Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

Ladies, I always enjoy reading your feedback and comments – and after 30 years, I still learn from all of you! Considering about 35-40% of my clients are men in the 50–80-year-old age group, believe me, after a recent divorce or being widowed, they definitely need help from the opposite sex on what resonates with you.

So, here are my thoughts – and at the end, I’d love to hear from you if I may have missed any!

1. Choose High-Quality Photos That Show the Real You

Don’t post one or two photos – post at least five. And they must be from the last two years. So, no photos from 10 years ago or your high school yearbook shot!

• A clear headshot with a genuine smile is a must.
• Include a full-body shot with natural lighting.
• Show off your hobbies with an action shot – whether you’re hiking, playing sports, or doing something else that defines you. We don’t care about your LinkedIn photo!

2. Write a Bio That’s Authentic and Captivating

Ok, wait a minute – maybe we should just say WRITE A BIO! Why do so many men skip that section? We want to hear your voice, your tone – it doesn’t need to be 10 paragraphs but at least one would be nice.

Your bio is your chance to introduce yourself beyond photos, so make it count. Keep it real, fun, and to the point – and skip generic lines like “I love to travel” or “I’m a foodie,” and share something unique about yourself.

• Highlight a quirky hobby or fun fact.
• Keep it short but intriguing… or ask us a question! As in “Where would you like to travel to next?” That can be engaging!
• Add a touch of humor if that’s your style.

3. Start Conversations with Confidence

Your first message can make or break your chances of getting a reply, so start strong. We can tell if it’s a copy/paste! And, always start by using our name.

Skip the “Hey” or “What’s up?” and take a moment to reference something specific from our profile to show you’re genuinely interested.

• If we love hiking, ask about our favorite trails.
• If we mention a pet, ask about its name, breed or personality.
• If we are into movies or music, ask for recommendations.

Confidence paired with a personal touch will show you’re serious about getting to know us.

4. Understand What Works for Women

Many online dating tips for women emphasize honesty, clear intentions, and great communication – and guess what? These principles work for men too.

So, please don’t lie about your age or height. Whether you are 71 and 5”6’ or 67 and 6”2’, we appreciate your honesty. And we are promising not to do the same!

• Be upfront about what you’re looking for but be respectful.
• Don’t send a message, then another, then another – it looks desperate – and give us a chance to respond. So, no double or triple texting.

5. Keep the Conversation Flowing (And Balanced)

A good conversation is a two-way street, so don’t dominate the chat or stay silent. Ask open-ended questions, share bits about yourself, and match our energy to keep things flowing.

After two messages back and forth each, ask us to lunch or coffee with a specific date and place in mind – it is so appreciated! When we do the same with you, please answer us back with a “great” or “your seem great, but I don’t think we are a match.” Be upfront and don’t leave us hanging!

Share a personal story or experience to deepen the conversation.

6. Skip the Cheesy Pickup Lines

You wouldn’t believe how many of these we get! Most pickup lines are a turnoff. Instead of relying on cliches, offer genuine compliments and focus on shared interests.

• Comment on something in our profile that caught your attention.
• Keep it light but engaging.
• Express genuine curiosity about who we are.

7. Be Patient

If we don’t respond quickly, know it may not be you. We may be on vacation or have a family issue going on.

Respect our pace and don’t rush the interaction.

8. Plan the First Date Thoughtfully

A well-thought-out first date will help set a positive tone for the rest of our relationship.

9. Be Positive and Self-Assured

Confidence is key, but it’s important to strike a balance between self-assurance and humility.

Be confident without coming off as arrogant. What can come off as arrogant to us is a list of “must-haves” – we are not talking 2 or 3 – but over that is quite a bit!

10. Keep Improving Through Experience

Not every match will turn into a relationship, and that’s okay. Learn from each interaction and refine your approach over time.

• Pay attention to what works (and what doesn’t).
• Get feedback from trusted friends or a good dating coach.
• Page 401 of my new book: 2nd Acts: Winning Strategies for Dating offers a simple log you can use to keep track of your online encounters! You may think you are messaging many people – but this way you have accountability. Each time you are online, send 5 thoughtful new messages.

