When I started to be seriously interested in makeup and beauty products I never thought it would come with the whole package : new amazing friends, new creativity challenges and more fun, but sometimes telling your friends you are passionate about makeup can be seen as “inappropriate for your age“, “shallow“, or “pointless“, I had this kind of conversation more than once :
“What do you do on your free time?“
..this, that and I have a beauty/makeup blog”
“oh…. really ? you don’t look like that kind of woman…“
“hmmm and what would that particular kind be ?”
There is a sudden embarrassing silence, then I stop their agony and change subject before they have a stroke… Maybe I don’t match the “beauty model magazine” standards, or can you not enjoy makeup after you reached a certain age ?? Ok, I don’t wear a killer smokey eye on a daily basis but make up is not only intended for runways or movies and it’s not only meant to make you look fake and superficial, I just want to have fun and use it to make me look healthier, glamorous, yet natural.
I receive many emails from women in their 40+ who would like to start using make up but who just don’t know where to start. Unfortunately I am no professional, all I know I got it from talking to make up artists or to sales assistants at the beauty counters, getting advice from Youtube gurus and watching nice and useful videos so if I can manage a nice make up look, you definitely can.
My needs were different some years ago, now I focus more on anti-ageing tutorials and products more adapted to mature skin. It depends what you are expecting from makeup, just make you feel better ? more confident ? younger ? fresher ? desirable ? or just conceal a few flaws ? Lisa Eldridge gives great advice on her channel so just try Youtube and search for what you want to do and try it for yourself. Tammy is a sweetheart, I just recently discovered her channel, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before, a great resource for anti-ageing advice and she is so fun to watch. If you know of any other gurus that give anti-ageing tips, please share !
I will be 42 in 2 weeks therefore today I am simply trying to achieve an enhanced version of me, a fresher and healthier one, exactly like Wayne says here. I cannot pull off strong and heavy makeup looks at my age but I can still look sexy with a smokey eye, there is a beautiful and hot smokey eye for everyone, it’s just a matter of getting to know your features, choosing the appropriate products for you and using efficient make up tools also helps a lot, it takes time but it’s so worth it.
I have tried my best to show you an example of a natural look, how it can be enhancing without shouting makeup. In these 4 pictures this is how it evolves from the 1st picture to the 4th :
- Starting with a bare face (just moisturizer)
- Foundation has been applied (Suqqu), I was very pale due to working so many hours, I needed some color to make me look a bit healthier so I applied a slightly darker foundation but if you do that, careful with neck delimitation. My eyes were very red and tired so I applied some whitening drops and then curled my lashes. I gave my brows a bit of definition with the Tom Ford brow sculptor.
- In that picture I have added :
Chantecaille Contour fill on the lips, very efficient against fine lines, provides a soft plump effect and works nicely as a base.
Addiction Sugar Blond pencil to draw the outer of the lips, just a thin line very blended, this will help define the lips a bit better and make them appear more full and this pencil lasts forever.
Chanel Rose platine on the bottom lash line to open the eyes, as a luminous long-lasting base for the eyeshadow that I will apply on top
Nars Rue Bonaparte in the waterline, to remove the redness
Nars eyeshadow base, but if I needed a color correcting base, there are some from Laura Mercier or Too Faced that I would use instead.
RMK contour powder in MT-08, just because it’s easy to apply and fits my skintone shadow perfectly, it’s a no-brainer.
Concealer used : Burberry pen, it’s my favorite highlighter concealer, doesn’t deliver a lot of coverage but it’s very comfortable to wear, doesn’t dry my under eye area. - In the last picture I added :
Chanel Prelude eyeshadow palette on the eyes, a basic look with the very light shade on all the eyelid area, a medium shade in the crease and the darkest to define the eyes and in the outer v.
RMK extra deep W mascara
RMK mix for cheeks 04 as blush
Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet to touch as highlighter/powder (just in the temples, cheekbones and nose bridge)
By Terry Lip Definer in 1 Rosy Nude
Rouge D’Armani in 509
By Terry gloss in Honeymoon
My main rules : no harsh lines, no glitter, no creasing allowed. Keeping the skin healthy and glowy is also very important for me since I have extremely dry skin so if I use setting powder it has to be the thinnest powder, like the Suqqu or this Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet to touch for example.
Taking some time in the morning to get ready can have a lot of benefits and it does make a difference for me, well it can’t do miracles but it does wonders 🙂 Although we all agree skills and qualifications are the main key to our success we certainly can’t deny that part of it comes from our self-confidence and that’s where makeup can play a useful role, be somehow empowering by giving us that little extra boost of confidence to go through the day. Women who take care of their appearance are seen to be more competent, amiable and trustworthy (taken from psychological studies), feeling good also affects how we interact with people around us, we will be more pleasant, we will sit taller, we will speak with conviction and that doesn’t only apply to our workplace but also at home with our family.
