Laura Geller Is Made For Mature Skin

I discovered Laura Geller's makeup at T.J. Maxx, a fabulous place to stumble upon new and innovative beauty brands, whether you're shopping for skincare, haircare, or makeup. A shout-out to T.J. Maxx's beauty buyers for their awesomeness! These buyers bring customers upscale and organic products originating from America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. I've long thought sending inventory to T.J. Maxx is an ultra-clever way for retailers to market their goods! Introducing new consumers to your brand at a bargain price is much cheaper than buying TV spots! For lucky shoppers, Laura Geller's line repeatedly lands in the aisles of T.J. Maxx.

At the time of purchase, I didn't realize Laura Geller targets makeup for mature skin. I simply knew that the colors were gorgeous and the formulas were high-end. As it turns out, the makeup is embedded with anti-oxidants and other good-for-the-skin ingredients. The essential collection -- baked foundation, baked blush, and baked highlighter -- gives you a light to medium natural shading with rosy cheeks, a healthy glow, and a flawless complexion. I highly recommend them!

Laura Geller's website helps clients find products to address individual face concerns such as fine lines, sallow skin, dark spots, redness, or sensitive skin.

When at T.J. Maxx (or T.K. Maxx outside the USA) keep an eye out to spot Laura Geller's line of lipsticks, blush, foundation, and other beauty items to try (full-sized) at a steal! I like everything I bought from the label thus far.

Without breaking the bank, you could start with a lipstick (it's very creamy) and a baked blush (it's richly pigmented) and go from there. Once you get hooked and buy directly from the beauty retailer's website make sure to sign up for customer rewards and take advantage of its promotions!

BTW: I've heard T.J. Maxx is such an important vendor to major names that often a specific quantity of their products are earmarked to go directly into T.J. Maxx's retail stores alongside merchants such as Macy's, Saks, or Nordstrom. It's not simply last year's stock that doesn't sell, but units of new collections going directly to T.J. Maxx.

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Flat Top Kabuki Brush

Daubigny's makeup brushes have over 4,100 stellar customer reviews on Amazon, and the brushes sell for under $10, including the entire eyebrush set👇 below!🎯

The dense bristles of the Daubigny Kabuki brush remind me of my more expensive IT Velvet Luxe brushes once sold at Ulta. I bought my set one brush at a time, not knowing they would soon be discontinued before I got the chance to buy my last brush, the IT Kabuki brush. Daubigny's Flat Top Kabuki Brush, won't ecstatically match my IT Velvet Luxe brushes, but reviewers say it blends makeup in all forms -- liquid, cream, or powder -- perfectly. (It appears the lookalike brushes sold by other sellers for a few dollars less are the same exact brushes, but this cannot be confirmed without purchasing them. You take a slight risk they are of lesser quality.)

Like my 7 IT Velvet Luxe brushes, the bristles of this brush are dense, firm, and soft, precisely what I look for in makeup brushes. Makeup brushes on smoothly and evenly to give you a flawless, poreless non-makeup finish. Vitally important, the bristles do not shed! The reason I invested in IT brushes was I got tired of picking the shedding bristle hairs off of my face after applying blush or powder to my face.

The Flat Top Kabuki brush is a steal! It comes with a durable plastic carrying case with a flap and snap closure to keep both the brush and the inside of your bag clean. Nice!

Temptation calls: I'm getting a 2nd chance to buy a superb Kabuki makeup brush. Should I take a bite of the apple and get it? Yes!

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Stuff I Don't Bother to Buy Anymore

Zebra Plant

When I started working and earning wages there were a few commodities I always bought that I don't value or bother with anymore. Here are 5 of them:

1) Scented hand and body lotions - For years freesia was my signature scent. Today I've replaced all scented body and hand lotions with drugstore brands, namely CeraVe and Cetaphil Moisturizing Creams, and use them as all-purpose (from face to toe) moisturizers. I love both dermatologist-formulated, fragrance-free brands, so much that I don't need to buy anything else. I mainly stick with these two, although I like other drugstore moisturizers such as salves from Neutrogena, Palmers, and Aveeno to name a few. I've moved on from freesia also. If I want a scent, I dab on drops of genuine Bulgarian rose oil. 

2) Scented Candles - News stories warned us that synthetic fragrances usually contain phthalates that get released into the air as candles burn. Phthalates can be inhaled and dissolved into the skin. They get absorbed into the bloodstream to alter hormone levels and worsen asthma. Since it was reported, I don't bother buying candles. Then a careless hookah-smoking neighbor set her apartment on fire causing hardship and 4 maintenance hikes which were passed on to all the tenants in our building. Nowadays there's little joy in the thought of letting candles burn in my apartment.

These will stay on the runway.

