Every season I am suckered into trying the new trends in makeup. Partly because it’s my business, and partly because it’s funny. Not ha-ha funny, mind you, but funny in that I would look bananas wearing most beauty trends that hit the market.

That being said, don’t let that fact deter you from modifying certain looks to keep you looking current and, dare I say it, cool. (My daughters have said I will never be cool, but that never stopped me.)

For all the ‘cool’ mature ladies out there, here are my top three makeup trends that you can actually use in 2021 including lots of liner, lots of lashes, and lots of bold lipstick.

Lots of Eyeliner

The heavy eyeliner trend is, well, heavy, and not necessarily attractive depending on your eye shape, age, and general flavor. That being said, you can modify it by applying the pencil very close to the lash-line and using a slanted brush to soften it down.

Try MAC waterproof eyeliner pencil in Brown Border and MAC slanted eyeshadow brush 263 for ease of blending.

I recommend adding the waterproof eyeliner under your top lashes in your waterline to give a stronger liner look without appearing overly made up, and also putting it on the lower lash-line between your lashes. Both tricks will keep you looking modern and not like a drag queen, although I must say I’m a huge fan of drag queens.

Lots of Lashes

The extra thick and long lashes look we’ve all come to either loath or relish continues into fall 2021 with no signs of relinquishing. There are a few magical ways to achieve this look, some are more expensive than others, but all of them will get you there.

For those of you willing to lay down the cash, lash extensions are amazing and work wonders. That being said, you will have to return to have them touched up monthly to the tune of $150-250 per session. If you just choked, you’re not alone. However, many a thin-lashed woman has basked in worship at the undeniable effect of the pricey plunder.

For the more cost-conscious among us, an eyelash curler like Shu Uemura’s and repeat layers of your favorite semi-goopy mascara like Elf Volumizing Mascara will do the trick. If you prefer false lashes, try cutting them in half and just having the outer edge sit slightly above your lash line to further open up your eye area. In the video, I used Lashes in a Box, but any cheap false lashes will do.

Lots of Bold Lipstick

It’s so easy to get stuck using the same neutral lipstick because that’s what you plopped in your purse 10 years ago. It’s time to break free. Try a deeper tone of lipstick while avoiding the Cruella de Ville evil dog-snatcher look.

For example, if you like rosy tones, try a nice raspberry like Joanna from Jane Iredale. You can therefore stay in the same pink color family, but make it pop with a lip gloss and strategically applied lip liner. In the video, I demo how to use a neutral lip pencil to give you fuller, more pouty lips. I prefer to do this rather than using a matching liner because it softens down the bolder lip color.

Will we ever be cool? Will our respective family members ever actually say that if we update our makeup look? Who cares! As long as you don’t look like you’ve gone round-the-bend, trying new things is fun and a wonderful distraction from the current world events that threaten to swallow-up our good feelings.

For me, makeup is a transformational, buoyant pastime that keeps me focused on being my best and always being open to new ideas. Have fun!

Are you looking into fall makeup trends? Which ones have you found the most interesting and wearable for you? Do you think a particular makeup look makes you ‘cool’?  

For the past year, my skin has been dry, which is a new phenomenon for me. I tried multiple $40+ shower scrubs for exfoliation, but the $15 Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish bested them all. The consistency, the effects and the smell come together to turn any shower into a spa.

Although I’ve got my 7-step face skincare routine down, I’ve never paid much attention to my body (save your lectures, I know it’s bad). I know that I’m supposed to moisturize daily, but I really only remembered to do so when my skin felt noticeably dry. In the past year, I, like many other women—68 percent, in fact, according to Soap & Glory— are trying to spend more time on self-care. Exfoliating in the shower is an easy way to do that. You’re already in the shower, so you might as well take a few extra minutes.

The more expensive scrubs I’ve used in the past had grainy consistencies. As I rubbed them into my skin, I couldn’t tell if they were actually working. I just blindly assumed they were doing their jobs until I tried Soap & Glory’s Body Polish where I noticed an immediate difference after the first time. The scrub consists of sea salt, sugar, shea butter and apricot seed oil. This scrub felt softer and smoother in my hand, as I pulled some out of the jar. It didn’t separate and was easy to spread around my skin. It felt like I was not only sloughing away dead skin, but also getting a moisturizing boost (thanks to the shea butter).

