The Over 40 Princess

People adore heaping abuse on Kim Kardashian. She’s easy to harass. sex tape. pushy show-biz mom, and she’s simply stunning. People forget that she was a successful stylist before she did a show, made her own money and started two stores that do very well with her sisters. They also focus on her affi8nity for African American Males and her father defended OJ. Hey, if he helped get that creep off, at least he was very talented. It was her father, not her. End of story, period, exclamation point. Her father was on the side of the accused. Sometimes, that means he gets people who did bad things and he has to work for them. A criminal Defense Attorney is a hard road. You have to believe your client at all costs and defend that client. I’m glad they’re out there. Accused without proof sucks.

Okay, my defense of Miss Kim’s background is over. I’m all about the test sample of her perfume. Yes, I had to be talked into trying it my friend. Why? I buy one perfume a year, in the smallest quantity they sell, so I can use it up. My Betsy Johnson is two years old, but still smells the same. I got a larger bottle because along with the most fantastic scent, it has a stunning top. Not smart. I can’t travel with it. Last year, it was Vera Wangs, Rock Princess. I go for florals with unexpected undertones and Kim’s fragrance has it in spades.

Floral top-notes smell amazing right out of the bottle, but it blends down to a slight musky undertone. It’s very Kim as I see her, being a fan. She’s sweet, honest and girlie, but under it? Her mother raised strong women and Kim is strong. She has her life in her hands. Usually celebrity Perfumes are all the same, no feel for who the celebrity is. This seems to capture her public persona very well. Floral and spice, simple, but not. The undertones show complex notes that seem to be her hallmark. She doesn’t run from the bad stuff. She shows real emotion and this perfume does the same. It describes me perfectly, only without the hot sex tape, mother who pushes, but she’s her manager and the ability to take care of herself.

I require frequent perfume additions, so I will be buying this in the roller ball and the smallest size. I ran through my sample so fast, I almost cried. It’s a perfume to look into. I give it a lot of stars, but here’s the thing. Perfume is very personal. One perfume will never smell the same on two people. Try it, wear it for ten minutes and think about it overnight. Get a sample of it at Sephora Stores. Wear it, play with it. For me it’s a twenty four hour scent. Maybe a tad much for some people during the day, but I’m a tad flamboyant.

Kim Kardashien Perfume is available at Sephora online and in Sephora stores.

Yesterday, Talkin Makeup on YouTube, posted a silly video with some great advice. I always watch Camile’s videos right when they come out. I’m super uptight about viewing a few people right away. She’s one of them. I think she thinks I’m stalking her. Lol! With my bundles of joy, there is no time to stalk and besides, it would be Shemar Moore. I can’t evoke the sound of a low cougar growl, but you get the idea. The man is beyond fine.

I digress. She suggested using hydro-cortisone cream for a moisturizer if you’re having a red blotchy day. I was just having a red-blotchy day. I’d say that was synchronicity, but I’m always having red blotches. It seems I’m allergic to my cats. I see shots in my future.

I tried her trick last night and woke up with soft skin, not over oily, no new zits and my peeling skin, from my peel, soft and supple, with no flakiness. I was in total amazement. I double checked the ingredients. Aloe Vera was among the first of them. Okay, that’s good. The other ingredients were all good for my skin. Is relying on a corto-steroid every day a good idea? Not really, but once in while? I think she’s onto something.

Yesterday, my best friend came over for girl bonding and to help me organize my house, one room at a time. Lord knows, with my kids I am going to have to be brutal about toy removal. Anyway, She was one of the lucky girls who got the Urban Decay, “Alice in Wonderland,” collection.

Apparently, my usually conservatively dressed friend got a bug and whipped on bright color, including a bright liner on top. The result? Stunning. The color was on until midnight and never budged (Urban Decay, “Primer Potion”) and her whole face looked lit from within.

My point, break out of your old looks every now and again. We all get into ruts, lots of color, very safe and neutral, subtle colors without browns. Which are all wonderful looks and if your comfortable, that’s great, but would it kill us all to drop the intense eye and try an intense lip once in a while? Yes, you love your look, but do you really love it, or is it a comfort level?

