Today Annette reveals her beauty secrets to us and shares how she accomplishes to get her radiant and beautiful skin. Enjoy!

Has your beauty routine changed much from when you were younger?

I have never been a beauty junkie – not in the past and certainly not now. When I was younger I suffered from blemished skin and spots. It was really bad when I was a teenager but also up to my late thirties I wasn’t happy with my skin at all and spent a lot of time on covering my irritated skin.

My skin is so much better now! Of course at almost 55 I naturally have wrinkles around my eyes and my forehead but overall I cannot complain about my mature skin. It isn’t dry or sensitive, I can use almost any product and that is why my beauty regime is very basic and I don’t spend much money on it. My beauty products usually are from the drugstore.

I cannot see much difference between cheaper and more expensive products and no luxury ant-ageing product will make me look 20 years younger.

How much time do you spend on average on your grooming / beauty routine?

Does that include hair or face only? From getting into the bathroom until leaving the house it takes an hour but that includes everything from shower to makeup, hair drying and styling and getting dressed (on a typical Monday morning). And a cup of tea in between 😉

Face /makeup approx. 10 min
Hair styling approx. 10 min

What is your current beauty routine?

Morning:
I wash my face with clear water (we have an excellent water quality here in the mountains) before I apply the 3 steps as described in the next question.

Evening:
I always remove makeup before I go to bed.

Twice a month:
I do a peeling with AOK Seesand Peeling

Once or twice a month:
A face mask depending on the season and the occasion (moisture / lifting / calming)
No particular brand.

How do you look after your skin and what is your favorite product?

1. Hyaluronic gel from the pharmacy. It is their own recipe at a high concentration but very cheap in comparison to much lower concentrates by big brands. “No name product”
2. Vitamin E Day Lotion SPF30 by the Body Shop
3. Moisturising creme – currently I am very happy with Vital Anti-Age Soja Day Cream SPF15 by Nivea (in winter I will change to a richer cream here, probably also from Nivea or the Body Shop)

How do you look after your hair and what are your favorite products?

I change my shampoo and conditioner from time to time as I feel my hair gets adjusted to specific products after a while.
Currently (and often) I use Schwarzkopf Liquid Silk Shampoo and conditioner.

Once or twice a month I use a deep conditioner and from time to time I apply olive oil and let it soak in for several hours. Of course I need to wash my hair a couple of times afterwards but my hairdresser really recommended this natural treatment for dry hair.

How important is makeup to you? Is it part of your daily routine?
Yes it is important. After all I am not 25 any longer 😉

My makeup routine is very natural and basic but I think it makes a real difference – my eyes are small and eye shadow (natural shades of brown), black mascara and the use of an eye brow pencil are important.A bit of rouge and lipstick preferably in soft shades of pink to a light brown-red are my favourite colours. I never wear red lipstick (nor red nail varnish).

Which make-up products do you use and which are currently your favorite?

1. For my makeup I use the very light L’Oréal Nude Magic Cushion which can easily be applied with the unique tap-tap applicator (as they call it!). It is really only a hint of makeup!
2. On top I add a little bit of compressed powder (own organic brand “Terra Naturi” by German drugstore chain – “no name product”)
3. I love a hint of a “sun kissed glow” on my cheeks and use the Shimmer Waves by The Body Shop on top of a soft blush-brown rouge.

Which products do you use for the night? (if any)

I only clean my face but never use any night care and love the gentle makeup cleanser by Avène and the gentle toner by Avène

If you could just give 3 beauty and grooming tips to women over 40, what would they be?

Sorry but I don’t have any tips here as I never paid much attention to beauty products.
Probably living in the countryside in the middle of an unspoilt nature and clean air does help at any age!

Thanks Annette for sharing your beauty secrets with us! If you like to see more of Annette be sure to visit her blog The Lady Of Style.

What are your favorite beauty products?

Feature image by www.ladyofstyle.com

The post How to get radiant skin – a beauty interview with Annette appeared first on 40+ Style.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a style hedonist. I pretty much wear what I want, when I want.

A menswear tux and tie? Sure. A pink sequin gown? Why not? – preferably with sneakers.

I often stumble into unexpected adventures as a result of my passion for self-expression, from auditioning for TV ads, to modelling, to attending galas, all of which I chronicle on my social media, with big laughs along the way.

