For many of the women in this community, the holidays are not easy. We may be facing a holiday without a loved one. We might be apart from our families for whatever reason.

We might be having a good holiday season but find ourselves feeling a little blah on and off for its duration and aren’t really sure why.

Here are three things that you can do for yourself this holiday season, especially if you are struggling a bit. They aren’t necessarily easy, but they raise self-awareness. And self-awareness will help you immensely as you navigate the more difficult times in your life.

Take a REAL Look Back at Holidays Past

We may feel sad during the holidays because things have changed and the holidays “aren’t like they used to be.” But, often, when we take a realistic look back at what the holidays used to be, we realize there was always stress or some sort of negative feelings involved at some point, no matter how happy we remember them to be.

There is a phenomenon that occurs in us called Fading Affect Bias. This affects how we hold onto negative memories versus positive ones. Essentially, as time goes by, the negative memories fade or disappear completely, while the positive ones remain.

I found as I reflected on holidays past, I started off thinking about how happy my childhood Christmases were at my grandmother’s. The tree, family dinners, my grandfather playing the piano, and the presents.

I went on to fondly reflect on holidays when I was raising my boys. Shopping for gifts, their joy, decorations, and Christmas parties.

But, as I really dove into the reflecting, I remembered the stress as a kid going to my grandmother’s. My mom was alcoholic and there was a strong possibility that she would get drunk and ruin the holiday. I spent a lot of time monitoring everyone, even as a young child. I loved the holidays. But they were not without stress.

As I thought about our Christmases when my boys were growing up, it was similar. We had wonderful Christmases. But they were not without stress over not having time to do all of the things I wanted to do, concerns around money, and worries about family interactions and dynamics during the holiday.

Realizing that there have always been issues during the holidays can help us put this season into perspective.

Generally, our “holiday feelings” are an extension of how we are feeling overall in our lives from day to day, in whatever phase we are in. They are often intensified with the holiday input from friends, family, and social media.

Allow Yourself to Feel the Feelings

Feeling negative feelings is difficult for many of us on this side of 50. We often try to push them down because they are unpleasant. Many of us have had core beliefs throughout our lives that it’s “bad” or “ungrateful” to feel negatively.

We are told everywhere to practice gratitude as a solution for being sad or angry about a situation.

But things happen in life that make us sad or angry and those feelings are a NORMAL reaction to that situation! It is normal to feel sad when you aren’t going to see your family over the holidays.

So, allow yourself to feel the feelings. Pushing them down only causes more issues, both emotionally and physically.

However, if these feelings don’t go away or are becoming an everyday part of life that keeps you from doing the things that you want to do, it may be worthwhile to talk to a professional. It’s okay to feel sad for a few days because you miss your family, but if the sadness permeates everything, it can be beneficial to seek help.

Do What Feels Good and Right for YOU This Holiday Season

This is the time in our lives, overall, where we should be sitting back and thinking about how we want to spend our days.  

What do we want to do for ourselves?

And that should happen during the holiday season as well.

What would you like to continue to do this holiday season? What do you not feel like doing? I’ve talked to women who don’t feel like shopping and have decided to give their families checks or gift cards. Women who have stopped sending holiday cards. Women who have traveled during the holidays for the first time.

We are at a different phase in our lives than we have been before, and the holidays are bound to have some changes as well.

Take some time this holiday season to reflect on your “holiday feelings” and traditions. And don’t be afraid to start taking small steps towards adjusting what you’d like to.

Please help Sixty and Me by filling out our annual survey!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How are you feeling this holiday season? What changes would you like to see, if any, in your holiday traditions? How is this season different for you?

Lisa Barlow’s Green Wraparound Bikini in San Diego

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Season 3 Episode 11 Fashion

That’s a wrap! Lisa Barlow looks absolutely fabulous in her green wraparound bikini in San Diego on this week’s episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. And lucky for us it’s still in stock, so get ready to grab yourself a KitKat one down below.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Maygel Bikini

Click Here to Shop Additional Colours

Click Here For Info on Her Sunglasses

Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Green Wraparound Bikini

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

Pssssst—there’s truly no better time to stockpile your skincare collection than right now while holiday sales are booming. In case you haven’t heard, there are so many rare discounts happening across the internet this week, including on Amazon. While time may be ticking, the retailer still has a secret sale selection available now, which includes a top-selling retinol eye cream that’s down to less than $19: the RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream. 