For me makeup is essentially pure fun, I have fun trying new products and shopping, specially makeup brushes as you may know alerady… We all love shopping and beauty but when these two are combined for me it’s simply just heaven ! Aldona got it so right : It’s fun AND exciting !
If you are just starting, start with safe products, easy to apply and fool-proof. Every one is different and the products that work for me may not work the same way for you but I can show you some of my safe products just to give you little ideas. I have some rare or LE items shown here but I need to mention them because I just love them way too much and who knows, maybe the same or similar products will be available on their permanent range in the future.
Some of my safe fool-proof products for the face
- Shiseido S6 Champagne Flush (I think it’s being discontinued but I would love it to remain in their permanent range)
- Chantecaille Les Petales de Rose (LE but I will find a dupe, this is great with pores and very appropriate for day time)
- Guerlain Radiant Butterfly (LE, I will try to find a dupe), I don’t really love the Meteorite balls but the pressed version in compacts are amazing.
- Mac Shell Pearl (I just heard it’s being brought back… I love this powder from the first day, in summer I abuse it)
- Clarins Cotton Flower palette (my everyday hg highlighter, it just brightens in a very subtle way, it’s LE but I wish I could find a dupe without having to spend $$$, honestly this one makes me think of Suqqu quality)
- Ellis Faas foundation
- Guerlain Terracotta Sunny Pink blush
- Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis
- Rouge Bunny Rouge Sweet to touch
- Becca Nymph
- Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight
- RMK MT-08 (contouring)
- Chantecaille Emotion blush, some blushes are more fine and more adapted to ageing skin, this is an example but I love Burberry, Tom Ford and many more…
- RMK Mix for Cheeks in shade 4, RMK blushes have the great benefit to be long-lasting and very finelly milled so it’s a 100% win
- RMK MT-04 blush
Something extra for the eyes
If you want to have a look at my favorite eyeshadows for more mature eyelids please have a look at this post, most of them are already mentioned in there.
The other eye products I find extremely easy, helpful and safe to use are :
- Mascara RMK extra Deep W
- Nars eyeshadow base
- Urban Decay eyeshadow base
- Benefit eyebright, I put this in the inner corner of the eyes, faster and easier than using powder
- Chanel Rose Platine
- Nars Rue Bonaparte, I have to say the Nars Larger than Life are fantastic, creamy and long-lasting which is quite rare, sometimes they are too thick and I need to apply them with a brush if it’s on the lash line
- Nars Via Appia
- Addiction Rabbit Hole, great color if you don’t want black but “nearly black”, I will last all day and can be precisely applied straight from the pencil
- Tom Ford brow sculptor, there are cheaper options, no need to go for TF
- Benefit Fake up, I just bought it and it feels nice and moisturizing as a concealer for wider areas
- Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer FBI, impressed with the texture of this, I prefer the Burberry but this delivers a bit more coverage
- Burberry Sheer concealer Soft beige N°02
- Trish McEvoy Line Refiner (please see comment further down about this product)
- Mac Blacktrack (use a brown gel eyeliner if black is too harsh for you)
Some of my safe and HG products for lips
- Chantecaille contour fill
- By Terry gloss in Honeymoon
- Edward Bess Night Orchid lipstick
- Rouge d’Armani in 509
- Cle de Peau T5
- Shiseido RD203 (replacing my beloved discontinued Chanel 77 Santal, it’s nearly exactly the same color and texture, mentioned here)
- Rouge Bunny Rouge Marco
- Chanel Bois de Rose
- Make up for ever 1C
- By Terry 1 Rosy Nude
- Addiction Sugar Blond, multipurpose
My little favorite “anti-ageing/anti-tiredness” tricks
I work way too many hours, all in front of a computer screen, sometimes my eyes are red and tired, if I have an important meeting I really don’t want to look like a tired rabbit, so I apply some whitening drops. If you have an interview and you couldn’t sleep at night maybe that would help you look fresher.
For the lips I love to apply a beige liner around the lips, without looking harsh it gives a nice definition to the lips and helps lipstick or gloss to look more neat.
The Chantecaille Lip Contour is also a winner for me, I cannot live without it anymore.
The Trish McEvoy Line Refiner won’t do a miracle but it helps to give a smoother aspect to the skin. There are actually many products like this one, they can give a temporary help whenever necessary.
Bottom line
Be creative and think outside the box, if one product doesn’t work one way, it can work another, mixed or blended, or applied differently but don’t take it too seriously, make up is supposed to be fun, therapeutic, so enjoy its benefits and stop feeling guilty about taking some time for yourself !
And for even more fun, please hop to Aldona’s website and have a look at her website and funny t-shirts 😉
I couldn’t help getting one 😛
If you have questions… don’t hesitate and thanks for reading !!