The streets and alleys of Vancouver are my playground for photography and weird artsy videos. Finally, I do motivational speaking on the joys of rule-breaking, and wanna-be divas turn to me for my frump-busting skills. I live in Vancouver, Canada, with my calm husband.

As a point of reference, which age group do you belong to or perhaps you are willing to share your age?

I am 55. I kiss my Seniors’ Pass, even though admission is still rather limited. A drug store and a local restaurant are so far the only jackpots I’ve found.

What kind of beauty personality are you?

I am Phyllis Diller and Tilda Swinton, with a dash of Amélie (film character), and David Bowie. I can be all or nothing, depending on my mood. I don’t usually do neutral unless I’m sick or in hiding mode.

How much time do you spend on average on your grooming / beauty routine?

The time I spend often depends on how late I am running. It can last from 10 seconds to 30 minutes. On average, it takes about 5 minutes, excluding hairstyling.

Has your beauty routine changed much from when you were younger?

When I was eight years old I piled on the blue eye shadow; I still do sometimes, but I’ve added pink, lime, black, gold, and other tropical colours to the mix, and my mum doesn’t give me heck when I wear it.

I tend now to avoid cream eye colour because it collects in my lines of divinity (wrinkles). And a stubby magic wand of lipstick, usually red, has been a lifelong companion. I could never use soap – it usually burns like acid. Not much has changed.

What is your current beauty routine?

Each morning I wash my face with water, then before I go out I slap on some lip liner and lipstick, and maybe dark brow pencil to frame my eyes. I rarely wear foundation and concealers because they suffocate my skin – I rely on the lips and brows to distract from my complexion.

I sometimes apply the full works: eye shadow, liner, and mascara. I’d definitely wear them more if removal didn’t require a Satanic ritual.

In the summer I colour my nose white with stick-style sunscreen. I also swear by the rejuvenating effects of freshly-brushed teeth.

How do you look after your skin and what is your favorite product?

My favourite skin product is water. I don’t use night creams or moisturizers. If my skin ever feels scrapy dry, for example, after swimming in chlorinated or salt water, I may apply a dab of Lancôme Nutrix Tube moisturizer or an all-natural moisturizer my friend made me.

To remove makeup I use olive oil on makeup pads and cotton swabs. For deep-space makeup excavations I may require Aveeno Active Naturals Moisturizing Bar, fragrance-free bar soap for dry skin.

How do you look after your hair and what are your favorite products?

I wash my hair every other day with  Aveeno Active Naturals Moisturizing Bar. I don’t use rinses. I blow dry on high heat with finger-combing and apply got2b products depending on the hairstyle I’m going for. I don’t often comb or brush my hair.

How do you achieve your signature tower hair?

There are two ways: lightweight and heavy duty. For lightweight, when my hair is already dry in a flat pixie style, I run a dab of got2b Glued Spiking Glue through my upside-down hair.

For longer-lasting, heavy-duty styling, I dry my wet hair upside-down on high heat, while back-combing into a peak with my fingers.

When my hair is almost dry, I massage in a dab of  got2b Ultra Glued Styling Gel and finish drying. Then, when my hair is dry-dry, I rub in a final dab of the got2b Glued Spiking Glue for extra long lasting peaky hold.

How important is makeup to you? Is it part of your daily routine?

I love makeup. Adore it. I almost never go out without lipstick.

Makeup has transformative power, not just on physical looks; it also affects how I move through the world. If I’m wearing black lipstick and shadow, I’ll tend to walk with a rock-star swagger.

Reds may add a bounce to my step, like an impish Amelie.

Sometimes I do fun, over-the-top makeup experiments, which give me ideas for daytime wear, such as coloured or white eyebrows or white eye shadow.

Which make-up products do you use and which are currently your favorite?

YSL’s matte lipstick 208 and  YSL liner 21 are my current favourites for daily wear.

Other favourites are Mac matte lipsticks and liners, and their cake colours.

I also sometimes use Sephora Make Up Forever 12-colour makeup kit.

I’m experimenting with Look Fabulous Forever makeup as well. So far I just use cheapo drugstore mascara, and I use eye liner as a brow pencil.

Which products do you use for the night? (if any)

None.

If you could just give 3 beauty and grooming tips to women over 40, what would they be?

1. Dark or bold lipstick adds high drama

Especially when paired with strong eye makeup. It doesn’t hurt to kick up the colour even for daytime wear. If I see one more YouTube how-to on tasteful makeup for mature skin I might scream. There is room for diversity here.

