Sephora’s big spring sale may be over, but the revolving door of new Sephora products launching every month is always on the move. In the case of May, it’s all about keeping things light, as in lightweight and summer-friendly. I know a lot of us are still doing the stay-at-home thing, but a new season is still on the horizon and your current routine may or may not need some sprucing up.

For the most part, makeup and skincare are dominating this month’s dreamy drops. Armani Beauty and Clinique are just two of many brands with glowy, tinted coverage while Glow Recipe and Fresh have standout formulas for getting sunkissed, dewy skin. However, let’s not overlook a sweet-smelling dry shampoo from Kerastase and clean leave-in from Playa. Ahead, some of our favorite newbies making their Sephora debut this month.

Armani Beauty.

Armani Beauty Neo Nude Foundation

A skincare-infused foundation with buildable coverage for all skin types.

Belif.

Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb Aloe Vera

The brand’s iconic True Cream has been reinvented once again; this time with the soothing properties of aloe vera.

Charlotte Tilbury.

Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir

Before applying any of the iconic makeup artist’s classic coverage options, treat your skin to a brightening boost with this vitamin C and polyglutamic acid-infused formula for targeting dark spots and fine lines.

Clinique.

Clinique Moisture Surge SheerTint Hydrator Broad Spectrum SPF 25

A lightweight tinted moisturizer with built-in sun protection and 12 hours of hydrated wear.

Dr. Jart+.

Dr. Jart+ Cyro Rubber Masks

Four new versions of the brand’s popular rubber mask to improve skin brightness, moisture, firmness and overall calmness.

Fenty Beauty.

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush

Choose from 10 shades of this light-as-air, natural-looking wash of color.

Fenty Beauty.

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer

Pair the blush with this equally lightweight cream bronzer for an illuminated complexion.

Fresh.

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum

A lightweight oil made with squalane to deliver hydration and a dewy, non-greasy glow.

Glow Recipe.

Glow Recipe My Watermelon Glow Vanity Set

Three of the brand’s best-selling products in a cost-effective set for your best skin yet: the Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask, Banana Soufflé Moisture Cream, and Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist.

Glow Recipe.

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow PHA + BHA Pore Tight Toner

There’s already a waiting list for this gentle, exfoliating toner for improved hydration and minimizing the appearance of pores.

Hourglass.

Hourglass Veil Eye Primer

One of the newest additions to Hourglass’s Veil range is a vitamin C and E-infused primer for increasing the wear of your eyeshadow.

Kate Somerville.

Kate Somerville Delikate Recovery Cream

Somerville’s new “Delikate” range was created for sensitive skin types who want effective skincare solutions sans irritation. The hero product of this collection is a calming moisturizer that minimizes tightness and redness with peptides, ceramides, and standout plant extracts.

Kerastase.

Kerastase Fresh Affair Fine Fragrance Dry Shampoo

A lightweight, instant oil-absorber that suits all hair types and leaves behind a clean 24-hour fragrance.

Lancome.

Lancome Juicy Tubes Original Lip Gloss

Shine and hydration minus the stickiness is the best way to describe this luminous gloss, available in nine shades.

Mario Badescu.

Mario Badescu Super Peptide Serum

If your main skincare concern is age spots, this peptide and green tea-infused serum both reduces and defends against future damage with consistent use.

Milk Makeup.

Milk Makeup Melatonin Overnight Serum

Suitable for all skin types, this solid serum proves that melatonin isn’t just an amazing sleep aid. It’s also a source of antioxidants for protection against environmental stressors, like harsh weather and sun exposure.

Ouai.

Ouai Detox Shampoo

Check out our review to see this clarifying cleanser (made with apple cider vinegar and keratin in action.

Playa.

Playa Monoi Milk Leave-In Conditioner

Tahitian monoi oil, the star ingredient of this clean leave-in for chemically-treated or damaged hair, penetrates the hair shaft to heal, soften and strengthen.

(Launches 5/5)

Summer Fridays.

Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser

11 custom-selected amino acids, supercharged seawater, and more make this sensitive skin-friendly cleanser a multi-beneficial solution for excess oil production, elasticity loss, and more.

Supergoop!.

Supergoop! Glowscreen Sunscreen SPF 40

This illuminating makeup primer is equipped with blue light protection and a pearlescent finish.

tarte cosmetics.

Tarte SEA Hydrocealer Concealer

As noted in our review, this lightweight concealer is the perfect alternative for those who love Shape Tape but find it a bit too heavy for their skin.

