skincare for women over 40

A Different kind of Coronation

Mother’s Day is an American holiday started by Anna Jarvis who wanted to honor her activist Mom Ann Reeves Jarvis whose advocacy was to improve the health conditions of the impoverished women in the Appalachian region in the 1800’s.

This holiday is usually celebrated on the second Sunday of May to honor all mothers for their unwavering love and sacrifice in nurturing and raising their children.

While the day was observed as a legal holiday, celebrated with simplicity and reverence—church services were held in honor of all mothers, living and dead. Fast Forward to today, Mother’s Day has become mainstream by commercializing it’s significance with greeting cards, the sending of flowers and buying gifts to honor Mothers.

Regardless of how we celebrate this day, there is no right or wrong way on how we choose to honor and express our love to the woman that we all call Mom, a simple gesture or a heartfelt message thanking and valuing our Moms is never a bad idea. Here is mine.

A lawyer by profession, Kat Valdez Cruz is also a college administrator of Patts College of Aeronatics. I share with you a snippet of Kat’s parenting style, a single widowed mother raising two beautiful and accomplished daughters Annika and Alessi.

Describe your parenting style. Does it differ from one child to another?

“I think I’ve incorporated a little bit of how my parents raised me but mostly just figuring things out along the way. I’m quite stern and rigid. I had to be since I was left to raise the girls alone. But as I aged, I think I have mellowed from being very strict to being more flexible and accepting that things don’t always turn out how you want them to. The girls raised me as well. 😊”

What advice can or did you give to your daughters that you feel they took it to heart?

“I’ve raised my daughters to be strong and independent. I’ve always told them that life will not always be a bed of roses. It will be a series of trials and challenges. You must learn to persevere and remain steadfast. When it comes to finding a partner in life, I told them to use both smarts and prayer. It is my most fervent wish – that they find someone that will perfectly complement them and be a great partner in life.”

What have you learned as a parent in raising your girls?

“When the kids were younger and I had just lost Reymond, I sought the help of a therapist. She very clearly told me – your children will have a million friends. Don’t try to be a friend to them. They don’t need that. What they need is a parent who will keep them in place. A parent who will set the rules and who will make sure they follow them. Don’t try to be a friend and think you will get along 100% of the time. Be a parent because that’s what they need most from you. I take this to heart always.”

Have your children taught you something that you appreciate or appreciated?

“My children are my constant reminder that whatever I go through in life, it will always be good because I have them by my side. They are the ones who will stand by me even if I make mistakes and wrong decisions. They teach me everyday how to love with no limits and to be a better person in the process.”

What is your beauty routine? Any favorite products?

“When I hit 40 a few years back, I realized that beauty routines are a must! We cannot rely on youth and natural beauty anymore, now that I am 50! I apply sunscreen before I step out the door to exercise and re-apply before I go to the office. Moisturizers are a must as age dries out my skin. I also use eye creams and serums. Seems like a lot but again, I think it’s necessary if we want our skin to remain supple and young. Its okay to age! I am not afraid of that. I however want to age gracefully – like my Mother. 😊”

Are there beauty products you share or your girls have shared with you that you loved?

Indoor florescent lighting or blue light from the computer can contribute to melasma and skin darkening too. Aging skin can be delayed by the regular use of Sunscreen on the face.

“We are beauty junkies! I love buying makeup and accessories but I don’t really know how to use them. My children are such great teachers! They’ve taught me the importance of applying contour, bronzer, highlights and more! At the moment, my most favorite beauty product is my sunblock stick. I love how it applies so seamlessly without having to touch the product and the application is not sticky at all.”

What is your favorite photo/s from the shoot and why?

“I love all! You and Andrea made us shine! Thank you for this experience with my girls.”

10). Describe a beauty moment for you that changed the way you approach beauty or made your feel confident.

A sunscreen stick is always handy, don’t forget to reapply sunscreen during midday to protect your face from harmful UV rays.

“Ten years of doing a triathlon under the sun and extreme heat really aged my skin. I enjoyed the sport and did not realize how much it was affecting my skin. When I walked away from it, my skin changed as well. I was not as tanned which for me was a beauty mark. It’s what I believed was beautiful then. Now a few shades lighter but a few sizes bigger, (hehe) I am comfortable where my body is at. I find beauty in how I am today – older, fairer, chunkier but still keeping fit and happier.”

To all the Mothers who never cease to nurture, care, guide and love their children, a big thank you for all that you do and all that you are! You are our Queens!

Makeup: Acie Fores

Photography : Andrea Zubiri Photography

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May 14, 2023

Beauty Bridal Skincare skincare for women over 40 Tips and Tricks Uncategorized

Top 5 Favorite Foundations for Bridal

Who doesn’t want to look good in photos or in real life? Finding your perfect foundation is one of the most intimidating tasks when shopping for makeup. Throw in a special event like a wedding and it can be even more challenging. You need it to be long lasting and make it look like second skin.