HAVE FUN !!!
My very big thanks to Aldona for creating these fantastic and funny drawings <3
87 comments
Great information. Have you ever looked into natural, no chemical makeup that is actually really great for our skin. Check out hautminerals.com I promise you, your world will change. Have a nice day, enjoy:) Shae
Tottal agree, you never get old. Age is just a number. Thanks for making such a great blog. I love love your blog a lots. I live in Thailand. So you know you have a fan around the world.
Take care
Thank you from Switzerland 🙂 my brother goes to Thailand every year (kickboxing) but I never did the trip with him unfortunately…
I appreciate your frienship <3
Well, as a proverb goes, “Age wrinkles the face, but lack of enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
I have enough passion and enthusiasm to transform me into an immortal (wrinkly) human being !!! 😀 😀 😀
Thanks so much for this post–I’m becoming so obsessed with makeup and brushes–and I hate thinking I’m shallow! Just want to look like me, but better. Just want to take care of myself.
My fear is that as I’m learning about makeup, I’m going to go out with major mistakes and look like a clown, but I’m getting over that fear fast. I need to try different things, and you are one of my must-read blogs where I get ideas. Thanks!
Thanks also for directing me to Tammy.
Eve
P.S. I’m enjoying the Rae Morris kabuki brush I bought from you.
Hi Eve,
We all need to take care of ourselves, life is short 🙁
It’s only with trying that we find what suit us the best, funny because the more I was enjoying it, the more people were feeling something “was changing” althouth they did not know what…, some even thought I had botox and my family thinks I am doing face liftings 😀
I am really happy that my little blog helps 🙂
PS : thanks, glad you love it !!
By the way- u look great for any age! I am a *few* years younger and still love my TF glitter shadows and ETK pots. Their is always a way to make it wearable. Your bottom line is perfect!
Thank you ! I actually use them both too, not heavily but I do and I enjoy them.
I gave a second life to my products when I started thinking differently, I totally agree with you, there is always a way !
Thanks for your product list! I love it, and you look so refreshing in the last picture!
I love comics related to my status and I buy many Hong Kong and Taiwan illustrator’s picture books. My top choice is one named as, “The diary of an elder-young girl”.
thank you Gladys, oh that’s a nice one 🙂 elder-young girls 😛
I just love Aldona and her talent, if only I could express myself in comics I can tell you I would have so much insane fun !
Yes, I want to be able to draw if I can : )
I also love the word kidult also.
I have found one of her silent comic strip (without verbal content):
http://oldgirldiary.blogspot.hk/2010/01/blog-post.html
Great post, Sonia!
This is a great post (and thanks for the link love 🙂 I think the biggest reason I blog, and I’m sure many of us blog, is because we can share our love of cosmetics with each other, which we can’t do every day. I don’t have any friends who ‘get’ why I love makeup so much, but online I’ve found women who share my passion and never judge. You are never to old to want to feel beautiful, and I personally think you do it in an exceptionally tasteful way. Keep on doing what you’re doing my dear! 😀
Thank you so much my dear Latoya, when I saw your post I was so happy I am not the only one raving about it ! and so glad you are back !!!
To be honest I thought that I was going to be judged because I write essentially on expensive *unnecessary* make up products but I am surprised that instead of that, the posts do help someone outthere and that I found the most amazing friends at the same time ! doubles the fun !
Wow Sonia, I thought you were 28 years old. You look fabulous. Our hobby of taking care of ourselves does pay off. Basically, it helps our self-esteem, confidence and I find I can be more outgoing and friendly when I’ve put some makeup on. It’s our way of nurturing ourselves. After all, women do so much to care for others, we deserve to care for ourselves too.
😀 I wish 😛 thank you !!
It totally changes our behaviour at work, at home, and everybody benefits from it !
you look great Sonia ! You’re right : all beauty related is for fun, but indeed people tend to be embarrassed by such “vain” hobby. I think it’s because they have a more functional than aesthetic approach.
thank you Nikoleta !
I can list many *vain* hobbies some of my friends or relatives have, it doesn’t make me love them less 😛 respect is always the main line.
The pictures showed how makeup done well can enhance one’s beauty without having to be heavy or artificial looking. Your makeup is fresh and tasteful and I think its great that you find comfort in such a girly activity. You look lovely.
I love your taste in makeup. I have a few of the items you listed and would love to get more, but I told myself that I need to make a dent in the products I have before they go bad. I’ve already had to throw away a few Benefit cream eyeshadows and MAC cream blush that were dried up. So sad, especially since they were barely used. A couple of my MAC paint pots are on their way out and I certainly didn’t get my money’s worth out of them, usage-wise. So I will live vicariously through you and your followers in finding out what’s new and great out there. Thanks again.
thank you Carlyn !
some products can be kept in sealed plastic bags (eyeliners, pots, etc) or in the fridge. I am surprised that most of my products are still looking good but it’s really sad that they don’t last forever 🙁
I refrain from buying too many products too !
