Author: admin

My twin sister Jill always told me I needed to dress sexier, that I dressed too conservative and classic. We had very different personalities; she was the extrovert and I was the introvert, and we chose our clothes accordingly.

Today I know that each person’s version of sexy and style must fit her personality. Bradley Bayou notes that “when it comes to dressing well, it boils down to two things: Dress to balance your body and learn to conceal your flaws and reveal your assets”. By doing this you will create a figure that looks beautifully proportioned and gets attention in the right places. That makes sense!

But, have you ever opened your stuffed closet searching for a Saturday night outfit and thought “I don’t have a thing to wear , and after age 60, comfort and style may be more important than looking sexy anyway.”

Do any of these complaints sound familiar?

1. My feet hurt; I can’t wear heels anymore.
2. No one sees me; I’m invisible.
3. I look at styles in magazines. I don’t fit in anywhere.
4. I never find anything in stores.
5. I’m bored with my clothes.
6. I don’t want to dress too young, but I don’t want to look like an old maid.

Here are some solutions I found to those complaints. Put on an outfit that you like, get out in the world and you will be taken seriously. Start with the act of wearing what pleases you and makes you happy! Women in hats get compliments like crazy (I love wearing hats!). You can be stylish and look beautiful and be comfortable. Don’t wear clothes that tug or pinch or make you second guess ordering dessert. Find stylish oxfords, flats, slip ons and sneakers instead of heels (I love my Clarks). Don’t fit in with fashion… stand out! Women over 60 have lots of stuff. Go shopping in your closet and look at it with loving eyes and wear it.

If you need some guidance, here is a list of top 10 wardrobe essentials:

1. Denim jacket: looks good with a dress, jeans, crops perfect layering piece.
2. Black pants: when in doubt, reach for black. Look for different textures (wool, faux leather) and different shapes. Wide leg pants are on trend now.
3. Dark denim: looks great with pumps, boots, sneakers. Can be casual to dressy.
4. White shirt: I am always on the hunt for the perfect white shirt. Buy one oversized, a cotton, a silk.
5. Shirtdress: this silhouette compliments every body type. Choose solid or pattern and wear over leggings too.
6. Blazer: Perfect for work, laid back weekend or dressy for a special occasion.
7. Striped tee: Sailor tee with a pair of jeans or under a blazer for casual chic.
8. Ballet flats or loafers: much more comfy than heels.
9. Vibrant scarf: in silk to dress up any outfit or cotton in a fun print for casual wear.
10. Classic pumps in black or nude are most versatile or add a pop of color for fun. Great with jeans or dresses.

Whew. I feel better already! Remember your style mixed with fashion from your closet and a few new additions from stores (I like Chicos, on sale of course) will free you, bring pleasure and make you feel visible for all the right reasons. Please share if you have a love/hate relationship with your clothes and what you like to wear. Next step is the closet purge. Stay tuned for next week’s post. XO Penny

Resources

10 Fashion Tips For Every Woman Over 60 by BrendaKinsel.com

Tips for Everyday Looks by Susanafter60.com

Style at a Certain Age by Beth Djalali

The Science of Sexy by Bradley Bayou

I wasn’t looking to adopt a dog. I was in my sixties, living alone and still working. My neighbor fosters dogs for her friend who is a dog rescuer. She invited me over to meet Lucky, her latest foster and the rest, as they say, was history.

This is Lucky’s story: He was a 13 year old Yorkshire terrier who had lived with his adoptive family since he was 3. They returned him to the pound because “he was too old”. He had one tooth (which he later lost) but was in overall good health as well as a good eater (he could gum that kibble and even steak). A city dog, he loved to walk and had a macho way about him despite his small stature!

I heard his story and knew I had to adopt him. Too old? I was getting up there in years. Would I be abandoned by my family and rehomed as well? Lucky and I were best friends for 3 1/2 years until he succumbed to kidney disease. We walked 3 or 4 times a day and spent hours cuddling on the couch. He was a great companion and I miss him terribly, especially his crooked smile and endearing tongue hanging out! I have been without him since July. But am I ready to adopt another (adult or senior) dog?

