Month: December 2024

If you had a crystal ball in front of you so you could look back at your face when you were in your 20s or 30s, what word would you use to describe your 20- or 30-year-old skin? Perhaps the word clear comes to mind – or wrinkle-free, or amazing. And one quality that most likely stands out is a four-letter word: glow.

I think it’s truly safe to say that glow or radiance is the holy grail of beauty – at any age – but never more so than when we’re over 60. So, today we’ll take a look at this one step we can incorporate into our skincare or makeup routine to achieve a beautiful radiance – and take a look at the best products to use to create it.

Just a few days ago, I participated in a Zoom session that’s part of a course I’m taking. Since I was going to be putting on makeup for the Zoom meeting, I decided to do some additional testing on some newer makeup products I’d recently tried. A few minutes after the session started, I did a bit of a double take because I noticed that my skin had quite an amazing glow.

I had to think for a minute about which products I’d used earlier that would have created that glow – and I’ll be using those exact products in the last radiant look I’ll create in today’s video. So be sure to stay tuned to see that last look toward the end of the video.

How Our Skin Changes – And How to Create a Radiant Look Now

Our skin truly mirrors the continual changes in our lives as we go from having glowing skin as a child – to break-outs in our teen years – to duller skin as we head toward menopause. We all know how important a good skin care routine is, but that’s a topic for another day.

In today’s video we’re going to try 8 specific makeup products that can quickly – and easily – give us a stunning, radiant look so you can decide which look – and which products – might work best for you. The beauty of makeup now is that many products are also moisturizing – and that’s certainly true for all the products I’ll be sharing with you today.

In the video I’ve already applied the three serums from the brand Timeless which I always apply before my makeup: my C+E+Ferulic Acid which brightens my skin, my Coenzyme Q10 serum which has three ingredients that smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and Matrixyl Synthe 6 which stimulates collagen production. I’ll be reapplying these serums and my Shani Darden Oil Free Moisturizer after I’ve used each of the products we’ll be testing today.

Demonstrating the First Two Products

On the right side of my face I’ll apply a product I’ve talked about in several of my previous videos and which I really love. It’s the Beautiful Skin Primer from Kear Weis. On the other side of my face, I’ll apply Saie Beauty’s Glowy Supergel Lightweight Dewy Multi Purpose Illuminator. Then over each side, I’ll apply my Sephora Best Skin Ever Foundation in the shade 11.5P.

The Second Pair of Products

Next, I’ll remove these products with my Bioderma Micellar water,  reapply my serums and my Shani Darden Oil Free Lightweight Moisturizer and apply the second pairing of products that create a lovely glow. The second pairing is my NOOMI Stockholm Facial Oil mixed with my Natasha Denona Hy Glam Concealer on my right side and my Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation on the other side.

Set Number 3 of Products

The third go-round of products includes two drugstore options. I have Flower Beauty’s Supernova Celestial Skin Elixir and L’oreal’s True Match Lumi Glotion in the shade “Fair.” The Flower Beauty product will go on the right side, and I’ll put the L’Oreal Lumi Glotion on the left side followed by my Sephora Foundation.

The Fourth and Last Set of Products

The fourth and last round of products includes the two products I used during the Zoom meeting I mentioned earlier: Merit Beauty Great Skin Instant Glow Serum first and Merit’s Great Skin Priming Moisturizer over it, followed by the Sephora Foundation.

On the left side, I’ll apply the Sephora Foundation and then spray Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist onto a damp sponge and pat the sponge onto the left side of my face.

Let Me Know Which Products You Prefer

It’s wonderful that there are so many different types of products we can use to create a more radiant look – and we’ve been dealing with a variety of them today. I hope that if you’ve watched the video you’ll share with me in the comment section below which of these products you feel created the most beautiful glow.

Please also drop me a line at this email address boomerandbeyondbeauty@gmail.com if you’d like to receive my weekly newsletter which not only offers helpful makeup information but which also includes fun, recommended TV shows, books and films as well as occasional nostalgic looks back at many of the products, people and events that are part of our collective memory.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you use a makeup or skincare product you love which creates a lovely glow on your skin? If so, please share with us what you use.

