Month: December 2024

People are calling it the “Wirkin”

Jackie O epitomized elegance. She wore tweed suits, carried a Gucci bag, before Gucci became a household name, and topped it all off with her iconic pillbox hats. Growing up in suburbia, the adult women I knew all loved Jackie O. They worked tirelessly to embody her effortless style while juggling the chaos of a new suburban dream – kids, houses, husbands, at a relentless pace. Hats, for them, were reserved for church and funerals, but the dream of exuding Jackie O’s poise remained.

Fast forward 60 years, and I understand those women better. Beneath their brave facades, they were overwhelmed, navigating uncharted paths with a mixture of hope and exhaustion. For them, a pillbox hat symbolized grace amidst the storm. For me, post-heart attack, the pillbox became literal.

Reality Sets In

After my “heart incident,” I faced an unsettling new reality.

“For the rest of my life?” I gasped to the resident doctor, overwhelmed by the weight of what lay ahead.

He froze, visibly panicked, turning a whiter shade of pale. The attending physician stepped in, gently touching my arm with a knowing look. “Not the rest of your life, just the next 30 years or so.”

We laughed, the tension lifted and even the young residents managed to smile. It was a moment of clarity in the haze of uncertainty. I felt better.

On the drive home from the hospital, my daughter lovingly tried to mirror the care I’d given her over the years, listing meal plans and schedules. “We need to stop at the outlets,” I interrupted.

Exasperated, she said, “You just had a heart-attack, what could you possible need?”

“A pretty pill box,” I grinned.

Acceptance: A Bitter Pill to Swallow

Facing this chapter, I had to accept that the pills weren’t metaphorical – they are real, non-negotiable, and central to my routine. Trips to the pharmacy, prescription refills, and carefully organized morning and evening doses became my reality.

Let me tell you, this was a bitter pill going down. It got stuck in my throat. Although, I couldn’t ignore the worry etched on my daughter’s face and the gravity of my condition. I had to accept that I was changing. I couldn’t reduce the number of pills in my life anymore. And I had to find a way to be accountable to myself.

I needed to get organized in a way I didn’t know how to. I turned to technology. My phone’s Health app became my ally. Not only does it enter all the pills I am taking, it also has their color and picture next to them so if I accidently drop my pills and they get jumbled, I can easily reconstruct the AM and PM doses. This small feature offered unexpected peace of mind.

Building a Routine: Making Change Work for Me

Research on habit-building shows that change sticks when there’s a payoff – when it feels personal and meaningful. For me, that meant finding a pillbox I didn’t hate.

I was surprised by the options: circular plastic cases, cylinders, squares with compartments for days and times. In the end, I chose two solutions:

1. A sleek, 7-day AM/PM pill organizer, perfect for a drawer in my bathroom.
2. A Coach leather pencil case with heart designs (irony always amuses me), holding eight tiny, two-compartment boxes.

This system, a 15-day cycle, works for me. My routine settled at 9 AM and 9 PM daily. If life interrupts with an early appointment or an errand – I fine-tune my routine and take the pills as quickly after. I adjust slightly but stay consistent.

Body Scan: Stay Attuned to Subtle Changes

Adjusting to medication means staying vigilant to notice any side effects. Some can take months to emerge; others may mimic unrelated symptoms. My heart attack presented as back muscle pain that I thought was from downward dog pose. Symptoms can masquerade, so I remain attuned to:

• Monitor for Subtle Changes: Physical, emotional, or cognitive shifts might not seem medically related initially. Pay attention to them and keep track.
• Ask Questions: When in doubt, I reach out to my doctor or pharmacist. Googling symptoms was my first instinct, but I didn’t stop there. I asked a friend, then, I went further, I found an expert with professional knowledge.
• Trusting My Instincts: If something feels off, I treat it seriously – just as I would advise a friend. You would not say, Ignore it, to your friend. I learned to take my own advice.

The Health App and Your Emergency Contact

If you have a smart phone, I highly recommend using the heath app, at the very least for your emergency contact. If you are by yourself and unable to speak, even though they cannot bypass your password, they can press emergency contact – ONLY if you have put it in your phone and designated it as such.

My Health app has become invaluable, storing medication details and serving as a cheat sheet for doctor visits. It also holds my emergency contact information, accessible even when my phone is locked – a feature everyone should use.