When I stepped out the shower, I felt like I had already put a layer of moisturizer on. Plus, the sweet, rich smell of Soap & Glory’s Original Pink Fragrance followed me. This blend smells of rose, bergamot and citrus. It’s not overwhelming, but it smells like you just got out of an expensive spa treatment. It’s so calming.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of Soap and Glory.

All of the Soap & Glory bath and body products have that scent—unlike other brands, where the fragrances can be different. Other times, I’ve felt like I smelled a like Bath & Bodyworks—in a bad way—after inadvertently mixing so many scented shower, hair and body products. And every single one that I’ve tried is hydrating, so I’m definitely a convert.

I overhauled my entire bathing routine with Soap & Glory. I’ve also spotlighted a few other products that I think are buying in tandem with the body polish. Select Soap & Glory products are currently buy one and get one 40 percent off at Ulta, so now is the perfect time to stock up.

Courtesy of Soap and Glory.

Clarifying Shower Gel

While most body washes strip your skin of its natural moisture while removing dirt and the day’s grime, this body wash is so hydrating. I stepped out of the shower feeling like I had already put on some moisturizer.

Courtesy of Soap & Glory.

Body Butter

Made with shea butter and aloe vera, this body butter truly looks like butter—but unlike other body butters, it won’t leave your skin feeling greasy. Some body butters don’t seem to penetrate below the top layer of your skin, but this one will leave you feeling totally quenched,

Courtesy of Soap & Glory.

Bath & Body Oil

Forget bath bombs—opt for a bath oil instead. Get your moisturizing process started while relaxing with a glass of wine by just putting a little bit of this vegan oil directly into the water. You can also rub it into your skin

Courtesy of Soap & Glory.

Gift Set

Want to try a smattering of Soap & Glory products before committing? This gift set costs less than your last Seamless order, and you get the body scrub, shower gel, body moisturizer, the Vitamin C face wash and a plumping lip gloss.

Kyle Richards’ Red Tie Front Shirt Dress

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 Episode 13 Fashion

On the previews of tonight’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Kyle Richards seems to be hosting a holiday party and chose the perfect red tie front shirt dress for the occasion. And I think, much like her house plant, her outfit is also on fire. And you know what to do when something is on fire, blow it out. Except for when it comes to a dress like Kyle’s. Then what you have to do is blow some money to get something similar. Thankfully we have some in our Style Stealers below that will have you looking like a total smoke show.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to See Her The Attico Red Tie Front Shirt Dress

Click Here for Details on her Earrings

Originally posted at: Kyle Richards’ Red Tie Front Shirt Dress

Kathy Hilton’s Black Pearl Embellished Dress at Kyle’s Party

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 11 Episode 13 Fashion

Kathy Hilton looks classy af in her black pearl embellished dress at Kyle’s party. Though it’s always great to see what she’s wearing, I honestly live to hear what she’s saying. She has seriously made this season with her crazy lines. I mean what is “having a gorilla”? Who knows lol. What I do know is that when it comes to her style it’s just as unique as her dialogue. And even though this dress is sold out, there are Style Stealers below that are just as honky dory.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to See Her Miu Miu Dress

Originally posted at: Kathy Hilton’s Black Pearl Embellished Dress

There are some nutrients that we all tend to worry about not getting enough of as we age. I would put calcium in this group. We are usually so concerned about not including enough calcium in our diet that we take any number of supplements (and often unnecessarily) just “to be on the safe side.”

But there is a nutrient – protein – which we probably don’t even give a second thought since we take it for granted that we get enough of it. But by taking protein for granted, we may unknowingly be putting our health at risk. This is because aging tends to make it harder for us to absorb and effectively use the protein we consume at a time in our lives when we may need more of it to protect our health.

As we age, many of us may have decreased appetite, loss of taste and dental problems that may impact our protein intake. It’s almost as if our bodies are conspiring against us when it comes to protein! In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging suggested that almost 46 percent of adults over the age of 51 don’t get enough protein.