Yes, you have fabu eyes, but line them and use a nice mascara and try an intense lip look.

Break out of your shell and find a new one. Be a hermit crab and test out new things!

You don’t have to be over forty. You don’t have to sport dry skin. Sorry, it’s too much sun and heredity. There’s nothing you can do about your genes, but get the heck out of the sun and start using a good SPF today. I mean it. Neutrogena makes one I’m not allergic to and I’m allergic to a lot of sunscreens. Also, look for a moisturizer with sunscreen and a rating. Most sunscreens use PABA, which is what causes allergies in me. Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide are what most moisturizers use for sunblock. If your eye moisturizer does not have this, get a sunscreen for your face and make sure that it’s a sport sunscreen. It won’t drip into your eyes.

To help with the appearance of crepe-eyes follow these steps. This is Nancy’s way of doing it, if you think I’m full of beans, keep what you want and toss the rest.

1. Sunscreen if your moisturizer does not have one. Your eyeshadow probably has Titanium Dioxide, but you never know how much it has. In order to have an SPF number, a product has to go through testing and be rated. This is an expensive proposition and most eye makeup companies don’t see a need for it.

Note: 30 SPF plus 10 SPF do not make 40 SPF. It’s a complicated formula. Just know that you will get more than 30 and less than 35, if you do this.

2. Now, moisturize. Okay, a moisturizer is not going to get rid of the Crepes. I wish I could tell you otherwise, but it doesn’t. It will temporarily plump the skin on the lids, and that gives you a smoother canvas to work on. Removals of crepiness can be done by a plastic surgeon, or using Retinoids, prescribed by your Dermatologist. Otherwise, you’re stuck. In other words, Creme De Mer is nice, and pricey, but not a magic bullet. I use Oil of
Olay, two types, depending on skin type. Eye Lifting Serum leaves a nice powdery finish for your next step for oilier eyes, and, Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream work on drier lids. You don’t want to use a comedogenic product. I like these two because they re-hydrate without clogging pores. I don’t like clogged pores on even the driest skin. Believe me, the pigments and shadows can clog them all on their own and mixed with oil? Its melia waiting to happen.

3. Use a Primer Potion. Urban Decay, Too Faced Shadow insurance, or even NYX do a good job. I tried to love E.L.F.s, Studio Line, but I didn’t and it go tossed. Just one thing I’m not find of from them. Love some of it, hate some of it. No company is all things to all people. I believe in a list of products from different companies in both a personal and professional kit. Let your primer sink in. This should take a couple of minutes. I pluck my stays.

4. Paint Pots from MAC, or similar. A creme base color of some kind. Watch out that it’s not too oily, or it’s going to slide on your lid, primer, or no. I have used cream shadows over the whole lid, nothing shiny, or Painterly Paint Pot from MAC. A good concealer can do it too, as well as a good foundation. It can match your lid, or compliment a color you’re planning to use. Just as long as it’s not Gel Liner. That’s a wonderful solution, if you don’t have crepey eyes. It tends to be waterproof and make them look more dried out and crepey by the end of the day. Something emollient, but not so slippery it hits your neck by five, shadow and all.

5. Use matte colors? It’s every one’s advice. Use matte, use matte. Okay, there are exceptions. You can use a more shimmery color on the lid. If you’ve done your base stuff right and put on the minimum foundation color in cream and I mean as little as you can get away with, your eyes should look less crepey. Notice, I said less. I did not say, “crepe-free.” Again, luck of the draw and sun. I can tell in a second who spent their youth in a tanning bed by the look around their eyes. Genetic is some, but there’s a look that screams, “too much sun exposure,” and it does not take an experienced makeup artist long to figure it out. Heck, beginners will see it a lot too.

Back to matte. Matte tends to highlight the small wrinkles left. It can also make eye shadow migrate into the creases. My best advice here, is too use as little shadow as you can to get the effect you want, without using too little and blend, baby blend. I mean get in there and blend out those colors with a small brush and do it with EVERY layer. Get the color on, the extra off. Once it’s settled into your cream color, it should not move. That’s what you want and that’s why I say some shimmer is fine, but know if you wear a lot, it will be noticeable and it can be aging. Personally, I am the age I am and don’t care, but again, I have skin issues, but not in the crepe department.