Revise and Adjust

Every day, I reflect on what works, what doesn’t, and what needs adjusting. Some days are smoother than others, but the process of refining this routine has reminded me about how resilient I am. Through all the twists and turns my life has taken, I’ve learned to show up for myself.

The key is finding what serves you – whether it’s a high-tech solution, a touch of elegance, or simply staying consistent. And yes, it helps if it’s pretty. Because life’s changes, no matter how daunting, deserve to be faced with style.

So here I am, carrying my pillbox – both a necessity and a symbol of acceptance – and carving a new kind of elegance for myself. Jackie O would approve.

What’s Next

Use your smartphone to do some good. Be cognizant of what serves you and what no longer has a purpose. Keep trying till you get it right. And make sure it’s both pretty and pretty useful!

Let’s Reflect:

Have you had a health scare lately? How did you make the necessary become pretty? What is your most valuable health accessory? Have you found a pretty pillbox that you use every day?

People are calling it the “Wirkin”

A great makeup routine begins with the right foundation – and the secret to a smooth, long-lasting look often lies in the primer. For women over 70, finding the best face primer can make a world of difference by giving your skin a radiant, hydrated, and even appearance. In this article, we’ll share our top picks for face primers, explain what face primers are, and help you understand what to look for in a primer tailored to your skin’s needs.

1. e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer – Rich in hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and jojoba oil, this primer helps smooth and hydrate mature skin.
2. Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating – This silicone-free primer nourishes and plumps the skin, creating a smooth base for makeup.
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer – A lightweight formula that combines a primer with a moisturizer to deliver deep hydration and a radiant finish.
4. Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer – Offers a velvety base and protects skin from pollutants, while antioxidants help reduce signs of aging.
5. Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum – Combines 28 essential oils and vitamins to provide intense moisture and soften fine lines.

Continue reading to discover the complete list of face primers ideal for women over 70.

What Are Face Primers?

Face primers are the unsung heroes of makeup routines. A primer creates a smooth base, helping your foundation and makeup stay on longer and look more even. For mature skin, primers can also reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores, making the skin appear healthier and more youthful. Many primers today offer added benefits like hydration, sun protection, or even color correction, making them a versatile part of any makeup kit.

Think of a primer as a bridge between your skincare routine and your makeup. It locks in moisture, fills in imperfections, and helps makeup last all day without settling into wrinkles or creases.

What to Look for in a Face Primer for Mature Skin

When choosing a face primer, it’s important to pick one that works well with your skin type and concerns. Here are some key features to consider:

• Hydrating Ingredients: Mature skin can be prone to dryness, so look for primers that contain hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or nourishing oils.
• Light-Reflecting Properties: A primer with light-reflecting particles can add a subtle glow, giving your skin a healthy, dewy appearance without looking greasy.
• Pore and Line Minimizing: Primers with blurring properties can help to fill in fine lines and minimize pores, creating a smooth canvas for your makeup.
• Non-Comedogenic: Opt for non-comedogenic primers to ensure they won’t clog your pores, especially if your skin is sensitive.
• SPF Protection: Mature skin is more susceptible to sun damage, so a primer with added SPF can provide an extra layer of sun protection.

10 Best Face Primers for Women Over 70

e.l.f. Hydrating Face Primer

This budget-friendly primer is rich in hydrating ingredients like vitamin E and jojoba oil, making it perfect for mature skin that needs extra moisture. It leaves the skin feeling soft and helps foundation apply smoothly without settling into fine lines.

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer – Hydrating

A favorite among women over 70, this hydrating primer is silicone-free and infused with olive extract and marine hydra botanicals to nourish and plump the skin, creating a smooth base for makeup.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+ Hydrating Primer

Combining the power of a primer with a moisturizer, this lightweight formula delivers deep hydration while smoothing over wrinkles and fine lines. It’s ideal for creating a soft, dewy finish that makes the skin appear more radiant.

Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer

Tatcha’s Silk Canvas primer helps protect the skin from pollutants while creating a velvety base for makeup. It’s also rich in antioxidants, which help reduce signs of aging and give the skin a natural glow.

Hourglass No. 28 Primer Serum

This luxurious primer combines 28 different essential oils and vitamins, making it perfect for dry, mature skin. It delivers intense moisture and softens fine lines, making your makeup look flawless all day long.

Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Hydrate Primer

With added hydrating benefits, this primer minimizes the look of pores and keeps skin feeling comfortable all day. It’s a great option if you want a light, non-greasy texture that keeps makeup in place.

