Going Gray

Aging skin – will a minimal makeup routine help?

Shelley

We’re a nation full of women people who think we’re not good enough so we pile on the makeup.

It costs a fortune to keep up, yet, we still do it.

Why?

We want to stay youthful looking for as long as possible.

I’m no different, I’ve been there, done that.  Frankly, I’m sick of how much it costs to keep up.

I looked back to when I colored and trimmed my hair every 5 weeks, circa 2006 – 2016.  In 10 years, I spent a grand total of –

$6921.00

Yikes!  The day I finally stopped coloring my hair was the first step in a discovery mission for more than just saving money.

The ongoing questions revolve around can I do it emotionally?  Can I survive going against the mainstream of beauty expectations for women my age?  At 53 (almost 54) will I succumb to the shun (insert scrunched up, Ewe! look on their face)?

“You poor thing…?”

“You’ve let yourself go.”

“You look older with gray hair.”

“Oh, my, I could never do that…”

So far with the hair, I’ve survived. I don’t do the extra chemicals (natural or not) for the curly girl look.  I have shampoo and conditioner and that’s it, used, once a week tops.  My hair doesn’t have perfect curls, but they are all natural and healthy.

Yeah, I still admire those who have the perfect curly girl curls.  I know their hair routine is high maintenance and comes with a cost.  So I’m good with embracing what nature gave me.

Good enough thoughts go only so far when we start to compare ourselves to others.

A few weeks back, I was feeling down and blah.  I thought maybe it was makeup?  Maybe all I needed was a little tweaking to the products I used or the way I applied it?

I researched what to do by watching a few young ladies on YouTube and then one who was close to my age.  They convinced me.

It’s the make-up, yes, that’s it!

I took notes, made a little long list of products I might find at Wal-Mart, drove there, wandered the aisles, (dammit I couldn’t find the exact matches to the expensive brands the ladies talked about), and bought $100 + worth of new stuff to make me youthful looking once again.

I didn’t like the first stuff I tried.  Sigh…way too much work…and that sponge on a stick just pulled on my skin, soft application my a**!

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Well…that didn’t work.

Am I alone in thinking this makeup routine stuff is all just bullsh*t?

I needed to talk to a real person, not someone who benefits financially from their recommendations on YouTube.  So I asked my friend (my age) what she thought about all the chemicals we put on our faces and bodies, did she think they were good for our skin?  I had a hunch that they can’t be good for us.

I told her that I’ve been noticing my body has been appreciating the freedom from chemicals, so I must be on to something, right?

She said, “Absolutely, those chemicals are bad for us, they seep into our pores and are toxic long-term for our skin, and our overall well-being.  They play havoc with our hormones and they mess with us big time, some of the stuff is even cancer-causing…

Sh*t…I was right…I did a quick google search to verify.  Holy hits!  Here’s just one link with detail about how bad the chemicals in makeup and shampoos are for us.

I couldn’t bring myself to use all the new stuff I bought.  Yesterday, I still had these two items, unopened.

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So I took them back to the store and returned them, $20+ back to my credit card (two small items worth $20??!).  Score – I saved $!

I pared down the products I thought I needed to use to be presentable for an outing.  Look at all the tools I don’t need by weeding down my makeup routine…

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Hmm…cold turkey is tough…I did that with my going gray journey.  The question is can I do it again with my makeup?

Is there a compromise to creating a look that is natural, not too naked, just a little bit of a pick me up, instead of a drag me down kind of look?  This stuff is just so blurry to me.

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As we age, our skin sags, and our color tone changes.  All the chemicals we put on it combined with our get a tan youthful sun exposure moments leave us with aging skin that has been put through the wringer.  Not to mention all the sunspots, moles, skin tags, and bags under our eyes that come with it.

Oh, my…that’s a look for sure.  No wonder we want to cover it up?!

Maybe, just maybe, all of that is because of the chemicals we’ve used all the years before?  The caked on, high-maintenance appearance is not what I’m longing for, nor something I want to keep up with.

But…I don’t wanna look older than I really am…

Yesterday, enough was enough for me.  I decided to be brave and just do a very minimal makeup routine.  I weeded through my stash of miracle cures – these items didn’t make the cut.

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I ended up with this small pile of stuff.  Less than a dozen items!