There’s a reason the treatment is a number one seller with countless perfect ratings: Reviewers say the fast-acting formula provides ‘truly impressive’ results on even their deepest, most stubborn wrinkles. That’s not all—it also combats dark circles and puffiness so well, shoppers are forgoing concealer applications.

Courtesy of Amazon

“Best eye cream I’ve ever tried, hands down,” said one. “I’ve tested a bunch and this one doesn’t burn my skin and I feel like it has helped fade wrinkles and keep skin hydrated. I’m 29 and started seeing soft shallow lines on the corners of my eyes a couple of years ago—I can’t find those lines anymore, after a year of using this.”

The anti-aging treatment leans on RoC’s own retinol complex to provide “dramatic results” while remaining gentle on the delicate area around the eyes. According to the brand, the dermatologist-tested cream has been clinically proven to visibly brighten and plump tired eyes within four weeks of use. What’s more, it’s perfectly safe for use on sensitive skin, since it’s non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. 

Just take more of its fan’s words for it: “This has been the only product which has been able to impact my baggie under-eyes,” said one. “After many years of allergies, little sleep, lots of sun, and basically not taking care of my skin, I started using products to try to deal with the bags under my eyes. I figured after years of damage and carelessness, it would take years to make a difference with any over-the-counter product. Surprisingly, my wife and I noticed a tightening of the skin under my eyes within the first couple of weeks.”

RELATED: This Fast-Acting Cream Transforms Aging Skin So Well, Shoppers Are Skipping Foundation

Pair the firming eye treatment with other bestsellers from the brand, including the Sarah Jessica Parker-loved hyaluronic acid moisturizer and night serum capsules (which are also on sale). With all three in your arsenal, you’ll no doubt have the perfect nighttime routine down. 

The RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream is down to just $19 at Amazon.

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

I’ll always click on a celeb GRWM because I love getting a glimpse of their everyday beauty routines. My most recent watch was Kate Hudson’s Beauty Secrets video with Vogue, and I couldn’t help but hit pause at one point. I didn’t recognize the mascara she swiped on and honestly, neither did Kate.

“This is actually a product that I have no idea what it is, but it was sent to me. I like how black it is,” the actress says in the video. “It’s called Petite ’n Pretty and it’s called Fully Feathered Volumizing, and that honestly is exactly what it feels like it does.”

Kate’s comment left me rushing to Google this product. My very first and most interesting finding is that this mascara is meant for kids, tweens and teens. No wonder why she wasn’t familiar with the product! It also costs just $16 at Amazon and Ulta. 

Maybe Kate is onto something, though. If a mascara is safe enough for children to use, then it easily passes the test for adults, too. This specific formula is free from nuts, gluten, phthalates and parabens. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free and approved by pediatricians, ophthalmologists and dermatologists. That certainly ticks a lot of very important boxes! 

Besides being created for young children who want to experiment with makeup, the mascara “adds instant thickness and definition,” per the brand. It features a quick-dry formula that curls and separates lashes to give you the feathery lashes of your dreams. Be sure to layer on additional coats to achieve even more volume.

Plus, you know how it’s sometimes hard to get into the nooks and crannies of your lashes? Not with this brush! This mascara’s hourglass-shaped applicator is specially sized to fit children’s eyes way better than any other regular mascara could. This is a great hack for those who are after a more precise application. 

You might not have clicked into this story to read about a teen-centric mascara, but it clearly does the trick for Kate. In the YouTube video, her lashes look noticeably fuller, thicker, longer and bolder after applying the Fully Feathered Volumizing Mascara.

RELATED: This Kristen Stewart-Approved Mascara Volumizes So Well, It ‘Looks Like False Eyelashes’ Are On After One Stroke

Photo: Petite ’n Pretty.

Just so you know, the actress isn’t the only person gushing over this mascara. With a 4.6-star overall rating on Amazon, one shopper wrote, “I’m not even a tween, and I love this product. No clumping, natural look, comes off easily. Happy to have found a great mascara.”