I am so happy that makeup brushes don’t have expiration dates 🙂 well, Hakuhodo says that the more you use them (Kokutan for example) the better they get and that a brush has to be used to last longer, that’s why I use ALL of mine … not at the same time 😛
Hey Carlyn, I had the same issue with my Stila Smudge-Pots (or whatever it was called) and Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow pots… however there are some helpful youtube videos that show you how to freshen up some of your cosmetics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17IctQ6WIy4 but you can also search for “DIY revive cream eyeshadow” or something… Putting it in the microwave didn’t help my stila pot. I had to put a squirt of my Kanebo liquid primer in it, mix it up and heat it up in a microwave, goes on wonderfully now again. However I was DESPERATE, so only use any of those techniques at your own risk…
Hi Aldona !
great tips, thank you for sharing them, that reminds me I have a few unique stunning gel colors I need to use, I need this spring to arrive now !!!
thanks again for the great cartoons 🙂 I really wish I could draw ! just like singing… singing and/or drawing is a talent I sincerely wish I had !!
ha ha, you’re very welcome Sonia!
Well I can’t sing either… my boyfriend always confuses me with a siren
(NOT the mythical sea-woman, but the alarm signal used on police cars or ambulances!)… And hey, YOU have a talent for wonderful reviews and inspiring people!
😀 I see, I’d like to hear that !!!
I loved this post a lot. 🙂 I have a similar “problem” with beauty (as in the industry/community/etc) and other people’s perception of the people who are involved in it, but I’ve learned not to care and just be happy doing something and being immersed in something that I enjoy. 🙂
the best thing about this is that we actually use what we *collect* unlike some other hobbies where you just store and don’t even look at them, and another best thing is that unlike clothes, when you buy even if you put on a bit of weight you can STILL use them 😛
thanks Carina, I appreciate it 🙂
This is an amazing and inspirational post… I just turned 21 last month, and though I wish I didn’t have to think about anti-aging so young, the topical acne medication I’ve been using is really drying out my skin and making it look worse for wear. I’ve found that skincare and taking proper care of my body does work wonders, proper hydration, drinking lots of water, and most importantly, sleeping more!
I’ve used a few products you mentioned above, the Shiseido Champagne Flush and Guerlain Sunny Pink, they are both gifted to me by my mother’s friends, and they work wonderfully to give that subtle but radiant glow when I’m feeling a bit under the weather or just plain out exhausted. You have a wonderful make up collection I must say! If I were you I’d just ignore the people who don’t understand, you look beautiful with and without makeup, but makeup just does help us feel that little bit more special right?
Happy birthday in advance… May we all age with grace and hopefully drowned in makeup brushes, LOL.
Hi Terry ! thank you darling, yes it does make us feel a bit more special and we should just enjoy it 🙂
and .. thanks 😛 I agree with you, with grace and with brushes !!
Sonia, thank you for the post! I have become a makeup lover over the past year or so and have just started a blog myself. Yet, I’m so scared to let anyone else know that I love makeup as I am also worried about people’s perception of me being shallow. I am totally with you about a better and healthier natural look.
My husband has been complaining about my spending on the newfound hobby. I actually read your post to him. I hope he can understand me more. =)
That’s a pain 🙁 but you’ll get there !
I had the same problem for more than a year, always giving me the look when I placed an order !
then recently I had a funny conversation with him about cars, (he loves expensive and extremely powerful cars and motorbikes), anyway at the end of the conversation we concluded that what was making him happy was for exactly the same reasons as my hobby was making me happy, both hobbies make us feel good, as simple as that, the only difference is that I wasn’t judging him and I was always having long conversations about engines even if I really didn’t care. Then if we look around us, our family/friends have also expensive and collectors hobbies, all absolutely not necessary for a living.
I spent years trying to hide this passion, now it’s getting more difficult to hide it but I don’t mind if they find out. My friends, colleagues, family know me and they know I am not shallow and honestly I don’t want to spend time with people who think that a hobby labels us this or that.
Your husband should enjoy the fact that it makes you happy, I know it sounds lame but we often tend to forget very basic things 🙂
what is your blog ?
Right, I don’t judge my husband… In return, he shouldn’t judge me either ! hehee
This is my blog:
http://ingratiateoneself.blogspot.com/
I have just started. It’s in Chinese for now as I hope to maintain Chinese level before I lose it all (I’ve been in the US for past 10 years and have started to forget how to type) . I’m trying hard to find time to maintain updating while juggling with working full-time and going to school… If I get lazy maybe I will switch it to English. It’s so much less work to type in English=)
Please do share with me any tips on how to make maintaining a blog easier!
no he should not 🙂 goes both ways !
thank you for the link, I will try to start with Chinese 😛 fortunately there are online translators !!!
