I have a beautiful neighbor.  She’s Swedish, blonde and strong.  I’ve seen her on several occasions puttering in her yard, laying  a stone patio, splitting wood for her fireplace or raking leaves.  The thing that strikes me is she always looks … well, pulled together.  Even doing that nasty hard labor, wearing gardening clothes, she still manages to look attractive.  So, on one “girls night in” a couple years ago, we were in her hot tub, and she began to share her philosophy.  My neighbor became very passionate about always looking good.  She hasn’t had to work for most of her married life, has 4 children (mostly grown now) and even though she stayed home each day during all those years, she never once didn’t get up, shower and put make-up on before she began her day.  It was important to her to feel good about herself each and every day – even if no one else saw her.  It became a way of life – just as exercise does and should.  She could no sooner go out without her mascara than she could her underpants.  So … I tried it.

I got hooked right away.  I’ll be darned if it didn’t feel good to look good each and every day.  It truly changed how I approached life on that day.  If I didn’t look like a schlep, I didn’t feel like a schlep.  And pretty soon, it just became a habit – or a routine, to prepare for each day like it counted … like it mattered what I looked like.  And it does.  When you look good, you feel good … it’s as simple as that.  At least for a woman it is. 

So, my next bit of advice for women over 40 is USE MINERAL MAKEUP!  I have a wonderful esthetician.  Her name is Susan, and she runs and owns the Skin Studio – this FABULOUS luxury organic day spa in Yardley, PA that has a total wellness approach to beauty!  Check it out @ http://theskinstudio.org/aesthetic.html.  I’ve believed in facials since I was a teenager and have had them religiously my entire adult life.  They are a wonderful way to spoil yourself and take care of yourself at the same time.  If you don’t do them yet – START!  They can be pricey – so maybe treat yourself as a reward for something.  Earn them!  Or – if and when you become a believer – because your skin looks so smooth and refreshed, have them every 6 to 8 wks just because it keeps your skin looking rejuvenated.  I recently read an article about Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston (wonder if the name thing was coincidental, LOL) and they were asked how they could explain their youthful gorgeous unlined skin and still be a woman over 40.  They both had the same things in common and on the top of their list was regular facials!

Incredible skin!

Flawless skin!

Anyway, Susan turned me on to a line of makeup that is actually good for your skin from Europe called Jane Iredale and I now swear by it! Go to www.janeiredale.com and watch the amazing transformations of everyday women over 40 with the application of their mineral makeup.   Try it!  You won’t believe the difference if you switch from the nasty liquid base, that gathers in your facial lines – or if you switch from the naked face –  to the mineral powder that supplies just enough coverage and sheen.  It makes you look glamorous!  REALLY!  And don’t forget to accentuate your eyes, which is often the most attractive feature on a face, and wear lipstick all the time.   I swear the bottom half of my face disappears without lipstick! 

I know … I know!  Here are your arguments

1. I don’t have the time. What does it take to put make-up on?  15 minutes?  There are 1440 minutes in a day – you can’t take 15 of them to approach it in a positive way?
2. I won’t see anybody anyway.   It’s not about anybody else.  It’s about you and feeling good about yourself.
3. I don’t want to wear make-up everyday … I look just fine without it!  Great!  But you look BETTER with it.  So be it!  Get over it and Get on with it!

There is lots of great make-up out there that can help you feel pretty!  It doesn’t have to be Jane Iredale!  I love to go to www.sephora.com and shop!  Going to the actual store in NYC  and browsing is even more fun!  The point is … just find what works for you, subscribe to the concept that it’s important to wear it daily and you’ll see how easy and important it is to feel pretty every day!

My wonderful husband usually comes upstairs every morning before he leaves for work and kisses me good-bye - I swear he’s checking me out – LOL.  Recently, though, he eyed me suspiciously and asked, ”Who do you get all dressed up for every morning?”  Without hesitation I answered “ME!” … and meant it!