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This week I want to talk about beauty/skincare — something that has nothing to do with motherhood, except that I come to it from the perspective of wanting to simplify and save time in my routine. I’m basically oversharing and writing this as I would a text message to a friend — tricks/tips/struggles. So please welcome all the typos, and grammatical errors ;P
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Momspiration
Skincare Basics
Disclaimer: I’m not an expert, I’m just a product junkie who loves skincare and makeup. And I think it’s good to see and hear from normies like me who are over 40 and have not had a facelift yet lol. Mainly, because IMO advice on skincare from a 20 year old when you’re in a different decade of life just doesn’t hit the same. Ladies in your 20’s if you’re here and reading — we love you! That plump collagen should be protected with SPF, no smoking ever (yes I’m a hypocrite), and less drinking (again do as I say not as I do).
Currently my bathroom shelf is cluttered with the below products. These are my staples.
I see my close friend and esthetician, Kristyn Smith, the founder of Practise NYC for facials once every 4-6 weeks. She imparts loads of wisdom regarding all the scientific hows and whys of exosomes and microneedling, which are my go-to treatments. I take her word as gospel and it has really proven to be wise — after-all, she has decades of experience and I can sort of just trust her as the expert and save my time and energy for things like … writing this substack. If you book an introductory facial at Practisenyc.com, in the notes section share “Chantal10” for 10% off your first treatment!
Aside from facials, I occasionally get botox. I started botox when I turned 40 that’s when I started noticing more lines on my forehead. I think people actually approach me more ever since I got botox, I don’t look like I’ve got RBF. TBD if I actually am OK with all the new attention from strangers (read: usually moms at playgrounds). Technically, to remain “11’s” free I should go every 3 months, but in reality I go 2-3 times a year.
The biggest beauty intervention I’ve ever had is upper and lower blepharoplasty — no secrets here I guess — I told you I would overshare! Anyhow, I have been quite happy with this decision, and can totally share what the procedure / healing process was like if anyone is ever interested in those details. When I decided to do this cosmetic surgery I was surprised to learn how many of my friends had had blepharoplasty and just how “simple” and “natural” looking it was.
All this to say, an at home skincare routine for maintenance is crucial, but you’re not going to find magic in a bottle, so don’t fall for the marketing and hype. Anyone who doesn’t have wrinkles, age spots, or loss of collagen in their face after 40 is doing a lot more than rubbing some cream on their face at night and using a gua sha tool. Not knocking gua sha, circulation is important.
As far as devices: I swear by my LED mask, I use this one. Years and years of sun damage has popped up in my late 30’s to 40’s (I grew up in Arizona and sadly did not listen to my mama regarding sunblock application). The LED mask is great for reducing the appearance of spots and generally helping with some collagen production. The thing with these at home devices is you have to be honest with yourself…are you the type of person to use it daily? If not, don’t waste your money, you don’t need a veritable beauty treadmill collecting dust and taking up space.
Makeup Basics
My makeup routine is pretty simple and quick for everyday. I used to spend a decent amount of time filling in my brows since I basically decimated them in the 90’s. I mom hacked my way to a shorter routine by microblading aka tattooing my eyebrows! I went to an amazing talent at Laurel tattoo. The effects last differently for different skin, but after 5 years, I’m just now, at a stage where I need to get them touched up.
Nearly everyday I use Cle CCC cream. Occasionally, I’ll switch to a Tom Ford foundation stick for heavier coverage. I always wear Chanel eyeliner (I love eyeliner, even had my eyeliner tattooed on my upper lids in my 20’s in Korea, but it has faded with time). Then I swipe some Westman Atelier superloaded on my cheeks and eyelids and a tiny bit of peach colored Chanel cream blush.
Things I Didn’t Buy This Week
Augustinus Bader x Sofia Coppola tinted lip balm. Has anyone tried it? I’m tempted, but worried the shades are too pink? Sometimes that’s great; it gives a youthful tint, other times it doesn’t translate without a full face of makeup to accompany it. I could be wrong and these might be hydrating + sheer with just a fresh tint of color. Let me know!
Things I Did Buy This Week
Mediheal sheet masks, stocked up so I can travel with these in July. Not sure, it’s doing anything for my collagen, but quite hydrating and temporarily plumping. This brand is a K-beauty favorite of mine.
Not beauty related, but I purchased a really fantastic dress from COS just in time for New York’s heatwave. I didn’t have to hem it (I’m 5’2”), it’s cotton, and super easy to wash. The navy is just right — almost reads black. Below the COS dress I purchased vs The Row dress I adore, but don’t need at that price point.
Mom Hack
Invest more in large sunglasses and less on makeup and no one will notice the difference.
Wearing polarized lenses blocks the sun more effectively from your eyes and skin and helps prevent the sunspots and melasma which plagues so many of us with olive pigment in our skin. Oddly, many sunglasses out there are not polarized and then you have to go have lenses inserted, or wear a frame you’re not super excited about.
To summarize I think we should approach beauty when aging with some grace towards ourselves. Think about how lucky we are to age — what really bothers you, vs what society tells you should be changed. For example, I embrace my white hair, but decided I didn’t like the bulging bags under my eyes which I felt depicted me in a way I did not feel. To each their own! Basically — try not to look at the mirror so much, because once you do, I swear, you’ll discover 1 random chin hair you never knew was there and after that, there’s no turning back from crazy obsessing in a magnifying mirror …
Thanks for reading!
— C
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