Month: August 2025

Style Stealers

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Originally posted at: Lisa Hochstein’s Black Collared Button Front Dress

He tells all.

When families begin the emotional and often overwhelming journey of selecting a senior living community for a loved one, they’re typically guided by a familiar list of priorities: cost, location, quality of care, safety, staff-to-resident ratios, and life enrichment offerings.

While these are all vital benchmarks, emerging data suggests there’s another less-visible – but critically important – factor to consider: the well-being and professionalism of the staff providing that care.

A recent study reported in McKnight’s Home Care offers a sobering reminder. Nearly 7% of younger personal care workers admitted to using drugs or alcohol while on the job. This figure may seem small at first glance, but in a caregiving environment, the consequences can be significant and far-reaching.

These workers are often responsible for tasks ranging from medication administration to physical support and emotional reassurance. Impaired judgment or reduced attention in such roles can pose serious risks to the health and safety of residents.

Staff Behavior: An Overlooked Indicator of Quality

While background checks and credentials are standard, few families ask about substance use policies, mental health support, or staff wellness initiatives when touring communities. Yet these questions strike at the heart of whether a facility fosters a culture of accountability and care – not just for residents, but also for staff.

Drug and alcohol use on the job may be a symptom of deeper issues in the caregiving workforce: chronic understaffing, emotional burnout, low wages, inadequate training, and a lack of professional development. If a facility does not actively support and supervise its employees, residents may suffer not only from substandard care but also from increased safety risks.

What Families Should Ask

When evaluating a senior living community, families should expand their due diligence to include questions such as:

What Mental Health or Substance Use Support Services Are Available to Staff?

Communities that provide Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or access to counseling may be more proactive in ensuring staff wellness.

What Are Your Drug and Alcohol Policies, and How Are They Enforced?

Transparency around drug testing, disciplinary action, and reporting mechanisms can reflect how seriously a facility takes workplace safety.

What Is Your Staff Turnover Rate?

High turnover may indicate poor working conditions or burnout – both risk factors for substance use.

How Do You Support Younger or Newer Staff Members?

Structured mentorship, training, and supervision can make a difference in setting the tone for safe, responsible care.

Do You Offer Any Resiliency or Burnout Prevention Programs?

Investing in staff well-being improves not only their lives but also the quality of care they’re able to provide.

A Holistic View of “Quality”

Many senior living communities do exceptional work under difficult circumstances, and the majority of personal care workers are dedicated, compassionate professionals. But to truly assess quality, families must look beyond appearances and ask tough questions about how a community treats its staff. That includes examining the policies and culture that either prevent or allow risky behavior to go unchecked.

Drug and alcohol use among caregivers is not just a staffing issue – it’s a resident safety issue. It’s about ensuring that the people we trust with our loved ones’ lives are supported, supervised, and sober. No matter how beautiful the facility or how robust the activity calendar, nothing can replace the importance of capable, present, and well-cared-for staff.

As we continue to age as a nation and the demand for senior care grows, families, providers, and policymakers must work together to elevate workforce standards, increase transparency, and protect the dignity of both residents and those who serve them.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is your experience with senior care facilities? Have you encountered any where staff did not meet wellbeing criteria?

Smokey eye is hard, or is it? How can you create this on-trend look without your brain exploding or looking like a lunatic? That, my wonderful and beautiful friends, is the goal today. In this video with my neighbor and friend Tracy Jo, I am showing how to do a 5-minute (on each eye) smokey look using two cream eyeshadows and a well-blended eyeliner. It’s possible, you can do it.

That being said, I’m using some new matte cream eyeshadows from PrimePrometics for this particular video. They offer a smooth, even application that enhances the eyelid’s natural beauty without highlighting imperfections. This brand in particular includes a primer with the formulation so that they stay on, don’t crease up, and I find them very easy to use.

Here’s Why Cream Shadows Work So Well for Mature Skin

Hydrating and Comfortable

Cream formulas tend to be more moisturizing than powders, making them perfect for delicate eyelid skin.

Buildable and Blendable

Whether you want a subtle wash of color or a bold smoky look, cream shadows allow for easy blending and layering.

Long-Lasting

Modern matte cream eyeshadows are designed to stay put, avoiding smudging or creasing – especially important in cooler months when skin can get drier.

Flattering for Mature Eyes

The matte finish avoids the shiny, aging effect that sometimes comes with shimmer or glitter shadows.