The following choices have been narrowed down to five but there are other high performing foundations in the market to choose from but these have proven the criteria I set for when making my clients and Brides look picture perfect.

Best Overall: Lisa Eldridge Seamless Foundation

Formulated in Kyoto Japan, The medium coverage is customizable that can be layered up or down depending on the coverage you want. Infused with Uji Green Tea Extract, to help the skin fight radicals, Bamboo extract, to help absorb oil to give the skin a skin like finish an active ingredient from a Nasturtium flower to help boost hydration and smooth the skin. The new ingredient Filmexel that forms like a flexible mesh on the skin to give a lifting a tightening effect. Who doesn’t want that? It’a also suited for vegans, its alcohol, paraben and talc free, perfect for sensitive skin. It has a pump that is calibrated to give you the exact amount of coverage you need. Its best applied in thin layers.

Available at www.lisaeldridge.com

Best Long wearing: NARS Radiant Long Wearing Foundation

True to its marketing spiel, it says it can last up to 16 hours, but I don’t know who has makeup that long on the face. But yes it has lasted more than 8 hours on a Bride and its coverage is medium to full. It has multiple shades that fit any skin tone, its transfer and sweat proof and suitable for vegans as well. Its breathable and lightweight. Radiant? yes it is, it even looks better when it stays on the face a bit longer. Infused with watermelon, and citrus extracts, it helps brighten the skin too.

NARS Available at Rustans

BEST for Glow from Within Look: Jung Saem Mool Nuder Foundation

Jung Saem Mool a Korean Celebrity artist for 30 years is known for that “transparent beauty” where minimal makeup is used to enhance not mask the one’s features. Its kinda my beauty mantra too, “still you but better”.
Its medium coverage and adjusts to your skin tone. Its best applied with the cushion puff it comes with, patting the product and not rubbing it in. It gives a subtle glow to the skin, but unfortunately the shade range is limited and suited for the Korean fair skin tone. My shade is Medium deep but it’s still in the light skin tone range.

Available at https://www.jsmbeauty.us/

Best for Oily Skin: Makeup Forever Matte Velvet Finish

I apply this foundation by prepping the skin with serums, oil and a lightweight moisturizer. What this does is it gives the skin a satin like finish to the skin and its also long lasting. I use this a lot for Brides with oily to combination skin as the finish it gives is just the right amount of sheen. Available in many skin shades and I like the tube dispenser method as it kept sanitary when its’ being dispensed.

It says 24 hours coverage with its Flexifit fit technology that lasts all day and it doesn’t crease or fade. Just like what the name says its Makeup Forever.

Available at Lazada, Sephora and https://www.makeupforever.com/us/en?l=en&c=US

Best for Airbrush quality look: Makeup Forever Ultra HD

Foundation and Primer in one palette! It s so sheer but when applied its undetectable and it just gives your skin a smoother even finish. The 12 shade formula can be used to highlight, contour and conceal to give you the perfect skin base. The silicone based formula is lightweight and can be adjusted to tone it up or tone down depending on your preference. You can buy individual shades and it can be purchased as a stick, perfect on the go.

Available at https://www.makeupforever.com/us/en?l=en&c=US, Lazada and Sephora

TIP: When trying out foundation swatches, let it rest on the skin for 10-15 minutes to see if it changes color (oxidize). If it does, try another product that stays true to your skin tone.

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January 20, 2023

Beauty Makeup Bag makeover Skincare skincare for women over 40

When Does makeup expire? Cheat Sheet

Its a New Year everyone! January is usually a time to start anything new, a fitness routine, throwing out old things you dont need, whether its clothes, home decor or maybe its time to restore that table that needs a new coat of varnish or paint.

Same with makeup products, raise your hand if you have a lipstick, a beauty blender sponge or a pot of concealer that you’ve been swiping since the last 2 years because you really love the shade and replacing them is either difficult to purchase or its out of stock. I’m also quite guilty since i am a creature of habit and since its convenient and handy, its easy to disregard its expiration date. Sponges and products can develop bacteria over time since damp environments can make these harmful when kept long. Think of dipping your fingers into it and putting it in your face, eyes and lips , you get the idea.

Here’s a cheat primer when to toss your beauty items.

When Do Products Expire?