Tatcha.

Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas Featherweight Protective Primer

This pre-makeup product is quite literally “liquid silk,” with multiple silk ingredients layered inside the anti-pollutant formula.

YSL.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick Love Collector’s Edition

Your new go-to red lipstick could be one of these four limited-edition, oil and butter-infused lippies, housed in special edition art pop packaging.

Wishful.

Wishful Thirst Trap Cocoon Mask

Huda Kattan made sure to pack this soothing and hydrating mask with all of her favorite skincare ingredients: rose, aloe vera, and more.

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 and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

We have all seen our lives change due to the Coronavirus. Whether we are in lockdown, observing reduced contact with others (social distancing), or even just pondering the effects of the global economy in turmoil, the impact is hard to truly measure.

With the general tendency to spend more time at home and with fewer people, a great opportunity arises to spend time on self-development and indeed, our hobbies.

A question I am often asked as a musical educator is whether now is a good time to learn a musical instrument.

I believe now is an excellent time to learn for the following reasons:

• Having personal time that we didn’t have before is great if we use it well.
• Being busy is truly a gift in these times.
• Witnessing self-improvement can give us positivity that we really need right now.

If you feel like the time is right, then here are a few things to think about to help you get started. You will need to find three things in order to learn effectively:

• the right instrument
• a learning path (teacher/courses)
• your practice space.

But what do these look like during Coronavirus?

The Instrument

The biggest factor in choosing an instrument to play is passion. For example, if you have always dreamed of playing guitar and you regularly watch YouTube videos of guitar players you admire, don’t go out and buy a piano!

Your passion is the one gift you have that brings you to the practice seat each day. A great question to ask yourself is: “What instrument have I previously dreamed of playing?”

Another important factor during Coronavirus times is how to acquire an instrument. Many stores are closed, and you’ll either have to order online or maybe you are lucky enough and already have an instrument that’s been picking up dust.

If you are ordering an instrument online, then check the reviews of the product on Amazon. Even a lower budget product should have excellent ratings if it’s good value for money.

For example, the Yamaha F310 guitar has excellent reviews at a low price and can be purchased in a starter pack that has everything you would need (capo, straps, strings, plectrums).

It’s also worth checking delivery times for everything you order right now. All delivery services will rightfully prioritize the delivery of essential items and therefore non-essential items (like your musical instrument!) may take longer to arrive.

The important thing is to choose an instrument that you would be really excited to play – and to check reviews and order times before you buy.

The Instruction

During times of Coronavirus, it may not be possible to drive over to a teacher’s house to take lessons. The good news is that there are very effective online courses for every instrument these days.

There are three things to look for when evaluating an online course:

Student Reviews

Reviews are the most important way to evaluate online courses. When checking reviews, you want a popular course (many reviews) and a quality course (high scores). Read the review messages to get more insight into the course and what past students said.

Available Previews

Previews enable you to watch a selection of the lessons without subscribing to the course. This enables you to get a feel of the teacher before you make a decision.

Do you like their way off communicating? Do you feel they have a structured approach? For example, I have made public a few of the lessons on my beginner guitar course. Previews are important because we all learn in different ways, and we need to find a teacher we like.

Course Price

Price is obviously very important. Given that a music teacher may cost $50–100 per individual lesson, many people feel spending that amount or a bit more on a really good online course is justifiable. Bear in mind you want the most effective course rather than the cheapest!

The Space

One of the often under-looked elements of learning a musical instrument is having a space to practice. Ideally, you want to have a place that you can easily visit, that has your instrument waiting, and that won’t be typically used by other people during the time you want to practice.

If you live in a large house with a garden and balcony, then this may not be an issue but if you live in a small 2-bedroom apartment, it may be more of a challenge!

Another thing to consider is how you can practice without disturbing anyone else. As you can imagine, this is harder to accomplish with a full drum kit than it is with a piano or guitar.

Take it from me, when you even suspect you may be annoying someone else, it is very hard to play freely. This is particularly true in the early days of learning the instrument when we’re not going to sound like Mozart!

Don’t Forget

Now is the perfect time to learn a musical instrument! It’s possible to order an instrument online and choose effective online courses for any instrument.

Choose an instrument that you would be passionate to learn and find learning materials that other students have rated and liked.

It won’t be long before your practice area is your favorite space in your house!

What musical instrument do you want to learn to play? Have you looked up instrument options, prices, and available courses? Do you have a space in your house to practice a musical instrument? Let’s have a conversation!

