Amazon is a little like Target in the way that both retailers sell basically everything and it’s hard to tell what you actually need. It’s why it’s a little to easy to press “add to cart.” Amazon’s beauty deals for March 2020 are going to make it even harder not to shop. But at least in the cases of these newbies, the prices won’t drain your wallet. You can feel good about grabbing a face mask, natural deodorant or sunscreen knowing you’re not overpaying—and you’re getting something great for your dollar.

Though, of course not all products on Amazon on stellar ones. You have to be on the lookout for fakes by making sure the item is coming straight from the brand, which generally means it’s an authorized seller. Don’t worry—we can help. We’re pretty much obsessed with finding the best waterproof mascara, the top setting powders and body scrubs on Amazon. With these goodies plus the boring adult things like toilet paper and shower cleaner, that Prime 2-day shipping sure gets a lot of use.

March’s new Amazon products are all over the map in the best way possible. These finds will get your hair in check, your pimples under control and protect you from the sun. Some are updates of old staples, like a new deodorant, and others totally innovative products, like a mask that opens from a tablet. They come from both independent brands and huge companies but they have one thing in common: they all cost less than $25. Shop our favorites, below.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Image: Amazon.

C’est Moi Mellow Marshmallow White Clay Cloud Mask

This EWG-verified clean, vegan and cruelty-free mask comes in a little tablet. Just add water and you’ll have a DIY clay mask for acne-prone skin.

Image: Amazon.

Each & Every All Natural Aluminum Free Deodorant

According to the brand, this is Kelly Ripa’s favorite natural deodorant. The sensitive-skin friendly formula is made without baking soda, alcohol and synthetic fragrances.

Image: Amazon.

I Dew Care Yoga Kitten Balancing Heartleaf Clay Mask

This oil-controlling formula detoxifies skin and helps calm irritation. The brand is a K-beauty favorite for a good reason.

Image: Amazon.

Mighty Patch Micropoint for Blemishes

Got a seriously deep zit? Pop on one of these acne stickers that have 173 skin-penetrating micropoints to deliver powerful acne-fighting ingredients right inside the bump, including salicylic acid and Totarol.

Image: Amazon.

Nivea Refreshing Wild Berries and Hibiscus

This new body wash contains plant-derived oils, essential skin lipids and vitamins for ultra-soft skin.

Image: Amazon.

EOS Natural & Organic Sphere Lip Balm – Red Limited Edition Pomegranate Raspberry

This hydrating lip balm doesn’t just smell great and soften lips. 15 percent of your purchase will also provide support for a range of life-saving HIV/AIDS programs through (RED).

Image: Amazon.

Sonrei Sea Clearly Premium SPF 50 Clear Face and Body Sunscreen Gel

Not only is this broad-spectrum sunscreen water-resistant and enriched with vitamic C, E and ferulic acid, it’s also vegan and reef-friendly.

Image: Amazon.

Tom’s of Maine Prebiotic Moisturizing Natural Body Wash, Soft Rose

You already love the brand’s toothpaste. Now it’s hawking skin-balancing body wash that helps promote the growth of good bacteria.

Image: Waterless.

Waterless Dry shampoo No Residue Invisible Spray

Refresh oily roots with this paraben-free and sulfate-free dry shampoo that doesn’t leave a white residue.

Image: John Frieda.

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Fine to Full Blow Out Spray

The iconic brand’s new volume-ready line promises to give hair a boost in just one use.

Female baby boomers are the first generation to retire who are well-educated, healthy, energetic, and with well-paid careers. Consequently, many agree that the boomers’ retirement will be different from the retirement of previous generations.

Changes Brewing for Baby Boomers

The current stereotype of grandma baking cookies for lots of grandchildren is becoming less realistic. The traditional mindset about the needs and activities of mature adult females may no longer be valid.

