Fabulous Over Forty – Where Beauty Is Ageless

With the kids back to school (or almost) and the changing seasons creeping upon us, it’s time to think about our beauty routines and changes in products.   But, the warm temperatures outside don’t suit wearing heavy wool sweaters, cashmere scarves and the like.   So keep some of those summer things out just for now, and your transition will look fabulous!

BECCA Luminous Skin Colour – A lightweight tinted moisturizer that gives you a beautiful, fresh glow.

Jo Malone fragrance in Orange Blossom – the fresh scent keeps it light when the temperatures are still high.

Chanel Particulierenail polish – Tired of the pale pinks or vibrant oranges, but not quite ready for the deep purples?  Particuliere is that great mushroomy transition shade.

Chantecaille Protection Naturelle – Don’t forget the sunscreen!   Nothing ages you more than the sun and whether the temps are soaring or heading down, keep your skin protected.

Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss - Caught in between using lip balm or lipstick?   Give one of these Estee Lauder Pure Color lip glosses a try.  With numerous shades to choose from, one will certainly help you transition into fall. 

The great people at Apothica are offering one reader of Fab Over Forty a $25 gift certificate for a purchase of their choice at Apothica.com!  (Or one of their other sites SkinCareRx.com and SkinBotanica.com)   How fabulous is that!

Apothica carries so many beauty lines that I’ve talked about at Fab Over Forty through the years.  From makeup, to fragrance, skin care, hair care and so much more!   One of the lines they carry is Smashbox Cosmetics.  I have several Smashbox products, from the primer to some brushes, lips and they even have that great Fall 2010 palette called Masquerade Eye Palette that I mentioned a week ago about one of the Purple Pride items for fall.   Check out the site for the amazing selection of beauty brands. 

Here’s how you can enter to win – there are a few ways to increase your chances!

• Enter your name in the comments and tell me what you would buy if you won the gift certificate.  Click above to see all the brands and items they carry
• Contest Ends Sept. 12th at 11:59 PM CST

Extra ways to up your chances of winning:

• Go to Apothica’s Facebook page and “Like” them
• Follow them on Twitter
• Mention this post on Twitter by using @faboverforty so I know you tweeted
• Sign up for their newsletter at the bottom of their page

Good Luck!

Beauty companies are dazzling us with new makeup introductions, effective skin care, fabulous fragrances, and new shades for our nails – all kinds of temptations to spend money to be gorgeous! Check out the must-haves that made us swoon this week.

Gaia used the term “perfect” to describe Edward Bess Forever Yours Ultra Sleek Lipstick. If you want to see how “perfect” looks, head over to The Non-Blonde. Of the 13 shades available, she was able to limit herself to just four. Such willpower! It’s also noteworthy that she found a jasmine she likes!

Charlestongirl is already in the holiday spirit, thanks to Shiseido! The Makeup 2010 Holiday Collection Essential Elegance Palette, created by Dick Page, left her gushing at Best Things in Beauty.

The Budget Fashionista is always keeping us up to date with the latest in Fall Fashion.  This new line at Target is one you don’t want to miss. 

Sabrina at The Beauty Look Book is another Edward Bess fan. You’ll want to see her complete review, along with lots of photos, of his Compact Rouge.

Kelly has a new lip addiction. Tom Pecheux is shaking up Estée Lauder. He rocked Kelly with the new Pure Color Gloss. She modeled her lovely shade selections at Gouldylox Reviews.

At BeautyXposé, it was all about REN Replenishing Treatment Mists (and darling flats for fall). Find out why Pamela has been obsessed, spritzing with glee.

Let’s not forget our hands! Laurie at Product Girl  gave us a peek at Essie’s Fall 2010 collection, nail colors to complement the season’s fashion trends.

While we’re on the subject of hands, Marcia and Lisa featured an interview with Ellen Sirot, a world-famous hand model! If you visit Beauty Info Zone Blog, you’ll find a special discount on Ellen’s Hand Perfection products to keep your hands in tip-top shape.

To end our tour on an upbeat, jazzy note, head over to Makeup Artist Backstage and watch the short video on Washington’s style setters (“housewives” and party crashers aren’t DC’s only claim to fame). Victoria worked to beautify this year’s shoot.

