If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Thursday night was Ralph Lauren’s SS23 fashion show in Los Angeles, the first time the designer had a West Coast show. LA’s hottest stars came out decked out in classic Ralph Lauren, including Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Although we were supposed to be looking at clothes, we couldn’t help but notice how glossy, shiny and stunning J.Lo’s Old Hollywood-style waves were. Not to mention, her subtle glam makeup and fall-ready nails. Don’t worry — we got all the scoop.

Lopez’s glam team came out to do their thing, with Chris Appleton on hair, as usual. “Dream shine this evening with jlo,” he wrote on Instagram and shine is right. We’re dying to know how her strands got so glossy. It could be his favorite Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray ($44.93 at Amazon), which wraps hair in a water-resistant barrier so strands are silky, glossy and frizz-free. He also enlisted Violet Teriti, a Russian hair/extension expert to add length and volume.

Source: Instagram

Makeup artist Scott Barnes was responsible for the glam, which consisted of bold lashes, glowy skin and a nude lip from his own brand — the J.Lo special. She knows what works and she sticks to it. She did switch up her nails, though. She traded in her nude and grey shades for a fall-ready wine color. Nail artist Tom Bachik shared his inspo:

“Last night’s look, pure Ralph Lauren. Makeup was clean and fresh. Hair perfection in glamorous waves,” he said. “Beautiful, classic, minimalist was the vibe and nails needed to complete the look. We went with Essie’s #424 Bordeaux to do just that! Short, strong, natural-shaped nails help the color pop. Paired with the Ralph Lauren black pinstripe dress and gold jewelry gave us timeless strength, sophistication, and style.”

Source: Instagram

You know what that means? Thanks to Essie, you can get J.Lo’s exact nail look for just $7 on Amazon.

Rational maturity begins when we accept responsibility for our lives and our thinking processes. Developing our rational maturity is a question of facing reality honestly. To do this, we have to make the effort to throw off the conventional wisdom and ideologies of the community around us.

We have to do the hard work of deciding what we think for ourselves. We have to become free thinkers, choosing what to believe and recognising that our belief system is a rational choice from many options – and our choice alone.

The Free Thinker

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a leading philosopher of the Enlightenment. He was highly unpopular with the Catholic Church because his clarion call was that people should think for themselves, not blindly believe ideologies. The leaders of the Church took this personally.

Back then, their power and fortune lay in individuals’ and societies’ being forced to think alike and follow the ideology and mythology of the Church. They deliberately forbade their adherents to think for themselves.

The Church praised faith and declared it superior to reason, whereas free thinking was one of the foundation stones of the Enlightenment. Kant suggested that the majority of people are too lazy or cowardly to make the effort to develop their thinking.

It’s so much easier and more comfortable to accept the conventional thinking of society. This antagonism between these two ways of thinking has always been there in societies and is still there today. Rational maturity lies in choosing the way of the free thinker.

What Is Rational Maturity?

Rational maturity is not to be confused with genetically determined natural intelligence. Our community develops it through the parenting we receive, the environment, and schooling. We can develop it further by choosing to educate ourselves. This process is one that can, and should, be lifelong.

Neither is rational maturity the same as rational thinking. With rational thinking, we know what we want, we use logic to set goals, and we work towards achievement. This highly useful skill is necessary for a successful life, and it’s part of rational maturity, but it’s not the whole story.

Rational maturity follows from the first step of deciding to manage our own lives. We deal with our problems. We don’t expect anyone else to deal with them for us. We use our natural intelligence and our rational thinking, but we do so at our own command, not at that of anyone else. This doesn’t mean that we cannot be team players within contexts such as our family, our workplace, or community activities; it means that we choose to join the team and work in it to the best of our ability.

Rational maturity encompasses all these aspects. It all begins with personal choice. Our locus of control moves from the outside – other people and our environment, for instance – to inside ourselves.

Rational Maturity Is an Attitude Toward Life

Rational maturity is an attitude toward life. You could also think of it as wisdom. We accept life as it is and make the best of it, and we learn from experience. This means that instead of blaming circumstances and complaining, we simply accept them as a challenge that we have to deal with.

Instead of becoming a victim in life, we see anything adverse that happens to us as an occasion for learning. We chalk it up to experience. We accept that whatever happens is a lesson that helps us to become more mature.

Then we analyse what happened. We know what that “gut feeling” from our subconscious tells us. Instead of blaming other people, we consider our own behaviour. We know we should be honest about our own involvement in any incident. We recognise that there are always at least two sides to every story, and it is better to stand outside and above, rather than mindlessly take one side or another. We learn to see the big picture.

Why Develop Our Rational Maturity?

