BEST PRODUCT CHOICES FOR MATURE SKIN
Skincare needs change as we age, and mature skin often requires products that focus on hydration, anti-aging, and maintaining skin elasticity. Here are some skincare product choices for mature skin:
- Cleanser: Opt for a gentle, hydrating cleanser that won’t strip the skin of its natural oils. Look for products with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides. Examples: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser; Soy Face Cleanser by Fresh and Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser.
- Exfoliator: Choose a mild exfoliator that helps remove dead skin cells and promotes cell turnover. Chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid or lactic acid can be gentler on mature skin than physical scrubs. Examples: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant; Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Exfoliating Peel Gel and SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub.
- Serum: Incorporate serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol (or its milder form, retinoid), peptides, and antioxidants. These can help target concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Examples: No.7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multi-Action Serum; Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum, Facial Gel Moisturizer & Pure Hyaluronic Moisturizing & Hydrating Serum for Sensitive skin and Olehenriksen Truth Serum;
- Moisturizer: Opt for a rich and nourishing moisturizer that provides deep hydration. Ingredients like shea butter, ceramides, and fatty acids can help maintain the skin’s moisture barrier. Examples: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair With Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid; Olay Regenerist Night Cream and It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Anti-Aging Facial Moisturizer;
- Eye Cream: Look for an eye cream that addresses concerns like crow’s feet, puffiness, and dark circles. Ingredients such as peptides and hyaluronic acid can be beneficial for this delicate area. Examples: Drunk Elephant Shaba Complex Eye Serum; Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum and Clinique Repairwear Anti-Gravity Eye Cream;
- Sunscreen: Sun protection remains crucial at any age. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin from UV damage and prevent further signs of aging. Examples: Supergoop! Every Single Face SPF 50; Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Face Sunscreen Lotion SPF 60 and Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Cream;
- Retinol or Retinoid Cream: These products are known for their anti-aging benefits, as they can help improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and texture over time. Start with a lower concentration and gradually increase to avoid irritation. Examples: Murad Retinol Resculpt Overnight Treatment; StriVectin Advanced Retinol Nightly Renewal Moisturizer and Skinmedica Retinol Complex;
- Hydrating Masks: Use hydrating masks or sheet masks infused with ingredients like hyaluronic acid to give your skin an extra boost of moisture. Examples: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Mask Hydrating Gel; Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask by Fresh and Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Facial Mask;
- Oil-Based Products: Facial oils containing ingredients like argan oil, rosehip oil, or marula oil can provide additional hydration and nourishment to mature skin. Examples: Eminence Facial Recovery Oil; Murad Multi-Vitamin Infusion Oil and Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil;
- Collagen-Boosting Products: Consider products that promote collagen production, such as peptides and growth factors, to help maintain skin firmness and elasticity. Examples: Super-Absorb Multi-Collagen Peptides Protein Capsules by Wholesome-Wellness; Collagen Peptides by Live Conscious and Spring Valley Highly Absorbable Collagen+C and Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides;
- Antioxidant-Rich Products: Antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea extract can help protect your skin from environmental damage and oxidative stress. Examples: Cetaphil Face Serum Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum and It Cosmetics Confidence In Your Beauty Triple Antioxidant Brightening Serum;
- Night Cream: A heavier, deeply moisturizing night cream can help replenish the skin’s moisture levels while you sleep. Examples: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer Retinol24 Night Moisturizer; No. 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Night Cream and Algenist Genius Sleeping Collagen
Remember that every individual’s skin is unique, so it’s essential to pay attention to how your skin responds to different products. Patch testing new products and consulting with a dermatologist or skincare professional can help you tailor your skincare routine to your specific needs and concerns.