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Most of it is just tools, not make-up.  WOW…that means if I could I just do a minimal routine then I can pull it off and expose my skin to fewer chemicals?  I was excited, and I might even take back more!   Like that unopened mascara…

In less than 5 minutes later, boom…I was done…(well…that’s nice, Mr. will enjoy my speed-of-light timing…he’s always said, high-maintenance gals are not his thing…)

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But…could I survive going out in public with very little makeup?  Could I carry on with my less is more quest and survive the “you poor girl” looks from others?

I put on my glasses so I could see if I could at least look at myself first.  Trifocals don’t hide a thing, let me tell ya!

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It was…good enough…plus Mr. was waiting…I was out of “I’ll just be a few more minutes to get ready time!”

I survived to tell you about the outing in public.  A trip to Wal-mart to return products is a safe place to try out a new less makeup look.

Now I’m on a mission to use the magnifying glass, read the back of the labels and see what needs to be tossed or replaced (if at all) with products containing only natural ingredients…the new “Cake THAT!” product I kind of like has to go…

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PS – Do you have a natural makeup product routine?  Are you a longstanding (like me) CoverGirl girl and wanna change or do you wanna keep it up?  Do you think the chemicals in the products are bad for the skin and our health?  

 

 

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

34 thoughts on “Aging skin – will a minimal makeup routine help?”

  2. You look perfectly you. I haven’t worn face makeup in so long I can’t even tell you. It always made me feel like I was wearing a mask. My daughter worked at the beauty supply store Ulta for a while and I was going in occasionally to buy products she would recommend to me but now they sit in a big makeup case not being used. I think I’m just going to get rid of it all since you are not supposed to use old makeup anyway. Maybe I’ll get some mascara because I do like the look of long lashes. I always say it’s what’s on the inside that makes a person anyway!

    1. Thank you, Janet. Yes – it’s like a mask and you’re right, it goes bad so time to toss it out! I agree with you on the mascara and am on a quest to find natural stuff instead of the CG stuff. You’re right the inside is what makes a person! And a beautiful smile like yours helps too :-)!

  3. So not necessary to plaster on the make up – but no make up I can’t do! I need to add a bit of colour to my pale looks. A bit of foundation, blush and lipstick and I’m done! Sometimes a bit of mascara but it makes my eyes itch! I coloured my hair until i retired! So liberating not to have to spend all the money on an artificial look.

    1. Ah, yes, it is important to find a balance for our beauty routine. Thank you for sharing yours, and your liberation thoughts about hair coloring too! Your look is perfect for you and I love your smile!

  4. I’m very lucky my strawberry blond hair shows little gray, and what I do have is white. so I’m good with that. Since I started wearing glasses full time, I find myself wearing less eye make-up. Before, I would even wear a little foundation around my eye area just to go to the gym! My glasses are transition lenses so they do hide a little. But you look great a’naturelle! Very timely post for any woman to read. As we age, we think we need more makeup, but I agree less is more.

    1. Thank you, Terri, I appreciate you sharing your beauty tips and thoughts. I love the all white look strawberry blondes end up with. I love how gray hair has so many variations, it’s a shame it is covered up so often, with all the different variations, our unique looks sure could sparkle.

  5. I’ve worn makeup since I was in around Grade 5 and my teachers used to ask me if I was sick or didn’t get enough sleep, etc. The goal then was a bit of colour in my cheeks (since I have none naturally) and to cover the dark circles (which I do have naturally). I used more makeup when I was a teen and young adult, enjoying the eye shadow and coloured mascara. But now I use only four things – Cover Girl Clean liquid foundation in classic ivory (I have pale skin) under my eyes and to even out redness around my nose; Lancome plum coloured powder blusher; a deep brown Annabelle khol pencil under my eyes to give them definition; and deep brown L’Oreal mascara. This just gives me the healthy look that I don’t have naturally and defines my eyes. Most people don’t realize I wear makeup and yet I would not feel like myself without it.