You’re done. Look at both eyes to make sure they are balanced. A balanced look, is a professional look and something I am absolutely uptight about. Have fun with it. By your cremes from Drugstore brands and try it out. Don’t ever, ever, spend money on something in the department store without a test run. It’s how I ended up with the worst lipstick for my skin color, ever.

Are bright colors okay? Yep. Eyeliner is good too. Just use a gel liner, or a pencil and set it with some of your powder eye color in a matching, or complimentary shade.

Have fun and play with your makeup. I will be giving a demonstration on YouTube later today, with other tips not mentioned here. Look for it.

Lots of love and happy makeup. Nancy

Saturday’s Shoot. I am thrilled with the way these turned out, and cannot wait to see the rest.

I love the way she's looking directly at Mark and really engaging the camera. Bridal Look Exotic Look

Recently, I found a new love, Doug. He was shiny and glossy, hip and hot. Still, Doug held my interest, but I wanted something…more. That’s when I met David. More down to earth, than Doug, he didn’t have as much glitter to his personality, but the colors he brought out in me, WOW!

Still married. I’m talking about Urbn Decay’s Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss. In cute names with men who undress to their underwear, when held in the hand and moved, it’ a gimmick, but a sweet one. Inside is a sticky gloss that stays put, never runs and does not need liner underneath. It comes in several colors, not an over-the-top amount of color, but something that works with many skin tones and looks. Of course you can change the look of the color by using a different color underneath. I’ve used both with Urban Decay’s, Hot Pants and Naked lipstick and they are very different animals. Hot Pants is a super hot pink, while Naked is a soft beige-pink tone that I love

The best part of the deal is the amount of lip gloss for the money. It’s over half an ounce and for $18.00 you get your monies’s worth. Some people have complained that the smell is off putting, but I have not noticed that. Others say it can be too sticky. It’s a ponytail, hair-up kind of gloss, but sticky means staying power. It’s a trade that you have to make the end call about.

These products are available from Urban Decay online and Sephora stores, as well as online.

Love this cleanser

Last summer, I’d say August, I was given a sample of, “Baby Face Cleanse.” I’d expressed frustration with every other makeup remover I’d tried. My eyelids are very sensitive and always red. If I drag most makeup removers over them, including ones for sensitive eyes, they actually peel. That makes it hard for me to wear eye makeup and I’m a makeup artist. Sheesh.

So the woman at Lush handed me a sliver of, “Baby Face.” Which seemed impossibly small. I got on the Internet and researched the product. Armed with my information and my sliver of Baby Face, a face full of waterproof makeup, I hit the bathroom. My makeup came off. I mean right away, even the waterproof stuff. ALL OF IT! Okay, great, but my face is so dang oily, I feel like I can power every car in Michigan. This was BOUND to lead to breakouts.

Next morning, no flaking skin (I took it off with a damp facial sponge and washed with my normal cleanser) and NO NEW ZITS! IK am forty six and break out like a teen. No zits means the world to me. I used my sliver, and used it, and used it and used it. That stupid sliver of, “Baby Face,” lasted months. I mean of everyday use. I finally got it small enough to justify buying it for myself. Forget it. I cut it up and put it in small bags for my clients. I’ll buy another one for me. Okay, maybe more than one. I want to pass this around. On days I plan a deep clean, complete with careful and taught, blackhead extraction (almost all gone now), I use, “Baby Face,” first, then wash with my regular stuff after and my face does not get red, or inflamed. I recently had three moles removed and am using an anti-bacterial product during the day and, Baby Face, at night. My scars are healing nicely. I also used it on a recent tattoo (family names on it and a special something for my son who passed) and the healing is great. Only one small area that is stubborn and that’s because I scratched at it, before I started in on the, Baby Face.”

This is a product I would give a ten out of ten for. Does what it says, does not break out the break out Queen and has wonderful abilities to get stubborn eye makeup off. Go Lush!

