When it comes to choosing makeup brushes, the number of options available on the market can be overwhelming. However, I have personally used and recommend some reliable brushes that I trust: 

❣️ For foundation, I highly recommend either the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Brush (#11) or (#7). These brushes are versatile and work well with liquid, cream, or powder products. The dense, buffing head helps to achieve a flawless finish, making your skin look radiant and smooth. The bristles are soft and gentle on your skin, making the application process comfortable and effortless. If you want to achieve a perfect complexion without much effort, these brushes are the way to go.

❣️ Concealer, I highly recommend the Westman Atelier Blender Brush. This luxurious brush is perfect for applying and blending concealer. The soft, cloud-like bristles hug the contours of your face for a seamless application, effortlessly blending the concealer into your skin. It is a must-have brush if you want to cover any blemishes, dark circles, or redness with ease and precision.

❣️ Powder, I suggest the Hourglass Veil Powder Brush. This double-ended brush is perfect for setting your entire face. The larger side is great for all-over applications, while the smaller side is ideal for under the eyes. The bristles are soft and fluffy, which makes the application process gentle and comfortable. It is perfect for achieving a flawless and natural finish while keeping your skin shine-free.

❣️ For contour, I highly recommend the Morphe M164 Small Flat Angled Contour Brush. This stiff, short brush will precisely place colour for a defined contour. It's also excellent for stamping on powder and cleaning up muddy or over-blended areas. I also recommend the IT Cosmetic Brushes For ULTA Airbrush Soft Focus Blush Brush #113, which is a medium-dense angled brush head that hugs the contours of the cheeks, making it easy to apply color every time. Use it with any of your favorite powders or cream contours, bronzers, blushes, and highlighters.

Remember, the right makeup brushes can make all the difference in achieving a flawless look, and I'm confident these brushes will help you quickly achieve your every day or desired look!

Always keep in mind that the best makeup brush for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Always consider the product type you'll be using the brush with and the level of coverage you desire when selecting a makeup brush.

Now, what are your favorite go-to makeup brushes?

What Is Your Favorite Makeup Brush?

As women, we often learn makeup techniques in our younger years and rarely receive updated tips! 💄
As we age, our skin's needs change, so it's only natural to adapt our makeup routine to fit our ever-changing complexion!  Makeup tips specifically for women over 40 are a powerful way to highlight our best features and boost our confidence, rather than making us feel cast aside just because we no longer have the skin and completion we once had back in our twenties🥺

Here are some tips for creating a flattering and natural look for women over 40

🧴 Prep your skin: A good skincare routine is essential for any age, especially as our skin matures. Apply a hydrating moisturizer and serum to create a smooth canvas for your makeup.

💥 Choose the right foundation: Ditch the heavy foundations that are settling into our fine lines and wrinkles; instead opt for a lightweight, hydrating formula that offers a sheer to medium coverage.

✨ Conceal strategically: Apply concealer to brighten dark circles and blemishes, but avoid using too much, as it can accentuate our wrinkles.

✨Embrace cream and liquid products: Cream and liquid blushes and bronzers blend more seamlessly into mature skin than powder products, which can settle into fine lines.

↗️Apply blush upwards: Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend upward towards your temples to create a lifting effect. Bronzer and blush bring back that radiant and youthful glow. Apply Bronzer using a fluffy angled brush to the high points of the face. 

🪄Define your brows: Well-defined brows can frame your face and make you look younger. Use an eyebrow pencil or powder to fill in any sparse areas and define the shape of your brows.

💫 Lighten up your eye makeup: Instead of harsh lines and dark colors, opt for softer shades and blend them well. Shimmery eyeshadows can add brightness to your eyes, but avoid using too much glitter, which can look aging.

💮 Brighten your Under eyes: One of the first areas to show signs of aging on our face is the eyes. Begin by brightening the upper and under eye using the triangle of light technique, which creates an upside-down triangle under each eye, gently pressing the product into the skin. It makes the under-eye area look dramatically lifted 

✨ Focus on your lashes: Curling your lashes and applying mascara can open up your eyes and make them look brighter.

