Month: February 2019

Who remembers slathering on baby oil and iodine and using a reflector to direct those sun rays to your face in spring and summer? Who else baked at the beach all day without a hat, an umbrella or any sun protection? My twin Jill and I would compete at the end of a beach day pestering my mom with the question “who is tanner”? We lived near Atlantic Beach and spent wonderful summer days by the ocean. One summer, before sleep away camp, I had such a terrible blistering sunburn from a five hour stay at the beach that I could not sleep or shower due to the pain. But I went to camp with a tan (more like lobster red). Did we worry about the long term effects on our skin? We hadn’t a clue.

Today we know that repeated, unprotected sun exposure or getting sunburned causes DNA damage that triggers the cells to mutate which can often become skin cancer. In fact, one in five people will have skin cancer during their lifetime; (I am one of those people). We now have the research to know that daily SPF that is broad spectrum (protects against UVA rays—aging and UVB rays—burning) is the best thing you can do for your skin. But should we choose a chemical or mineral (physical) sunscreen?

The easiest way to distinguish between the two types is to check the ingredients. Physical sunscreens contain mineral compounds like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (think of the lifeguard with white cream on his nose). Chemical sunscreens are made of compounds such as avobenzone and oxybenzone and are usually clear.

Physical (mineral) sunscreens reflect UV rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays, so the mineral sunscreen is less likely to irritate your skin because it scatters the sun rays. The chemical sunscreen, on the other hand can cause skin irritation because it absorbs the sun rays and traps heat into the skin. It can irritate sensitive skin, rosacea and acne prone skin and may increase discolorations and brown spots and clog pores in oily skins.

The cons of the physical sunscreen is that it may leave a white cast, and not be compatible for darker complexions, while the chemical sunscreens absorb quickly into the skin because of their thinner consistency and clear texture, leaving no white cast.

Some examples of mineral sunscreens that I have used and liked are Elta MD tinted UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 ($29.00 Amazon), It Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer SPF50. (Ulta ). I prefer this to the It Cosmetics CC Cream SPF50, which is thicker, although that one is popular as well.

With regard to chemical sunscreens, I use Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 and like Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer SPF 50.

Thanks to my friend Cheryl Z. For requesting this topic. She had asked whether I preferred chemical or mineral sunscreen and I told her I would do the research and get back to her. Honestly, I now will choose to use the physical sunscreen in the spring and summer. I do not want my existing brown spots to darken, nor do I want any new ones. I will still wear my Unseen Sunscreen (chemical) under my makeup in winter.

I hope this blog post has been informative and helpful in choosing your perfect daily SPF. Comment below if you have a favorite sunscreen and why you like it. Also, please let me know if there are any topics you would like me to address. I so appreciate your feedback and comments! Keep them coming. XO Penny

Resources

The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Here by Paula Begoun

American Academy of Dermatology July 2017

I have been wearing and loving makeup for as long as I can remember starting with Clinique in my early twenties. In fact, my list of New Year’s Resolutions each year would begin with “buy less makeup”. As with most resolutions, that one has gone unheeded!

My twin sister Jill and I would hang out at the Bobbi Brown, Chanel and Laura Mercier counters and try on all the latest lip colors and eyeshadows. My mom would join us for makeovers. I miss my makeup partners in crime!

But honestly, as we age, we need to wear less makeup to look good and focus on certain areas. What are those areas?

1. Get Even: Starting with skin that is uniform and even makes you appear polished and put together. “A great foundation is the makeup equivalent of the perfect bra”.*. If you wear foundation or a tinted moisturizer, and use the right color, texture and technique, you are going to look much younger. We are going for a fresh, dewy look; no need to paper over all the cracks. Foundation can give you a healthier looking skin and minimize the look of sun damage in minutes. Use a primer first to minimize pores and wrinkles and to help your makeup stay on all day.
2. Brighten Up: We all fade with age. The idea is to restore the color in our cheeks we used to have. Dab a pink or peach cream blush high on your cheekbones to draw attention to your eyes.Powder blush can be drying and settle into fine lines and wrinkles. Blush makes you glow and is the ultimate mood booster in your makeup bag.
3. Intensify Your Gaze: We need to define our eyes, but subtly, with no harsh lines. Use neutral or earthy tones rather than going for a smokey eye which can make your eyes look small and droopy. Choose cream eyeshadows that can be applied with fingers and melt into the eyelid. Dot brown eye pencil along the upper lash line with a few coats of mascara on upper lashes. This will give subtle definition to your eyes. Well groomed brows add a nice frame to the face as well!
4. Youthful Lips: Bad news, my friends. Your lips have deflated and shrunk in size so that a change in our lipstick choice is needed. Let’s use a neutral lipliner to give us back our definition, with a sheer lipstick or colored gloss in soft pink, mauve,rose and berry shades. Dark matte or opaque lipsticks make our lips look even thinner. So retire that matte fuchsia lipstick and the glittery teal eyeshadow and your colored mascaras. Refuse those inappropriate trends of our younger years and embrace the new, polished beautiful you!

Let me know how you feel about this post and about makeup in general. Is it part of your daily routine, or only for date nights? Let’s talk next week. XOXO Penny.