Is aging really a disease? If you listen to many so-called experts in the media, it is.

According to decades worth of stories in the media, the more we age, the more we are expected to disengage not only from society but also detach from our desires.

Why is that?

And if this is true, what can we do about it?

These questions and more will be answered as we continue our series, “The Invisible Customer with All the Money®”. In this timely series, we are focusing on how women over 60 can begin telling a new and better story about what we can be, do, and experience through self-love.

If we have missed the previous installments, you can find them here:

#1: 7 Steps to Reclaim Your Power from the Media

#2: Aging Stereotypes: Can You Be More Feeble?

#3: 10 Steps to Influence Yourself from Within

#4: What Makes Your World Go Round After 60?

#5: 10 Steps to Unleash Your Inspired Voice After 60

#6: 5 Steps for Taking Back Control of Our Choices from the Media

The Disengagement Theory

Since we were young, the media has been programming our generation about the rules of aging. In doing so, we were unconsciously being prepared to disengage from who we truly are.

But the media must be getting their information from someone or somewhere, right?

In their 1961 book, Growing Old, social scientists Elaine Cumming and William Henry proposed their Disengagement Theory, which is based on the premise:

“Aging is an inevitable, mutual withdrawal or disengagement, resulting in decreased interaction between the aging person and others in the social system he belongs to.”

Based on the idea that the older generation of society must accept their demise, the expectation is for them to go quietly into the night of their retirement. This allows for the spotlight to be placed on the youth of society at the expense of the aging.

The Disengagement Theory ignited a new field of research in social science, particularly with a focus on aging. Our parents and grandparents were the baseline for this.

While we are absolutely nothing like the generations that came before us, that has not stopped the media from peddling this outdated theory.

Does Youth Really Equal Profits?

Many of the younger decision-makers in the media today have not heard of the Disengagement Theory. But it carries enormous influence on why the media and their advertising partners ignore the 60+ consumer while focusing on younger generations.

For something so antiquated as the Disengagement Theory is, why has it remained just as prominent today as it was in years past?

From the media’s perspective, the prevailing belief is that youth equals profits. This, however, has proven to be totally false.

When you look at the studies and research about the continuous economic influence of our generation, the statistics are undeniable. Those of us who are 60 and over are a driving force in major areas of economic growth.

Do You Think for Yourself?

Every one of us would like to believe we think for ourselves. But how true is that?

Apart from the media, what makes the Disengagement Theory relevant today is an unwillingness of many people to genuinely think for themselves. Like the generations that came before us and after us, we too have been programmed to let authority figures think for us.

As triggering as it may be for some to look at this, regurgitating facts from the media and living the media’s pre-determined storyline for your life is not thinking for yourself.

10 Steps to Re-Engage with Life

Where do you start to think for yourself and re-engage with life after 60? Here are 10 steps I’ve personally applied to important areas of my life.

Prioritize Mental Well-Being

Be mindful of what kind of media stories you consume. Engage in more healthy practices of self-love and self-care that will enhance mental clarity and re-engage you with your true, authentic self.

Pursue Lifelong Learning

Enroll in courses at local community colleges or online platforms like Udemy to learn how to expand your mind and open your heart.

Embrace Physical Activity

From yoga, aerobics, and dance, to walking and even meditation, find something that both suits your mobility and interest. This is both therapeutic and invigorating.

Explore New Places

Plan trips, whether local or international. If budget or mobility is a concern, consider virtual travel experiences.

Positive Social Engagement

Disengage from negative stories and instead, engage with uplifting books and look into gardening groups, or community organizations.

Indulge Your Creative Side

Try painting, knitting, or pottery. Take classes in music and writing. You can even look into supporting creative artists.

Engage Digitally

Familiarize yourself with current technology. It can keep you connected to people and topics that make your heart sing.

Replace Limiting Beliefs

Identify what beliefs about aging are holding you back. Replace them with new, more empowering beliefs.

