Belle of the Ball

Having discussed wrinkles last weekend - or "lines of distinction" as reader Penny called them - I thought it would be timely to talk about covering them up with make-up.  My advice is to take care when "putting on the slap". Nothing ages you more quickly than a thick layer of make-up, which tends to highlight your wrinkles rather than concealing them. Add dark lipstick, even darker eyebrows and over use of a powder puff, and what do you get?  Baby Jane! Take a look at the photo below and be warned: Over 60 ladies, this is NOT what we are aiming for.

This seems a good moment to dip into "Parisian Chic", to see what advice Inès has to give us. She is of course a glamorous French model so she obviously doesn't need as much help as the rest of us, however I suspect that you will trust her advice more than mine!

Inès' tips: choose a liquid foundation that is slightly lighter than your skin tone and apply sparingly; apply mascara to the top lashes only: choose a flattering lipstick or gloss, but don't line your lips unless you do it subtly; use natural matte eye shadows; avoid glittery eye shadows and harsh black eye-liner.

I would add that you should highlight your eyes or your lips but not both - look at Baby Jane again if you're not convinced. The aim is to look as if you're hardly wearing any make-up - leave the bright blue eye shadows and dark orange lips to the youngsters.

I have become a great fan of BB creams that contain SPF protection, which are ideal for a natural day-time look. I only use foundation now when I am going out at night. Although I don't try and match eye shadow or lipstick colours to my clothes, I tend to use warmer shades when wearing clothes in warmer colours and cooler tones if the colours of the clothes I am wearing are cool. Having said that, if I'm in a rush it's whatever comes to hand!

My best beauty tip (which is one I share with Inès) is always to wear a smile. Even if it doesn't hide your wrinkles it still makes you look years younger - and you will definitely be the belle of the ball!

Wrinkles or laughter lines?

I have to thank Staness of The Menopause Makeover for providing me with inspiration for today's post. Although she's more than ten years younger than me - far too young to be worrying about wrinkles in my view! - she lives in L.A., where there's huge pressure to look young.  Staness describes how she visited her dermatologist for an irritating skin condition and at the end of the appointment she was told " I can make you look 10 to 15 years younger with some Botox and fillers." Staness' response was "I love my wrinkles, dammit!" Good for her. I applaud her attitude and her vow that she's going to commit her life to more important things than wrinkles. 

Even if I won the Euromillions jackpot I wouldn't waste my money on botox and fillers, though I do admit to recently buying some L'Oreal day and night creams with the tantalising name of "Revitalift". I am hoping that this means it will revitalise my skin at the same time as giving me a face lift. To be honest it wasn't the name that really attracted me - nor the claim that it would target the 10 signs of ageing - it was the price (a lot less than my favourite Clarins' creams) plus a special discount if you bought two products. Sold to the pensioner on a tight budget!

Showing my laughter lines at the age of 65

I remember many years ago asking my aunt what was the secret of her youthful looking skin and being told that all she used was cheap Nivea cream. Thinking about this, I have just realised that I was in my early twenties so my aunt would only have been in her mid forties, though at the time I had considered her positively ancient. I suspect that good genetics had a role to play here, but it was reassuring to be told that cheaper products could be as good as top of the range expensive ones.

I love this quote from Inès de la Fressange in "Parisian Chic": "I pay no attention to wrinkles. I just stand back from the mirror!" Exactly. One of the advantages of getting older is that, with failing eyesight, you can't see your wrinkles without your glasses. I keep my glasses next to the PC and not next to the bedroom mirror for that very reason.

One of the pluses of being a blogger is that you get to choose your most flattering photos, however if someone else posts pictures of you on-line you can get a nasty surprise. It's even worse when a much younger friend tags you (wrinkles and double chin fully revealed) on facebook. The worst photos of me recently have been when my face has been turned sideways, revealing a saggy jaw-line as well as those tell-tale laughter lines. Excuse me while I check the ten signs of ageing that my new skin creams promise to target.  Good news! Take a look at numbers two and three below: this should sort out my saggy jaw-line.

Minimizes fine lines + wrinkles

Firms sagging skins

Tightens facial contours

Restores elasticity

Hydrates dryness

Smoothes skin surface

Softens rough texture

Brightens dullness

Strengthens skin's density

Fades discolorations

If my facial contours miraculously become tighter and my sagging skin does become firmer, I will post before and after photos on my blog, so watch this space!

Do you wear your wrinkles with pride? Or have you too discovered a new miracle cream?

My best anti-ageing tip ever

I remember sitting on a bus in Newcastle when I was in my 30s, and glancing at the woman opposite me who looked like she was in her 60s.  Her mouth was turned down and every line on her face was drooping in a downwards direction.  I vowed then that I wouldn't look as miserable when I was her age.

My next memorable experience was seeing a photo of myself doing a cross-country run when I was in my 40s.  The photographer took me by surprise and the result was a picture of me looking as grim as I felt.  You could have pinned it up in a Police station with the caption: "Wanted.  This woman is on the run and is dangerous. Do not approach!"  it was that bad. I looked so old and haggard that after that I always ran with a smile on my face. Even when I was feeling weary towards the end of the London Marathon, I managed to smile when I saw my friend, and the resulting photo was surprisingly good considering I had reached mile 18.

These experiences taught me one important lesson about getting old: smile and you instantly look years younger.  Eventually you end up with the face you deserve, so if you are always friendly and smile at people at least any lines will be laughter lines.  You may not be able to afford or even want a face lift, but if you smile at people your eyes look brighter, your face is instantly uplifted and you look a lot younger.  Not only that, it makes you feel good and it makes other people feel even better.  Plus - an additional bonus for those of us who are no longer earning money - a smile costs nothing!  Please share your own anti-ageing tips with us, especially those that don't involve spending lots of money on expensive creams.

Michelle Obama not looking too happy!

Michelle looking her usual lovely self!