As Lim S.G. notes in “Rethinking ambition: Women on the edge of retiring,” an essay in Women Confronting Retirement: A Nontraditional Guide, compiled and edited by N. Bauer-Maglin A. Radosh, for professional women especially:

“…moving from regulated work to free work, ambition need not take a back seat but instead finally moves into the forefront, where it will prompt us to ask not what the institution wants but what we want out of our lives and the work we can and wish to do” (p. 124).

Retirement is the time for both sexes to find fulfilling activities. But barriers and stereotypes remain for older women. They have been carers of the family. Society and culture expects them to continue or expand that role in retirement.

The Designated Caregiver

Retired women are often the designated caregiver for two sets of individuals: grandchildren and parents/children/spouse with health or aging issues. Caring has been an integral part of the female life span.

While men’s life span often follows this path: born, learn, earn, retire, and die, women’s life span is more likely to be: born, learn, earn some, care, earn some more and care, retire and care, die.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that women may feel they have little choice and may become trapped in that caring role. Caring may take over their retirement and stop them from finding fulfilling activities.

Although it is difficult to say no to a request to care for someone who needs it, it is a viable answer. I babysat my school age grandchildren for a few years once a week after school. They have grown beyond that and I do miss seeing them weekly.

I was a small part of their life and knew what was happening, but it was not an overwhelming responsibility. If I was travelling, I would give plenty of notice and their parents would make other arrangements.

On Your Own Terms

It is important to recognise that caring can be a positive benefit to the carer, but it must be on one’s own terms.

I know someone whose child asked her to care for her grandchildren for 2 weeks. She thought about it and said no, she wasn’t interested in caring for toddlers for that length of time. She did not feel comfortable caring for children that young given their needs.

Women, whether married or single, should plan for their own retirement needs, besides planning for finance and health care needs. Women should explore how to achieve emotional/social wellbeing in retirement. Some elements could be:

• researching to find their unique passion and purpose,
• considering what legacy they want to leave behind,
• what communities they would like to serve,
• and what are their boundaries about caring.

Baby boomers have different expectations for retirement. They will challenge the expectations of retirement as they have other phases of their lives. Female baby boomers are equal to this challenge, but also need to decide if, how, and when they are available for caring for others.

What do you expect from retirement? If you have already retired, how’s it working out for you? Is it anything you thought it would be? How do you think you can change your retirement years into something more exciting and empowering? Do you want to? Please share your thoughts below to the benefit of the community.

Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s Ombre Dress on Instastories

Real Housewives of Orange County Instagram Fashion 2020

Between the amazing orange and pink colour combo and seventies robe style with a modern edge (which at first totally had me thinking it was a newly released style I’ve never seen before by brand-of-the-moment Retrofete before realizing it’s not sequinned), Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s ombre dress on Instastories is totally up our alley. Especially since it reminds us of something that we definitely wouldn’t mind waking up to every morning along with a newly delivered Revolve package: a beautiful (tequila) sunrise.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Song of Style Dress

Photo: @BraunwynWindhamBurke

Originally posted at: Braunwyn Windham-Burke’s Ombre Dress

Raquel Leviss’ Crystal Belt at Ariana Madix’s Birthday Party

Vanderpump Rules Season 8 Episode 9 Fashion

Raquel Leviss’ crystal studded belt at Ariana Madix’s crystal studded belt is a great accessory to bump up a basic outfit. It may look familiar to you because we’ve also seen it on her Vanderpump Rules cast mate Katie Maloney, who styled it just how I would with jeans and a tee. And while based on the relationship between the involved parties I don’t think Raquel borrowed hers from Katie, I’m pretty sure Katie would borrow Raquels…to hit James with.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her B Low the Belt Farrah Belt

Originally posted at: Raquel Leviss’ Crystal Belt

As we age, we have more choices than ever before. In the United States, particularly, for many years, 65 was the age in which the implicit message was “time to retire.”

Although this decision may continue to be the choice for many, the beauty of living in the 21st century comes with the availability of other options. Yes, at one time, a person working past the age of 65 was viewed as an anomaly.