👄Moisturize your lips: As we age, our lips tend to become drier. Use a lip balm with peptides or hydrating lipstick to keep your lips looking plump and healthy.

✨Use, a soft buffer brush for foundation : The application process is just as important as the products themselves, and using a soft buffer brush—like the It Cosmetic Buffing Foundation Airbrush Brush to apply your foundation will allow the application to smooth out your skin instead of settling into fine lines. 

🪄Experiment with different techniques and find what works best for you. Remember, the most important thing is to feel confident and beautiful in your own skin. 

At our age, it is essential to invest in some high-quality makeup brushes and a few high-quality staple products like foundation, & high-quality concealer. 

Some of My Favorite Makeup Products and Tools: 

✨ IT Brushes: Your Airbrush Masters 6 Pc 
Advanced Brush Set includes Blurring Powder, Soft Touch Blush, Buffing Foundation, Bent Liner, Precision Crease, and Flawless Allover Shadow brushes. This six-piece luxury brush set is only $60 at Ulta; this is a fantastic deal, as the buffing brush is $30 if purchased alone! 

🌟Benefit Eye Brightening Stick

✨Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

🌟Natasha Denona My Dream Cheek Trio - Cream Blush, Glow Cream Base and Glow Powder Highlighter

✨Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape or NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

🌟No7 Lift & Luminate TRIPLE ACTION Finishing Powder

Makeup Tips & Techniques For Mature Skin!

If you are finding yourself with greasy-prone hair, you may want to try adding in a good clarifying shampoo! Clarifying shampoos are designed to help remove excess oils, product buildup, and impurities from the hair and scalp. Clarifying shampoos can also be used as an occasional deep cleanse to maintain a healthy scalp! 
When choosing a good clarifying shampoo, you should consider a product that does not contain any sulfates, which can be harsh and stripping to your hair! Instead, look for a formula that contains natural ingredients and is protein-free.

Clarify, To Help With Greasy Hair!

Our skin goes through many changes as we age, and it's nothing to be ashamed of! In fact, over 40 skin concerns are more common than you might think. 
Wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, dryness, and dullness are some of the most common skin concerns affecting us as we age. Don't worry; there are plenty of ways to take care of your skin and keep it looking fabulous! We can age gracefully and confidently, from using anti-aging skincare products to adopting a healthy lifestyle. 
Seeing as there are new and buzzy products for aging skin cropping up all the time, it’s essential to know what to look for to address your top concerns. Start by looking for antiaging skin ingredients with the most science behind them, such as retinoids and antioxidants like vitamin C. 
Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that boost collagen production, which helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines, speed cell turnover (which evens discoloration and brightens skin tone), and unclog pores.
Picking the correct vitamin C can help protect the skin against damaging free radicals in the environment that can cause oxidative stress and damage in high amounts. Antioxidants pair with free radical scavengers searching for a missing electron, which neutralizes the damage free radicals can do if they pair with an electron from a skin protein instead.

My go-to products with retinoids and vitamin C consist of the following:
- Care Skincare Tireless Retinoid Night Serum,  which contains retinol, renews and repairs the skin overnight to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation for a visibly brighter, smoother complexion.
- SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is an effective antioxidant combo on the pricey side. However, it is known for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, neutralizing free radicals, and reversing environmental aging, making it a multifunctional product that will improve texture and appearance. C E Ferulic is known for being one of the gold standards for topical antioxidants. In addition to preventing free radical damage, a vitamin C serum like this can even help improve skin texture!

So, let's start embracing our age! What are your favorite tips for keeping your skin looking great over 40? 

#over40skincare #healthyaging #beautyatanyage"

Aging Skin, Over 40!

As we gracefully age, our skincare needs evolve, especially regarding cleansing. Mature skin requires gentle yet effective care to maintain vitality and youthful glow. Choosing the right cleanser ensures your skin remains healthy and radiant. But with many options available, it isn't easy to know which one is best suited for mature skin.

Types of Facial Cleansers

Foam Cleansers – Foam cleansers are a popular choice for those with oily or combination skin because they help remove excess oil without drying out the skin too much. They are usually made from gentle ingredients like tea tree oil or aloe vera that help soothe and protect the skin while effectively removing dirt, makeup, and other impurities.