Why would we want to develop our rational maturity? The simple answer is that, whatever happens, a life guided by choices that are your own and that you take responsibility for will always be richer and more satisfying than a life of surrendered control.

A good book to read on this subject is Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It Matters, (2021), by Steven Pinker. His view on the modern world is extremely interesting and enlightening.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you taken control of your life? Do you plan your life? Do you live life decisively? Have you developed rational maturity?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I don’t know about you, but my skin is already getting drier by the day and I even have some rough patches that I can’t seem to shake. ’Tis fall, I suppose. But I know that things have to change because I don’t want to have the skin of a scaly lizard during all of the colder months. The obvious next move would be to find a solid moisturizer that delivers deep hydration without worsening the irritation and flakiness. Enter: CLEARSTEM Skincare’s Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer.

Backed by bakuchiol (a natural alternative to retinol), olive squalane and stem cells, the bestselling moisturizer will have your complexion looking smoother, healthier and younger in no time. Plus, it excludes pore-clogging ingredients and toxins that can trigger acne, so you know you’re putting only the best on your skin. 

Ideal for all skin types, the formula “trains your skin to look younger while you sleep,” according to the brand. Sounds like an impossible task, right? Well, bakuchiol promotes collagen production, which helps your skin look firm and youthful. It’s like retinol, except it doesn’t leave your skin aggravated and flaky. Plus, stem cells work to increase cell turnover so that your skin tone appears even and your complexion lacks visible signs of aging. Fine lines and wrinkles, who??

CLEARSTEM Skincare specializes in anti-aging and anti-acne formulas that yield noticeable, long-lasting results. So if you have acne-prone or mature skin (or both!), know that your skin is in good hands. 

Don’t wait any longer to shop the Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer to counteract winter’s chilly breeze and keep your complexion wrinkle-free.

RELATED: This $9 Firming Collagen Moisturizer Is So Effective, Shoppers Have Stopped Getting Botox—& We Can’t Believe It’s Still on Sale 

Photo: CLEARSTEM Skincare.

Apply a dime-size amount of moisturizer to your face and neck in both the morning and night to see the best results possible. Speaking of results, so many shoppers can attest to this product’s miracle-working abilities.

“The moisturizer is rich and luxurious but does NOT leave your skin feeling greasy. I love that my skin can still breathe after I’ve applied it,” raved one shopper. 

“I love how hydrating this cream is! It’s not too heavy and makes my skin look dewy and full of life,” wrote another five-star reviewer. 

To top it off, another shopper wrote, “I’ve been using CLEARSTEM products for about two years and absolutely love everything that I try! But this moisturizer is life-changing, it makes my skin feel so soft and the glow is real!!”

There’s no question you’re going to need a secret weapon skincare product to take on winter’s wrath, so why not let it be CLEARSTEM Skincare’s Hydraglow Stem Cell Moisturizer? It’s as good as it gets when it comes to an acne and wrinkle-fighting formula that also hydrates and maintains a healthy skin barrier.

Every Artist struggles with insecurity, and those of us who started making art in our 60s, suffer from it even more.

Inner self-talk often includes thoughts like: Who am I to think I can be an Artist? What if people hate my work? Can I actually make a living doing something I enjoy? Can I hide while making my work visible?

Even before we put pen to paper or dip a paintbrush in a pot of paint, we hesitate because it just might not be good enough.

Good Enough for Who?

Every Artist needs to start somewhere. It’s rare to see an individual who pops out of the womb composing a symphony or dancing across the change table to the opening notes of Swan Lake.

And yet, we expect perfection from our first attempt at Art. Of course, some of us are naturally more gifted with eye-hand co-ordination, drawing perspective or telling a story – but the rest of us can learn.

Mindfulness Makes a Difference

Mindfulness is a growing trend that encourages us to pay attention to our thoughts in present time. What do you say to yourself about your life and work? Is pursuing creativity for its own sake enough?

Do you enjoy expressing your inner thoughts through your creativity? Then, take the next step. 60, 70 and even 80 is as good an age as any.

Find Your Voice

Finding your voice can take a lifetime. Expressing it is your life’s journey. There is no final destination. It’s a way to discover who you are.

Exploring our creativity helps us find a tribe of like-minded folks who appreciate what we’re doing and separates us from others on a different path. They, too, are searching for a place to belong. Are you wanting to write, paint, weave, work with clay – or something else? You can experiment with all of them.

Critical Voices

Critics are nothing to fear. They’re simply disappointed to have not yet found a tribe to belong to. Release attachment to their words and wish them well on their way.

Paying too much attention to the distraction of other voices is how we avoid hearing our own. Do your best to ignore your own Inner Critic and carry on, even if doubt walks along beside you.

Go into the quiet and listen within. Even if all you hear is a whisper or a tiny squeak – know that your creativity is scratching to escape. Let her out and marvel and what she can do.

