowing more youthful appearance to the skin.

2. Any color other than brown is not suitable for a professional office. NO. There are so many colors out there! You don't have to be wearing neon to wear color. You can find a color that suits your complexion that is soft, subtle and still COLOR. Add one color in with your everyday beige. Mix it up.

3.Always use a foundation primer. Maybe. This really depends on your skin routine. Yes primer gives foundations that silky velvety appearance & some will even make it sweat proof. If you have little to no skin concerns and if your skin if properly hydrated, you shouldn't need a primer. Many products on the market are multi-taskers- moisture + SPF + prime. Gotta love that! 

4. You can't wear powder if you have dry skin. Sure you can. Again that goes back to finding the perfect moisturizer. If the skin has enough moisture you can certainly wear a powder. It is true that most with dry skin prefer liquids. A luminizing powder would be perfect for a dry skin type.

5. You have to use everything from the same brand. This is applied mostly to skincare. While most lines within a brand are designed to work together for optimal results it is OKAY to pick & choose what products you like/ need

6. Trends are only for tweens & twenty-somethings. The trends, as seen in fashion, are usually bold, make a statement & really appeal to that age group. You can still be on trend at any age by making some adjustments. Take some of the focus of the trend, whether it be the lip color or the eye shadow & make it your own. Find hues from the trend that work with your features. The look can be far more subtle & still on trend. 

 A few things to keep in mind: Just because the person on TV, your mother, co-worker or the lady next to you on the train LOVE it, it may not be for you. Sure there is a reason it is such a sensation but not everything is for everyone. Make your own decision- is it what your looking for? Does it do what your need it to? Is it the look you really want? Are you excited to use it? What fits in your routine?

Never get discouraged when trying to find makeup. There's quite a selection. Always consider your skin type, tone, texture, texture of the product, what you want it to do for you & what the look you want really is.
It's not about anyone but you.