3) Clothes - Although I continue my efforts to look polished, COVID has changed the world and me. I no longer aspire to be a fashionista. Apparel doesn't hold the same appeal or importance to me. Wearing coordinated and comfortable basics time and again is fine and dandy. No-fuss clothing I can machine wash, dry, and wear tempts me now.

Cute, but nope.

4) Shoes - Although I have shoes for every purpose: dressy heels, casual flats, supportive walking shoes, sporty sneakers, airy sandals, warm/rain/snow boots, and cozy houseshoes, my interest in new pairs only kicks in when something old wears out. 

5) House plants - One potted pathos sits in the corner of my living room. For a decade I also had an African Violet but after it died in its 10th year, I never replaced it. I also killed a Zebra plant, as well as, several Poinsettias over the years. At Christmas, I don't buy Poinsettias anymore. I'm fine with my only thriving greenery, a Golden Pathos.

A golden pothos 

Hmm, am I becoming an old fogey? Are there things you once bought regularly but over time seem to have grown out of bringing home and fooling with them?

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Sunscreen Face Powder

EELHOE

Dermatologists have long recommended wearing sunscreen all year around — spring, summer, fall, and winter including cloudy days — wherever the sun touches our naked skin. Sunscreen prevents skin cancer and premature aging. Below I'll link several prior blogs detailing the importance of wearing sunscreen.

Hydra

It's simple to apply lotions with sunscreen before leaving home in dry seasons, but not as much in hot, humid July or August, especially on your face where you don't want to shine. Also when out and about, it can be challenging to reapply sun protection every few hours as advised.

Both issues can easily be resolved by using mineral face powder with sun protection. Various brands come in different SPF factors and price points. You can also get sunscreen face powders in tinted or untinted formulas. The SPF should block UVA and UVB rays. Ultraviolet A (UVA) has a longer wavelength. It causes skin aging. Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a shorter wavelength. It causes skin burning and cancer.

Colorscience

• SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
• SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays 
• SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays 

Skin doctors often recommend using SPF 30 because they know many people don't reapply their sunscreen as they should. The SPF 30 offers slightly more protection than SPF 15, but you must reapply all sunscreen every 2 hours.

Moreover note that mineral powder sunscreens are not meant to replace traditional lotion sunscreen, which you need to slather on fairly thick when spending time outdoors in the sun. Then use the powder to reapply on top of makeup while away from home.  

The wand mineral screen powder can be shaken (to get the powder to the brush) and applied with a brush stroke while the Physicians Formula compact comes with a mini brush stored in a separate compartment. All fit inside a purse or pocket.

Hawaiian Tropic and Physicians Formula

You can take the wands or compact case with you wherever you go! Reapplying face sun protection just got less messy and more convenient. The power protects wherever you use it, but of course, due to the small quantity of the product, it's more practical for your face.

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Instytutrum Swiss Skincare

Instytutrum has branded itself Result-Driven Skincare. It was founded in 2014 by Dr. Natalia Derkach who teamed up with Swiss laboratory scientists -- skincare veterans with 30 years of skin research experience -- to develop professional in-office strength skincare to be used at home. The beauty company strives to be a skincare disruptor offering innovative formulas and performance-driven actives such as retinol, hydrators, and peptides.

Instyturum's Founder and CEO

Its full line of professional-grade skincare products contain ingredients that are clean, cruelty-free, and next-generation actives backed by clinically proven efficacy.

 A main objective of Instytutrum is to teach and advise clients about effective home skincare. Free online or telephone consultations and skincare advice from a team of skin experts are offered to anyone interested in receiving it by going to its website or calling an 800 number listed on the website.

Additionally, type the words: skincare or anti-aging in THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S search box to learn about skincare ingredients and effective brands to put on your radar.

Instytutrum is more expensive than drugstore anti-aging beauty brands but it contains ingredients that leading dermatologists recommend and celebrity clientele like Kristen Bell and Gabrielle Union buy. It's worth examining the ingredients in the brand and comparing them with similar products to increase your overall knowledge about what works to maintain and treat your skin. 

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BondiBoost Hair Care From Australia

BondiBoost is an Australian hair care company that formulates salon professional shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and tools to improve the hair's strength, thickness, texture, length, volume, and luster. The merchant claims to use the highest quality ingredients. Everything is made in Australia, parabens-free silicone-free, sulfate-free, and cruelty-free. A multitude of hair products address a multitude of personal hair issues while smelling great and delivering unfailing results. The purpose-driven company also strives to make the world a better place.

As you might expect, BondiBoost is priced higher than your average drugstore brand of hair products, yet if you try, you can score discounts by looking for special promotions, joining the website's rewards program, or buying its starter kits at 20% off.

