Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Style Wednesday: Skin Care and Makeup


“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.”


While on vacation, I did something I ALWAYS do on vacation - I visited Sephora.

For those unfamiliar with Sephora (although this seems increasingly unlikely given the ubiquitousness of the stores - one I visited was a pop-up inside JC Penney), this is a candy shop for persons who adore makeup, perfume and skin care products.

It has a slightly more democratic feel than some larger department store counters in that you are greeted by uniformed men and women carrying little black vinyl baskets whose sole purpose in life is to make you the best you that you can be and the product is not hidden behind or within a counter.



Well I am all for being the best me, inside and out, and it is my contention that when one looks good on the outside it often aids the feeling good on the inside.  This fact doesn't make us shallow so much as it makes us human.

Someone asked me back in January what I do for skincare etc., since they felt I was looking good.  I was flattered, but slightly flummoxed, since I am no expert on these things and would hate to have anyone think I have any more knowledge than anyone else (for that, you must visit Louise!).

I actually sort of forgot that I'd promised I would share what I use until I was wandering around Sephora.  And I also wasn't sure why I would be looking good these days if indeed I am!



Okay, the above photo is kind of scary to me, but this is basically me with almost no makeup.  I don't wear much makeup anyway and except around my eyes, I have generally unlined skin, which is a nice thing to have at 51 years of age.

What I attribute to lack of wrinkles:

1) my mother, who even on her deathbed at close to 70 had great skin and almost no wrinkles
2) no sun
3) no smoking
4) extra weight - yup , I am carrying about 15-20 more pounds right now (sigh) and while I would like to lose about 10 of those, I do not want to lose 20 as a little extra weight shows fewer wrinkles in my completely unscientific opinion!
5) I eat a lot of fruits and veggies in addition to the other not so healthy fare!  Oh and I adore pasta!
6) meditation and yoga!  I do gentle yoga and I meditate daily.  The latter gives me a lot of inner peace and calm and reduces my stress.  I do not really worry about things now, or at least I do not worry about things like I used to and I attribute that as much to learning to meditate as leaving my job.  I do still worry though, lest you think I am here tripping through fields of daisies.  This career change thing is NOT for the faint of heart...
7) thanks to #5, I sleep pretty well and that also helps
8) I'd like to say lots of water, but that would be a lie.  I am working on drinking more water
9) walking
10) friendships - I have friends whom I love a lot and that makes a difference I think
11) Nars skincare and cosmetics


Some of you may recall that during my trip to NYC last year I ran into an honest-to-goodness makeup artist from Nars, who was visiting the Times Square Sephora.

The result of this interaction was my purchasing some Nars cosmetics and never looking back.. 

I have VERY sensitive skin, some mild rosacea and I like a natural look.  I could rub Vaseline on my face in the dead of winter and it would still be flaking!  I have loved all of the Nars products I have tried and I for me at least, they have worked very well!

What I use, for those who might be interested.  The rest of you can skip ahead to the end!

NARS Luminous Moisture Cream:

Luminous Moisture Cream

Nars Hydrating Toner (once or twice a week)



I remove my makeup with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, which is very gentle on my easily inflamed face.


 

 I also use Rosehip oil at night thanks to my friend Jennifer!  It smells delicious on and feels lovely!



 I don't know if I should be ashamed to tell you that I do not use wrinkle creams, but I do not...Should I use it?  Does it make a whit of difference?

For makeup, I do not use foundation and my makeup is almost all Nars:

Nars Tinted Moisturizer in Finland:

I use a small amount of this to even out my complexion.

Nars Creamy Concealer (in Vanilla):



on my cheeks, when required, I usually use either Nars madly powder blush:


or one of the multiple sticks in either orgasm or Portofino:


Portofino
Orgasm


I use neutral eye makeup normally and Too-Faced Cosmetic's mascara:


I am in a big pink phase for my lips now that spring is here!  I know, spring isn't here, but since Florida I cannot bear to return to my old world and so I am pretending.  Does this make me seem odd?  Yes, I think it does!  Will I continue to pretend it is now spring?  Yes, I will!



Above is Nars' velvet matte lip pencil in Roman Holiday and lip gloss in Easy Lover (who makes up these names?)