Of 7.6 million animals brought into shelters each year, 2.7 million are euthanized, a large portion being adult and senior dogs, according to Dogtime.com. Senior shelter pets are least likely to ever find a new home. It makes me terribly sad to know these poor animals are, frightened, disoriented, and waiting anxiously in their kennels for their families to come back and collect them; and sadder still to know many will never leave the shelter!

Here are 10 great reasons to open your heart and home to a senior pet:

1. Older dogs have manners. Unlike puppies, they have spent years living with a family and being socialized to a life with humans. Most are housebroken and even know some commands.
2. Senior pets are less destructive. There is no need to worry about finding your favorite pair of shoes chewed beyond recognition.
3. What you see is what you get. A senior pet holds no surprises as to how big he may get, whether his hips will be healthy. He comes with his own history which makes his future more predictable than a puppy.
4. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Older dogs are more attentive, can focus on the task, and are more eager to please their humans.
5. You can custom order your senior pet. If you need a dog that is good with cats or children, you’ll have a better chance of finding the perfect companion.
6. You can adopt a purebred dog if you want. If you are looking for a certain breed, there are so many breed rescue groups that can help.
7. Senior pets are great for older adults. Many people find the calm presence of an older pet comforting, and the fact that the pet too may be moving at a slower pace.
8. Older pets are relaxing to hang out with. They are not full of wild energy to burn, and you have more time to do fun things together or just relax.
9. Adopted senior pets are grateful for your kindness. Somehow they seem to know you gave them a home when no one else would. Your pet will show you a level of devotion unique to older pets so that you will form a close bond quickly.
10. You can be a hero to a deserving dog or cat. People who adopt older animals feel a special sense of pride and purpose in opening their heart to a hard to place pet. Doing good makes you feel good!

Every Sunday morning I watch Furry Friend Finder on CBS news. Yesterday, they featured two “teenage chihuahuas” (13 and 14) who they nicknamed the Golden Girls twinning with their tongues out looking for their forever home. I’m just not sure if I’m ready………To be continued…..

Resources

Clear The Shelters

Why You Should Consider Adopting an Older Pet-Healthypets.meriola.com

“ To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s ’ hearts. We share private jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the truth of time…” Clare Ortega

My good friend of over 40 years lost her brother this week. It started me thinking about how we can survive such a loss. I don’t use the word recover because we never recover—we are never the same, but we do go on and can sometimes grow from the experience.

If you follow my blog, you know that it is dedicated to my twin sister Jill who lost her battle with a rare form of cancer 11 years ago. April 19th, we should be celebrating a big birthday together, but it was not meant to be.

Grief is a natural response to the loss of a brother or sister, but adult siblings are sometimes called “forgotten mourners” or that they suffer “disenfranchised grief”. This is because sympathy is extended more to other family members such as parents, spouse and children. They don’t always receive the support necessary to heal.

I finally learned the difference between mourning and grieving. To grieve is to experience feelings of loss inside you, while to mourn is to express your grief outside yourself.

Why is the loss especially difficult?

1. Loss of a long term relationship: Your stories began together and were intimately intertwined for years. You are experiencing the loss of a friend, a confidante, a protector with whom you shared so many memories. You grieve the loss of your past relationship! My sister was my best friend and confidante. Jill was also my protector when we were growing up. I wore glasses from the age of 3. She threatened to beat up a much older and bigger bully on the school bus for calling me 4 eyes and stealing my glasses. The roles reversed when she got sick and I became her protector.

2. Loss of a future with your sibling: You have lost the part that your brother or sister would have played in your future. Every Thanksgiving, birthday, birth of my grandson Jesse, birth of her grandson Jasper and the birth of her new granddaughter this coming August are bittersweet. We had a plan that when her husband died (of course before her), we would live together like the Golden Girls.

3. Seeking a new identity:Your sibling made up a part of the unbroken wholeness that defines who you are and your role in the family. This was especially difficult as a twin. Twins often report a sense of being halved after their twin has died. Without my sister, I did not feel whole. I sought and received support from an organization called “Twinless Twins”.

4. Feelings of guilt: Sibling relationships can be complicated involving love and affection as well as jealousy. You may feel guilty about what you said or didn’t say. Fortunately, I did not experience this type of guilt. I did experience survivor guilt, however. Why did Jill develop cancer and I remained healthy. Her response was “it was my journey, not yours”.