“Age has no reality except in the physical world. The essence of a human being is resistant to the passage of time” — Gabriel Garcia Marquez

In our youth-oriented society, women are often written-off by age, and if you watch TV or read articles, you would think that after 40 we begin a wild ride up and over the hill. It’s as if we begin a steady course toward invisibility.

Hollywood actresses are vocal about this on the rare occasion that they’re given the mic. They state clearly that good roles are not forthcoming for those who are losing or have lost their youthful movie star looks. Their talent and experience are rendered obsolete with the passage of time.

The 40s and 50s are often lumped together, and God forbid we’ve hit 70 because then we’re not even considered part of a focus group unless we are shopping for long-term care or are in the market for one of the thousands of pills and treatments offered by doctors and pharmaceutical companies.

In the cinema and on television, one would believe that females have a 42-year life span – not to mention on social media, where it looks like an extra decade is shaved off – when in reality, we ladies of the past have done most of the things that young women are striving for and stressing about today.

We’re Way Ahead

We’ve graduated from schools, thrived in careers, loved and lost relationships, mastered marriage, proudly parented, suffered through divorce and/or widowhood, and given back through enormous amounts of volunteer work.

We’ve taken girls to soccer and boys to baseball practice. We’ve cheered, coached, cajoled, pleaded, screamed, taken parenting classes, and all in all, have managed to survive our children’s tumultuous lives still standing.

We have loved, been loved, compromised, argued, and nurtured. According to an insurance company’s pitch on TV, the average age that a woman becomes a widow is 58, so apparently, we have also managed to outlive men.

We’re Not All Somebody’s Mom

Some of us have decided against children and focused on our careers. We’ve traveled for business and pleasure, and some have balanced both children and important careers while managing homes and social obligations.

We have worn a great number and variety of hats. We have dealt with change bravely. We started the Women’s Movement, for Pete’s sake!

We’ve had our failures and our major successes; we have had our share of medical scares and complications, and most of all, we’re still here, strong and still standing.

Look Around, We’re Everywhere

We are a force to be reckoned with and yet, our image is distorted. On TV we are portrayed as the doting grandmothers that a lot of us are not. Even if and when we become grandmothers, we do not all fit comfortably into the role assigned to us by others.

Some make fun of us as the frumpy and meddling “mother-in-law” that our daughter’s husband dreads to speak to on the phone, when the truth is that we get more calls from our children telling us about their challenges than make those calls ourselves.

For our trials and tribulations, we count on our girlfriends, and those of us with good insurance hire a therapist.

You should not let the media’s ageist proclivities blind you when you look at those 60 and over. A lot of us are starting new and exciting phases in our lives. We try new professional and personal activities and many of us are exploring the world.

Most of us are considering our options to see what to do next. Yes, even at this time in our lives. Whether it is a new job, a volunteer role, taking care of grandchildren or pursuing a new hobby, we bring with us passion and commitment and a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the world.

Be Invincible!

Here are 9 ways that can help you on your path toward invincibility:

Don’t Be Afraid to Explore

Try new professional and personal activities. Consider your options to see what you want to do next, as opposed to what you need to do next. Sometimes you can even combine the two!

Never stop doing what you like to do. Learn new skills. Play new games. Take a class. Teach a class.

Pay Attention to Your Friends and Family

Nurture your relationships with those you love without the constraints of schedules or other people’s needs.

Your Spirituality Matters

Embrace your spirituality in whichever form you choose to manifest your beliefs.

Take Care of Yourself

Learn new ways to eat better, exercise smarter, and stay well, regardless and in spite of your growing aches and pains.

Embrace Your Looks and Learn to Experiment

Accept your body, your style, your own way of dressing and yet be open to experimenting with a new look, a new hairstyle, fun new makeup.

Nourish Your Cultural Self

Enrich yourself with knowledge and the enjoyment of books, art, music, cinema, and the theater.

Follow New Horizons

When the global pandemic is over, plan a trip to discover a new city, a town near you, or be adventurous and travel further. You can travel with a group, go solo, or convince a friend to travel with you.

Volunteer

Join an organization or group that you support and use your experience and your strong voice to help your community. Run for office!

As you age, do you feel invisible or invincible? What are your plans for embracing invincibility? Please share your thoughts and let’s have a conversation!