Note, “Baby Face,” is a solid cleanser, meant for dry skin. Its oil based and probably comedigenic. If I were a Teen, I would not think of using it. As an older woman, even with breakouts, it’s a Godsend, but I never leave it on for long, except were I am healing something. It’s a great product.

Today I used a coupon and a discount a Ulta (amaz-a-balls, they let me use both) on two packages of Maybelline’s new Eye Studio Shadow Palettes. I picked up Sapphire Siren and Give Me Gold (yes please). Both have itty bitty pics on the back to show you how to use all four colors together. Okay, I think that dark line near the lashes is the darkest color. I can’t find my reading glasses.

Both have a HUGE light color, which indicates, to me, that you’re supposed to use that all over your lid, up to your brow-bone, where it becomes your brow highlight. It’s also shown clearly on the inner corner of the eyes.

Although the pictures are clear, again, small. I’m going by what I can see on the package. I like the idea on the package and am impressed with the simplicity of the use of the colors. You’re using four, but you’ve got one under all and the rest are not mixed. Seems like anyone, even me, should be able to master this one the first time out.

Okay, time to open and look at piggie samples. I’m prying the cover off the Gold one. The dark colors can look incredibly pigmented on the hand, but not the eye. It’s the light colors you want to really give a good going over to.

I immediately stuck my thumbnail into the damn color. Lovely. In the case of this palette, not the other one, the first two colors are virtually identical. Rendering no need for one, or the other. Yes, the second color is a tad deeper, but deep enough to justify it? Maybe not.

All colors are quite shimmery, with not a matte in site. Obvious when I purchased them, but in case your store is super lighted, you might miss that. Shimmer shows up best in slightly darker light.

Both palette’s are usable, day or night, even with the shimmer. These colors were one each of the brightest and the most neutral and I’m not sure they could intermix. One is very cool and the other almost neutral, with a tad of warmth in there.

The, “applicators,” are useless to me. That’s normal. I use brushes and that, is that. I also use a good shadow primer with all of my powders and often a paint pot beneath.

I’m looking forward to playing and taking some eye pics. Probably a You Tube Review soon.

Nancy

Warning, this is a rant. I will have my soap time, then move on quietly into my day. Thank you.

Recently, “Snookie,” from, “Jersey Shore,” said she fought an eating disorder in high school. She was dismissed in a rag because the doctor said a, “a real eating disorder requires years of therapy to overcome. It never gets better without it.” BULL! I was an overweight bulimic for YEARS! I stopped after lifestyle changes and things that boosted my self confidence (climbing a rock wall, for example).

Yes, an eating disorder is serious business. Many young people do need medical intervention, but some people can help themselves and some people do. While therapists can help you see your life with clarity, and should be seen for severe eating disorders, depression, and suicidal tendencies, dismissing a human’s ability to self adapt without the … See More aide of someone from the outside, is as irresponsible as telling someone to not get help, if they are suicidal. Actually, get in your car, a plane, a bus and get to that person. They mean it, if they say it. It’s not a game. While therapy has helped me, it’s also not a be all and end all. Some people can learn to find their own inner peace through church, yoga, self love rituals (you fake it, you will make it) and family. I don’t want to knock therapy. I wish my dad would stop drinking, but he needs to want to and he needs to get help. My push for my weight loss and keeping it off was my surgery and my kids. No therapy to take it off at all. Again, I’m not knocking it. I’m just saying it’s cruel to point out that someone ate one salad a day for two years and didn’t really have an eating disorder because they didn’t get therapy. Some things do change, as we grow. Now, I see a therapist and I am learning to deal with my issues, but I have friends and loved ones who want to help, too. It’s all a puzzle and *you* own the pieces to put it together. No therapist can cure you. You cure yourself with the help of a therapist. Rant off. Please feel free to tell me I’m wrong, in a civil manner. Because I’d love to debate this one

Feel free to ignore this. I’m tradmarking some stuff. This will prove the date it was Trademarked.

Makeup by Nancy
Herne’s Folly
Son of a Soap
Glamour Puss Cosmetics
Nancy Crafts
Lazy Husky Productions

Photos to follow Branding bay-bay. It’s all about the glam