2. Matte lipsticks and liner have super-long staying power

What you sacrifice in terms of moisturizing properties, you more than make up for with longevity. Plus, matte liners are great for drawing outside the lines à la Joan Crawford and Bette Davis.

3. Coloured hair gel is a great way to add punch to your look, and it only lasts until your next wash

Where can we find out more about you?

I have a personal style blog and an Instagram account. There are links to other media coverage about me in the PRESS link on my blog.

I also have an on/off Vancouver street style/culture blog. Finally, my online fashion spoof magazine, VOGOFF, is at vogoff.homestead.com and my artworks are at melaniekobayashi.homestead.com.

Thanks Mel for sharing your beauty secrets with us!

Which is your favorite beauty look of Mel?

The post Having fun with makeup and hair – A beauty interview with Melanie appeared first on 40+ Style.

Today I want to talk about her beauty secrets. She is 74 already but you wouldn’t know it from looking at her face as she looks as youthful as ever.  Let’s find out how she achieves that!

You may like to watch the short interview I had with her first and then read on for all the details.

Has your beauty routine changed much from when you were younger?

My beauty routine has changed since I was younger. I’m more consistent and mindful about maintaining my routine in the morning and again in the evening. I view nurturing my skin and hair as self care. I’m also concerned that the products I use are free from harmful chemicals, as much as possible.

How much time do you spend on average on your grooming/beauty routine?

My beauty/makeup routine in the morning takes about 30 minutes. If I’m getting ready for a special event, it’s a bit more. In the evening I spend about 10 minutes before bedtime.

What is your current beauty routine?

In the morning I cleanse my skin, apply a vitamin C serum, moisturizer, eye cream and sunblock before I apply my makeup. Before bed I repeat my routine, but without the sunblock.

How do you look after your skin and what is your favorite product?

I use a line of products by the name of Image Skincare. The company focuses on purity of ingredients and though they have many products to choose from, I use only those that I mentioned in my beauty routine.

The only thing that I don’t like about Image is that they use the marketing phrases “age later” and “anti-aging.” I prefer “pro-aging” and language that encourages self acceptance no matter one’s age.

How do you look after your hair and what are your favorite products?

I shampoo and condition my hair every other day with a product named Nioxin. I have experienced some thinning of my hair over the past few years, and this line appears to have helped with that issue. I use R+Co pomade mousse before drying my hair, which creates texture and body, especially for wavy hair.

This was recommended by my hair stylist, who cuts my hair very short in a style that harmonizes with hats, which I wear daily. Once every two weeks I shampoo with Sterling Silver by AG hair care, which eliminates brassy or yellow tones. About one and one half years ago I completed the process of growing my hair out from red to what is now white/silver.

My hair is more healthy and the maintenance is minimal. This has given me a new sense of freedom and I feel more of who I am.

How important is makeup to you? Is it part of your daily routine?

Makeup is very important to me, and has become more so since I launched my blog Style Crone seven years ago. I view it as art and I love to learn about new ways to be creative and skilful. I also use it as a form of meditation, similar to creating an outfit.

Applying makeup is part of my daily routine, for the most part. I practice yoga frequently, and if I don’t have anything scheduled outside my home except for yoga, I sometimes throw on sunblock, put on sunglasses, lipstick and a casual hat, and off I go on errands. It’s a way to simplify my life and manage my time.

Which make-up products do you use and which are currently your favorite?

I’m constantly changing the makeup that I use. I currently use Laura Mercier foundation primer and Giorgio Armani foundation. Everything else is MAC. I’m always open to trying something new and prefer samples before purchase, if possible.

Which products do you use for the night? (if any)

As above, I use Image products, which I described in my morning routine, without the sunblock.

If you could just give 3 beauty and grooming tips to women over 40, what would they be?

1) A healthy lifestyle is the best beauty routine.

I practice yoga and meditation, and other forms of mindfulness to be more self aware and focused. I also believe that the food that we eat is reflected from the inside out. I choose to eat a plant based diet, avoid processed food and chemicals, and drink lots of water. I strive for inner peace, healthy relationships, and believe that beauty is an inside job. Kindness, not judging others and self care are good for the hair and skin.

2) Have fun and experiment!

You can always take your makeup off if it doesn’t please you! If you like to go without makeup, that’s fine too. Diversity in every area is a good thing.