Oh dear… I am not the one that can help about “organization of a blog”, mine is very basic, I didn’t change much, it doesn’t look as I really would like it to look but since I don’t have much time to dedicate I suppose I need to find a way to keep me blogging without spending too much time in the design and even keeping it very simple, it takes time, so that you know 😉
if you have any specific question let me know…
@Emily, I didn’t know you are from Hong Kong! I would like to ask for your brief idea about US shipping (it’s fine if you don’t have an answer):
If you ship something to your Hong Kong friend, are you comfortable to use service from less known companies instead of DHL, USPS? They cost much less, e.g. us-ex.
Hi Gladys! I’m sorry that I have not heard of us-ex before. I normally use UPS to ship stuff that either important or not too heavy to HK. For things that are not important or things that are too heavy, I go with USPS but with some sort of tracking. Sorry if I am not helpful enough.
No, you are totally helpful!!! You have given me the most valuable piece of information on and off for years since I started ordering books from Amazon years back then.
I can find some forwarding companies but I just want to hear opinions from locals very much! Well, my aunt will move to USA, but not this moment. I want to learn about the latest practice, as those China forum users have too many ways to shop at an insanely cheap shipment cost.
Your blog is clean and more refreshing than I can imagine, I will be one of your regular readers : ) (I love reading sharings from Hong Kong girls having moved to other countries).
Your opinion sticks with the yahoo forward service providing blogger. People ship by DHL express or USPS flat rate box. Otherwise we have to risk using the service of companies using unidentified transport, but they are much better than those established companies in Mongkok, all those cheat in every nasty ways.
Hi Gladys, I’m glad it helped. Thanks for your kind comments too!
I’m so happy to get to know someone who also enjoys makeup products from Hong Kong here on Sonia’s blog!
Sonia, your blog brings readers around the world together! =)
It does, couldn’t be happier, I am glad I didn’t start it in French then. It was my first idea, but the audience is so international that I think trying in English was a good thing 🙂
If I may add, it feels so much like meeting someone new in a foreign airport! With this blog being the place and us switched to an extremely carefree mode, when we are lucky enough to find somebody willing to form a chat, waiting for boarding.
BTW, with no negative underlying meaning , my friends always laugh at me when I chat with Asians in English…
😀
Has anyone heard of Fyrinnae eye shadows? Are they really that good?
I have a few pigments, they are very good but I havent tried the pressed shadows if there are any, it’s a brand that is in my Japanese check list 😉
Oh, isn’t that a US brand? You’ve found somewhere in Japan selling them?
I am very interested as it seems to be the top choice within the indie brands. I wonder if there are more similar brands.
oh nooo, I thought it was Japanese, need to double check !!
I’m pretty sure that Fyrinnae is a US Indie company but wherever it’s from, it’s definitely not made for ageing eyelids. Beautiful, complex & potent shades, but not for wrinkled skin…..unless you particularly want to accentuate the wrinkles 😀
Just generally on ‘the power of makeup’ , ….my son ( 16) recently said to me that he can see that I wear LOADS of makeup! Eeeeek! Oh horror!!! I asked him if my face looks caked with it, or why he thinks that and here came the greatest answer for me. He said that he can’t see the makeup on my face but he knows it’s there because he knows what I look like without it.
I think he meant it to be an insult ( he’s going through that phase ) but it made me feel great, because that’s what makeup’s all about for me now.
When I was younger I really never wore makeup, aside from mascara & gloss, but now I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving home without it. I want to make the best of myself on all levels & if that means spending 25 minutes a morning doing my makeup then I’m happy to get up early to do it 😉
Buggsiebee… you are back ???
:D:D:D:D perfect !!!
my bf tells me sometimes: “you look great without makeup !!!” and I am wearing makeup of course 😛 he always says he prefers when I am not wearing makeup at all, but what he doesn’t know is that even when he thinks there is nothing, he is very wrong.
What he also says he doesn’t like is when I wear a heavy eye look although I am sure he loves it by his look 😉 or maybe he loves my attitude when I am wearing a killer smokey eye 😛
Aaah….I wish I were still on holiday! I arrived back on Monday morning & it’s been work, work, work since then. I feel like no-one did any work while I was away & saved it ALL for me 🙁
I agree that even though the bf says he doesn’t like a heavy eye look, he certainly likes your attitude when you’re feeling good ( wearing your killer smokey eye )!!
I know that I feel much more confident when I’ve taken care with my makeup & my mirror smiles back at me 🙂
oh poor you 🙁 welcome back !!