Gel Cleansers – Gel cleansers work well for sensitive or dry skin because they are typically formulated with hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid that help maintain skin moisture while gently cleansing away impurities. These types of cleansers are often fragrance-free and non-irritating, making them an excellent option for those with sensitive skin.

Cream Cleansers – Cream cleansers are ideal for dry or mature skin types because they contain nourishing ingredients such as shea butter or jojoba oil that help moisturize and soften the skin. These cleansers usually have a thicker texture than foam or gel cleansers and can remove makeup and cleanse the face.

Oil-Based Cleansers – Oil-based cleansers use natural oils such as olive oil or coconut oil to effectively dissolve makeup, dirt, and other impurities without stripping away moisture from the skin. These types of cleaners are especially beneficial for those with dry or mature skin who need extra hydration but still want a deep cleanse.

Finding the correct type of facial cleanser is essential to achieving healthy glowing skin. Understanding the needs and concerns of your skin can direct you toward finding the perfect cleanser that works best for your particular complexion. Armed with this knowledge, you can now confidently choose the perfect facial cleanser for all your skincare needs!

My two favorite cleansers are:
-  RoC Barrier Renew Gel to Foam Non Drying Cleanser with Ceramides + Antioxidant Green Tea + Glycerin to Hydrate & Balance Skin. 
- La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil | Gentle Oil Cleanser for Face and Body Formulated with Niacinamide | Long-Lasting 24-hour Hydration | Fragrance-Free & Soap Free.

The Best Cleansers For Mature Skin!

Love this product; there is nothing negative about this product! 

Sisley's Exfoliating Enzyme Mask transforms mature skin into one that looks more even, radiant, and beautiful. This exciting enzyme mask is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. This product is first a fine powder that transforms into a rich foaming cream upon contact with water and is perfect to be applied as a mask or as an exfoliant cleanser that can be used once or twice a week! This product combines key ingredients that cleanse and purify the skin while promoting complexion, evenness, and luminosity! 

After your first use, your skin will feel smooth, soft and silky.

Sisley's Exfoliating Enzyme Mask is made from papain, which is a 100% natural-origin enzyme derived from papaya, that will gently exfoliate your skin, remove dead skin cells, and tightens pores to leave you with skin that looks firmer and reveal it's radiance! 

Some individuals have experience a slight burning sensation. 

RiceActive Cleansing Water is a super effective mild cleansing water that removes dirt, gunk, sunscreen, and makeup without irritating sensitive skin.
With the active ingredient of brown rice bran, this cleansing water promotes even skin tone. It improves cell turnover, which provides prolonged hydration and skin barrier care with panthenol and castor oil.

I am 44 years old, and this product has made my skin look way younger than 44!

What I don’t like:

-Glass bottle makes it difficult to travel with due to fear of smashing in transit.

-Quite pricey for what it does

-Stings on broken skin (if you are on retinol or if you have open sores / popped or sore acne bumps).

-Does not hydrate my skin enough

The I'm From Rice Toner is an organic and cruelty-free toner made with 77.78% rice extract and is effective in hydrating and brightening dull, irritated skin.

What I like: 
Very gentle on the skin
Extremely lightweight
It does not sting
It does not feel sticky
Very pleasant to use

Great product; there is nothing wrong with it! 

Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream binds moisture to the skin to help maintain its optimum moisture level. After using, your skin will look instantly quenched, smooth, supple, and hydrated all day. This formula contains hyaluronic acid to assist with maintaining your skin's moisture & barrier, along with ceramides and pomegranate sterols to protect, repair, seal, and boost your skin's moisture mantle to help minimize premature lines and wrinkles! 

It's not water or sweatproof! It needs to be reapplied after swimming, watering, or sweating! 

DRMTLGY Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Anti Aging Sunscreen. This facial moisturizer with broad spectrum SPF 45 is a clear, oil-free, and non-greasy sunscreen that protects against UV rays and provides anti-aging benefits to mature skin! 
 It is also suitable for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin! 

JennB