And I am crazy about Nars' pink lipstick Funny Face:


So that's it - that's what is on my face, to varying degrees, at any one time.

I apologize for the detail, but I do know that some folks really love detail, so this is for them!

So what I really need now is an endorsement deal from Nars!  I can be their travelling spokes model, travelling the globe, extolling the virtues of Nars to the millions of middle aged women like myself who do not look like models but who are pleasing in their own way!  What do you think Nars?  Can I be the next brand spokesperson?

Until I hear back from Nars I will continue to follow my other dream of becoming a writer.  Wonder which dream will be achieved first?

Would love to hear what products you are using these days and if any of you are Nars fans like myself?  Have a wonderful, beautiful day (with or without makeup!) and stay safe out there!

The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, makeup all express something.

He would know..

61 comments:

  1. Hi Wendy, thanks so much for doing this, I think I was the one who asked back then. What I find most impressive about your skin in photos is the even tone. I have some broken capillaries and a bit of sun damage, even though I have never really been a sun worshiper.

    I'm a bit hopeless with make up, so I'm happy to take your Nars recommendation and try it out sometime, maybe this weekend when we're in Ottawa to visit our son. For skincare at the moment I'm double cleansing at night with almond oil and then the Avene Gentle Milk Cleanser. After that I'm using some Indeed Lab products (Canadian company available at Shoppers) - I really like the Hydraluron gel for before moisturiser. At night I use L'Occitane's Divine cream - it's expensive and I don't generally do expensive, but I tried a sample and really liked how my skin looked and felt with it.

    Thanks again for doing this - I love reading about skin care (Louise is a favourite for that, also Caroline Hirons, a British facialist with a great blog). Hope that Nars give you a call!

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    1. Patricia - in the 5X mirror I have the odd broken capillary around my nose, so I can relate!! My problem is really my rosacea - I have to use the tinted moisturizer to even it all out or I can look a bit blotchy, but I hate foundation. Nars illuminates, so it is quite amazing, IMO. I have such sensitive skin because of my allergies, that I know almost immediately if I can use something or not (even some Laroche-Posay items do not work for me despite their claim of gentleness) and the Nars has been just amazing for me. I would be surprised if you found the skincare in Ottawa - so far the only Sephora I've seen it in is in Times Square for some reason, though I bet T.O. has it. My skin feels and looks wonderful after it. God - I hope Louise doesn't tell me I am going to hell in a handbasket! ;-) Louise is a wonder, isn't she? She is the one who warned me to avoid facials due to my sensitivities and rosacea and I trust her! I will definitely look up Caroline's blog! As for Francois Nars, what's not to love about me??? heehee!

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    2. Hi Wendy, I'm happy with my skincare for now, but the Nars make up/tinted moisturizer sounds wonderful, I could do with some illumination.

      Caroline doesn't post that often, but her archive is amazing - I started the double cleansing after reading her blog. Even if you only wear sunscreen, no make up, she says you should double cleanse at night.

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    3. Wendy, you're definitely not going to hell in a handbasket - your skin looks amazing! Facials are just way too much abuse for most people to handle.

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  2. You have a fantastic skin Wendy! Thanks for sharing your tips... I have been suing only coconut oil as skin care for the past 6 months and it is great. I have ditch any product with parabens and phenoxyethanol amongst other nasty ingredients... I think that the most of the skin nourishment comes from the inside and I see you tend to have a good philosophy here, which would confirm my believes... I will work on yoga and meditation as I think I need to get ride of some of my stress.

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    1. Steph, I think that the more natural the products, the better and I keep meaning to try the olive oil as well, a la Janet! I agree with you on the difference that eating well makes. Where I see a huge difference now is in women my age who smoke or are sun worshippers - it's like it all catches up with them in their 40s and 50s. But my mother was a smoker, and though it killed her in the end, she had lovely skin, so maybe it's purely genetics whether you are wrinkled or not? But you are right - stress makes a huge difference - one I quit my job it was like turning back the clock!