And remember: online dating is a fast-paced game, so don’t overthink your messages. If you’ve got a great line or question in mind, go for it – waiting too long might cause you to miss out on a great woman!

Reader Questions:

Tell me ladies – what else should men know? Which tip do you think most men have a tendency to skip?

You can count on these LED masks to help smooth fine lines and keep acne at bay.

Do you remember back in the 90s and early 2000s when much of drugstore makeup was. quite honestly, a hot mess? It didn’t apply well, it wasn’t very long-lasting and for the most part, it just didn’t look very good.

Well, fortunately, in the mid-2000s, drugstore makeup seemed to flip a switch and transform from caterpillar to butterfly. But now – with manufacturing costs soaring, drugstore prices are climbing and drugstore brands are often trying to replicate current high-end makeup trends. So, the questions many of us have are: Are drugstore brands still able to give high-end brands a run for their money? And – most importantly – do drugstore products work on our mature skin?

So, our mission today is to answer these questions by discovering if some newer drugstore products are indeed worth purchasing, or will they end up just sitting unused in our makeup drawer. I’ll also share some recent great affordable skincare finds.

Affordable Skincare Finds

Let’s start with skincare. I’ve recently started applying the Versed Weekend Glow Brightening Serum from the clean beauty drugstore skincare brand Versed. Versed launched in 2019 with the goal of providing clean, effective formulas packaged in environmentally conscious materials at affordable prices. They’re dermatologist tested, safe for sensitive skin, vegan and cruelty free.

And something I personally really love about this brand is that they very clearly state on each product who the product is for, how to use it, where to use it and when to use it. It’s amazing to me that this very helpful information is often missing from many skincare products. Versed was very kind to send me the products I’ll be sharing with you in the accompanying video, but I’ve used a number of their products previously and have had really good experiences with them.

The Brightening Serum is a daily-use antioxidant serum formulated with Vitamin C to brighten the skin, licorice root to even out the skin tone and Niacinamide for hydration and additional radiance.

Two more key skincare products from Versed that I’m really liking are their under eye brightening gel and their moisturizer. The eye gel is a lightweight, caffeine infused gel which cools on contact with the skin due to its metal tipped applicator. It helps reduce puffiness and targets dark circles.

The Versed Skin Soak Moisturizer is ultra hydrating with hyaluronic acid, squalane, sodium hyaluronate and red algae extract. I’ve found this to be a perfect moisturizer to use under makeup since it’s not too heavy. Moisturizers which are too heavy absorb our makeup which means the makeup disappears into our skin. And it’s important to let any skincare ingredients completely dry before applying any other skincare or makeup products.

Eye Makeup Options

Now let’s take a look at my eye makeup. On one eye I applied eyeshadows from the $3.00 “I Love You a Latte” four-pan matte eyeshadow palette from Elf and on the other side I applied eyeshadows from Natasha Denona’s new Mini Eye Sculpt Eyeshadow Palette which consists of five matte shades and costs $27.00.

Since I wanted to create eyeshadow looks that were extremely similar, I did not use the black shade in the Natasha Denona palette. Can you tell in the video which eye has the more expensive Natasha Denona eyeshadows on it? If you guessed my left eye, you’d be correct.

Although these eyeshadow shades are extremely close, the three midtone shades in the Natasha Denona palette are slightly darker and slightly more neutral. Both eyeshadows glided on very easily and provided good pigmentation that was long-lasting.

However, I occasionally notice a bit of irritation in my eyes when I wear the Elf shadows, so if you have extremely sensitive eyes like I do, you may want to try a mid-priced brand such as the Juvia’s Place Warrior II palette.

Bronzer/Contour Showdown

In a recent video I mentioned how much I loved Makeup by Mario’s Softsculpt Bronzing and Shaping Serum. But, that was before I found out that Elf recently launched a very similar product: their Camo Liquid Bronzer and Contour. The Makeup By Mario product contains 1.01 fluid ounces, costs $36.00 and comes in seven shades. In the video I’ll wear “Medium Light.” Unfortunately, there’s no indication of where the product is made.