The company's Infrared Bounce Brush promises to penetrate the inner layers of the hair with gentle heat of negative ions to neutralize the positive ions found in damaged hair resulting in smoother, shinier, less frizzy hair. I haven't tried the brush, but its many 5-star reviews from happy customers pique my interest.

Frankly, I get smooth, shiny, frizz-free hair with my Conair 1875 Watts Ionic Blowyer (costing $24) by using its comb attachment, which I use every day without damaging my hair. The Infrared Brush sounds fantastic too, yet at $99, is 3 times the price. What's more, I've tried and reviewed the hot air brushes that were popular 5 years ago and discovered they require more wrist-turning for the same or less smooth, shiny hair I achieve with my blow dryer. I look for more ease or better results if replacing a tool with one costing more money. You can decide for yourself.

Nonetheless, we should put BondiBoost, an excellent hair care brand,  on our radars so we can grab a good deal. At times, salon brands land at T.J. Maxx, so be on the lookout!

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Sensational Skin Serum Trios Sold Cheap On Amazon

Amazon has become a fantastic place for finding effective affordable skincare sometimes from niche or small-batch merchants, as opposed, to large commercial cosmetic companies. Choice is a consumer's best friend.

Speaking of choice, ELbbuB is an Amazon Choice brand with lots of satisfied customers based on many 5-star reviews. The skincare has clean nurturing ingredients in supportive combinations based on science that really work to prevent aging and maintain the skin. A budget-friendly trio consists of the following essentials:

1) Vitamin C 20% Serum has Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol & Amino Acids  - Best used as a daytime serum to brighten, nourish, and protect the skin.

2) Hyaluronic Acid Serum plumps up the skin with moisture. Moisturizing dry skin takes years off a face by making you look dewy, i.e., soft and lustrous. 

3) Retinol Serum is used at night to repair the skin and stimulate collagen. Treats wrinkles, fine lines, and sun damage. Firms and softens wrinkles by promoting faster skin cell turnover.

The trio set is super inexpensive, yet customers get a bargain whether they order one, two, or splurge on the trio set of serums, so you save by ordering only what you'll use.

Another impressive, affordable brand sold on Amazon containing clean ingredients from nature with tons of satisfied customers who leave 5-star reviews is Eclat skincare (previously featured on the blog).

1) The Vitamin C Serum contains Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, & Vitamin E. Ferulic Acid stabilizes and increases the effectiveness of Vitamin C, and protects the skin from free radicals and sun damage.

2) Its Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum has 2.5% Pure Hyaluronic Serum + 3% B5, Vitamins C & E, and Aloe.

3) The Retinol Serum is 2.5% Retinol.

Escat also offers its essential serums as a trio set or sold separately at a super reasonable price meaning cheap enough to use every day! Even cheap enough to splurge on a trio set to try a new serum from a new (to you) beauty brand!!👸🏻

Additionally, Escat has an anti-aging night cream and sun protection. When you buy an Escat serum, the retailer includes a note thanking you and hoping you love its skincare. It's a nice touch!

Splurge and save with skin essentials that won't break the bank!

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Trendy Rapunzel Hair 2024

 

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let Down Your Golden Hair

Have you noticed how long celebrities are wearing their hair lately? I've noticed the trend for several months on actresses of all ages. Sunday's Golden Globes showcased both beautiful gowns and extremely long locks. The hair of some attendees is so thick and long they must be wearing hair extensions and/or hair pieces. Call me naive but it was only after the death of Michael Jackson in 2009 that I caught on to the fact that show biz people wear hair extensions and pieces, as well as, false eyelases, and their lush hair and eyelashes are often not natural. Before my epiphany, I never really thought about it.

Recent photos of Brooke Shields, Rosamund Pike, Amy Adams, and Rihanna. Globe photos: Top - Jennifer Lawrance, Bottom - Taylor Swift and Margot Robbie

Occasionally I've sported long locks myself, and I know longer hair tends to be easy to style, but you spend more time conditioning it to maintain its health and luster. I also kept it trimmed for a clean line free of split ends.

Although I've had long hair, it's never been Rapunzel length which I think is rarely possible without the help of hair extensions, not to mention stylists and a slew of hair products and accessories.

Soon after this (not the greatest quality) photo was taken, I cut my hair to shoulder length. Shoulder-length hair isn't necessarily easier to maintain, but it is lighter, bouncer, and you don't find long strands of hair all over your home -- the annoyance and reason I usually cut it shorter. Argh, I've never had hair any longer than in this photo.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Elle magazine

What do you think of the trendy very long Rapunzel hair length in the media? Stylish or too much of a good thing?

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8 Skincare Products I Use Daily And Highly Recommend

Photo: Adobe

Through experience, you inevitably learn about skin care products like which ingredients really work, and which knockoffs, identical to their more costly name-brand counterparts, to buy.