Role Models and Trail Blazers

My mother was an example of someone who chose to work rather than envelope herself in the comfort of retirement. For many months, after she did retire and take a reprieve, opportunity knocked for her to return to work.

She accepted the offer and ran with it. My mother returned to her employment at a local medical center in another position. She became a one-on-one Guide, walking or sitting with patients who needed assistance. My mother loved it and cherished the connection with both patients and staff.

At one point, she informed me that she was thinking of retiring again because of statements from others who questioned her desire to work at such an advanced age. When she confided this to me, I reminded her that people who have purpose often live longer.

My mother listened and said, “You know what? I will tell them I am like Betty White.” I applauded her feistiness and basically said, “You go, girl!”

She worked until age 82, even during her bout with cancer, and only stopped because they closed the program. Most importantly, my mother remained financially independent, maintained a home, paid her own bills, and drove everywhere. Truly, she was a great role model, someone who chose her own path.

Resistance to Individual Choice

When I wrote about my mother and the idea of choice, I was received with harsh words from a few people. A couple of women indicated we should “just be,” while another woman wrote that she felt sorry for my mother.

I replied with diplomacy but reminded these women about choice. I went on to say that it was okay to “just be,” if that was their choice, but many of us choose to pursue meaning and purpose. If work is one way, so be it.

Some people continue to resist the idea of independent thinking and changing the trajectory. If they choose a certain path in the final chapters of their lives, they cannot reconcile why someone else would not wish to do the same.

Last year, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal by two authors who were proposing in their upcoming book that there should be a mandatory retirement.

They went on further to say that if people were not willing to retire by the determined age, they would have to accept, without question, termination of contract any time going forward.

Well, needless to say, the letters to the Journal revealed that this bold but controversial proposal did not sit well with many of the readers.

What’s Next?

I continue to be amazed that people of all backgrounds keep wrestling with the idea that someone may not want to “just be” in the sunset and even the twilight of their lives.

Many insist they want to live independently all of the days of their life. In addition, many people hope to live longer, healthier lives. Those aspirations are most commendable, but one needs to reflect on what that entails.

How does one occupy the space left void from work, raising a family, or other time-consuming endeavors? How about finances? Many people, especially women, fear running out of money.

If You Choose, Be with Cicero

Returning to the Wall Street Journal… this past January there was an op-ed written by the retiring war reporter Jim Michaels.

The author felt that we should not have to pursue other ventures but let go of those energetic undertakings and be at peace by inviting a quietness at this juncture of life. Apparently, Cicero, the great orator of Ancient Rome recommended this way of life.

I respect Mr. Michaels’ choice, and he has every right to commiserate his thoughts across the pages of the Wall Street Journal. I wonder, however, if he feels the need to justify his decision by encouraging others to do the same.

Living in New England, we have Walden Pond where the Transcendentalists, Ralph Waldo Emerson and David Thoreau, ensconced themselves in the natural wonder of early Concord, Massachusetts. I suspect they may have been doing exactly what Mr. Michaels is advocating.

Well, Cicero, Emerson, and Thoreau lived centuries apart, but they were far, far from the modernity we experience today. Perhaps, if they lived in the present, they may have made other choices regarding the later chapter of their lives.

Obviously, we will never know. Most importantly, they made decisions which worked for them at those moments in time. If Mr. Michaels chooses to do the same, cheers to him.

For many of us, Cicero’s path, as well as Emerson’s and Thoreau’s, is not our desired way of life.

Whatever path we travel at this seasoned time of life, we should choose one which we uniquely tailor for ourselves and be who we want to be!

For me, having written my first book, Stop Depriving the World of You, at age 60, I subscribe to the last stanza in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s hauntingly beautiful poem A Psalm of Life:

Let us then be up and doing

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

What are your thoughts about these later chapters of life? Do you believe we should be allowed to be who we want to be? What are you choosing? Are you willing to consider choosing what resonates for you even if it does not for others? Please share with our community of fabulous women who often find themselves at these exact crossroads.