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    2. FunkySteph, I feel like I must respond to your comment about parabens and phenoxyethanol - they are NOT as nasty as the environmental groups have made them out to be and I am constantly having to explain this to people.Given the choice between makeup that contains 'natural' preservatives with dubious evidence of efficacy (e.g. grapefruit seed extract) and preservatives that are known to be effective and well-tolerated, I'd pick the latter - it's definitely better than using something that might be overgrown with mold. Both parabens and phenoxyethanol are naturally occurring in certain plants, and function the same way in plants, by inhibiting microbial growth.

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    3. I'll be honest, I feel like a dumb bunny here - have no idea what those really are!

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  3. I love the Nars sticks as well and I remember when they first came it was so revolutionary! Plus the names were sometimes naughty and it makes me think how innocent we all were back then...I love rosehip oil and for me it is almost a staple and something I mix in with other moisturizers for an extra bump plus it just feels right if that makes sense. I have never tried Nars cosmetics so might go to get a sample. You have lovely skin but I must say that being happy is the best skincare! But not smoking and not tanning helps :)

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    1. Naomi - I do that too, especially at night! You are so right about the names - they seem almost demure now!

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  4. Youre skin looks wonderful Wendy! i have never seen Nars skincare in any Sephora,do they only have it in NYC?
    I am using Kiehls and am very happy with their stuff and the prices are not too bad too.
    Thanks for sharing! Did you buy anything?

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    1. Hi Ina! I have to order it online, but if you were interested I bet nars would send a tester.

      I bought the pink lipstick and lipgloss. Love the lipgloss!

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  5. You should do more closeups, your skin looks fantastic and you look lovely even without make up. I agree with all your tips and I am a fan of NARS myself particularly their satin lip pencils. Do you have a different set of products or regimen for summer and winter? I find that my skin is so dry in the winter and oily in the summer.

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    1. Aww thanks Marie! I love the lip pencils and have 4 or 5 now. I never have any oil, sadly. In the winter I use more or add in the rose hip oil and if I actually get colour, would go one shade darker in the tint. But that is very rare. I am one white chick.

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  6. If you have good skin, you really do not need foundation. You have great skin. I love the Orgasm but with this longer winter I needed something a bit brighter. I found Dior Happy Cherry blush and love it. Skin care, wash and moisturize. I do get skin peels too. I'm actually quite pleased with how I am ageing. Good genes do help...folks look a good ten years younger than they actually are.

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    1. Happy Cherry - what a fun name!

      IMO, women age better than men as we deal with these issues along the way...

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  7. Your skin looks great! I love Nars bronzer, shadows and lip products. I think good genes and good skin care are the key to nice skin. I am loving Estée Lauder products for skin.

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    1. hi A!

      I have to try the bronzer - thanks for the tip! I love Estee Lauder as well - always lovely!

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  8. I am a cosmetics whore and Sephora is my favorite brothel. The only Nars I use is the eye pencils and they are fabulous. Would not even try other pencils. Funny how each person is different-I cannot wear the orgasm blush anymore, it is way too bright on me. I am pretty fair.

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    1. I love it - costmetics whore! I use orgasm sparingly! Mostly I use the madly powder blush, but I quite like that Portofino stick!

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    2. Brilliant line, er, fmcgmccllc - phew a tongue twister.

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  9. I love Nars color, but have yet to try their skincare. It's funny, my wallet opens itself for most things, but I can't convince myself that cosmetic counter only skincare is worth the price! I am using Boots No. 7 for all my skincare needs, and am perfectly happy -- or maybe just blissfully unaware. Sometimes I wonder if I am missing something amazing, on the other hand, there is so much skincare info out there and always the new breakthrough, that mostly I feel like I'll just leave well enough alone.

    This is my philosophy with wines too -- most of our friends that we have "grown up" with (starting in our 20s) have matured to expensive wines, and I feel like if I'm happy with a $20 bottle of wine, then good for me, right?

    Now if only I could get myself to apply that philosophy to clothes. And shoes. And bags. I am making an effort to curb those habits and am very appreciative of your blog that gives me other things to think about!


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    1. Audrey - I think if something works for you, it's great! To be honest, I would never have tried the Nars if I hadn't tried it last year and felt my skin feel so wonderful, but you know what - something else might have worked equally well (though I hadn't found it yet!)

      I am with you on the confusion around skincare. It is so confusing!