I had to work for 12 days in a row !!! I am exhausted ! I need this weekend !
so true about the attitude, it’s as simple as that 🙂
12 days in a row!!! No wonder we NEED makeup.
Enjoy your weekend!
We’re expecting a bit of sun & warmth on Sunday. Hooray 😀 !!
yes we need some (sun and makeup) 😛
I still managed to prepare a post that will be up soon 🙂 and tonight I know that my new Serge Lutens blush and foundation are waiting for me at home !!!!
Whatever he meant doesn’t matter, as long as the no-makeup look works! Even the act of putting makeup on makes one feel great, for me,even swatching means so much fun.
Thx for your insightful comments! Now I can save more for my brushes and other e/s. : )
Hey Buggsiebee, I’ve raised two sons now 26 and 23 so I know what you are talking about! So, according to what your son said, makeup makes a huge difference in your appearance but he can’t really tell that you are wearing any except for the fact that he knows what you look like without it. So this tells me that you have an extremely natural look with makeup on that is very flattering, so it sounds to me that you are doing everything RIGHT!!!!!
Thanks Mimi 🙂
Yipp, it did make me feel like I must be doing something right & I found it even more fun knowing that what he intended as an insult was actually a compliment 😉
Do you have a daughter/s too or was it a boys only household?
All boys! It’s been tough since I am a girlie girl. Even the dogs are male. My older son has a wonderful girlfriend whom we love to pieces and I take her out shopping and shower her with makeup, clothes, shoes, handbags, perfume etc. All the things I haven’t been able to purchase except for myself. Everyone thinks she is my daughter when we’re out together. We have a wonderful time shopping and having lunch so I am getting my revenge now from decades of video games, army stuff etc.
Haha Mimi, you sound like me. Surrounded by males – 3 sons & a male dog too! My eldest is 19 and the youngest 11 so I have a few years of endless feeding ( OMG the amount of food boys can pack away!! ) washing, blaring TV & different music ( can one call it music ?? ) coming from all corners of the house! Oh and not to forget the endless fighting!! I have been told that when they leave home I will be VERY sad, but I have a hard time imagining that right now. The thought of all that peace & quiet makes me smile from ear to ear 😀
Oh yeah Buggsiebee, it’s all my life too. Yes, the food bills are horrific as they love meat,meat,meat. Noise, messes, it seems I’m nothing but a maid and a cook. But, when they get older, they DO love their mom’s and are very concerned and protective. You just have to get past those teenage years. I felt very taken for granted and unappreciated. Now, the older one is out of the house and I do miss him very much but the work load and food bill is less so that is nice. Plus, I’m getting some time for myself which I’ve always enjoyed so I guess there are pro’s and cons to every situation. Balance is what we need but life seems to be more one extreme or the other. Kids are a “package deal” though so thank goodness we have them when we are young!
How about Rouge Bunny Rouge? Any killer products aside from e/s and highlight, even for dry skin? Free international delivery is available, I just don’t know if I should buy less and share the budget on hourglass, illamasqua, Ellas Faas (forgive my spelling plx) and the so famous Kevyn Aucoin contour powder.
Did you get the Blush # 2 also? Stacy says she loves it.
If you love it too, I guess it’ll be another ‘must have’ for me 😉
Which foundation shade did you choose?
Wayne recommended the Sue Devitt Kolinsky Eye shadow brush a while back & it was waiting for me when I returned from SA. It’s soft , full & fairly priced. A really nice addition to my shadow brushes!
My Takeda are not all I was hoping for. The blush brush is not dense & directional as it looked in the pic I saw. Quite a disappointment after all the effort which was made to get hold of them. The brushes which I took along to SA were Tanseido, Koyudo, MUFE # 250 ( brilliant eyeliner brush for cream products ) and my Radiance.
yes I did get the # 2 🙂 can’t wait to see it tonight, if it’s the same quality as the bronzer, I’ll be in heaven.
the foundation I got is the B40, since I will use it only in warmer days, it will be perfect for a healthy finish. which one are you using ?
when you have a minute can you please send me a pic of the Takeda ?
On my side I received the ones I told you about and I am very impressed, need to get my hands on all his line but the post on the ones I received will be up very shortly 😉
need to try that Sue Devitt then !
I have the SL 020 and the BF20 which were the result of me trying to shade match myself online 😉 Fortunately I can use both! I think that a darker shade would make a wonderful bronzer.
I sent you some Takeda pics. Sorry that two of them weren’t freshly washed. I’ve been trying to find a way to use them.
Sorry to leave yet ANOTHER comment! It’s like I’m trying to catch up with my comments after being absent for a few weeks 😉
Does anyone have any idea of what is happening at Zuneta? I have an uneasy feeling because they haven’t had anything new in for ages & loads of stuff is out of stock.
