Makeup Quest

My teenage daughter today asked me if I felt that I should try some new makeup.  It was a subtle hint.  She said "it's just that sometimes it looks like you just slap it on  your face and don't blend it in properly."  Well thank you.  So it's time to look for something new and to improve my application technique. 

First, a bit about my over 50 skin.  It's not bad, but it's pretty pale, and I have had skin cancer removed from my nose.  Therefore, I like a makeup that has a SPF, is fair in tone, but that gives solid coverage to my nose, without looking caked on or oily.  A dewy glow, like those "Real Housewives of Vancouver" or wherever will leave me looking bumpy.  Matt finish for me!

I am trying Almay Smart Shade anti-aging in light 100.  I love the SPF of 20, and I love the way that it applies and changes colour as I put it on.  I'm thinking though that perhaps I am applying it too sparingly, or that it's just not the right product for me as I do not think I am fully covered.  I do not find that I get any bad skin results from it, it's just that I think I could achieve more coverage.

I also recently tried Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind, Primer and Eraser.  (Creamy Ivory 120).  It doesn't appear to have any SPF,  but the anti-wrinkle roll-on looked like a cool idea. I do love the texture of the primer all over my face.  It disappears quickly without leaving a shiny look, and I do believe it plumps up my crows feet - helping them to fade.  However, for me the primer should not go on my nose.  It seems to plump up my little scars and pores, making them more obvious.  As for the roll on make-up, the applicator feels really nice, but honestly, I fiddle with it endlessly and can never get the stuff out of the bottle.  I don't have time to find my reading glasses everytime I put my makeup on!

L'Oreal Age Perfect

I have been experimenting lately with a variety of anti-wrinkle, anti-aging products.  My favourite so far was the Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.   But it
seems a little pricey, so I thought I would like to
try another Serum - because maybe serums are the
magic solution for my wrinkly eye area.

My drugstore price was about $55 for the Vichy.
I found L'Oreal Age Perfect Serum at the drugstore
for about $19.  Way more reasonable. 

The L'Oreal Age Perfect comes in a dropper bottle, but I seem to get more or a blob than a tiny drop or two from the dropper.  The product smelled nice, but I'm not sure I need any smell to my face creams.  The product had a little bit more of a creamy texture than the Vichy serum, but it did go on nicely and disappear.  I do feel a tiny bit of a sting after I apply the product, but no irritation or redness.  All in all, I like the L'Oreal product, I do have some wrinkle reduction, and I like the price.  But if the Vichy product were the same price, I'd choose that instead.  So if I'm really worth it, I should spend the money on the Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.

More Products

Today, I tried Olay Revitalizing Eye Gel, and L'Oreal Nutri-Sleek Anti-Frizz Serum.  The eye gel worked to depuff my enormous pre-shower undereye wrinkles. The texture though is gooey - like hair gel on my face.  So the verdict is that it did work, it did the de-puffing job, and did not irritate my skin.  I don't think it replaces the Vichy Lifactiv Serum10 that I tried the other day.  That's still my favourite so far.

My teenager constantly straightens her thick hair and applies various shine serums.  My thin hair requires no straightening, and is flyaway, but the shine is still great.  The L'oreal product has a nice texture, and you only need a drop, but really isn't the right product for my hair.  If anything, it weighed it down a bit and made the surface a bit oily.   Not for me, but my daughter loves it.

Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10

I just tried Vichy Liftactiv Serum 10.  I just needed a very small amount.  The product is very light and clear.  I applied it to my undereye and cheekbone area.  The verdict?  I like the texture, and it reduced the deep vertical wrinkle that I have below my right eye, as well as the small eye area wrinkles.  They're not all gone, but are somewhat improved, and I seem to have no irritation.

More Wrinkle Repair

I have tested, again unscientifically, Neostrata Wrinkle Repair.  I do love the texture and I'd like to imagine that there has been some wrinkle reduction, but I can't say for sure.  I am looking for magic.  I do not feel the tingling and puffiness that I experienced with the night cream from ROC, but results, I'm not sure.

Fighting Wrinkles

I've been testing a few skin care products, not scientifically, testing on one side at a time for six weeks - none of that.  Just desperately grabbing products and samples whenever I can.  Recently I tried the ROC

Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Repair Night Cream.  It went on nicely, left a bit of an oily sheen, as night creams often do.  I have not yet seen the reduction in my crows feet that I am looking for, but I did notice my under eye bags puffed up a bit, and I got some minor pimples/bumps on my cheeks.  I am just a tad stingy now, so hopefully I won't get red and puffy.  I'm sorry to say that I am going to call it a night with this cream.