How can we heal? First, embrace the healing power of linking objects. These are items that belonged to or remind you of your sibling who died. This will help you embrace the pain of your loss and move you toward feeling better. Display these objects in your home as a way to honor your feelings of love and loss. Jill’s salt and pepper shakers are on my table and remind me of her at every meal. I have the Burberry plaid coat that my sister bought me (because everyone needs a Burberry coat) in the closet, and will never give it away. It is way too small for me now. I wear her Chinese silk bathrobe which still smells faintly of Shalimar, her favorite perfume.

Honor your sibling by contributing to specific charities he/she supported or start a scholarship fund in his/her name. Finally, embrace the process of reconciliation. Mourners don’t recover from grief. Instead, we become reconciled to it. In other words, we learn to live with it and are forever changed by it. Mourners often not only heal but grow through grief. We can only achieve reconciliation, if we actively express and receive support for our grief. Cry, journal, seek counseling. “Choose to mourn, Choose to heal. Choose to love fully again.

“Your love does not end with the death of your brother or sister. You can and will carry your sibling into the future, always remembering your past and what he or she brought to the dance of your life”. I know that Jill is always with me every time I see pennies in random places.

Resources

Healing the Adult Sibling’s Grieving Heart by Dr. Alan Wolfelt

When my sister and I were growing up, hamburgers and hot dogs were a staple in our diet. We loved when my parents would go out for dinner because we could have our favorite Swanson TV dinner, turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes. My mom would make BLT sandwiches with Wonder bread, mayo, pork bacon and iceberg lettuce. Today I will occasionally make a BLT with multigrain or Ezekiel bread, nitrate free turkey bacon from Whole Foods, mesclun lettuce and sliced avocado.

We’ve come a long way, baby! Our moms didn’t know about nutrition. We now know how to define anti-aging eating, e.g. how to eat for health and longevity. We also have a lot of information about “superfoods” which are foods from every category that have high levels of disease fighting compounds and/or have shown to exact beneficial changes in the body.

Studies have shown that traditional diets of people living in Mediterranean countries and in Okinawa Japan seem to confer life lengthening benefits. The Mediterranean diet features olive oil, a variety of whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables, mainly fish with little meat and some dairy. The Okinawan diet is fish, carbs mostly from vegetables and rice, a little fruit,tofu and no dairy.

A study tracking older New Yorkers for 4 years found that those who followed the Mediterranean diet were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and that the diet helped overall cognitive performance and memory. It also lowered the risk of heart disease, and many types of cancer. If you choose to follow this diet, half of your plate at each meal should be fruits and vegetables, high protein choices should be fish or white meat chicken, with red meat no more than twice a month, healthy whole grains in moderation.

With regard to the “superfoods” discussed previously, choose from the following healthy choices:

Super grains: barley, black rice, bulgur wheat, steel cut oats, beans and sweet potatoes.

Super vegetables: cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. Eggplant, mushrooms, seaweed and tomatoes, kale and spinach.

Super fruits: açaí berries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, citrus fruits, red grapes and pomegranates.

Super nuts and seeds: almonds, walnuts, and flaxseeds, hemp seeds and chia seeds.

Super treat: dark chocolate and cocoa powder.

Stay away from the foods that age us like sugar, salt, trans fats ( in margarine and processed foods) and saturated fats (red meat, bacon, chicken skin).

Dr. Joel Fuhrman, in his book “Eat to Live”, has a bone to pick with the Mediterranean diet because of the preponderance of bread and pasta. He also believes that consuming fattening olive oil in your diet (with 14% saturated fat) will raise LDL cholesterol. He feels if you are thin and exercise a lot, one tablespoon of olive oil is no big deal, but that the best choice for most overweight Americans is no oil at all.

Dr. Fuhrman claims in his book that we can lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks on his diet which permits unlimited raw vegetables and cooked vegetables (whoopee) and at least 4 fruits a day. However, off limits are all dairy, animal products, oils and snacking between meals with limited whole grains and nuts. I keep going back to this book because I believe it is the healthiest way of eating. What nature provides, nutrient rich fruits and vegetables are so beneficial to healthy aging and longevity. It is a commitment.