The Elf Camo Liquid Bronzer and Contour sells for $7.00, comes in 10 shades, but it contains only .13 fluid ounces. It doesn’t say where it’s made, but does say that it’s made in fair trade certified locations. I wear the shade “Light.”

In the video you can check out each side of my face to see how these products actually look after they’re applied. I found them to be extremely similar in terms of how foolproof they were to apply and how good they looked on the skin.

Blush Comparisons

I recently discovered a drugstore blush duo that was very similar in concept to the high-end blush cream and powder blush duos created by makeup artist Patrick Ta. This drugstore blush duo is from Catrice. In the video I’ll apply the Catrice shade “Pleasing Pink” and Patrick Ta’s “She’s a Doll.”

The Catrice Duos sell for $7.00 each and come in four shades – pink, strawberry, apricot and peach and weigh in at 6 grams. Catrice is a European clean beauty brand and interestingly, these blushes from Catrice are made in Italy which usually means quite high quality.

The Patrick Ta blushes come in 18 shades, are made in the U.S. with globally sourced materials, and the weight of his duos has powders and cremes listed separately so it’s difficult to compare the two. Patrick Ta recommends applying the powder first and then applying the crème over the powder so that’s how I’m going to apply both of these products.

Do you notice any major differences between the two blushes in the video? The colors are very similar, but I did notice that the Catrice product didn’t wear quite as long as the Patrick Ta blush.

Be sure to check out Elise’s YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Two other great blush dupes are the Rare Beauty Liquid Blushes and the Elf Camo Liquid Blushes. I compared them in this earlier video in case you want to check them out.

Drugstore and High-End Highlighter Comparison

The two highlighters I want to compare today are Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Liquid Luminizer and Hard Candy’s Just Glow Vitamin Infused Luminizer. The Rare Beauty Luminizer is made in France and has eight shades. It’s a weightless formula that has superfine light catching pearls, lasts all day and layers well over other makeup. It costs $27.00 and is .50 fluid ounces.

The Hard Candy Just Glow Vitamin Infused Luminizer is $9.00, comes in three shades, is also lightweight and is infused with Niacinamide, Vitamins C and E, and grapeseed oil to boost the radiance. In the video it looks like the Rare Beauty Luminizer is a bit brighter, but that could just be a result of the pink color. It also glides on a little more easily than the Hard Candy Luminizer, but both work extremely well.

Lip Gloss Comparison

I also want to compare two lip glosses: the Essence Extreme Shine gloss “Sparkling Purple,” with the Lawless Gloss “Daisette.” The Lawless glosses are clean beauty products, .11 fluid ounces, are made in the U.S. and are not tested on animals. I’ll apply this one on the top lip only. On my bottom lip, I’ll apply the Essence Extreme Shine gloss. 95% of Essence products are manufactured in Europe and ingredients comply with the strict standards of the European Union Cosmetics Directive and US FDA.

I definitely prefer the applicator of the Lawless gloss because of its shape and the amount of product that it dispenses. As for the lip gloss itself, both feel comfortable on the lips and are stunning.

Also read, Tips to Make Our Lips Look Fuller and More Uplifted (VIDEO).

I hope you found today’s video helpful. I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether you could see any differences between how the high-end products looked vs. how any of the drugstore products looked. And if you’d like to see more great drugstore products in action, be sure to check out this video. And you’ll find many more videos about good drugstore products on my YouTube channel. After you click on this link, you’ll find the drugstore makeup videos listed along the right side.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you wear only drugstore makeup or both high end and drugstore? What are some of your favorite drugstore makeup products?

Whenever I travel, something bad happens. In Furore, Italy, I succumbed to sunstroke from too much wine and too little water. In Bali, a wayward monkey bared its teeth and bit me. I also contracted ‘Bali belly’. I had the runs in Cuzco, Peru, and was woozy from altitude sickness meds. So, I expected to get sick again on my trip to Thailand. To my surprise (and relief) I was symptom-free.

Travelers often get sick drinking tap water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. In Bali, I’m fairly certain that the lettuce I ate was the culprit. But it could also have been the ice cubes. So, when I planned a trip to Thailand, I thought I’d be eating rice and noodles only. But I ended up loving the cuisine and making the recipes at home.