61-year-old Janet arrived at the makeup counter wearing full makeup. As she gradually became more comfortable talking with me, she shared that her 9^th grade best friend had taught her how to use makeup. They’d arrive at school early and sneak into the bathroom to put on their makeup together.

The minute I saw her, I knew she was still using the makeup techniques she’d learned as a young woman. Unfortunately, the makeup she was wearing did exactly the opposite of what Janet wanted: it aged her by at least 10–15 years.

Janet’s Story Is Not Unusual

Janet’s story is one I hear often. Whether we learned how to put on our makeup from our moms, a stylish aunt or Seventeen Magazine, most of us Baby Boomers are still using the same techniques that we learned when listening to Dion or Bobby Vee.

But what worked for us in our teens, 20s and 30s just doesn’t work as we hit our 40s and move beyond. Yet it’s totally understandable that we don’t know what to do differently, because where do we learn the makeup techniques that will work best for us now?

Only one of the major cosmetic company websites provides a single online makeup tutorial featuring an older woman – and that lasts for about 10 seconds. So many of us, understandably, just keep doing what we’ve been doing all our lives.

The Makeup Tips

Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing a variety of makeup tips and techniques – specifically for those of us who are over 60 – that can help us look our best now. Below are four of these tips which can make a big difference in your life.

Eyeliner

I think we can all picture a magazine ad featuring a woman in her 20s with thick black eyeliner above and below her eyes. Yes, eyeliner can definitely define and draw attention to our eyes, but the key to beautiful eyeliner in our 60s and beyond is to lighten the look and make it more natural.

A dark brown or gray eyeliner pencil is far more flattering than the thick black one we used in our younger years. And to create the most natural look, smudge the eyeliner with a Q-tip.

Not only does smudging the eyeliner soften the look, but it also means that those of us who can’t draw a perfect line along our lashes anymore – and let’s face it, who among us can? –  are able to smudge that line so it looks absolutely flawless.

As for eyeliner below the eye, it’s an absolute yes, with two major caveats.

Consider using a lighter color than you used for the eyeliner above your eye and – unless you have huge, to-die for eyes – only draw that line along the outer third of your bottom lashes. To create an even softer look, use eyeshadow instead of eyeliner.

Blush

Do you worry about blush going terribly wrong? Both the color and the placement of blush become very important as more birthday candles appear on our cake.

Our skin tone can definitely change over the years. So those of us who read Carol Jackson’s book Color Me Beautiful back in the 80s and figured out we were an ‘autumn’ or a ‘winter’ may no longer find those same color swatches to be as flattering.

But it’s still important to gauge whether your skin has a warm or cool undertone. If your undertone is warm, stick with coral or peach toned blush, and if your undertone is cool, go with pink and berry tones. (We’ll talk about how to determine your skin undertone in a future article).

Haven’t we always been told to put blush on the apples of our cheeks? But where have those apples gone, ladies?

Let’s work against Mother Nature and gravity by placing the blush slightly below the tops of our cheekbones, at least two finger widths from our nose and bringing it up toward the outer corner of our eye.

If you have dry skin, opt for cream blush over powder and add a touch of moisturizer on top of the blush to create a beautiful glow.

The Right Lip Color

Though the ‘nude’ lip look might be the trend, it can wash us out. So think about adding a touch more color to the lips. Go for one to two shades darker than your natural lip color.

And since very dark (and matte) lipstick can age us, consider choosing a slightly brighter color with shine or luminosity. A touch of gloss in the middle of the lower lip can create a light-enhancing glow.

It’s amazing how just the right lipstick color can brighten the entire face and create a truly radiant look. So it’s worth “trying out” some new lipstick shades at the makeup counter and even going outside your comfort zone to test some new shades.

Curiously, research has shown that the right lip and blush color – along with two other techniques – can help us look 5–20 years younger.

Eye Shadow Placement

A swath of color across the eyelids has been a typical go-to look for most of us. But to make our eyes look bigger, try patting a vanilla colored shadow on your eyelids from your eyelashes to the crease.

Use a medium tone shade in the crease – and slightly above the crease if you have hooded eyes. To create the medium tone for the crease area, consider mixing two or three cool and warm tones together such as a light orange tone with a medium cool brown.

It can make your eyes pop without looking garish. Then use a touch of the vanilla colored shadow just beneath the arch of your eyebrow to lift the eye, as well as at the inner corner of the eye.

And, as always, the secret to a flawless eyeshadow look is blending, blending and then more blending with a clean brush.