Another five-star shopper wrote, “Excellent mascara choice for adults and not just teens or tweens. The formula is really gentle and doesn’t irritate eyes. Lashes are given body to make them look fuller without being super clumpy. A few swipes of this mascara after curling your lashes, then a quick pass of a mascara comb/spoolie will give you lashes that look natural and full.” They add, “This version isn’t waterproof, but it does stay on well even with oily lids. Very little flaking or smudging throughout the day, including after I inevitably rub one of my eyes. The price is a few dollars more than similar mascara such as L’Oreal Lash Paradise, but it is just as good. I prefer the smaller brush that comes in this mascara as well since it allows me to get right to the roots and the corners.”

If this doesn’t convince you that you should be using a volumizing mascara that caters to teens, I’m not sure what will. I’m personally sold on this product, and even better, it’s just $16 at Amazon and Ulta. Drop one into your cart and watch this mascara for teens elevate your lash game.

If you’re interested in more of the products Kate used in her GRWM video, we’ve gathered a few of them, below.

Photo: Kosas.

Kosas Revealer Concealer 

What do Kate Hudson and Hailey Bieber have in common? They both love Kosas’ Revealer Concealer. It provides medium coverage, has a super creamy texture and brightens the eyes with a single swipe. 

Photo: Laneige.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask 

Kate just can’t seem to stay away from celeb-loved products. Brooke Shields, Kate Moss, Gemma Chan, Sydney Sweeney and Kendall Jenner have all given the cult-fave Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask their stamps of approval. That’s probably because it hydrates and nourishes your lips like no other lip mask can. Peep the yummy flavors, too. 

Photo: Honest Beauty.

Honest Beauty Crème Cheek + Lip Color

Have you noticed a pattern yet? Kate shows her support for her fellow actress, Jessica Alba, by using Honest Beauty’s Crème Cheek + Lip Color. She opts for what looks like the Plum Berry option and gently dabs it all over her lips to create a gorg, just-ate-some-berries pout.

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

Pssssst—there’s truly no better time to stockpile your skincare collection than right now while holiday sales are booming. In case you haven’t heard, there are so many rare discounts happening across the internet this week, including on Amazon. While time may be ticking, the retailer still has a secret sale selection available now, which includes a top-selling retinol eye cream that’s down to less than $19: the RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream. 

There’s a reason the treatment is a number one seller with countless perfect ratings: Reviewers say the fast-acting formula provides ‘truly impressive’ results on even their deepest, most stubborn wrinkles. That’s not all—it also combats dark circles and puffiness so well, shoppers are forgoing concealer applications.

Courtesy of Amazon

“Best eye cream I’ve ever tried, hands down,” said one. “I’ve tested a bunch and this one doesn’t burn my skin and I feel like it has helped fade wrinkles and keep skin hydrated. I’m 29 and started seeing soft shallow lines on the corners of my eyes a couple of years ago—I can’t find those lines anymore, after a year of using this.”

The anti-aging treatment leans on RoC’s own retinol complex to provide “dramatic results” while remaining gentle on the delicate area around the eyes. According to the brand, the dermatologist-tested cream has been clinically proven to visibly brighten and plump tired eyes within four weeks of use. What’s more, it’s perfectly safe for use on sensitive skin, since it’s non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic. 

Just take more of its fan’s words for it: “This has been the only product which has been able to impact my baggie under-eyes,” said one. “After many years of allergies, little sleep, lots of sun, and basically not taking care of my skin, I started using products to try to deal with the bags under my eyes. I figured after years of damage and carelessness, it would take years to make a difference with any over-the-counter product. Surprisingly, my wife and I noticed a tightening of the skin under my eyes within the first couple of weeks.”

RELATED: This Fast-Acting Cream Transforms Aging Skin So Well, Shoppers Are Skipping Foundation

Pair the firming eye treatment with other bestsellers from the brand, including the Sarah Jessica Parker-loved hyaluronic acid moisturizer and night serum capsules (which are also on sale). With all three in your arsenal, you’ll no doubt have the perfect nighttime routine down. 

The RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream is down to just $19 at Amazon.