Read on for 7 tips to tame your tummy and make eating enjoyable abroad.

#1: Research Local Foods

I prepared myself for Thailand by researching food staples and figuring out my favorites. Here’s a short list:

• Chicken with Cashews (my absolute fave!):chicken pieces, cashews, bell peppers, onions, garlic, and snap peas, stir-fried together in a flavorful sauce, typically made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and ginger.

• Massaman Curry: a rich, mildly spicy curry made with coconut milk, peanuts, potatoes, and meat such as beef or chicken.
• Pad Thai: stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind sauce, fish sauce, shrimp or chicken, tofu, egg, and crushed peanuts.
• Som Tam (Papaya Salad): a refreshing salad combining shredded green papaya with chili, lime, fish sauce, and peanuts.
• Sticky Rice with Mango (Khao Niao Mamuang): a beloved dessert featuring sticky rice, sweet mango, and coconut cream.

#2: Try the Local Foods Before Your Trip

I ate at two Thai restaurants in Toronto:

Pai

This funky restaurant in mid-town Toronto serves up superb Thai dishes. The ceiling is covered with tiny hanging lanterns. A large pink, purple, and blue mural advertises Singha, a Thai beer, one of Thailand’s most iconic lagers. It has a crisp, slightly sweet flavor, perfect for pairing with spicy foods. I ate the Gaeng Massaman ‘Massaman Curry’.

Visit their website: https://www.paitoronto.com/.

Som Tom Jinda

The waft of basil and lemongrass envelopes you as you enter this Thai eatery in downtown Toronto. Gorgeous murals decorate the walls. This 10-table restaurant is mentioned in the Michelin Guide. I had the Penang, a peanut curry with chicken and eggplant. It had an authentic mix of herbs and spices I hadn’t tried before.

Visit their website: https://somtumjinda.ca/.

#3: Avoid Eating Street Food

I know Thailand is famous for its street food offerings, but street food may have the following issues:

• Use of oil that has been sitting around for a while.
• Improper refrigeration.
• Unclean cooking surfaces.
• Food may have been sitting in the sun.

#4: Absolutely No Tap Water (Even to Brush Your Teeth)

• Be wary of ice cubes.
• Don’t eat fruits or vegetables unless cooked.
• No lettuce.
• Stick to drinks that come from a bottle or can.

Before my trip, I wasn’t a fan of cooked veggies. Now I eat them all the time.

#5: Avoid Eating Bugs and Other Local Delicacies

Asian cultures make use of various foods that westerners are not used to. These include bugs such as grasshoppers, raw pig’s blood, red ant legs, or fried scorpions. You simply don’t know how your tummy will react, so better be safe than end up in the hospital or at the very least, feeling unwell during your vacation.

#6: Check Out Reviews and Consider Bib Gourmand or Michelin Star Restaurants.

Bib Gourmand is a Michelin award that indicates a restaurant gives good value for money. I enjoyed an 11-course dinner at Potong, named Bangkok’s best restaurant. Executive Chef Pichaya Soontornyanakij or ‘Pam’, the owner of Potong and three other restaurants, was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2024. Potong also earned a Michelin Star.

#7: Stock Up on Food Staples at Home

To make the vacation last, or to travel to Thailand without leaving home, you can buy ingredients for Thai foods (such as lemongrass, oyster and fish sauces, and dark soy sauce) and enjoy them at home.

These 7 tips helped me. But everyone is different. It’s best to consult with your doctor about other precautions you can take and any over-the-counter or prescription medicines.

Remember the monkey that bit me in Bali? Well in Thailand, a capuchin monkey dived into my kayak in Ao Nang, poked a hole in my water bottle, and drained it. I guess I attract wild animals.

Also read, Let Me Inspire You by Sharing My Trip to Asia.

Let’s Share Experiences:

Are you nervous about traveling abroad because of the food? What else holds you back? Are you interested in some Thai recipes I’ve been trying? What have you eaten abroad that you are still enjoying at home? Are there other travel, food, and drinks topics that you would like to know more about?

Women’s History Month is an annual celebration of the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia and during October in Canada.

