Pro-Age?

I’ve had a lot of requests for more tips for the more mature Miss. This has taken rather longer than usual for me to compile as I’ve had to out source the tips and recommendations as there would be no point in me giving it a go. It’s really bad for your skin to use anti-aging skin products before its necessary. Now the results are in – thank you to all the contributors picked by Mumma B. I really appreciate it!! I have to say I’ve been struggling to know how to do the mass of information justice without just writing verbatim. So I’ve decided to establish some order and get a little more info on some of the products (so I hope I’ve got them right). I've also found myself being struck by a bit of PC shyness - is it Pro-Age or Anti-Ageing? I'm afraid I don't know so I've just gone for what I think! 

As always you need to try to follow some basic rules. Ms K says she drinks 2 litres of water a day and always wears sun protection on her face – even in cloudy weather. And as for the products…

It’s amazing how everyone’s skincare regime is completely diverse and the contributors this time are no different. Ms S uses L’Oreal Eye Make-up Remover which is one of my favourites – it really works. Mumma B is a Dermalogica convert and swears by their Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover – use a “small amount on fingers; pat onto eyes; remove with cotton wool pad soaked in water – squeezed out. It’s great for sensitive eyes and really gets the make-up off properly – better than Clarins!” High praise indeed!

Cleansers and toners are tricky. They are really skin/person specific. So I’ve got three really good ranges to recommend. Mrs S uses Darphin Rich Cleansing Milk which contains mango butter and Rich Toner. Both are ideal for dry and more mature skin (both are available for around $50). Ms B recommends Elemis Soothing Chamomile Cleanser and Apricot Toner. The cleanser not only contains soothing camomile but also vitamin E and is great for ‘ultra-delicate’ skin. The Toner which gives you an alcohol free fresh sensation and radiant appearance. Mumma B uses Clarins One-Step Facial Cleanser it suits all skin types and contains orange extract. It comes separated in the bottle (see pic) but she directs “shake it and use with cotton wool – very good and easy”.

Ms W uses two moisturisers like me Olay Moisutriser during the day and Body Shop Rich Vitamin E Night Cream… at night. For G.M L’Oreal Age Perfect is the moisturiser of the moment. I’m not exactly sure which one as there are a few but the Age Re-perfect Pro-Calcium is a popular choice and contains sun factor 15. Ms B uses Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream which increases skin firmness and elasticity. Ms G uses Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream and Clarins One-Step Facial Cleanser which come in a dry skin range as well.

As for added extra’s Mumma B has been trying out Garnier's Ultra Lift Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream for me and she thinks it’s working. An interesting recommendation from Ms B is Elizabeth Arden Eye Fix Primer which acts as a shield between your skin and your eye make-up and then prevents streaking and fading. I really want to try this out. For a morning treat Mumma B recommends – Origins Ginger Float Cream Bubble Bath. She also recommends the new Dove Pro-Age Full and Thick Shampoo and Conditioner which “seems to work really well”. Ms C loves Chanel No.5 Body Lotion a true classic.

Now for the rather tricky part. The make-up. This is so variable from Miss to Ms anyway but older skin is sometimes quite a difficult base which makes getting it right even more necessary. Ms W recommends Estee Lauder Equalizer Smart Make-up with SPF 10 which adapts to the changes in your skin. G.M only foundation on ‘grey days’ but recommends Barbara Daly’s Concealer for under the eyes and for blemishes. Ms B uses Chantecaille Foundation. I haven’t been able to check this out as they are doing up their website at the moment but it will be definitely worth a look when it’s done. 

The only blusher recommendation we’ve had is G.M – Laura Mercier Blusher. Formulated with French ‘Cashmere’ talc I like the look of Orange Blossom and Crushed Hazelnut. As for powder she starts with No 7’s matte powder first - possibly Perfect Light Pressed powder (available for about £7.50) - on her nose, under the eyes and to blot her eye shadow. Then Barbara Daly’s Powder Highlighter ‘Light Illusion’ as which she describes as “wonderful” and uses it to brighten the skin and the cheek and brown bones.

For eye make-up Mumma B recommends using unfrosted powder eye make-up. She says “matte is kinder to older eyes – wrinkles seem to show up with shimmer”. G.M uses No. 7 Brown Amazing Eyes Pencil instead of a specific eye shadow. She shade and lines the eye and the dusts lightly with powder and uses the pencil for the eye-brows if necessary. This would be her Desert Island choice – it’s very versatile. Ms B uses Chantecaille Eye shadow. Ms C uses Dior’s ‘Diorshow’ mascara part of their ‘backstage make-up’ range and Laura Mercier’s Eye shadow and eye liner.

Mumma B recently purchased Max Factor Colour Perfection 917 Pansey. I tried it last time I was home and I loved it. It really stays on. G.M again uses a pencil to its fully potential this time No. 7’s Perfect Lip Pencil – “fairly neutral during the day and more dramatic at night. Pencil as lipstick and dust the lips with a bit of frosty powder such as Bourjois to make the lips look fuller”. Ms C recommends Dior lipstick. Dior Addict Ultra Shine in Ultra Sexy looks exciting.

So what were the Desert Island picks for the more mature Ms? Ms G would choose L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream cream or L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream. Which I must say is pretty amazing. Or the Body Shop’s Hemp Hand Protector which works really well and is at a very decent £9. Ms B chose the popular Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream something which I have wanted for sometime but have to make do with stealing everyone else’s. Ms C would use Dior Capture Moisturiser for her Desert Island. She didn’t specify which one but I think the Capture R60-80 1eres Rides Smoothing Cream looks great (the whole range is available here)

I hope this has helped. Please email me any more suggestions for older skin this is something I can always use updating on. I’m going to run upstairs to play with lip liners and frosty powder – a technique I shall be using more often. xx