      As for wine! I mostly drink in the $14 range these days to save money, and when we were in France, we were buying amazing wines for 5 euros! I think more money is never necessarily better.

      Thanks for the kind words! I am definitely in the less is more mode these days and more in the "love it or leave it" mode! I have a whole post for tomorrow written about my experience in the mall in Florida!

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  10. Wendy, your skin looks fantastic!! You look like you are in your 30s in the photo above. I think it's a combination of good genes, healthy lifestyle, and living in a climate that suits your skin type that makes all the difference. My Asian skin is just not suited to the harsh climate here (I know this because I've seen how great my skin is when I visit my relatives in Taiwan!) and it's a constant struggle for me to keep my skin balanced. Anyway, I like how intense the Nars colours are - I used Nars lip glosses and lip sticks for years. You'd make for a perfect Nars spokesperson - definitely tag them if you mention your post on Twitter!!

    Huge thanks for the blog shoutout!! :-) I'm just glad people are finding my posts useful.

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    1. Louise we all LOVE your posts! thanks for reminding me to tweet about my nars obsession - forgot to this morning!

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    2. Louise, you are our skin care guru and resident scientist!

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    3. Louise - ps - the my skin was fantastic in the humidity of the south - my hair was a different matter!

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    4. I concur! If only I lived in N America or Europe I'd probably buy all the things Louise suggests! Sadly, few are available here, and they are often crazy $$$$$

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    5. I want to go back to my treehouse with red wine!

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    6. Thanks so much, ladies! This has made my day!

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  11. I love Gene! Kiss rule!
    It's your sun avoidance, I have always worn sunblock on my face and not my body, the skin on my body is honestly 20 years older, it is crepey, doesn't spring back, very wrinkled, I have really ruined it . Don't care though, life is for living!

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    1. Oh you should see my wee wrinkled hands! They are so much older than my face! Though I met someone once who told me that a lot of lines on one's hands meant that you were an old soul and I've clung to that ever since!

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    2. Me too, Tabs! My decolletage is a crepey old mess from sun! Living in Aus and loving booze has wreaked havoc on my skin, but as you say, life is for living and I wouldn't change a thing!!

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  12. You have introduced me to a new product that looks worth pursuing. I had given up on the anti wrinkle creams since I continued to find them while using the product at great expense. I did Pilates today beside one woman who is 67 and the other is 70 and I was blown away since they do not have wrinkles!! Neither use any particular product for wrinkles. They moisturize and simply enjoy life they told me! Now that is a recipe I can get.

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    1. Mary - you are right on! You don't have wrinkles either, and I do think happiness and pursuing passions is a good thing!

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  13. I love Nars, too. What *is* w/those colors names. I love that you meditate. I purchased one of those Deepak/Oprah series. I did the digital download. I wish I'd gotten the CDs. Next time.

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    1. I love the digital download but I can see that the CD would be better for some, especially travelling!

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  14. Each Sephora is stocked differently from all the others, demographics doncha know, so the next time you come to NYC you can spend a day moving from one to the next.

    I also find their website a very good resource.

    I was going to write about your lovely outermost layer but passed a mirror on my way back for more coffee, and damn I am getting old, so - enjoy it while you've got it!

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  15. You have really good skin - that is everything. I have the Kiwi too long in the sun skin. dran. Recently I realised I look better with less eye makeup because the mascara and eye shadow I was using really brings out my wrinkles. I do love a good bronzer though and you'll have to pull my makeup out of my dying hands.

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    1. I want to be all cybill shepard in moonlighting - see my response to anon below! You look gorgeous Jody!

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  16. A soft focus lens is a woman's best friend. How about a before and after with the nars tinted moisturizier? Your face looks good. Your skin around your eyes give away your age.

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    1. Anon, you made me laugh out loud (you're not George Clooney's new girlfriend are you?). I could be using a soft focus lens at that, though it would be accidental and the most critical soft focus lens are my own eyes as I can't see a god damn thing anymore cause I'm 51! Thank god I mostly hang out with people in their late 40 and 50s and 60s who all see me soft focus as well!!

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    2. No soft focus lens here Anon, I have seen Wendy in real life and also after a late night party in my own garden that involved 800 Ste. Germaine cocktails, the skin around her eyes is that of a dewy 24 year old even with a hangover.

