One day, I woke up and my face was old. Seriously, that’s how it felt. It hadn't been old the day before, but it was old when I looked in the mirror that morning. Fine lines in places that had been smooth. Changes in the texture of my skin. Observations that knocked me flat.
Interestingly, I made this discovery around the same time that my 20-something daughter was seeking out the right make up routine for herself. This gave me an accessible 21st century consultant who could translate the current product lines, something that not only came in handy but was fun as well.
Although I don’t want to look like the many, many young women on Instagram who clearly devote a lot of time to their look – partly because I don’t want to devote a lot of time to my look – I did draw initial influences from social media. That, coupled with an Internet search for best foundations for women over 50 led me in the direction of some of the products I’ve been trying.
It wasn't just the look in the mirror that influenced my need for a change. A former student whom I first knew as a Starbucks barista has her own business doing make up for brides and following her on Instagram piqued my interest in the possibilities and products that are so much different from what was available when I was her age. Being cast in my first show in almost a decade was an eye-opener as well. There’s nothing like doing stage make up to remind me how lazy my day-to-day routine is. And, couple that with a photo shoot that led to photos of me that I absolutely hated being posted on social media, and
I knew a change was in order.
My most recent searches have been for a better foundation and a better lipstick. These searches solidified my certainty that I could never be a brand ambassador (not that anyone's asking -- LOL!) Though I'm usually brand loyal, I couldn’t seem to find one brand that offered everything I want.
The ubiquity of social media ads led me to a few websites touting makeup for women of a certain age, with spokespeople older than I am looking fabulous wearing the product. The first kit I tried was an epic fail in terms of the foundation (which was, sadly, the main reason I purchased it) – despite the many, many women hawking it on social media. The lipstick was good, though, as was another product that I had to have my daughter identify and that I'm still not sure I'm using properly.
Another brand similarly provided a lipstick that I liked – among my current favorites, as a matter of fact. I think I bought something else from them, too, but the simple fact that I can’t remember leads me to believe that it wasn’t a hit either. I do plan to re-order the lipstick in another color though.
Being onstage again also pushed me to pay attention to my neglected eyebrows. After making an appointment to get them shaped, I started playing with some cosmetics to make them stand out a little more. Having made a nice connection with the aesthetician, I asked about non-surgical options that could improve the texture and fine lines on my face. The price tag was hefty but, a couple of weeks in, I think it’s providing some of the results I was hoping for.
Which brings me to my latest foray. (I should also note that, typically, a couple of months pass between each of these forays because I get frustrated after spending money on something that ends up being disappointing). I don’t love the smell or the feel of the foundation I just ordered, but I love the look that it creates. It’s not that it smells like sweaty feet or anything, but it's also not fragrance-free. And the lipstick from the same company, while also a contender, is still in second place. It'll due for now, but it's likely not a permanent addition to my collection but, rather, a foray-to-be.
All of this has me thinking about my favorite movie, When Harry Met Sally. In one scene, Billy Crystal, as Harry, tells Meg Ryan's Sally about high maintenance and low maintenance women. When Sally asks which she is, Harry tells her she's the worst kind: she thinks she's low maintenance, but she's actually high maintenance. Sally retorts that she just knows what she wants.
maintenance are behind me. I do, however, still know what I want, even if finding it is sometimes a bit of a challenge. And, I'm officially old enough that I no longer feel that I need to apologize for being high maintenance, at least in some areas of my life. As a woman of a certain age, I've earned the right to not only know what I want, but to pursue it as well -- even when the answer is a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
Life's too short to settle -- at least when not settling is an option.
Image credits: Bill Ferngren (mirror); dong soo park (cosmetics),
both from Pixabay
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