3) There are no rules.

I don’t think that age should determine how we use makeup. Just as I wear what I love, I wear the makeup that I love.

If you want to see more of this fabulous woman, be sure to visit her blog Style Crone or check out her Instagram!

Feature image by www.stylecrone.com

The post The best beauty routine is a healthy lifestyle – A beauty interview with Judith appeared first on 40+ Style.

I wanted to check back in with this fabulous lady and talk about her beauty routine this time to discover the secrets of her youthful looks and fabulous skin.

Has your beauty routine changed much from when you were younger?

Oh yes, for certain! I grew up in the 1960’s, before sunscreen was a big deal. Like all my peers, I lay out in the sun, hoping to get a good burn, that would “turn to tan”. Arggh! Since age 30, though, I’ve protected my skin scrupulously, with a 50 SPF sunscreen, hats, sunglasses and scarves. And of course, in my youth, pimples were the big enemy, not sagging or wrinkling.

How much time do you spend on average on your grooming / beauty routine?

Not a terribly long time: about fifteen minutes in the morning to apply sunscreen and makeup, and ten minutes at night, for my face, hands and neck. I don’t color my hair, and I let it air-dry with some cream in it.

What is your current beauty routine?

Morning: an Olay moisturizer with high SPF, followed by a BB cream with a high SPF. I put the BB cream all over my face, to the hairline and on my eyelids. This evens out my skin tone, and provides good protection. Then mascara, blush and lipstick, and some brow powder if I’m going out in public.

How do you look after your skin and what is your favorite product?

By far, it’s prescription grade Retin-A, since age 27. I do get compliments on my skin at 61, and I always reply: Retin-A and sunscreen, every single day.

How do you look after your hair and what are your favorite products?

I wash my dry curly hair about twice a week, with a sulfate-free shampoo. I condition it in the shower with any old brand, then I comb some curl cream through it. I let it air dry and put a few strategic clips in to help shape the final ‘do. I haven’t colored my hair in over two years and I love the silver coming in.

How important is makeup to you? Is it part of your daily routine?

I always use sunscreen/moisturizer, followed by a BB cream, even if I’m just going to the taco place for lunch. I use some MAC mascara most days. True “color” cosmetics, like eyeshadow, blush and brow powder are for when I will be out and about and seen by the public.

Which make-up products do you use and which are currently your favorite?

I am using an inexpensive BB cream by NYX and a blush palette by e.l.f. My lipsticks are varied, and I don’t have a current favorite: anything reddish is good with me, and I re-apply throughout the day.

Which products do you use for the night?

First, gentle cleansing with a make-up wipe. Then Retin-A on my face, and Vitamin C cream from The Ordinary on my hands. A rich body lotion all over. And after the Retin-A and Vitamin C have sunk in, I cover my face and hands with Matryxl serum, also from The Ordinary. Great stuff that sinks in quickly and keeps my skin hydrated.

If you could just give 3 beauty and grooming tips to women over 40, what would they be?

The obvious first: SUNSCREEN! Always, and ever, and try not to be in the direct sun during the most intense hours of the day. Use hats and sunglasses. Be a fanatic about this if you want good skin.

Then: Try one of the Retin-A formulations. Start slowly, with a .025 strength, and use it twice a week. Then build up to your tolerance level – I now use .50 strength every night.

And: Don’t fuss too much with your hair. Try to embrace your natural color and texture, and be kind to your hair: shampoo less often, add creams and oils if you’re dry, stay away from too much heat styling.

Read more about Patti and her style here How to stay visible and consistent in your style – a style interview with Patti. Also be sure to check out Patti’s blog.

P.S.: you may also enjoy our article: What is retinol and how can it help your skin.

The post Minimal with a natural glow: a beauty interview with Patti appeared first on 40+ Style.

This first interview is with our very own 40+Style contributor Rosemond. Enjoy!

Has your beauty routine changed much from when you were younger?

My beauty routine has evolved since I was younger. I now put more thought and care into taking care of myself. Gone are the days of falling asleep with a full face of makeup still on, or going outside without sunscreen!  I feel lucky to be 51 and want to take better care of myself now so that I can make the most of what I’ve got and look and feel my best for years to come. 

How much time do you spend on average on your grooming/beauty routine?

I don’t go overboard, but I do take time every morning and night to take care of my skin.  I’d say 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night. 

What is your current beauty routine in the morning?