Resources

Makeup Wakeup, Revitalizing Your Look At Any Age, Lois Joy Johnson and Sandy Linter

Toss the Gloss, Beauty Tips and Tricks and Truths for Women 50+, Andrea Robinson

I am not talking about the “Me Too” Movement or the Women’s March political movement that have emerged these past two years in our country. This is the Silver Hair Revolution, a movement so significant that a feature film has been made entitled “Gray is the New Blonde”, documenting the increasing number of women who have stopped dyeing their hair. It’s a new generation of women who can be just as sexy, chic and fashionable, but choose to embrace their unique and natural hair color as they age. It’s a beauty revolution!

Women are embracing the gray (I like silver better; gray connotes dullness, dreariness, while silver is beautiful, shiny and valuable) for many reasons: authenticity, to be a role model, to save money, to have more free time, less maintenance and for health reasons.

My fascination with the going silver journey began a few years ago. My best friend Debby and I talked about doing it together. I began stalking the Facebook groups like Going Gray Gracefully, Going Gray and Loving It and Shine on Silver Sisters. These groups offer support and encouragement, along with hair care and makeup advice to women thinking about ditching the dye. I also researched silver haired beauties of all ages on Pinterest.

But I caved; I was weak. I listened to all the critics and naysayers including my boyfriend, who, although silver himself, does not like it on women. Don’t go gray; it will age you; don’t you care how you look;you can’t let yourself go!!! The negativity came from everywhere and I chose to listen, even though I was so curious about what was under the auburn dye that would turn orange and gray by the end of the month because I was 95% gray. My mom dyed her hair herself Lucille Ball red until her 86th birthday. She looked softer and prettier in her silver pixie. Would mine look similar?

Fast track to January 2018, I was home recuperating from a bunionectomy and decided to go for it! The first few months of the journey were difficult, but I was home anyway. Some women wear hats, headbands and become creative to hide the skunk line. Others choose a pixie to shorten the transition. I found a wonderful stylist who worked with me lightening the dark auburn and getting frequent trims to cut off the blonde and let the silver emerge. It took nine months and I love it! I have my moms silver hair. My friend Debby loved mine and she’s a silver sister too!

In Silver Hair, A Handbook by Lorraine Massey, a book that was invaluable, the author found that “many women who have embraced their silver, say they are re-evaluating life’s essentials and taking better care of themselves, by staying fit, eating healthy, cleaning clutter that doesn’t serve them, sleeping more and better at managing stress”.

What do you think? Are you ready to rock your silver? Leave me a comment and let me know how you feel about it. Penny

Resources

Going Gray, Lookin Great by Diana Lewis’s Jewell

Silver Hair, a Handbook by Lorraine Massey

One of my fondest memories of my mom was our bedtime ritual when I was a child. My mother would kiss my twin sister Jill and I goodnight and I will always remember how her skin smelled. She used a night time moisturizer called Flowing Velvet (it was yellow) and she smelled like fresh picked flowers. My mom had beautiful skin and was into all the latest products, even in the 1950’s. As a little girl, I wanted to be just like her!

Back to the present… I promised you a simple 3 step routine for morning and evening. I will give some examples of products for each step, but in future blogs, I will offer specific information and reviews of my favorite products, so stay with me. Here we go….

MORNING ROUTINE

1. Cleanse- remove dirt without stripping the skin of moisture. Older skin is thinner, drier and more sensitive; do not use soap. Try Cetaphil (drugstore brand), Purity Made Simple by Philosophy (Sephora,QVC) or any milky or hydrating cleanser.
2. Nourish- with a serum that contains anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, Vitamin E, green tea or peptides. Anti-oxidants repair past damage and prevent new damage from free radicals in the air, radiation from the sun and smog and pollution. When Hope is Not Enough serum from Philosophy, Matrixyl 10% with hyaluronic acid from The Ordinary.
3. Protect-with SPF 30. This step is non-negotiable for prevention of future damage. There are so many choices—you can use a moisturizer like Neutrogena Daily Defense 50 (drugstore) or a tinted moisturizer like It Cosmetics Your Skin but Better CC Cream SPF 50 or even an under makeup primer like Supergoop Unscreen Sunscreen SPF 40. I will do an entire blog later on SPF choices; there is no excuse not to find one that you like, whether chemical or mineral.

EVENING ROUTINE

1. Cleanse- repeat morning step one.
2. Exfoliate- this is removing dead skin cells that make us look older to reveal fresh young cells. Men exfoliate their faces every day when they shave. You can exfoliate in many ways: use a washcloth with your cleanser; use a Clarisonic tool and cleanser to wash your face; use a leave on exfoliant after you wash your face. Try Paula’s Choice AHA leave on exfoliant.(Paula’s Choice.com).
3. Nourish- hydrate and moisturize with hyaluronic acid and retinol. Retinol penetrates deep into the skin. It accelerates cell renewal and repairs damage. You will have smoother, younger looking skin with continued use. Try Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair (drugstore); Dr. Denise Ultra Moisturizing Face Serum with retinol and hyaluronic acid (QVC)

Have I scared you away? I hope not. For those of you who like to move slowly and cautiously, make a commitment to try one new step of the routine, for example, exfoliate or use SPF every day for the month of February. I committed to not spending any money other than necessities for the month of February. (It’s a short month). For those of you who like to jump in with both feet, Philosophy has a Todays Special Value today, Feb 4th on QVC that offers the Purity Made Simple Cleanser, When Hope is not Enough serum an exfoliator and a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid for $99.00. You can get it home for $16.00. I do not receive any remuneration or commission from Philosophy or QVC for recommending this set. I have used these products with good results; it is an excellent value and a simple system; you only need to add an SPF for daytime. Please leave me a comment or question. I value your feedback! Until next week…..Penny