How to Begin

The first step I suggest when starting on your artistic journey is to use your favourite colours. As a writer, I have pens with hot pink, lime green and teal blue ink. I still write longhand because I love the feel of pen on paper. For a painter, select your favourite pots of paint.

Just for fun, decide to write nonsense or paint with abandon. Keep doing that until your natural voice emerges in a more developed way. Keep in mind, we all have different tastes. One man’s garbage is often an Artist’s treasure. Our local recycling depot is a constant muse for local Artists.

Find a journal that attracts you. Carry it with you to record random thoughts and observations. Poets often capture random snippets of conversation to weave into a future poem. Other artists also do this. You can do it too.

Put on the cape and hat of an Undercover Art Detective – searching for clues to your own creative voice. Carry a magnifying glass, if you like. This can lead to interesting conversations with strangers intrigued with what you’re up to.

Your creative voice is the mystery you want to solve. Follow every clue you meet. Make a game of it.

Search for Clues

Take your magnifying glass on a Senses Walk. Find a place in nature – a city park or wilderness area. Explore the place using each of your five senses. You are creating a personal recipe to help you release your Inner Artist who was in hiding for 50 years.

Sight

Look for something that is visually appealing. Jot down what it is you see or do a rough drawing of it. Record why you’re attracted to it. How does it speak to who you are?

Sound

Add a pinch of sound to the mix. Listen for a sound that appeals to you. Jot down what it is you hear or record a visual representation of the sound and why you’re attracted to it. How does it speak to who you are?

Taste

Babies like to taste everything. As a newbie artist – search for something edible you can lick or take a bite out of, though only choose things you know are not poisonous.

You might choose to chew on a blade of grass or eat a wild blackberry. Jot down what it is you taste or record a visual representation of this taste and how you respond to it. How does it speak to who you are?

Touch

Add a light touch. Feel the bark of a tree, the petals of a flower, roll a smooth pebble through your fingers or dip your toes in a stream. Jot down what it is you touch or record a visual representation of what you felt and how you respond to it. How does it speak to who you are?

Smell

Walk in the woods just after a rainstorm and breathe deeply or smell the salty air by the sea or the perfume of a rose garden. Jot down what it is you smell or record a visual representation of that aroma and how you respond to it. How does it speak to who you are?

Next step is to put all the ingredients together. Create a collage with words and images to remind you of who you were that day and why. Repeat often. You are creating a body of work. Keeping a journal of words and images is how Michelangelo explored his creativity.

On another day, visit a thrift store or garage sale. Find an item that intrigues you. Explore it. Write about it. Sketch it. Paint it. Tell its story. Create 10 versions of it. Then choose your favourite.

Explore it further – 10 more times, if you like. This is how you practice being an Artist. In fact, in the practice, you already are one. Welcome to Art in your 60s.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is the most recent artistic project you were involved in? Do you think of yourself as an artist? What’s stopping you from exploring your creativity? Let’s have a chat about it!

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Thursday night was Ralph Lauren’s SS23 fashion show in Los Angeles, the first time the designer had a West Coast show. LA’s hottest stars came out decked out in classic Ralph Lauren, including Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Although we were supposed to be looking at clothes, we couldn’t help but notice how glossy, shiny and stunning J.Lo’s Old Hollywood-style waves were. Not to mention, her subtle glam makeup and fall-ready nails. Don’t worry — we got all the scoop.

Lopez’s glam team came out to do their thing, with Chris Appleton on hair, as usual. “Dream shine this evening with jlo,” he wrote on Instagram and shine is right. We’re dying to know how her strands got so glossy. It could be his favorite Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray ($44.93 at Amazon), which wraps hair in a water-resistant barrier so strands are silky, glossy and frizz-free. He also enlisted Violet Teriti, a Russian hair/extension expert to add length and volume.

Source: Instagram

Makeup artist Scott Barnes was responsible for the glam, which consisted of bold lashes, glowy skin and a nude lip from his own brand — the J.Lo special. She knows what works and she sticks to it. She did switch up her nails, though. She traded in her nude and grey shades for a fall-ready wine color. Nail artist Tom Bachik shared his inspo:

“Last night’s look, pure Ralph Lauren. Makeup was clean and fresh. Hair perfection in glamorous waves,” he said. “Beautiful, classic, minimalist was the vibe and nails needed to complete the look. We went with Essie’s #424 Bordeaux to do just that! Short, strong, natural-shaped nails help the color pop. Paired with the Ralph Lauren black pinstripe dress and gold jewelry gave us timeless strength, sophistication, and style.”

Source: Instagram

You know what that means? Thanks to Essie, you can get J.Lo’s exact nail look for just $7 on Amazon.