You’ll want to drop in on our beauty blogger friends every day over the next few weeks. The beauty world is hopping!

As many of you know, I am a fan of watching all things beauty on QVC.   In fact, if my husband is channel surfing and comes across QVC and notices it’s regarding beauty he lets me know right away.   (I have him trained well)

From now until July 18th you can go to QVCand vote for your favorite beauty products.  The winners will be announced on August 28th.   Several of the products in the running have been discussed right here at Fab Over 40.   Like Kate Somerville ExfoliKate, and Lisa Hoffman fragrances and Josie Maran Argan Oil to name a few.   

What are some of your favorite beauty products?

There is nothing like taking a long soaking bath for relieving stress and hiding away from kids hollering “mom!”, not thinking about work or anything thing else that may be on your mind.   One of my indulgences is to light a few candles around the tub, turn on the light in the bathroom low enough to relax, but light enough to read, turn on some quiet music and pour a pouch of one of the Thymes Bath Salts into the water for a fragrant relaxing respite. 

Ahhhh.  

My mind goes to another world just writing about it.   I love sprinkling the classic Eucalyptus salts – it helps to clear my mind.    It’s one of those scents that I never tire of, and if you want the man in your life in on the secret – it’s not a scent that’s too feminine, so he may like to use it too.   Eucalyptus is known to relax the muscles (and my mind).    If you want a scent that’s a little more feminine, the Red Cherie bath salts may be ones that prefer.   Honestly, I don’t think there is a scent in the bunch that I don’t love.

Thymes also makes a variety of other products too.  Like body wash, lotions, home fragrances and more.   About six or seven years ago I had the opportunity to meet Leslie, the creator of Thymes, at a dinner with friends.   She told me all about how she came about creating the fragrances – from the basement of her own home.   I loved hearing the story of how this divorced, single mom and her friend grew herbs and scoured the farmer’s markets for ingredients to make soaps, salts and more to start the company with just her and her friend and $1500.  These two women tapped into a market that wasn’t there in the 1980′s and it’s been a cult classic ever since. 

Excuse me while I leave to run some bath water…

Happy Independence Day to all our American friends!   We hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend whether spending time at the beach with family and friends or a quiet time at home.  

Charlestongirl flipped over Bobbi Brown’s Denim & Rose Collection for Fall 2010. She loves the highlighter pens, face palette, gel eyeliner – everything, really. You can read about the collection and see swatches at Best Things in Beauty.

Age spots.  We hate them, but unfortunately most of us get them.  Gaia from The Non-Blonde has been testing Cle de Peau Beaute’s Anti Age Serum with some wonderful results.   And Gaia also has a giveaway going on of a mini Aftelier fragrance .  Be sure to sign up!

Do you love cream eye shadows?   Well head on over to see what Kelly from Gouldylox Reviews has to say about the newest Stay-There cream shadows from Buxom.  They haven’t hit the makeup counters yet, but you might want to stand in line to get yours! 

Kari at Fab Over 40 shares with us one of her many summertime must-haves.   The luxurious Giorgio Armani powder helps to keep the shine at bay and skin soft and glowing without any cakey feeling.  What are your summertime staples?  

They “eyes have it” as they say.   How can you get “it” too?   Chelsea from BeautyXposé gives us some tips on how to get beautifully lined eyes without breaking the bank using CoverGirl’s newest eyeliner. 

Cindy at Prime Beauty has what she calls CADD (Cosmetic Attention Deficit Disorder), but these 5 products are ones that are at the top of her beauty list.   They’ve been around for awhile, but they keep Cindy coming back for more!

Are you spending part of your busy holiday weekend at the beach?  Laurie from Product Girl is.  In addition to her required sunscreen, she shares with us her must-have beauty products for her time at the beach.  

Yes, it’s barely July and the Fall Collections are already arriving on the shelves.   Lianne at The Makeup Girl is showing us Tom Pecheux’s latest collection for Estee Lauder called Blue Dahlia.   He’s injecting some beautiful new products into the line and that makes us happy!

Looking to give your skin the royal treatment?   Debbi at DivaDebbi gives us the scoop on Keihl’s Imperial Body Balm.  Does it make her feel like a queen?   Come and find out!

Happy beauty reading and remember your sunscreen!