Maybelline New York Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser

If you’re looking for an affordable yet effective option, this primer is a great choice. It visibly blurs fine lines and pores, creating a smooth canvas for makeup without drying out the skin.

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

Formulated with coconut water, this primer provides lightweight hydration that works well for mature skin. It also contains probiotics, which help boost skin radiance and keep your makeup looking fresh.

bareMinerals Good Hydrations Silky Face Primer

This silky primer is designed specifically for dry skin, offering a moisture-rich formula that helps to smooth the skin while providing a beautiful, luminous finish.

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer

For long-lasting wear, this gel primer locks in moisture and helps makeup adhere better, ensuring your look stays put all day. It’s formulated with hemp-derived cannabis seed extract and blue agave, which both help to hydrate and soothe the skin.

Finding the right primer can be a game-changer, especially for women over 70 who are looking for products that cater to mature skin. The best face primers will provide hydration, smooth the skin, and help your makeup last longer without settling into fine lines. 

Read Must-Know Tips to Find Your Perfect Foundation.

Also read 7 Makeup Brands for Women Over 50.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have a favorite primer you swear by? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear what works for you!

I love celebrating the New Year. It always seems to bring such a feeling of optimism and newness along with it. After the often manic time of Christmas, it feels good to take a breath, relax a little, and enjoy a slower pace of life, snuggled under a cosy blanket and reading a book. But while I do enjoy the downtime that winter brings, I am excited to see what the future holds and how the year will unfold.

So Many Possibilities!

It has to be said that I am not the greatest long-term planner, preferring to let life unfold in any way it chooses, but I do like to write down a few short-, medium- and long-term goals that I hope to achieve at some point in the year. The excitement and thrill of a new year makes anything seem possible and one of my greatest pleasures is thinking through all the possibilities if I do this…. or that :).

One Goal: Learning to Meditate

At the beginning of this year, one of my goals was to understand meditation. I thought if people travel all the way to India to learn how to do it, there must be something difficult to learn. My first attempts at meditating were around age 18; the same time as the Beatles were into it! I tried and I tried but I just couldn’t do it. I would sit for hours on my bedroom floor, eyes closed in a typical meditation pose. But nothing. Zero.

This year, I have spent a few months staying in a Buddhist Monastery. Very early each morning we would go to puja (prayers) in the temple where we would chant and then have meditation. I would try mantras, visualisation, breathing techniques, being present, but nothing worked. I had to accept that it was too difficult and too complicated for me… only it wasn’t. A few weeks ago, I had the most amazing meditation, turns out it is as simple as letting go.

Goal #2: Cold-Water Swimming

Another thing on my list was cold-water swimming. In fact, I swam in the sea on New Year’s Day. I had heard about the many physical and emotional benefits of it, but I couldn’t work out how being freezing could be beneficial. But oh, it is incredible! At first you are cold, really cold. And then this beautiful warm feeling (a bit like rubbing deep heat cream on your body) comes all over you, even in your mind. How crazy is that!

Another Goal Accomplished: Letting Go

My final thing was to let go of things that were of no benefit to me. This includes emotional and physical things such as negative thoughts and beliefs, as well as material things that I no longer wanted or needed. This is so cathartic, and the best bit is that it frees up space for things you do want in your life!

What About 2025?

So here I am, pondering my goals for 2025. What to do?

After an accident last year, I was unable to walk very well for many months and have only just started going for long (ok, medium!) walks. I am loving it! Not only is my stamina much better, I have even lost a few pounds, but somehow it seems to have made my pelvic floor stronger, so I am not waking up so much in the night. It is also great for my mental wellbeing as I am more of a leisure-walker, and enjoy spending time in nature. So, one of my goals is to continue this practice.

I have also started to go to a few more live performances which I really enjoy. Most of the ones I have been to recently have been regarding music, but I hope to include recitals, talks, plays, sports. Not only do you have a great time, but you meet new and interesting people.

The older I get, the more I see the opportunities that are out there, and there is still so much I want to do. Of course, age and the frailties that come with it limit me a little, but there is still a whole galaxy of possibilities. At the time of writing this I have three weeks left to choose! 🙂

Join the Conversation:

Does the new year energise and excite you? Do you have goals for the upcoming year? Did you set yourself goals for this year?