Protein 101

Protein is necessary to help build muscle mass. It is also important to keep our immune systems healthy, give us energy, maintain the correct balance of hormones in our bodies and repair cells. There are over 10,000 different types of proteins in our bodies. Our bodies break these proteins down into their constituent building blocks (amino acids), which are then used to keep us healthy.

Women Need More Protein as We Age

While it may seem almost counterintuitive to some people, boomer women need more protein now than we did in our younger years. One reason is for the health benefits it offers. The other is because our mature bodies simply are not as good at using the protein we eat as they were when we were 40 years old – so we may need to compensate by taking more.

Let’s look at why we need to make sure we are getting enough protein:

Fall Prevention

We need adequate amounts of protein to maintain muscle mass and strength, both of which are important for helping prevent falls while keeping us mobile and agile.

Sarcopenia

As we get older, we run the risk of developing a condition known as sarcopenia, which is a loss in muscle mass and strength. One of the biggest drivers of sarcopenia is menopause-related hormonal changes. Adequate protein can help counter these issues by keeping our muscles healthy.

Sedentary Lifestyle

As a group, we tend to be more sedentary than we were when we were younger, and this also contributes to loss of muscle mass. Many people first notice this loss in their legs.

Lower Nutritional Reserves

When we were younger, we had what could be called “nutritional reserves” that our bodies could tap into when needed, but these reserves are lower in boomer women.

Daily Tasks

Some suggest that boomers who get enough protein are more likely do better maintaining their ability to do daily tasks such as dressing themselves, using the stairs and walking.

Liver Issues

Getting enough protein may also help reduce our risk of developing a fatty liver.

Stroke

There is a link between getting enough protein and possibly reducing the risk for stroke. (In one study from China, people who had the most protein in their diets were 20 percent less likely to have had a stroke during the study.)

How to Be Proactive with Protein

Most people believe that if they are getting the recommended daily amount of protein (better known as the RDA), or of any other nutrient for that matter, they are fine from a nutritional perspective. However, the RDA is the minimum amount of a nutrient that you need to stay healthy. I like to look at it as a starting point rather than as an absolute number.

In the case of protein, the RDA for adults over 19 years old is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. This means that, according to the RDA, a 140-pound woman needs around 51 grams of protein a day. To put this in perspective, a salad with a cup of shredded chicken breast and a hard-boiled egg clocks in at around 49 grams of protein. So, it’s fairly easy for most of us to get the RDA for protein throughout the day.

Credible research suggests that boomer women should be targeting at least 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. Using the same 140-pound woman as an example, a target of 1.2 grams per kilogram as a minimum means she should be consuming 76 grams of protein. This is an increase of almost 50 percent!

Note: Before upping your protein intake, please be sure to consult with a competent healthcare practitioner since it may not be indicated for people with kidney disease.

What About Protein Supplements?

I am a big supporter of the belief that we should get as many of the nutrients our bodies need from food (preferably primarily plant based and cooked at home since we can then control exactly what and how much we are eating). Nutrients in our food are more readily used by our bodies and they also have many other benefits such as fiber and antioxidants.

While many of us should be able to get the protein we need from our diets, it gets more challenging as we age to absorb nutrients from food. So, if after adding more protein-rich foods to your menu, you still are not getting enough protein, your doctor may suggest taking a protein supplement.

If your doctor says a protein supplement (such as a protein powder) would be a good addition to your nutritional tool kit, make sure you are getting one that meets your needs and that it does not have ingredients that could undermine your efforts at good nutrition. These include contaminants, sugars, and artificial colors.

Also be sure you are not allergic to any ingredients, such as soy, whey, egg, rice, peas, or hemp, all of which are used in the manufacture of protein powders.

Last, but not least, having a comprehensive nutrient test on a regular basis can help make sure you are on track with your protein and other nutrients.

Have you ever spoken with your doctor about how much protein you should be getting a day? Have you ever been told you may not be getting enough protein in your diet? If so, what do you do about it? Do you regularly eat foods that are good sources of protein? Do you currently take protein supplements? Please join the conversation.