Journal Your Emotions

Document your experiences, memories, and reflections. This can open you up to more of your true, authentic self.

Embrace Time in Nature

Cultivate a garden or start placing potted plants at home. Visit local trails, botanical gardens, or parks.

Re-engagement with life is not a byproduct of fighting against the media. For if you see it as an “us against them” scenario, you are not engaging with life but disengaging from it.

Ultimately, re-engagement with life is an act of self-love. It’s about finding joy, purpose, and connection with life on your terms. Let that be enough because you are enough.

I invite you to join me in the video where I share additional insights and personal stories that will help you integrate what you are learning into your life.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you heard of the Disengagement Theory of aging? What’s your reaction to it? How do you re-engage with life after 60?

What kind of a gift do you get for your ex?

When I was growing up, I played a game with family friends’ kids called “Sign of the Little People.” We’d rearrange items in a room or place an unusual food item on the table, then erupt into laughter as we chanted, “Sign of the Little People!” Silly? Maybe. Fun? Absolutely – especially for us kids.

Now that I’m a grandparent of seven, living almost a country apart from my grandchildren, I miss the days of sharing silly games and spontaneous moments. While technology like FaceTime and Google Duo makes staying connected easier, I’m still a fan of the old-fashioned charm of snail mail and surprise packages.

So, here are five creative ways to bridge the distance and nurture your bond with your grandchildren, no matter their age or personality.

1. Future Author Box (Perfect for Elementary Schoolers)

Send your budding storyteller a “Future Author” kit. Include basic writing books, a journal, colorful pens, a binder with dividers, greeting card fronts (from a Dollar Tree haul), and glue sticks. Encourage them to create their own storybook, complete with illustrations. Ask them to share pictures of their masterpiece; you’ll both treasure the creative exchange.

2. Do for Others Theme (Great for Elementary-Aged Kids)

Teach kindness through creativity. Send simple snack recipes, colorful tissue paper, and bows. Encourage your grandchildren to prepare the snacks, write a short note, and surprise an elderly, single neighbor, or someone at church. This activity combines fun with a heartwarming lesson in generosity.

3. When Sickness Strikes (Works for Any Age)

Comfort your little one with a care package designed for sick days. Include soothing teas like chamomile, soup packets, kid-friendly medicine, a favorite book or DVD, and a cozy blanket or pillow. Send it quickly – before they’re feeling better – to show them you’re thinking of them even from afar.

4. Travel Buff Package

Spark your grandchild’s curiosity about the world. Gather travel brochures, postcards, and posters from different countries (or even states). Add a travel-themed book and postcards from exotic places. You can find some interesting ones on Etsy, eBay, or your local antique store. It’s a perfect way to inspire dreams of adventure and exploration.

5. Storytime with Grandma (Ideal for Toddlers and Young Children)

My son and his wife have a 16-month-old son, and one way I’ve been able to stay connected is through recording Zooms of myself reading books to him. I still have many Little Golden Books from my own childhood; the same ones I read to my son and his sister during their growing up years. Now, three generation later, I’m reading those same books to my grandson. Pretty cool.

Bonus: Restaurant Memories (For Older Kids and Teens)

Turn dining experiences into a fun project. Gift your older grandchildren with a 1” binder with plastic card holders and 3×5 cards. Encourage them to collect cards from restaurants they visit, jotting notes about their meal, the atmosphere, and even the quirks of their server. Who knows? You might nurture the next famous food critic!

These ideas are just the beginning. Tailor each package to your grandchild’s unique interests and personality. The effort you put into these thoughtful gestures will not only keep you connected but also create cherished memories and a sense of closeness that transcends distance.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your first package and watch your relationships flourish. Happy connecting!

For more ideas read 5 Creative Ways to Stay in Touch with Your Grandchildren.

Points of Connection:

How do you connect with your grandchildren? Do you have any special ways to stay in touch? What are some favorite activities with small children? How about teenagers?

Plus, catch Tiana’s Bayou Adventure for the very first time.