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Fashion & Beauty: Cultivating A New Me
Mar. 18th, 2024 05:33 pmEvery so often, I decide to give myself a bit of a makeover.
At 43, as a newly married woman, and starting training in a new profession, I felt it was time for a change. And the retail therapy aspect didn't hurt, it must be said. Now, I've been cultivating my skin care routine for a few months now after getting out of it in the wake of the war, but I've finally found a makeup look that works, too. And as for clothes, well...it goes without saying that skip this entry if such things bore you.
Skin Care: I have a relatively simple and inexpensive skin care routine. Per dermatologists a simple routine is actually a good thing; it makes you more likely to do it regularly. Mornings I cleanse, tone, put on moisturizer with SPF, lip balm with SPF, and sunscreen wherever I have exposed skin. Then I'm good to go if I'm not doing makeup. Night time I cleanse, tone, do eye cream with retinol, face and neck and chest cream also with retinol, a lip mask, and hand cream. If I've worn makeup, I double cleanse with Pond's Cold Cream and then micellar water. For my body, I use a moisturizing shower gel and in-shower body lotion that I put on my wet skin and simply towel dry. Works a treat and completely possible with inexpensive products.
Makeup: I usually don't do makeup, but I am attempting to wear everyday makeup more. It's a pretty minimal approach: concealer, tinted moisturizer, eyebrow gel, mascara, and lipstick. Usually the lipstick is one of those your-lips-but-better pinks, though if I'm feeling a little more daring I might wear plum or red. If it's a special occasion I'll go a little more - foundation and blusher, eyeshadow, and a bolder lip - but we're talking a wedding or something here.
Clothing: Don't expect anything hugely bold here. My trousers - that aren't jeans - are neutral shades (black, gray, light brown, navy blue). My blouses tend to the demure - florals, stripes - and are mainly in neutrals and pastels when in solids. (I do have fun t-shirts, but these are for casual days and the gym.) I have cardigans, a jean jacket, and a lightweight blazer. I have skirts (one black, one green with a floral print). I have three dresses (navy blue, light purple, and black with a paisley print). I have plenty of socks in gray, black, and khaki as well as sheer, nude knee-high stockings. I have Blundstone boots, navy blue Chuck Taylors, black Adidas Sambas, two pairs of flats (black and nude). I think that's plenty to pass as a professional adult. I don't think it would do to teach lessons in lounge pants and a t-shirt that says "We're All Mad Here." I'm back to covering my hair; though oddly my hair has started growing in thicker. Still, I love the look of scarves. Not giving it up. It's a great way to add color to my outfits.
Fragrance: I fell in love with Jo Malone London colognes years ago. Now I have several. Scarlet Poppy Cologne Intense is as close to a really heavy feminine perfume as I'll ever get. Peony & Blush Suede and English Pear & Freesia are the kind of light floral I realized were best for me when I was a teenager. Orange Blossom is light and citrusy - it reminds me of the time I picked a clementine from a tree. Wood Sage & Sea Salt is a day on the Atlantic Coast, and Silver Birch & Lavender is an autumn hike in the North Country. Yeah, these all make me happy.
All told I'm happier with my more mature image, though I hack around the house in pajamas, regularly go to the makolet (think a bodega) to buy smokes in the aforementioned lounge pants and fun t-shirts, and go to the gym in sweats and fun t-shirts or else a swimsuit coverup. Oh, and Crocs. The above clothing and makeup is for when I can be arsed to give a fuck.
At 43, as a newly married woman, and starting training in a new profession, I felt it was time for a change. And the retail therapy aspect didn't hurt, it must be said. Now, I've been cultivating my skin care routine for a few months now after getting out of it in the wake of the war, but I've finally found a makeup look that works, too. And as for clothes, well...it goes without saying that skip this entry if such things bore you.
Skin Care: I have a relatively simple and inexpensive skin care routine. Per dermatologists a simple routine is actually a good thing; it makes you more likely to do it regularly. Mornings I cleanse, tone, put on moisturizer with SPF, lip balm with SPF, and sunscreen wherever I have exposed skin. Then I'm good to go if I'm not doing makeup. Night time I cleanse, tone, do eye cream with retinol, face and neck and chest cream also with retinol, a lip mask, and hand cream. If I've worn makeup, I double cleanse with Pond's Cold Cream and then micellar water. For my body, I use a moisturizing shower gel and in-shower body lotion that I put on my wet skin and simply towel dry. Works a treat and completely possible with inexpensive products.
Makeup: I usually don't do makeup, but I am attempting to wear everyday makeup more. It's a pretty minimal approach: concealer, tinted moisturizer, eyebrow gel, mascara, and lipstick. Usually the lipstick is one of those your-lips-but-better pinks, though if I'm feeling a little more daring I might wear plum or red. If it's a special occasion I'll go a little more - foundation and blusher, eyeshadow, and a bolder lip - but we're talking a wedding or something here.
Clothing: Don't expect anything hugely bold here. My trousers - that aren't jeans - are neutral shades (black, gray, light brown, navy blue). My blouses tend to the demure - florals, stripes - and are mainly in neutrals and pastels when in solids. (I do have fun t-shirts, but these are for casual days and the gym.) I have cardigans, a jean jacket, and a lightweight blazer. I have skirts (one black, one green with a floral print). I have three dresses (navy blue, light purple, and black with a paisley print). I have plenty of socks in gray, black, and khaki as well as sheer, nude knee-high stockings. I have Blundstone boots, navy blue Chuck Taylors, black Adidas Sambas, two pairs of flats (black and nude). I think that's plenty to pass as a professional adult. I don't think it would do to teach lessons in lounge pants and a t-shirt that says "We're All Mad Here." I'm back to covering my hair; though oddly my hair has started growing in thicker. Still, I love the look of scarves. Not giving it up. It's a great way to add color to my outfits.
Fragrance: I fell in love with Jo Malone London colognes years ago. Now I have several. Scarlet Poppy Cologne Intense is as close to a really heavy feminine perfume as I'll ever get. Peony & Blush Suede and English Pear & Freesia are the kind of light floral I realized were best for me when I was a teenager. Orange Blossom is light and citrusy - it reminds me of the time I picked a clementine from a tree. Wood Sage & Sea Salt is a day on the Atlantic Coast, and Silver Birch & Lavender is an autumn hike in the North Country. Yeah, these all make me happy.
All told I'm happier with my more mature image, though I hack around the house in pajamas, regularly go to the makolet (think a bodega) to buy smokes in the aforementioned lounge pants and fun t-shirts, and go to the gym in sweats and fun t-shirts or else a swimsuit coverup. Oh, and Crocs. The above clothing and makeup is for when I can be arsed to give a fuck.
