Thread Drift

[emily_in_nc]

I used to use liquid foundation back when I worked and wore makeup daily. I used a Revlon moisturizing foundation but can't recall exactly what it was called. Now I rarely wear any makeup other than tinted lip balm, but when I do get dressed up a bit to go out to dinner, I use Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse. It helps cover my age/sunspots and evens out my complexion. I like that it is a cream formula applied with a sponge, as it gives sheerer coverage and allows me more control when applying.

I agree with Crankin about the mineral makeup. I bought some a couple of years ago and need to throw it out. It really does accentuate the lines.

[ny biker]

I wish I could not bother with makeup, because I'm lazy, and some days when I have to leave early for work I don't have time for it. But my face is really starting to look old and some makeup seems to help with that. (The bags under my eyes are especially bad. Depressing.)

I found some reviews for a Bare Skin liquid foundation from Bare Minerals that say it's good on older skin. But maybe it's not? Or is just mineral powder that's a problem? Meanwhile, reviews of the Cover Girl foundation I was going to try say it is scented. WHY IS THIS NECESSARY? Really, Proctor and Gamble, stop adding stupid scents to products that do not need them. Anyway that's now the absolute last thing I will try. I looked at something from Maybelline in the store last night and their lightest shade is not light enough for my snow white skin. But it was not a mousse, so I will look for that product.

But first I think I will try a tinted moisturizer. Neutrogena has one that gets good reviews, and I'm already using a similar moisturizer from them which I like.

Meanwhile I complained to Revlon on their website and they sent me a coupon in the mail for $10. Props to them for getting it to me so quickly. Not sure what I'll spend it on, but I can probably find something.

[Pax]

Guess I'm lucky, first, I have a lot of color in my face (my mom looked albino), red lips/dark brows/pink cheeks; so I never bothered to learn about makeup in high school. Then start doing nontraditional jobs where I couldn't wear it, and now I just don't care enough to bother. I think I look fine, my beloved thinks I look fine, so it's all good.

[Crankin]

I've always worn makeup, but nothing that looks overdone... my skin is fair and I have freckles. And horrible nasolabial fold lines. Oher than those, not so many wrinkles. I need some color on my cheeks. If I do that with either bronzer or blush, all I need is concealer under my eyes, which always looks reddish. I am addicted to lipstick, though. Mostly neutral colors, but I really like changing up the shades. I do wear eye shadow and mascara in neutral shades for work days and when I go out.
Both of my parents had darker, more olive skin than me. But, my dad had blue eyes, as do I, and both of his parents were fair.

[shootingstar]

I gave up on makeup about 6 yrs. ago. So I am barefaced at the office where I work with lots of men and women. Yes, I do have some age spots, etc. on face. I am like this even wearing more formal suits, dresses and dress shoes/heels.

I don't want makeup accentuating the lines even more. I don't want to worry about make-up and running the washroom just because of that.

THis article talks about minimalism fashion http://vancouversun.com/life/fashion...nimalist-style Well, honest my style isn't that plain all the time. But the philosophy of non-patterns, for me, jewel/deep rich colours against black (not near the face), crème, white and good fitting clothing with fabrics that will last. It doesn't have to be expensive, because I tend to be mid-price or cheaper.

I got excited several wks. ago when buying several pairs of tights that were only $15.00CAN each, to do light cycling around town. These weren't padded. I really didn't want to invest $80.00 for pair of tights again when I already have some in that price bracket for longer bike trips.

I've bought 2 business/fashion tops and 2 GAP pair of dark jeans (different shades) this year which are all intended to last me 3-5 yrs. minimum. It probably costed me in total around $300.00. THis is what I look for in style (classic), quality and colour as time marches along. This is my typical office attire: black jeans and deep purple turtleneck. 8 yr. old pair of patent leather black low dress shoes. I work in govn't and don't meet members of the public. Part of me is trying to drag my butt to put on career upward mobile clothing.....I went through that stage for about 15 years. for several employers.