    I always read about your hair journey and have no idea how to comment. I am 5 years older than you, and yet I have never coloured my hair. My sisters started going grey in their late twenties, but I was lucky to get my dad’s hair genes and still am able to pluck the grey hairs that offend me. I see more lately, but I don’t know how I will cope if I truly go grey, after having dark brown hair my whole life. Will I still feel like me? I have curly hair too. I have to wash it daily, though. I use a shampoo and conditioner for curly hair and a very light curl boost spray (all AG products). Then I just turn my head upside down, fluff and scrunch and go. My beauty routine is fairly simple, but I like it. Enjoy your beauty journey.

    1. Sue, thank you so much for sharing your beauty routine with me. I’m happy to read you’ve found why and what works for you, that’s what is important. Since you’ve never colored your hair, the gradual change to gray (if it ever happens to you) will be the evolving you, and you’ll no doubt still feel yourself. Again, thank you for sharing, I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Enjoy your beautiful journey!

      1. Thanks. By the way, I know you look at your stats from time to time and someone mentioned a tip to me which I implemented. I’ve noticed that your emails come in with the full post, instead of with only a summary and a “read more”, the latter of which would mean that people have to visit your site and therefore be recorded as a visitor/view. I changed mine to that setting only this year. If you want to try it, go to your dashboard (by adding /wp-admin to the end of your site url) and then go to Settings – Reading – “For each article in a feed show – Summary” (instead of full text). (I assume it’s the same with your .org site )

        1. Busted, yep, I do check from time to time! Thank you for the hot tip, I had that set to Full and have since switched, thank you for sharing!! I’m so thankful you let me know, it’s hard to know who knows what about the craziness it is to have both a .org and a .com login for the same blog and all the different settings that go with it. I so appreciate hearing any tips and words of advice, thank you!!!!

    1. Thank you, your kind words of encouragement are appreciated. I agree we should do what makes us feel good about ourselves!

  8. You look great. About 6 years ago I went “me” all the way except a touch of blush and occasional lipstick on Sundays. I had a sweet lady in my church probably in her 80s tell me that I really should think about doing something with my hair and little different makeup. I told her that while I appreciated her honest opinion, I didn’t dress for her pleasure, I dressed for mine. I make sure I do what takes care of my skin not my “beauty”. We earn our wrinkles and gray hair and God uses it to show we have survived with the purity of silver white hair.

    1. Aw, Anita, thank you, your kindness is so appreciated. Your all “me” look is beautiful. Some women simply can’t imagine not doing their lifelong routines, you handled the situation well. Yes, exactly – take care of our skin and we earn every smile wrinkle along the way!

  9. Well written . Interesting thoughts.Always wonder why people between age group of say 40 to 60 wish to look like teenagers ? Is it possible ? Is to the appearance artificial ? Why not one age gracefully.These are my thoughts on hairstyles and makeup.

  10. If we struggle with social norms no wonder teens and young adults have such a tough time and purchase so many products! I have sensitive eyes so no mascara for me, just moisturiser, foundation and lip gloss or lipstick – 3 minutes and I’m done! Your gentle approach to your hair is paying off in savings and in hair volume & quality!!

    1. You’re so right, Marie – the number of chemicals our youth put on simply can’t be good for them?! Eyes are the portal for viruses, etc., so a sensitivity to products may be the way your body is protecting itself from additional harm. 3 minutes! Yay, that’s awesome. The cost savings and health savings of my hair routine is a refreshing part of my journey…if only I would’ve done it sooner! Thank you for stopping by to share your thoughts, much appreciated!

  11. You look so pretty in the pictures you posted!! There’s too much pressure to look a certain way and the criteria are hard to meet (unless you have a professional beauty team always at hand). Let’s be ourselves and embrace aging gracefully and with grateful hearts.
    Loved this post!!

    1. Thank you, I appreciate your support. Yes, age gracefully with grateful hearts, that’s a lovely way to describe it!!

  12. Since going grey, my wardrobe doesn’t look good with my hair which was red before. From very warm to very cool, the exact opposites. I don’t wear makeup very often. The locals are accustomed to seeing “the creature” and nobody has shown up with rakes & pitchforks at my door yet. I still put a little makeup on when I venture farther than my small circle. Just to avoid widespread panic and media reports that the walking dead are indeed real.

    1. Thank you for sharing your beauty secrets with me! LOL – your take is funny on the whole deal of aging in style – I have a hunch your smile and warm personality trumps all potential (if any) naysayers! Embrace the ‘cool’ look. 🙂

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