Although always noteworthy, this year I have given the celebration more thought. Perhaps it is because some of the contributions so hard fought, are under attack and some even reversed. This assault not only affects our jobs and personal life choices but also affects causes we care about and support.

We are not alone in mourning the changes that set us back, many of our spouses, partners, fathers, sons, and brothers are right there by our side. I am fortunate to have such a man as my partner, and I watch my sons love and support their spouses. As so often happens, when I become sad or melancholy, I reflect on the choices and people that brought me to this point in my life.

My Career Choice

Why did I choose economics? My love of math! It was not my first choice, however. Some career testing encouraged me to give the study of supply and demand – economics – a try. But it was after the course on monetary policy and the Federal Reserve System that I was hooked! The course was called, “Money and Banking” and from then on, I wanted to be a banker!

To be honest, I also noted that bankers in my community were respected and made a decent living. All the bankers I knew, however, were men. I know the statistics would tell you that careers for women in the financial world have expanded significantly since I entered it in the 70s. When I graduated from college, however, it was a man’s world, and an advanced degree was preferred. I was out!

A Sidestep

I was not about to give up on banking but realistically, I needed income. At the time, I was married and both of us took positions with a major construction machinery manufacturer. I was a pricing analyst. At first, I priced replacement parts but then was transferred to the engine division and reviewed special price requests. Yes, I used math, and to a certain degree, it was an advantage to be a woman because this company was aggressively hiring qualified women.

I received a rude awakening, however, in my first performance review in the engine division. I had good training, was diligent in my work, and received positive feedback from the head of our department. My supervisor, however, gave me a mediocre review. I did not understand. When I returned to my desk after the review, one of my coworkers asked how it went. “Not good,” I told him. “Bev”, he shared, “Larry thinks women should not be working outside the home.” Aha!

That was my first notable discriminatory experience. Although I loved my coworkers and the work was challenging, it tainted my view of the company, and I wanted out. I started a search for a job in banking. Thankfully, it did not take long.

The Financial World

I entered the financial world via the trust investment department of a regional bank. This began my 30-year career in investments and financial planning. I wish I could say that the rest of my career was free of discrimination, but that is not the case. It is difficult for me to understand, but women were sometimes the biggest impediments to me and other women. Others supported and encouraged me and even went to bat for me at potential cost to them.

It was the latter type of woman that I chose to emulate. When I entered banking, women primarily held tellers and operational roles. Job growth was siloed, and it was difficult to get to know potential opportunities. Enter an organization that I credit with my career success along with teaching me leadership, organization, presentation, and mentoring skills, among others. It was called Financial Women International (FWI). (I do not think it exists today.)

I joined FWI to learn about other departments of my bank and to meet and support other women. As I progressed from group president to state president to national board member, my visibility increased, and I was recognized by senior management and promoted. It was my desire, as I did so, to bring other women along with me. That became a life passion!

There were setbacks, though. My bank was acquired, and then that new owner was also acquired. We were one of many mergers and acquisitions in the early 1990s. The consolidation of functions cost me my position as head of the bank investment department. It was a difficult time for me, especially because I felt that I had let my fellow FWI members down. I realize my layoff was a function of those times, but I took my responsibility to women in the financial world seriously.

Why Am I Sharing?

Banking is a much more open environment today. I also found the brokerage industry welcoming and financial advising likewise. Oh, there still are women who feel threatened by another woman’s success and men who are uncomfortable around women. There are also those – both men and women – who use their positions to make sexual advances. I experienced not only awkward moments with sexual innuendo but the loss of a job due to an undermining employee’s affair with my boss.

I have a feeling all of you who have been employed outside the home have a story to tell. Why do I think it is important for us to share our stories? We may assume that the working world is better now, and in some cases, it may be. However, it is likely that your daughter or granddaughter may learn a lesson from your story that will help her make good decisions.

It is also important to make the struggles and advances of women personal. If you have not already, please make a point to share a story, especially this month. It is important!

Reflection Questions:

How did you support other women during your career? Do you think it made a difference? Do you talk with young women about your experiences? If you’re still working, what is your role and how do you mentor other women?