There's a huge part of me now, that just wants to focus on who I am at work...the best part of me. But in the career game, it's how you look, etc. also. Competence doesn't always mean being picked for that.

I think aging and style is handled differently for women of different heights and ethnicity. I was chatting with a Filipino woman at work who is 4'11" who is in her late 30's and petite build also. Much younger than I. However we both agreed that we continue to wear skirts above our knees....because being short (I'm 5' 1"), long skirts on petite women as they age, looks a lot less flattering. And clothing for small, petite women should be more fitted to flatter, not to drown them in miles of fabric where they get "lost". To me it's not inappropriate for me to wear skirts 2 inches above my knee... maybe I've been a cyclist too long in my mentality. I've lost my self-consciousness about my legs... ages ago.

[Crankin]

I totally agree, Shooting Star. Longer skirts and dresses make me look dowdy. I am a hair over five feet now (I shrunk). A lot of women around here wear that "big" clothing look. It's a certain professorial/Cambridge/Harvard Square look that I abhor. I look better in fitted clothing.
My style is kind of minimalist, too. Maybe not quite as much as yours, but almost. I buy all of my clothes at Banana Republic, the Gap, or Ann Taylor, with occasional J Crew. I guess I haven't strayed far from my preppie roots. But these are the only stores that have things that fit me. I work 3.5 days a week and I'd say on 2 of those days, I wear a dress or skirt, some more dressy than others. But, I don't have to impress anyone. One day last week a client told me I looked like I was going skiing, as I was wearing leggings and a cozy long sweater!
And, good make up does not make you look older. I don't have to run to fix any of it, except re-apply lipstick.

[shootingstar]

But, I don't have to impress anyone. One day last week a client told me I looked like I was going skiing, as I was wearing leggings and a cozy long sweater!
And, good make up does not make you look older. I don't have to run to fix any of it, except re-apply lipstick.

Hopefully she still thinks of you as a good counsellor. No, I don't think wearing leggings at work would be great idea for me ..unless I forget my dress slacks when I biked to work. Once, a year, I forget a garment when I cycle to work..

[emily_in_nc]

I totally agree about shorter skirts for we height-challenged gals! I only wear very casual skirts/dresses now (and infrequently) as I am retired, but they are all above the knee. I always envied the tall gals who could wear the really long skirts (I'm talking floor length, not mid-calf, which never looked good on anyone, did they?), but that would just be way too much skirt for me!

As for makeup, I definitely think I look better with it, but you do have to use a much lighter hand once you reach a certain age, than back in your 20s-30s. I used to love makeup and spend lots of money on it, not buying expensive stuff but just lots and lots of drugstore stuff. Now I have a tiny collection and only wear it on special occasions. But I always, always wear lip color (sheer and glossy, usually Burt's Bees) or I look totally washed out and like an old lady. NOT my favorite look!

[Crankin]

That's how I feel, Emily, so at least I know I am not crazy! A few times I forgotten my lipstick at work and it drives me nuts. I have even gone so far as to go to a drugstore and buy lipgloss to get me through the day.
Shooting Star, I don't think my client's comment was meant to disparage my professional skills... most of the therapists dress business casual, a lot of them wear jeans with nice tops, and I am definitely not the only one to wear leggings. I think she commented because I usually am wearing a dress on the day she sees me.

[rebeccaC]

I gave up on makeup about 6 yrs. ago. So I am barefaced at the office where I work with lots of men and women. Yes, I do have some age spots, etc. on face. I am like this even wearing more formal suits, dresses and dress shoes/heels.

I don't want makeup accentuating the lines even more. I don't want to worry about make-up and running the washroom just because of that.

Feeling comfortable with no makeup ftw!!!...and interesting read in your minimalism link. I also like simple, comfortable, quality clothing that has a timeless look and is well made for longevity. I’m a fan of Jil Sander especially.