You’ll find that just a few small changes – with these tips in mind – can make a world of difference.

Have you changed your makeup routine since you were a young woman? What do you do differently now that works better for you? What other changes can you recommend for women in our community? Please join the conversation and share your tips with us!

At an Aspen dinner party, martini in hand, Chris Crowley chatted with an Exercise Science and Muscle Physiology researcher. This PhD showed Chris a graph of normal aging patterns in our country. According to the data, after age 50, people tend to gain weight, move slower, and develop aches and pains. 

One man represented on the chart seemed to hold steady. He didn’t slide downhill as he grew older. The researcher explained the man was a “serious exerciser.” “Exercise seems to make a big difference in how we age,” he explained to Chris. 

“I Want to Be That Guy”

In 2004, the first of the Younger Next Year string of books, written by Chris and Dr. Henry (Harry) Lodge, debuted. In alternating chapters, Harry’s medical expertise and Chris’ anecdotes about life after 60 remind readers “we do have to age.”

“But we don’t have to rot,” says Chris. 

And it all starts with exercise.

Almost 30 years ago, Chris retired from a fancy Wall Street law practice. “What’s next?” he wondered. His own father had died of “terrible old age.” “And I didn’t want that for my life,” Chris says. 

He wanted to spend his remaining years navigating ski slopes and bike trails and foreign cities with friends. A few pounds overweight, with his share of stiff and sore joints, Chris wondered if he could get older and skip the frailty that often comes along.

Dr. Henry Lodge, an NYC physician and medical professor 25 years younger than Chris, wanted to help spread the message about ways to live a vibrant life into old age.

Rule #1 – Exercise 6 Days a Week

Their first rule? Make exercise a job. They outline the hows and whys to get moving six days a week, including four days of aerobics and two days of strength training.

“Even if we work hard at it, we will still lose a certain amount of muscle mass and coordination and balance,” says Chris. And exercise helps our minds too. 

Until age 60, Chris was a “weekend exercise guy.” The idea of beefing up his regimen and committing to a daily workout? “Holy Toledo! But I wanted to ski and bike, and I didn’t want to age like my dad,” he says. 

Rule #2 – Cut Out the Junk

“Do you ever eat junk?” I ask. “All the time,” Chris admits. But, for the most part, he and his wife cook and eat healthy food.

Chris is diligent about hopping on a bike and picking up weights. But he does give in to hot dogs and french fries – and his martinis.

He believes part of Younger Next Year’s popularity is that the advice is the sort many can learn to heed. Chris doesn’t punish himself – unless you count a 20-mile bike ride as punishment.

But it’s not all exercise. Or reasonable nutrition and “cutting out the crap.” 

Rule #3 – Connect and Commit

Chris and Harry want us to make a job out of our social lives too. They’ve learned, through medical training and experience, engagement keeps us younger. “My mantra is to say yes,” Chris says.

When approached to organize his high school reunion, Chris was initially not interested. “Too much trouble, too much work, I’m busy,” he remembers. But his mind and attitude and disposition reaped the benefits of the commitment, work, and conversation involved. 

“One of the great tricks in life – especially if you’re thinking of getting old, is to make new friends all the way through.” — Chris Crowley

It’s Never Too Late

Chris is living proof it’s never too late to start. At 85, exercise is his top priority. When I spoke with Chris via Zoom, he’d just finished a two-hour bike ride through the rolling hills of his rural Connecticut town. He rides most days or takes a spin class or lifts weights in the barn converted into a “wonderful gym” on his property. 

“Do I want to do all this? NO! But I’ve learned we start to decay – around 50 – unless we teach our bodies to do otherwise,” Chris says.

His knee replacement and two “scary heart procedures” have slowed him down – a little – in the last two years. And his birthday last fall was unsettling. “I see the waterfall coming,” he says. But he loves to speak and write and is proud to encourage others to live a better life. 

At the beginning of the pandemic and stay at home rules, I scoured the Internet for online workouts and yoga videos. I read a few articles about household items to substitute as weights. And that’s where I stopped. 

I miss my exercise classes at the Y and sweating along with friends. I walk through my neighborhood and do a few pushups and leg lifts here and there. And that’s about it. 

So, I’ll flip through Chris’ book n again. And get inspired to move – now. No more excuses. After all, what am I waiting for? 

Are you still exercising while quarantined? How many days a week do you exercise? How do you feel now, as compared to when you turned 50? Do you feel you are committed and engaged socially? Please share your observations with our sisters!