I Reveal All ... Eventually!!

Chanel, Vitalumière Satin Smoothing Fluid Make Up SPF15

I've said it before but there are some things I just haven't economised on in pensionerhood. 

One of those things is this foundation

Chanel vitalumiere-satin-smoothing-fluid-make-up-spf15

It's light and moist and gives just the sort of cover I need these days.  I recommend it.

The blurb says that it is a source of youth and light, it revives tired, dull complexions and that its fluid texture contains moisturisers to ensure maximum comfort for the skin. 

I think it delivers.  Mostly.  The "youth" bit it stretching my boundaries! 

My complexion is supposed to appear visibly rested, with its vitality and luminosity restored.

Well, my skin always looks better with a light coating of this stuff and if luminous means that it feels "invisible" when on, if that makes any sense, then it certainly does deliver - I think it is the luminosity bit that I am most sold on as I believe I do see that on my skin.

I have noticed that a my skin has lightened in the last few years.  The ruddiness has reduced.  I think it's nature's way that as hair lightens and turns grey, the skin keeps in sync by lightening too, to compensate and complement.  How clever!

Thus, the foundation shades I've used in past years for summer and winter now appear a little too dark and don't blend well with my neck. 

 So I am experimenting with lighter shades of foundation on this lighter skin of mine. 

I'm trying out this shade, 20 Clair/Cameo.  So far, it looks like it's pretty perfect for me.

I'll report back if that changes!

I've also developed a little "trick" in recent weeks that I just may well keep.  I dot light amounts of foundation on the areas that need cover - for me this is cheeks and nose, where I am at my ruddiest. but we are all different.  I then use the residue on my fingers (or sponge, your choice) and work it in to the rest of the face, upwards from the jaw level and inwards from the brow and sides. 

This seems to lose the edge-lines and neck-blend, creating a softer, more blended look. 

I've also found a cheap-as-chips BB cream which does a great job too when applied in the same way.  It's also more widely available, e.g. Boots and Amazon - my Chanel must-have is pretty tricky to find in the high street so I tend to order online.

Here's the little beauty:

Simple+bb+balm, £4.19 at Boots

And right now whilst on holiday, I'm using it over its smart sister:

                                      

Simple Kind to Skin+ Illuminating Radiance Cream 50ml - £4.39 at Boots here.

Both under £5, how's that for economising?!


And, in closing, I can honestly say that I do enjoy the (getting more frequent) days when I reveal all - no foundation, no BB balm, just light moisturiser with me shining through - bien dans ma peau!

Have you made adjustments to your look as the years have gone by?
Like reducing the amount of make-up you wear?
Or enjoying going au-naturel, being bien dans votre peau?

Do you have any tips to share?

A la perchoine.

The Lazy Girl's Approach to Cleansing

I am pretty lazy, especially when it comes to cleansing off make-up at the end of a long day.  It's then that I wish that my beauty routine entailed nothing more than a quick brush of my teeth, or a meticulous brushing and flossing if my hygienist happens to read this :-). 

I have never been a fan of the 4-step palaver of eye make up cleanser, facial cleanser, tonic - gosh, what is it called, it's so many years since I used it, that astringent stuff anyway, you know what I mean - the Night-time Removal Team!   Follow that with night cream and you're talking a 10-15 minute routine surely.  I wouldn't know because I never really subscribed to all that malarkey, for I am a lazy person.

When I was in my early 20s I discovered a wonderful all-in-one cleanser/tonic called Cosmedin - anyone remember it?  It was a magic little bottle and I continued to use the product until it was discontinued.

There then ensued the wilderness years, and really when I look back I can't think of what I used for make-up removal ... if any product at all :-).  Most certainly the full complement of the Night-time Removal Team never came a-knockin' at my door!     It's all a bit of a blur now and certainly no product stands out as being memorable.

Then about 10-15 years ago I discovered .... ta dah ...

Clarins one-step-facial-cleanser-with-orange-extract

It is just what it says on the bottle.  And it is wonderful.  No matter how tired I am, cleansing is but a cotton wool pad wipe away - I actually enjoy the process and my skin is left soft. 

I don't use night cream as I think my skin needs some time to breathe and rest and what better time for that  than during all those glorious heating-free sleep hours.

My skin feels beautifully soft when I wake up and I just splash my face 3-4 times with super-cold water, smooth on some light moisturiser and I am good to go.

Clarins One-step Facial Cleanser with Orange Extract - surely the Clever Granddaughter of Cosmedin?

But, hold on, what's this?  Queue more ta dahs ...

Clarins gentle-eye-make-up-remover

When Clarins came up with its magic facial cleanser it gave it a best friend. This again is what it says on the bottle - just leave soaked cotton wool pads on the lids and lashes for a few seconds then gently wipe away.  It removes even the most challenging of mascaras.

I take good care of my eyes and I am very cautious about what goes on them.  I trust this little bottle with my precious eyes.

It's funny but in retirement I have cut many corners to fit in with my reduced income. Yet not once have  I considered switching these cleansers for something cheaper and anyway, they  last for ages.

Ordering these products from allbeauty.com is such a simple process, their site is so Granny-friendly and deliveries are received within a day, maybe two tops.

That's my cleansing routine in a nutshell.  A one minute nutshell, for that is all it takes to thoroughly cleanse my face of makeup. Follow that with a few minutes for teeth brushing and  Bob's votre oncle!

So, what about you?  How do you feel at the end of the day, ready for some meticulous cleansing?

Are you a night cream person?  Have you mourned a discontinued product but found an equally excellent replacement?  I'd love to hear - you can comment below. 

A la perchoine.