I use non-comedogenic makeup and mostly a 'no makeup look' regimen when I feel like it….and no makeup when I feel like that.
I think it’s more important to; take care of my skin with diet…lots of antioxidants, omega-3, good saturated fats etc etc…..and of course cocoa which contains epicatchin and catechin which protects skin from sun damage and improves circulation to skin cells….the use of a gentle cleanser, nontoxic moisturizers and nontoxic sunscreen daily….getting a therapeutic facial at least once a month and simply staying hydrated and getting enough sleep among other things. Thinking my skin is going to age no matter what but helping it in ways that can make it happen in way that I know I’ve cared well for it is enough for me. I don’t buy into what my mother, who taught me good skin care, calls the ‘hope in a jar’ that some older women can feel the need for. We age and I think that has a unique beauty to it in itself and more important to me is how well I develop my mind and character as i grow older.

[Dogmama]

At age 62, I walk a fine line between no makeup and too much. I need a little but overdone is definitely bad. For foundation, I use a tinted sunscreen. Eye makeup must be very light, otherwise it looks hard. I do find myself skipping the makeup routine more often...

[ny biker]

I'm 5'7" and I also look for skirts that fall just at the knee, though I have a couple of summer dresses that are a bit shorter. Below the knee looks dowdy on me too! Years ago I had lots of long flowy floral skirts with flowy tops to wear with them, because most of the women at the small company I worked for dressed like that. But that job ended up being miserable and I was glad to leave it. Then one day I was watching Stacy and Clinton on What Not to Wear, telling a short woman to get rid of all her floor-length skirts. And I thought yes! Even at my height they don't look good! And I ran to my closet, took them all off the hangers and put them into a bag, and donated them to Good Will.

I generally buy most of my clothes at JJill. At one point I was in their store so often that the women who worked there recognized me. Some of their clothes are too shapeless for my taste, but I'm able to find more than enough things that I like that fit well. I own a ridiculous amount of clothes, especially sweaters. This is something I inherited from my mother. I do tend to wear most of it though. I go through phases of certain things being my favorite, but then I'll see something I haven't worn in a while and start wearing it again.

Somewhat related to cosmetics -- I just started getting the local newspaper delivered on Sunday. Yesterday I was going through all the coupons and sale papers. There was one from Macy's that was all about sales on perfumes, and many of the pages had those scented panels. And they were all awful! Just chemicals, not at all something I would want to spray on myself. But I've always felt this way about perfumes. There are a few men's colognes that I think are pleasant but most women's scents are terrible.

[Dogmama]

Somewhat related to cosmetics -- I just started getting the local newspaper delivered on Sunday. Yesterday I was going through all the coupons and sale papers. There was one from Macy's that was all about sales on perfumes, and many of the pages had those scented panels. And they were all awful! Just chemicals, not at all something I would want to spray on myself. But I've always felt this way about perfumes. There are a few men's colognes that I think are pleasant but most women's scents are terrible.

Agreed. Some of it smells like bug spray.

[ny biker]

Taking a day off from work to try to deal with the long pre-holiday to-do list. Trying to print a few copies of a photo so I can put them in a frame to give as gifts. The HP printer can't seem to deal with the 5x7 HP photo card paper, it thinks there's no paper there unless I move it over so that it's not centered right for printing. And then the ink smudges off the paper all over my hands and soap and water won't wash it off.

So let's add "buy 8x10 photo paper" to the long pre-holiday to-do list.

HO HO HO

[Crankin]

Ha, ha.
I always feel like I am on the outside, watching the whole world go crazy. Since I started in my new career, the amount of holiday hoopla in my life has decreased considerably. We always shop locally for our kids' Chanukah presents, as well as for the one couple we exchange gifts with. Since my younger son is here from CA this week, we gave them their gifts Sunday, and they seemed to go over well. The babies liked their rattles and bears...
My only conundrum is since the first night of Chanukah is on Christmas Eve, we haven't scheduled our annual Chinese food dinner. So, I have to figure out if my son will come over, or we should go out. Our friends who moved to western MA will be coming later on Christmas day, after visiting with an older professor of his who is in ill health. We will have dinner and they will spend the night, which will be fun, since there is no work on the 26th.