3-6 MONTHS
Mascara, Liquid Eyeliner, Gel Eyeliner
Replace these products often

12-18 MONTHS
Liquids (foundations, liquid blush, liquid highlighters, lip gloss, etc) Creams (foundations, cream blush, lipstick, lip gloss, cream eyeshadow, etc)
Powder Eyeshadows (Mucus Membrane)

24 MONTHS
Face Powder Products (powder blush, powder bronzer, powder highlighter, etc) Wooden Pencils (Be sure that you sharpen and spray the sharpener with 70% alcohol each use)”

36 MONTHS +
Brushes & Tools
Clean Lash Curlers & Tweezers and with 70% alcohol each use Clean brushes 1-2x a week (more often if they face skin challenges)
Unopened Products (Most products have a 3 year shelf life, unopened. Once exposed to air, the clock starts)”

WRITE “BUY ON DATE & OPEN DATE” WITH SHARPIE
With a metallic Sharpie, write the date they purchase the product on the outer package.
Write the day they open the product on the container once they open the product.

I hope with this simple cheat sheet, you can give your makeup bags and cabinets a fresh start.

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January 10, 2023

Beauty Bridal Lit from Within skincare for women over 40

How to get the Lit-From-Within glow.

Now that Covid restrictions have eased up on most parts of the world, Currently I see events and weddings resuming although cautiously, I couldn’t ‘ve been happier and excited. We’ve had 2 1/2 years of lockdown to learn how the disease works, we have seen the beneficial effects of being vaccinated and the more we know the more we get better at learning how to cope with the pandemic.

So the past few months, have seen me working at weddings beginning at the start of this year with all the Covid protocols in place and frankly I’m enjoying the intimate celebrations. Things move faster, it becomes more special and memorable.

So I’ve put together a few things that inspire rebirth, positivity and radiance since my beauty philosophy is to always enhance what’s already there, here they are:

Skin:

Cure Natural Aqua Gel

I always start off with a fresh canvas and I normally ask Brides to exfoliate their skin prior to the makeup. This ensures that there are no dry flaky skin that can hinder the absorption of products that can give the skin a boost in preparation for the makeup. Most of them usually get surprised how much dead skin comes off with this application. Its called gommage exfoliation.

Glossier Super Glow Vitamin C with Magnesium Serum

We all know that Vitamin C when applied to the skin brightens the face. This is a Vitamin C derivative (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate aka MAP) which helps even out skin tone and improve the appearance of dark spots (and because it’s stable, it won’t oxidize or degrade after you open the bottle), while Magnesium PCA enhances hydration and replenishes moisture, so skin looks recharged, fresh, and glowy. It has all the good stuff, Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, and Sunflower Seed Oil and Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract to condition and nourish the skin. Its lightweight, and the fragrance-free emulsion soaks in immediately with no filmy residue. (source: Glossier.com)

Sonia Roselli Water Elixir, Water Oil

Formulated with Ceramides, the water elixir plumps out the skin and gives it a hydration boost. It helps restore the skin barrier and calms redness. Added to this is the water oil applied to the cheeks and neck to hydrate dry skin. Both products are lightweight not oily, greasy at all. I know, you’re probably thinking oil on top of a serum may be a little too much for our humid weather. Trust me this doesn’t make you feel oily. The Water oil contains Squalane oil, Camellia Seed Oil, Avocado oil, Sea Buckthorn oil, Argan and Rice bran oil to name a few. Some of these have antibacterial properties to heal and make the skin supple. Apply 1 pump and massage into the face and neck. Most skin types I work with are actually dehydrated from either over scrubbing or not drinking enough water.

Moisturizer

Applying a moisturizer on top of the water oil seals the skin to make it plump, hydrated and primed. Make sure that the moisturizer you apply is the right one for your skin type.

Face Roller

I use a face roller to massage away any tension, puffiness and to warm up circulation on the face. Most Brides are holding so much tension and stress from their planning that the jaw and neck are usually hot spots that need relaxation and de stressing.

Ice Roller

To add to the chill factor, this is the last step in my skin prep to further soothe irritation, redness and puffiness. Stored in the freezer, these rollers constrict the blood vessels on the face. I recently added this to my personal skincare regimen specially after I had laser done on my melasma last year. This really soothed my face after that hot and warm sensation from the laser treatment and brought the redness and swelling down immediately.

Makeup

Jung Saem Mool Foundation

I chose this foundation mainly because of the coverage it provides. Its dewy when applied but doesn’t look oily. Its light, the texture is serum based but slightly thicker not as watery. Typically Korean made, you can be assured that you are going to get dewy, its ingredient list is comparable to the other Western brands and the shades are suited for the Asian skin tone. You can apply this 2 – 3x for medium to full coverage. One pump is really enough to cover the face but for longevity and fuller coverage I used 2 pumps and I had a little more to spare. Wait a few minutes for the first layer to sink in before applying the next layer. I used a blending brush to apply then tapped a beauty blender sponge to even out the coverage and to make it look more seamless. The shade I used was Medium. I also love the packaging. Nude just like the coverage. Its your skin but better.