You are right, they told me they would have the LMdB palette and I was expecting to see the Hourglass powder but nothing, I don’t think they got it at all…
I also sent them an email without response.
By the way since you mention … in the past I may have given you CDJapan contact “Noriko”, please let me know if you need to contact them I will give you another address. The poor girl is really not well and she won’t come back to CDjapan, just let me know if you had an order that hasn’t been replied to. It’s not really my role but if I can help you I will.
I’ll be really sad if they close shop 🙁
I haven’t ever contacted CD Japan as I have purchsed most of my brushes directly from Koyudo. I’m sad to hear that Noriko is so sick that she won’t be coming back to work. that sounds really serious! It makes me grateful for my good health which I tend to take for granted.
me too.
well, I am really devastated for Noriko 🙁
Most if not all of the ladies here on this blog are probably younger than me so I feel that I may give some advice. Do not take your health for granted, it can be snatched away at any moment when you receive that phone call from the doctor with something you’d never thought you’d hear. I’ve been there and it is life changing. So far, so good. I am an almost 5 year breast cancer survivor and I am very grateful to be alive. Every midnight on New Year’s I go outside and look up at the stars and yell, “I’M STILL HERE!!”
In the US, a person is not considered cured from breast cancer until 10 years has gone by and no re-occurence has happened. It’s a heavy burden to carry for a decade wondering if every mammogram will show that it has hijacked your life again. I feel lucky and grateful for the first five years as many women don’t get that so I just hope that the next 5 go by with no trouble of that kind. SO, enjoy your makeup and brushes and whatever else pleases you, no need for any guilt. We are here now, we live and then someday we will be gone and none of our guilt will count for anything so ditch it now and get your happiness in !
I can’t begin to imagine how terrifying an ordeal Cancer is & I’m always horrified when i hear that it has hit yet another person. It just seems to be more prevalent than ever! Yay for you surviving the initial five years!!
According to my gynae, the older you are the better your chances of surviving breast cancer. She says that the less active your hormones are ( in the menopausal direction ) the greater your chance of a full recovery so sometimes age has its benefits 😉
A close friend of mine who is only in his mid 30s had a very serious case of skin cancer & had to have major lymph nodes removed to prevent it spreading. He has also just crossed the 5 year mark so he’s also breathing a small sigh of relief. He says that he will never feel relaxed about his body again though & is constantly aware of any minor changes in his wellbeing. It is a real burden to carry that worry with you on a daily basis & to still try and keep those positive cancer-kicking thoughts active. I wish you strength Mimi!
Thank yo Buggsiebee. Having support like you gave me in your note really helps a lot.
Mimi, I am so glad you are doing fine now ! gosh, I know how it feels, luckily it was nothing bad for me but during a few days I had no idea and it looked very bad, so I decided that from then on I would do what really makes me happy and think a little bit more about myself. I really did, I took some decisions that were sleeping in my head for 20 years !
I hope you will be 100% well, cross fingers and wishing you all the very very best !
Thank you so much, the horror of the operations and treatments has faded but the shadow of not knowing if it spread and is silently growing somewhere, just waiting to reveal itself again is like a little dark cloud that follows you everywhere, even into sleep. It really does help a lot to know that people like you and Buggsiebee care. I finally had to come to terms with the fact that I just have to wait it out and see but the reality for all of us is that nobody knows when their last day will come. It could come suddenly due to car accident or a crime commited against you so the answer is to just let it go and enjoy each day and be grateful for all you have! You have your life, your health, your boyfriend, your pets, your job (even though it can be stressful and difficult, you have one!) etc. We really have so much to be thankful for, even a boring day where nothing particular happens. I am thankful for those days because at least I’m not going to radiation!
of course we care Mimi, it’s horrible having to live with that in mind, please enjoy every moment and try to have fun as much as you can, I cannot give you any other advice other than that one but you know we are here for you ! be strong and fight it! <3
Thank you, I shall. I go to see my oncologist on Tuesday and I think it might be my next to last visit with her. In October, I’ll go for my last appointment and I hope she’ll tell me that I no long need to take the Tamoxifen (estrogen blocking medicine) and then I’ll be free!!! I can go back to pretending this whole ghastly event never happened. After all, you know how good I am at denial and rationalizing with all my makeup, skincare, brushes etc! All complete necessities ! It’s basic equipment for us females (along with jewelry, shoes, handbags,……….)