TOP CRUELTY-FREE MAKEUP PRODUCTS
I have been a big animal lover for as I can remember. There wasn’t a time when I did not have some type of some type of animal living with me, and could not understand why someone would get off abusing an animal. When I started wearing makeup, there were only a few cruelty-free makeup products on the market. But as years past, more and more cosmetic companies became cruelty-free. So, I did some research to which cosmetic companies are now cruelty-free. So, here’s a list of some popular cruelty-free makeup products from various brands. Please note that product availability and formulations can change, so it’s always a good idea to double-check before making a purchase:
Foundation:
- Tarte Cosmetics Amazonian Clay Foundation
- Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
- Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup
Concealer:
- e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer
- Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Crème
- Cover FX Power Play Concealer
Blush:
- Milani Baked Blush
- Pacifica Beauty Blushious Coconut & Rose Infused Cheek Color
- Burt’s Bees Blush
Bronzer:
- Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer
- NYX Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer
- e.l.f. Cosmetics Bronzers
Highlighter:
- Wet n Wild MegaGlo Highlighting Powder
- BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter
- Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter
Eyeshadow:
- ColourPop Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palettes
- Urban Decay Naked Palettes
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyeshadow Palettes
Eyeliner:
- NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner
- Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
- e.l.f. Cosmetics Intense Ink Eyeliner
Mascara:
- Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara
- Tarte Cosmetics Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
- Pacifica Beauty Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mineral Mascara
Lipstick/Lip Gloss:
- Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
- ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip
- e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Lacquer
Setting Spray:
- Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
- Milani Make It Last Setting Spray
- e.l.f. Cosmetics Makeup Mist & Set
Makeup Brushes:
- Real Techniques Makeup Brushes
- EcoTools Makeup Brushes
- BH Cosmetics Brushes
These are just a few examples of cruelty-free makeup products and brands. Keep in mind that the “cruelty-free” label indicates that the products were not tested on animals, but it’s always a good idea to read ingredient lists and do your own research to ensure the products align with your values and preferences.
THE BEST WAY TO STORE YOUR MAKEUP
The best way to store your makeup depends on the type of products you have and the space you have available. Here are some general tips to help you keep your makeup organized and in good condition:
- Clean and Sort: Start by going through your makeup collection and discarding products that are expired, damaged, or that you no longer use. This will help you declutter and make the organization process easier. This will also allow you to avoid any eye infections or skin reactions.
- Separate by Type: Group your makeup products by type, such as foundation, lip products, eye shadows, etc. This will make it easier to find what you need when you’re getting ready. And it does help by shortening the length of time for finding your fave color of lip gloss of eye palette.
- Use Containers: Invest in clear acrylic or plastic containers with compartments or drawers to store your makeup. These containers make it easy to see what you have and keep products separated. You can find these containers at home goods stores, dollar stores or online retailers. Using these helps me with not only sorting my makeup, but labeling the containers.
- Keep Similar Products Together: Store similar products together to create designated areas for each type of makeup. For instance, you can have a drawer or section for lip products, one for eye products, and another for face products. But you can always go one step further and have separate drawers or containers for different types of cosmetics. For example, you can place all of your blushes in one container, all of your black and brown eyeliners in another, all of your powders together in a third, etc.
- Consider Makeup Bags or Pouches: If you prefer a portable option, you can use makeup bags or pouches to organize your products. This is especially handy for travel or if you like to do your makeup in different locations. Personally. I like the travel pouches for my makeup and the bags which separate my brushes. I travel many times throughout the year, and having my makeup and brushes organized, helps me to find certain products quicker.
- Label and Categorize: Label your containers or drawers to help you quickly find what you’re looking for. You can also categorize products further within each section. For instance, you can have separate compartments for nude lipsticks, bold lipsticks, lip liners, etc.
- Store Vertically: Whenever possible, store products vertically rather than stacking them on top of each other. This prevents products from getting crushed and makes it easier to see and access everything.
- Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat: Store your makeup away from direct sunlight and heat sources, as these can degrade the quality of your products over time. I try not to store my products near a windowsill or in a place where the sun can shine on it for several hours. I recently purchased a blind with heavy material to hang over my window. It feels cooler in the summertime and it protects my products.
- Use Magnetic Boards or Racks: For smaller items like eyeshadow pans or magnetic makeup, consider using magnetic boards or racks to keep them organized and visible. I have a friend that does this with her pots of eyeshadow and pans of eyeshadow. She takes a small disc magnet and glues it on the back of the eyeshadow. Once dry, she places it is on a magnetic board and sorts it by color. All she has to do is reach and grab the eyeshadows she needs for a look and puts them back when done.
- Regularly Review and Refresh: Periodically go through your makeup collection to keep it updated and organized. As you acquire new products, make sure to integrate them into your existing system.
Remember that the key to effective makeup storage is finding a system that works for you and allows you to easily access and enjoy your collection. Customizing your organization approach based on your personal preferences and available space will help you maintain a tidy and functional makeup storage solution.