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    3. Sweet Dani, though your eyes may now have soft focus now too!

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  17. Lovely skin. I'm plagued by sunspots from poor choices in my youth (mainly wearing reflective arm aviators as all spots there and my Derm said it was the cause.) I've done the laser/chemical thing but am now happy with jet peels and the Eminence organics line. I envy your creamy complexion!

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    1. thanks Jen - I have the odd sunspot too! There is no way around them, I don't think! I am not familiar with the Eminence line - will have to look that up!

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  18. WEndy, your skin is amazing!! Many 20 somethings here have more sun damage and wrinkles than you do!

    I love your approach to skincare and makeup. I'm a bit late to the whole make-up thing, but have really enjoyed playing around with colour on my lips recently.
    I don't do much in terms of anti-ageing stuff, apart from trying to follow Louise's advice and wearing 50+ on my face every day. The sun here is super, super strong - and almost always out!

    I use Emma Hardie cleanser and local brand (Mecca Cosmetica) sunblock. No eye cream - I think it's a total con - and have recently been using some free samples of a Swedish brand called Verso. I'm pretty impressed with their night cream and serum, but having seen the retail price, will probably not be buying it!!

    My makeup consists of eyeliner of some sort and nude lipstick. Rarely wear mascara, and sometimes wear Jouer tinted moisturiser. If I'm feeling pale I wear HOurglass bronzer, too. I get my eyebrows and lashes tinted every 5 weeks or so which helps a lot!!!

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    1. I think you are right about eye creams - mine are never coming back! I need a little mascara, as my lashes are a little light!

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  19. Your complexion is amazing. All that good clean living and avoiding the sun!!
    Strangely enough, Nars is a line I have never tried. My daughter uses some of their things and loves them. My skin took a nasty sun beating during my misspent youth. Coming home from Fire Island with blisters, rather than a nice golden tan, didn't stop me from repeating it the following week! I'll check out the line next time I'm in Sephora!

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  20. Your skin really glows Wendy and I could witness that in person when we met in NYC.
    I go through phases re. skincare: sometimes I go crazy and buy the latest product and sometimes I just let it be. What's amazing is that in the end there is little difference in how I look, it's more a matter of how much sleep I get. I think it is mostly genes.
    I also use very little makeup. I love Nars glosses for the day (orgasm and huster in particular) but I recently tried the YSL lip stains that are really amazing (if less glossy than a gloss). I think Louise had a post about them a while ago. Otherwise I bought the Sephora lip enhancer which is a "knockoff" of the Dior lip balm and I think it is a great product (it does exactly the same thing as Dior, which is to enhance the natural color of your lips without adding pigments, for like $30 less). You should try it!
    I could spend hours at Sephora so I try not to go in!

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    1. Oh will definitely try that Ema thanks! Sephora is like a black hole that is so easy to fall into!

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  21. Beautiful skin there, girl!

    The sun and smoking are the main enemies of skin; although I don't have many facial wrinkles, I have sun damage on hands and forearms from gardening. I usually use Dr Bonner's lavender soap and the Clinique Turnaround cream ( since it came out I think).

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    1. Lane - I keep meaning to try their dark spot protector - I used to hear about just rubbing in lemon juice?

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    2. I JUST got that to try and got MLane the man version! I don't see a thing after a week, but my skin-- sensitive like yours-- is tolerating it and it does take time. Religious about sunscreen and hats here.

      Now if that neck thing would just go away...

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    3. No neck thing, but seem to be missing my jawline these days!

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  22. Wendy I have witnessed the utter beauty of your skin, it's stunning! And I've seen you with a hangover too, and you looked marvellous and I was The Crypt Keeper. How are you doing that? You clearly have great genes and never smoked and avoided sun, it's the 1-2-3 punch that is a lesson to us all! Of course it pays to pay attention to it as well and have some kind of regime, with whatever product works best (at any given time, I think we have sensitive periods with skin and then not as much).
    Thanks for sharing the Nars cosmetics, I need to try that line.

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    1. Aw thanks! Hope you and littlest rascal had a blast! That was a hard morning! Lucky I was a professional st. Germain drinker, albeit a new one!

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Kindness is a virtue...