In the morning, I use Clinique’s mild liquid face soap with a gentle cleansing sponge. Then, no matter where I’m going or what I’m doing I always apply sunscreen. I love Le Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 50.  And I make sure to put sunscreen on my chest, neck, and the back of my hands. 

What is your routine at night? 

At night, I use Simple or Neutrogena makeup remover sheets to remove any makeup and mascara. Then I use Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging cleansing gel with salicylic and glycolic acids to brighten and exfoliate my skin. As we age our skin cells turn over slower which dulls our skin, so it’s important to gently exfoliate your skin. I use this cleanser with my Clarisonic sonic skin cleaning device. I’ve had my Clarisonic for several years and thoroughly love the way it deep cleans my skin and leaves my skin super soft. 

I use Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizer which goes on light and never causes breakouts or Olay Regenerist night recovery cream. 

Once a week I used light facial peel pads (on my face, chest and back of hands too) from L’Oreal Revitalift. The glycolic acid helps reduce wrinkles and discolorations and brightens by sloughing dead skin. I glow after using these.

How do you look after your skin and what is your favorite product? 

My new favorite skin care product is Sunforgettable powdered sunscreen. Sometimes it’s difficutl to carry a tube of sunscreen around and reapply several times a day, but Sunforgettable is powdered so it is convenient and easy to reapply, even over makeup.

And I never go outdoors without wearing a wide brimmed sun hat to cover my face, neck, and chest.

How do you look after your hair and what are your favorite products?

My hair has gotten drier and more delicate as I’ve gotten older, so I use products that are especially gentle. For that reason, I use sulfate free shampoos and conditioners. 

I also use Rogaine for Women to keep my hair from thinning. A few years ago I noticed I was losing more hair than normal; Rogaine has helped keep me from shedding as much hair when I wash my hair. 

I also use an ionic blow dryer to cut down on frizz and flyaways, but air dry my hair whenever possible to cut down on damage. I twist my still damp hair into a bun until it’s dry. It gives my hair gentle, loose waves.

My favorite new styling tool is a heated round brush called the Calista Perfecter. If I’m going out, I use that for a more polished hairstyle. It creates soft curls and waves and is fast and easy to use.

How important is makeup to you? Is it part of your daily routine?

I usually do wear makeup. I just feel better about myself when I’m wearing a little. 

Which makeup products do you use and which are currently your favorite?

It Cosmetics has literally changed the way I feel about my skin. I’ve got melasma, a skin discoloration caused by hormonal changes which usually shows up on your cheeks, and around the sides of your face. The discoloration and spots are really dark on the sides of my face and It Cosmetics actually covers it. Here’s me on the left with no makeup. On the right, It Cosmetics makeup and CC cream makeup with SPF 50. It covers my skin discolorations naturally and smoothly. It’s given me back some confidence in my complexion. 

And here’s the before and after comparison of the It Cosmetics undereye concealer. No makeup on the left. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer on the right. This product is the best I’ve found for covering dark circles and undereye puffiness. 

The It Cosmetics products I use: 

• It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50
• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Anti-Aging Concealer
• It Cosmetics Hello Lashes 5 in 1 mascara
• Naturally Pretty Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Pallette

If you could just give 3 beauty and grooming tips to women over 40, what would they be?

Reevaluate your makeup routine every year or so. As we get older our face changes, our skin changes, our coloroing changes. So the way we apply hair or makeup might need an update. You might need to use different makeup colors now or alter the way you apply your makeup to flatter you. Don’t be afraid to change things to better suit the way you are today. 

Try one of the newer multitasking products. There’s a lot of technology in hair, makeup, and beauty products these days. Take advantage of it by using products full of multipurpose, anti-aging ingredients. For instance, use a makeup that’s also a CC cream and sunscreen, or choose a moisturizing cream that has retinol, and antioxidants in it. Get a multitasking product and it will streamline your beauty routine.

Try something totally new. And start small. If you normally use powdered blush, try a cream blush. Try a nail color in a completely different shade than your normally wear. It might inspire you to try even bigger things like an updated hairstyle or hair color. It’s easy to get stuck in a beauty rut, so experiment. You might end up finding new products and styles you absolutely love.

Thanks so much for your amazing beauty tips Rosemond!

What are your favorite beauty products?

The post Beauty interview: Rosemond Perdue’s grooming and makeup secrets! appeared first on 40+ Style.