🙂 ok, crossing fingers 🙂
Oh yeah, the so called music. My older one went through the Punk faze, oh dear. And they fight over every and anything, just dumb stuff. My nerves got pretty well shot at times and now I have high blood pressure. I adore peace, quiet and order. I’m the yoga type so all the Xbox army games which my husband continues to play every night were something I just can’t relate to and have absolutely no interest in. I must say I’ve been an awfully good sport about all this, as I planned to have only daughters when I was young and naive and just assumed I’d get what I wanted! I do feel protected thought which is a good thing. Boys would never allow anything to happen to their mom! When they were old enough, I would share with them the times when I was sexually harrassed and told them how unpleasant and frightening it could be, so that they would see this behavior from the feminine point of view and not grow up to be men that act like that. Luckily too, my husband (their father) is not that type of man. I figured that fate gave me boys so I could raise some good men for the future and I believe I have. I also would speak up if we were watching a movie and I felt it was degrading or exploitive to women so they would learn that it’s not OK and that it causes resentment with women.
Often I worry about my son’s ideas on women being the ones who take care of all the stuff at home. I only started working more again a few years ago so they basically grew up pretty ‘old school’ with a full time mum at home doing ALL the stuff which ‘stay at home mums’ do. Now that I have to spread my hours between work-work & house-work I have a really hard time getting any kind of help from them at all. They don’t seem to care that I am carrying a double burden. The young women today won’t put up with that kind of nonsence though so my sons are in for a very rude awakening one day when they move out and set up home with a modern woman. I warn them all the time but of course they know everything better 😉 Living through the teenage years is exhausting!!
This is all so familiar!!! I hate to tell you but they don’t change. Men are very stubborn but they don’t like to fight with women so they just do as they please and seem to be able to ignore it when we talk to them about our concerns. They love to be served. I have been an old fashioned stay-at-home mom also. My younger son talks about how he wants a woman to do all the traditional things and he’ll be the breadwinner. I told him that’s fine but he’s going to have to find someone that feels the same way as he does. He even talks about getting a woman from another country because all the American women want careers.
My older son lives with his girlfriend and she won’t tolerate being taken advantage of so what they’ve worked out is they trade off tasks such as if he hates to do laundry then she’ll do it but then he has to take care of her car or whatever typical male job is that she doesn’t want to deal with.
I think the key is respect and appreciation. When my boys were in middle school, they went through the faze of “you don’t work”. I replied, “Oh, ok, I don’t work so why am I doing all this stuff? No more cooking, no more laundry, no cleaning or grocery shopping for me, because remember, I don’t work.” You should have seen their faces change as they realized all that I do will no longer be done. Well, they “got it” real quick and started thanking me every evening for their dinners! They now are well aware of my contributions in the home and appreciate women’s traditional work.
Hahaha Mimi …..I love your words of wisdom! It appears to me that you have your men well under control 😀
Ha Ha Buggsiebee! Yes, I do have them under control as much as is possible with men. My father was pure Irish from New York and was in World War II so when he spoke, people listened or you paid a price! Some of that comes out of me at times and it works well. You just have to pick your battles. Don’t use a cannon when a pea shooter will get the job done. That way, when you need the cannon, it’s real effective!
Thanks for sharing this blog sonia! Your reviews and pictures of hakuhodo brushes helped me picked out the right brushes! I believe you did an awesome job and those haters are just jealous of you! Your truly my favorite beautiful blog person I can depend on when i need to know about certain products. You look great for your age! Keep up the good work!
Hi Jennifer, oh they don’t hate me they just don’t understand but I really don’t care, and you know what ? after a while they turn to me and ask my advice so… 😀 😀 😀
thanks darling !
Great post and beautiful pictures!!!Haha,you describe my situation(conversation) with friends,lol
exept i ust thinking about blog and only my boyfriend knows about that passion for beauty%))
Mimi!We are with you,take care and our fingers crossed
Thank you so much Margaret! Your support means more than you know.
I am glad we have friends on the web that we can discuss our love for brushes with 🙂
Should join makeup social on Facebook. Where women who are passionate about makeup, love, support and learn from each others. And if u don’t, that’s cool 2. Makeup is my art form. so don’t ask why I do it, just appreciate my art and beauty
Makeup is fun and and a fabulous way of allowing us to show our artistic expression, but brushes are…something else.
I think we brush adepts are a rather special subset and I’ve yet to find any group that comes so close to my brush-loving heart as I have here.
Still, off I go to see that group on FB.
Curiosity…
I have recently read that Beautyhabit.com and Barneys are 2 sources having a better taste in their beauty brand mix.
Some of them are less heard of in my city but very renowned among true beauty addicts. I wonder if any fellow readers here can leave some comments on the most worthy brands to explore from these 2 sources, when you have enough free time?
I know about beauty is life from delicate hummingbird’s blog (I wonder where she is, I miss her updates, like her very much), I am enchanted with Serge Lutens’ packaging, I am curious about Tacha, but I am definitely interested to hear more.
Hello again Sonia. FYI, I hear the lip liner in from Serge Lutens is an absolute must. I’ll be visiting Paris in the Autumn and plan to go to his boutique at the Palais Royal and get it there. Probably be tempted for some more things… Oh make-up… my perdition.