Charlotte Tillbury Flawless Filter

Its Airbrush in a bottle. I apply this on the high points of the face, top of cheekbones, cupid’s bow, bridge of the nose to highlight the face. I sometimes add this to the foundation to give the face an added shimmer. Ingredients include a polymer, porcelain flower extract, glossy oil to give the face a blurring effect. Its a skin filter so to speak.

Dior Universal Glow Face Palette

Another secret weapon is this palette. It can be used on the face and the eyes. I use the Rosy and yellow gold shades for the cheeks and eyelids, the copper shade can also be used in the hollows of the cheeks and the eye crease as well. Its subtle highlight gives the skin that natural sheen and luminosity without the lit from NASA space effect. If you have overpowdered your face, apply this with a soft brush to remove the chalky and look.

Charlotte Tillbury Pillow Talk Cheek to Chic

Swish and Pop as the product description says, its a nude pink shade that flatters everyone. I swirl my blush brush on the two shades and apply on the cheeks for an instant glow.

Most of these products are available at Sephora, Shopee, Lazada and SoniaRoselli.com Share with me your other favorite products that give you that lit from within glow. Take care and keep hydrated!

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May 20, 2022

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Beauty Demos Personal Skincare skincare for women over 40 Tips and Tricks

Evening Skincare Routine with Makeup removal

In this series for #skincareforwomenover40, here is another video and blog post on what I do to make my 50+ something skin supple and hopefully delay the aging process. While it is not problematic, caring for it still requires a little boost and TLC to keep it from going south. So here is my step by step guide on how I care for it.

Remove your makeup and traces of dirt from your face with a gentle cleansing milk, Squirt a few drops on the cotton pad and swipe from the center of the face,down the neck and forehead. Use another cotton pad to remove eye makeup and swipe down and remove all traces of liner and mascara with a cotton tip.

Light cleansing milk to remove makeup and dirt in the face. Apply with a cotton pad and swipe from the center of the face, down the neck and the forehead.

2). Wash your face with a mild soap, I like the transparent soap Pears, as this reminds me of my childhood. It leaves skin with no soap residue.

TIP: You can use your eyebrow spoolie spritzed with water and swipe the soap until it forms a transparent paste on the spoolie and apply on your eyebrows to groom hair strands into place.

3). Exfoliate with Cure Nature Aqua Gel ( 2-3x/week) to remove dead skin cells on the face. Apply this onto cleansed face and swirl the product on your face until you feel water beads form and lift up dead skin flakes from your face. Rinse with water. This is called gommage exfoliation.

This is perfectly non irritating on the skin since this product is mostly composed of Hydrogen water so no harsh chemicals will leave your face stripped of its natural oils, just dead skin.

4). Apply your favorite toner to bring back the PH balance of the skin, I use Dr. Hauschka Clarifying toner. I like the Rose smell and its not drying at all. Either Spritz this on the face or apply with a saturated cotton pad.

5). You can skip this step if you’re too tired, this is an added treat for your skincare routine. The Mini Nuface Trinity is a FDA approved home device that mimics the laser procedures in the Dermatologist’s clinic. While this will not replace a stronger current and effects in a professional medical clinic, this is a good alternative in experiencing anti aging benefits at home. It is a 5 minute face lift using microcurrent that will tone and smooth out wrinkles. You have to apply a face mask like consistency from the gel provided, it is Hylauronic acid and any excess can be massaged in the face.

For the first 2-3 months, use it 5x/week and thereafter, can be used 2-3x/week. For Maintenance, use as needed.

6). Apply your favorite eye cream on the contour of the eye and on the undereye area. I use Estee Lauder Perfectionist Cp+R,but I apply sparingly as this can be thick. I switch eye creams depending on the season. During the summer months, I use a water gel eye one and for cooler months I use this one. As we age, ceramides can plump the skin surrounding the eye and reduce the lines around it.

7). Apply your moisturizer, I use Sonia Roselli Water Elixir, again filled with Ceramides. It is light and easily absorbed in the skin. Massage into face and neck area.

The Dynamic Duo of Skin plumpers and hydration, this has multiple uses aside from its moisturizing properties. Scrape a little powder blush for a creamy flush on the cheek, mix a little pump into your foundation and you have a tinted moisturizer with skin benefits.

8). Lip Balm

Often neglected but dry parched lips is a telltale sign you are not properly hydrated. Apply every day and night to make lips smooth and kissable anytime of the day.

So that’s it and hope you learned something new or maybe you needed a refreshed skincare routine, share with me what your evening skincare routine essentials are , I would love to hear from you!

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March 26, 2021

Category: skincare for women over 40