Fall/Winter 2025 Makeup Trends: The Modern Smokey Eye

The smokey eye has been a glam staple forever, but this season, it’s all about soft, diffused edges and rich, matte finishes. Think cozy, sophisticated, and a little bit sultry – perfect for holiday parties, date nights, or just making us feel fabulous on a regular Tuesday.

This season’s smokey eye isn’t about harsh lines; it’s about blending shades seamlessly for a natural yet impactful look. Matte cream eyeshadows are ideal because they meld effortlessly into the skin, creating that perfect smokey effect without the heaviness or shimmery fallout.

With that in mind, here is a step-by-step guide to achieve Tracy Jo’s smokey eye look!

#1 Base, Baby

For any strong eye makeup look, it’s important to use foundation and maybe concealer to remove any discolorations. Tracy Jo has some redness around her eyes that, once covered, open up her eye space for some beautiful warm tones to bring out her blue eyes. If you have very oily eyelids, sometimes an extra eye base is needed, or maybe a little powder. In Tracy Jo’s case, the primer in the eye shadow worked wonderfully well and nothing else was needed.

Pro Tip: If you have brown discoloration around your eye area, be sure to use a peach or orange toned concealer, depending on your skin color, to cover it. A rosy toned concealer will make your skin turn ashy and grey. Not a good look.

#2 Layer Colors and Blend

I started with Toffee that, used alone, could easily be an everyday shade for Tracy Jo. Warm tones are great for nearly everyone, and in the video you can see how much this enhanced her eyes. After that, I used Espresso in her crease and around her eye. I kept it away from her eyelid, because sometimes that can make deep-set eyes look even deeper.

In order to blend like a beast, use a circling method with the brush like in the video. If your eyes can handle it, use the product under your eyes like I did, otherwise keep it only on the top lashline. If you want, you can toss on a lighter shade in the middle of the lid, or, if you’re feeling festive, a little glimmer works well.

Pro Tip: You can do the opposite and start with the darkest shade, Espresso, and then soften the edges with Toffee. Do what works best for you! Also, if you notice your foundation softens the shadow colors too much, then apply the product straight to the skin.

#3 Water Repellant Eyeliner

On mature skin, I prefer to use gel eyeliners that are water repellant. They tend to go on easily, not bleed, and are simple to remove at the end of the day. For Tracy Jo’s smokey eye look, I grabbed Mocha eye pencil for the top eye line, and Mulberry for her waterline and under her eye. If you want to keep things simple, then just pick one shade for everything.

Keeping the liner close to her lashes, I applied it and then blended toward her ear with a soft brush. The trick is to use the right amount so that it’s not garish or heavy. I recommend applying liner to your waterline – this really strengthens the smokey look or any look for that matter.

Pro Tip: Getting the eyeliner as tight to your lashes as possible takes practice, but it’s worth it. A simple trick is to balance the heel of your hand on your jaw to better control the pencil. Then pull your eye a little for a smooth surface to run the pencil along. This works best with a very soft gel pencil or kohl liner. If you’re having problems, the issue is usually a hard or difficult to blend eyeliner.

#4 Mascara + Mascara

I love lots of mascara on the top lashes for this look. On Tracy Jo, I’m using a Navy Blue mascara which, in conjunction with all the warm tones, really helps to pop her eyes. If you are brave, try using false lashes in either a strip or individual form. It’s extra work, but it can be very impressive and fancy! Personally, false lashes make me crazy so I stick with a lengthening mascara like the one on Tracy Jo. With two layers applied, her lashes are gorgeous!

Pro Tip: To apply mascara like a gangster, coat them first with the tip of the wand, then get as close to the base of the lashes as possible and go upward. This adds density and length.

Final Tips for Smokey Eyes

To prevent any brain explosions, go at this a few times before wearing it out of the house. You will get better with practice and soon you’ll be tossing on a smokey look to walk the dog, go to the store, or check the mail. With only two eye shadows and one gel pencil, you will be a pro in no time. Remember to blend like a beast and apply mascara like a gangster. Who says aging can’t be fun?

If you want to check out any of the products mentioned in the article, use the code THEBEAUTYSHAMAN for 10% off PrimePrometics.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is your favorite makeup look? Do you create the smoky eye often? How many products do you usually use?

Style Stealers

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Originally posted at: Lisa Hochstein’s Black Cropped Short Sleeve Cardigan and White Jeans