My Opinion on Makeup

Hi everyone!  In an effort to make my blog posts a bit more interesting, I've decided to occasionally share some "shopping hauls" of various things from personal care to home decor.  I may even share my opinions....oh, GHASP...what?  Today I'm sharing a makeup haul and my opinion about using makeup, so let's get started.

I had never been inside an ULTA store until we moved to our current home;  and at first, I found it rather intimidating and overwhelming.  I thought the store was all high-end, expensive cosmetics that were out of my price range.  Wow, was I wrong!  Once I allowed myself to slowly peruse the store, I found the inventory was all across the board in brands and prices.  Now it is my only place to shop for my cosmetic needs!

This was my most recent haul.    

                                                  

Let me just say, I have a love-hate relationship with mascara.  I have tried several different kinds over the years, but non of my faves have worked very well since my eyelashes finally started growing in after cancer & chemo....my lashes are pretty pathetic and thin.  Not willing to give up, I decided to give this one a try. 

This Loreal mascara is a game-changer!

I have to admit I was skeptical when I saw the brush, but this is seriously the best mascara I have ever used!  It isn't clumpy, and this strange little brush lets you get to all those tiny little lashes.  I'm actually having fun putting on mascara!  My opinion about mascara:  As you get older, use a lighter hand with mascara...one good coat on the top lashes and light on the lower is usually all you need.

I'm really liking how light this setting powder is....anything heavy likes to sink into the wrinkles and make them really stand out!  That is not something someone in my age bracket wants to do!

I've been using this product since my hair finally grew in enough that I could style it.  The fact is, chemo causes your hair to fall out extremely fast, but Mother Nature can take her own sweet time letting it grow back.  Even then, it does not grow back evenly, but this fill-in powder is great.  It also covers up some of those silver streaks you may not be ready for.  

There are several colors to choose from.

This was an impulse buy, but I've already found them to work better than Q-tips in certain areas.

I do like the softness of these over some that I've gotten elsewhere.  I use a mixture of Dawn and white vinegar (or Peroxide) in water to clean my sponges.  After thoroughly rinsing and squeezing, I pop them in the microwave for about a minute to sanitize them...careful, they are hot!

One neutral lip pencil, gray and black eye pencils, and a white eye pencil.  I'm not sure about the white pencil, but I am liking the NYX brand.  My opinion about eyeliner:  As you get older, the "less is more" rule is good.  And, unless you want to look older, do not line your lower lid!

This was a "Gift w/Purchase," and I really like how creamy and easy it goes on.

My eyebrows are a pain that I deal with every day, but I'm liking the soft pencil end of this one.  The spoolie end is filled with a colored setting gel that's suppose to make your brows look more natural....I used it once and looked like Groucho Marx....just look him up on the Internet if you don't know who I'm talking about!  

I've heard this type of brush referred to as a "flat-top," and it's great for blending your foundation all around your hairline and neck area.  It's also good if you prefer to use a brush to apply your foundation.  I really like this tool!  I keep some cleansing wipes in my makeup area, and clean this type of brush after each use.  For routine cleansing of all my brushes, I use the Dawn & vinegar (sometimes Peroxide) mixture and lay them out on a towel to air-dry.  My opinion about makeup brushes:  Learn to use them, they are great tools!  I've had some expensive ones, but "eco tools & e.l.f." make some that are equally as good and inexpensive.

This e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer was not part of today's haul, but I wanted to share my thoughts on this product.  I Love It!  There are several different e.l.f. face primers, but this is the one  that works for me and my dry skin.  It's kind of a clear gel that I blend in all over my face, and the result is the silkiest facial skin you can imagine.  I allow it to dry and soak in just a minute before I apply my foundation.  I've been using this product for a year or so.

This was my big splurge of the day and is a product I've really been wanting to try.  CC+ is a moisturizer, foundation and SPF 50 sunscreen all wrapped up in one package.  I really like it and think it will be my go-to foundation for our warmer weather because it's light.  It glides on and blends beautifully after I use my face primer (above), and I'm thrilled about the SPF50.

This is a new brand to me and is not carried at ULTA yet (soon, they say), so I bought it on Amazon.

I like eyeshadow palettes, because they have taken all the "guess-work" out of blending colors.  I was very interested in this palette because it does not have any shimmery colors.  My opinion about eyeshadow:  As you get older, avoid shimmery ones.  They make the crepey skin in our eye area pop, and we really do not want to call attention to those kinds of things!  For some, this might be a cool palette, but it is a very neutral one for my skin color.  

My opinion about wearing makeup:

I've been wearing makeup since I was a young teen, 55+ years, and there are very few days when I do not wear some makeup.  For me, it's always been part of my "getting dressed" morning routine.  I like the way I feel "pulled together," and when I see myself in a mirror (as I'm cleaning the bathroom sink), I feel good about what I see.  A hard and fast rule for me has always been to cleanse my face thoroughly at night...never go to bed with makeup on!  I plan to do a separate post about my cleansing routine and the products and tools I use, and a post about some changes I've made to My Barbie Dream Closet!  Fun stuff coming your way!

As some of you know already, I celebrated my "69th" birthday last week.  I'm feeling pretty good about how this "old girl" looks!

I hope you enjoyed this post or maybe just found it amusing!  If you have any questions about any of the products I use or my opinions, feel free to ask.  I certainly am not an expert, but I have had lots

of experience!

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Carol

I hope to be joining some of these lovely ladies this week:

Cindy at Dwellings--The Heart of Your Home for Amaze Me Monday

Maria Elena at Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at Our Home

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life  for Inspire Me Tuesday

Suzy at Worthing Court for The Scoop

Carol at The Red Painted Cottage for Share Your Style Party

Richella at Imparting Grace for Grace at Home