Here's what I now use every day in my skincare routine, as well as, for my senior mother whose skin still feels baby soft. I like to pamper her with mild, good clean ingredients to keep her skin healthy and moisturized. I've reviewed the following beauty items in prior blogs, so if you wish to know why they're good for your skin click on their links for a description and list of ingredients. Today's blog will try to save you a few bucks when purchasing them:

8 Skincare Products I Use Daily And Highly Recommend:

 

1) SheaMoisture Soap(s) - to wash with during a shower. T.J. Maxx often carries the bars at $3.99/bar.

2) Noxema Cleansing Cream - to wash my face before bed. I also use it to soothe my mom's dry skin where she needs it, such as her arms. Alternatively, I love the face washes from CeraVe and Cetaphil, as well as, their Walmart Equate knockoffs. Walmart also has a Noxema dupe only for in-store pickup. However, Noxema, the name brand, usually selling at under $5, is cheap enough.

3) Coconut Oil - I buy food-grade coconut oil often from Puritan's Pride, to use as after-bath oil to lock in moisture. The reason for the food-grade coconut oil is to simplify my life and not have to buy 2 different coconut oils. {The same applies to white vinegar for cleaning my home. I buy food-grade, not cleaning-grade white vinegar which lies in the cleaning products aisle of supermarkets. When cheap enough, reduce to one multi-tasking product you have to stock. Saves time! Looks like Puritan's Pride no longer sells what I use, so here's another good online retailer. Costs: $6 - $10 for 16 oz.

If I need extra moisturizers in the fall and winter to slatter on dry skin, I add the following to my skincare routine --

4) Equate Moisturizing Cream (a dupe for CeraVe) - Cost: $10

5) Equate Beauty Gentle Skin Cream with Long-Lasting Moisture (the dupe for Cetaphil). - Cost: $6.40. Cetaphil is a tad thicker than CeraVe. Both knockoffs are excellent, plus they work wonders in moisturizing your face, so mild, light, and absorbent that you can skip buying a separate face moisturizer.

6) Target's Up and Up or Walmart's Equate Baby Powder - We use it after bathing and I often apply a sprinkle with a makeup brush to my face to prevent a shiny complexion. Real face powder has a finer texture, than the cornstarch ingredient in baby powder, but baby powder with cornstarch is still a super substitute. Talic (a finer grain) in body power has been removed in the USA. Price: $2.99 for 22 ounces.

7) Daytime: I use Equate Beauty All Day Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion for Skin, Broad Spectrum SPF 15. (the dupe for Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin, SPF 15). I'll use whatever I can get, for normal or sensitive skin. You'll pay about $4

8) Nighttime: I apply Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair - I use the cream formula but have also tried the serum. If only buying one of these, get the cream. Cost: $16 at T.J. Maxx or $13 - $16 on eBay. $25 regular retail price.

By learning what's in skincare products, and focusing on key effective ingredients supported by science, you can find knockoffs for less. Look in health food stores, small batch-start-up companies, and drugstores that offer both name brands that go on sale, as well as, drugstore dupes to lower the costs of your everyday skincare. Toss in Equate (from Walmart) and Up and Up (Target's store brand).

We're talking about effective, clean, high-caliber skincare for less. Skincare without compromise you can afford to use 365 days of the year without going broke! You are welcome.

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Put Sheglam Makeup On Your Radar

Lightweight Matte Bush - Alice

Stumbling upon SheGam cosmetics is a Where-Have-I-Been moment. Its foundation, blush, lipstick, and mascara are too-good-to-be-true cheap, yet the stellar quality of its formulas is amazing! What more do we want? Beautiful shades ... check!

The brand's price point is no accident! Sheglam began in 2019. Its motto is Gam For All -- and not just for a select few. By capping the middleman and marketing costs, plus keeping profit margins low, this Tiktok sensation can "produce high-quality products at more than half the price of luxury brands." SheGam lipstick is $5 compared to Chanel at $45, Tom Ford at $59, or Charlette Tilbury at $35.

Mademoiselle magazine is featuring SheGam to announce that red is the color trend in makeup for Fall 2023. SheGlam has gorgeous very wearable reds in its color offerings along with other beautiful, very natural and ultra-flattering pink, beige and brown hues. The retailer's blush and lipstick includes a selection of subtle, intense, and cardinal reds. 

The 3 products customers rave about are its Color Bloom Liquid Blush Matt, Dynamatte Bloom Long-Lasting Matte Lipstick, and Lightweight Matte Bush. Also well-liked are its foundation and mascara.

There are several types of lipcolor

The question becomes how do you want to spend your money? With Sheglam, you get 5 items including Fall 2023's in vogue and beautiful shades of red for the price of one of its competitors' lipsticks. Sheglam is a beauty steal without compromise!

Will you be wearing shades of red this fall?

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