I actually was a vegetarian for 6 months after watching 2 Netflix documentaries titled “Vegucated” and “What the Health”. They are real eye openers, but I could not even look at chicken or meat let alone put it in my mouth. Unfortunately, I substituted bread and pizza and gained weight. That ended my vegetarianism!

I do follow the Mediterranean diet for the most part. I like the red wine in moderation, which I forgot to mention. I am starting tomorrow to cut out sugar and flour for as long as I can to get rid of some belly fat. No Italian bread, no pizza. Wish me luck! Let me know what type of diet you follow. I welcome your feedback. Let’s talk next week. XOXO Penny

Resources

20 Years Younger by Bob Greene

Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

Eat Vegan Before 6 by Mark Bittman

Healthy Organic Woman.com by Lynda Goldman

Have you seen this commercial? A pretty silver haired woman in her fifties or sixties says “online dating? I know people meet that way, but how would I start?” The commercial continues… “open laptop, go to Our Time.com and look for free”.

It’s not that simple. Take it from me. I was married for 32 years (a child bride) and have been divorced since age 52. I have been on JDate, Match, JPeople Meet, EHarmony, and Our Time and have the battle scars (and funny stories) to prove it. I have some online dating advice for you—specifically to watch out for these types of men (all of whom I have dated and/or have been in a relationship with.

1. The College Jock: This guy still thinks he is a star lacrosse player even though age 60. He stares at young women, flirts and even makes comments about parts of their anatomy. He has money (4 rental properties, and a nice pension), but has an aversion to eating out in restaurants that require leaving a tip. I eventually grew tired of eating Wendys chili and baked potatoes and ended it!

2. The Narcissist: This guy will charm the pants off you (literally) in the beginning. He will swear his undying love for you by cooking your favorite foods, even serving you a lobster salad and Chardonnay poolside. In time, you will see red flags like his 3 daughters’ refusal to talk to him. Next he will try to alienate you from your family and friends (“your mom can call you any time because she is old, but you cannot talk to your children when you are with me”. “Your focus needs to be on me”). When you try to break up with him, he will advise you that it will not happen until he wants to end it. The narcissist is scary and may be dangerous. You may find yourself at the police station seeking an Order of Protection.

3. The Widower: This man believes he is ready for online dating but he is still mourning his wife. He may even take her with you on the date. I do not mean that he will actually bring the urn with the ashes, but it is as if she is there with you. He made me duck in the car so that no one in his neighborhood would see me and he was so uncomfortable at the end of the date that he practically threw me out of the moving car when he dropped me off at my house. You can’t make this stuff up!

4. The Bad Boy: He is exciting and handsome. He is a musician who will play the guitar and sing to you in English and Hebrew. You have chemistry like Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born. Why does he always have a wad of cash in his wallet and never really say how he makes a living? Until one Sunday when his second cell phone rings incessantly and he must take the calls and leave to meet clients. You may say I am naive and you would be right! Other bad boys include online scammers who ask you for money and foreign men looking for U.S. Citizenship (check and check).

DatingSitesReview.com stated that 5% of Americans who are married or in a committed relationship met their partner online. (I thought it would be higher). The odds are pretty daunting. So why do we do it?

What are the pluses of online dating? “Love has no expiration date. We humans crave and enjoy companionship at any age and a romantic relationship is one of the closest forms of friendship. Dating for mature women can mean you have a friendship with or without benefits, a marriage, a lover or a companion. The relationship needs to work for your needs and lifestyle.”

There is a lot to be said for the convenience of online dating, but there are no guarantees that the person posting an intriguing profile feels any responsibility for being truthful. Try Our Time and Senior People Meet which are geared towards people in their fifties and sixties, respectively. But have realistic expectations and continue to meet people through real life encounters and introductions from friends and family.

Did I have any positive experiences with online dating? I am happy to report that 4 years ago, after posting a profile on Our Time, I got lucky. I responded to a man three years younger whose profile picture showed a tall, handsome Jewish man (like me) who lived in a nearby town and who liked to read, play tennis and especially spend time with his family. His profile was honest and accurate and we are still enjoying “our time” together and looking forward to the future. Even my twin sister Jill would have said “He is Penny worthy!”

Resources

Sixty and Me Blogs: 3 Ways Women Need to Rethink Online Dating Over 60 and 5 Wonderful Reasons To Explore Dating After 60.

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