Tuesday, April 14, 2026

I’m kinda laughing at myself as I type this title because I am the least qualified person to do this, but maybe that’s a good thing because it’s like “beauty for the average Joe”.

The face:

It’s got dark spots, wrinkles, melasma, asymmetry, but it’s mine. It’s seen some things. It’s conjugated lots of Spanish verbs.

In the above photo, I am wearing sunscreen, glotion, a bit of bronzer, blush, eye liner, eyebrow pencil, and lip product. I have no foundation or mascara. Mascara bugs me. I feel like I can see it and then I hate the removal process. I will get more detailed in a moment.

I have never had a facial or anything done. I would like to get some of my spots treated. I have no idea what is even possible. My face has been put on the back burner while I was working and raising my kids, then putting said kids through college. Mama’s face was not the priority.

With makeup, I want a 5-minute face and that is what I have here.

Here is what I used:

Jenn sang the praises of the Sun Bum and Loreal Lumi Glotion combo. I put both products in my palm and combine them, then apply with my hands. I use a bit of the e.l.f. halo glow for contour along my hairline and on my cheeks. It gives me a bit more color. I picked up this gorgeous pink Laura Geller blush stick at TJ Maxx a few months ago and I ordered the Violette French bisou blush. I use both of them together.

I learned of the importance of brows a few years ago. I love the combo of this elf pencil with spoolie and the elf liquid brow together. I did have my brows waxed and tinted in January and am going back soon. I used the Ilia stick as my lipliner and my all over color. I love the Ilia stick. It is a great product. I used the bisou balm by Violette, too – love! – and then ended with the Selena Gomez Rare Beauty gloss – obsessed! This pencil eyeliner is still new to me, and I am still trying to get better. I read to start in the middle above the pupil and do tiny strokes instead of trying to draw one continuous line. I did use powder liner and a tiny brush, but I have switched to pencil. Like I said, mascara bugs me. I left it off. I do think eyeliner really makes your eyes pop, though.

I ordered WTF foundation and Miracle Balm from Jones Road. I’m not impressed. I opened the WTF and said, “WTF is that smell?” I hate the smell and I hate the thick soupy texture. It’s thick and soupy but then has no coverage. Now, I do not have the Jones Road brush. That could be the problem. I have been using my old Merit brush and it has hairs coming out of it. I miss my Merit products to be honest. I love a stick makeup and it was really good stuff. It took me awhile to appreciate Merit, but I would buy their foundation stick, bronzer, and blush again.

The Miracle Balm doesn’t even show up. I picked pinky bronze.

My friend Faye has several Jones Road products that she let me try. The only ones I would buy are the Hippie Stick – smells great and can be used for hair flyaways, elbow moisture, cuticles, and more – and the blush stick.

She also gave me this lip product and I love it!

If I buy a beauty product more than once it says something. I do like to try new things and think that the perfect product might just be out there for me.

I get so sucked in by the ads and demos. They look so convincing, no?

I tend to prefer the more expensive brands of beauty products because they are more highly pigmented and a little goes a long way. I can get them to last a long time. I try to look in the small size bins of Ulta or Sephora to save some money. With that said, I do think I have a good mix of drug store and higher end in my current toolkit.

My friend Victoria told me about this product that she found at Kroger. I tried this Australian brand last summer and wasn’t super impressed.

She bought this color:

I bought this color:

It really is bouncy and jelly consistency! I tried it on both my cheeks and my lips. I think you must super moisturize your cheeks before using because I looked like I had a rash.

I really liked it on my lips, though.

The product costs about $10. I think Kroger only had the two colors. I would like to see the other color on me.

What is your holy grale product?

Amy

18 thoughts on “Makeup Talk”

  1. I use coconut oil in the same way you use the Hippie Stick. I actually travel with it- I take a small amount from my large jar and put it in one of those really small plastic containers to have with me. In a pinch, I’ll use it on my lips as well- not for color, just to moisturize if they are super dry. Speaking of lips, my go to make up item is having a bit of color on my lips to begin an event or outing. For instance, once my lipstick rubs off, I’m not fastidious about applying more such that I always have it on, but I like to start out an event/outing with lipstick on. Agree about eyeliner making eyes pop. I don’t always wear mascara. It’s not sacrosanct to “my face” but I do think it also helps to make eyes pop.

    Like

    Reply

    1. I do, too. I use it for makeup remover and on my elbows. The Hippie Stick was a gift from my friend and it’s very new to me. I love the smell. It won’t replace coco oil.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Glad to hear I’m not the only one. It looks so promising! I have heard that pen is amazing. I just don’t want to waste $ so I will pay if I love a product!

      Like

      Reply

  3. Um.. probably lip balm! LOL. I do have a set of makeup “stuff” I keep on hand for super fancy date night or wedding type events that I replace every year or so but rarely wear anything more than some lip balm.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Since I started using coconut oil I don’t need lip balm! So crazy! So I will use a tinted one for some color usually. You have great skin so that is great that you don’t need it.

      Like

      Reply

  5. Jones Road sent me a PR package and I was not a fan. It was the Miracle Balm I think? Anyway it was greasy and gross.

    My holy grail would be my Maybelline foundation and tubing mascara! Sephora has their sale right now so I may pick up a few new things to try!

    xo,

    Kellyann

    Like

    Reply

    1. Sometimes I worry it’s me choosing the wrong color.
      The other thing to remember is that we all have different skin and different things work for different people.

      Like

      Reply

  6. I highly recommend a facial. Find someone who comes recommended. The whole experience for me is a ten…the soft lighting, the ‘just right’ weighted blanket, the way my skin feels afterwards. It is a total relaxation hour. I go to a medi spa that is connected with my primary care practice and I get the dermaplaning which is basically shaving off the dead skin. It’s painless and it makes such a difference. I go every two to three months and I bought Vitamin C serum and a low dose retinol product from the spa which is what my aesthetician recommended. I have some dark spots and she told me I could laser those or even do a whole face laser. I’m toying with the idea. I’ve had too much sun in my younger years but am proactive now about sunscreen, hats, etc. I have never worn a lot of makeup.

    Like

    Reply

  7. I agree with Joyce above, but would also add just go to a dermatologist. When I first started seeing one he was very against most “skincare products“. He gave me a prescription strength {something} which really does reduce my sunspots. It’s funny, I didn’t really start wearing makeup regularly until my 40s. Now, I would not leave the house without a base layer, I don’t think. I do think the more expensive moisturizers are worth it so I do splurge on those. I feel so privileged to be able to do that.

    I often do try different products you bring up so thank you for sharing!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Yes! I feel like I finally have a little money I can put toward my face. I have really worked on my skincare since January. I have been using as many natural things as I can.

      Like

      Reply

  8. I think your make up look is great. It’s not over the top. I only ever wear make up when I am going out on an evening. I have a couple of those jelly tints and really love them. This was an interesting read.

    Like

    Reply

  9. I’m still loving my Lumi Glo-tion and SunBum combo! I love the glow that it gives me; to that I add a Mellani bronzing/blush color in a peach tone, then I do shimmery eyeshadows from Elf- a gold color and a cream color. From there I do a smidge of liner (a dark shadow) at the outer corners of my eyes, brow gel, mascara, and lipstick. I know a lot of people don’t love shimmery things, but I love them right now. I am sure a day will come when that won’t be the case, but for now, shimmer away! I enjoyed reading about your routine/products!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Girl, I owe you for that combo! Maybe I will try that Mellani – have heard good things. I have not been using eyeshadow! Some say to shy away from shimmer as you age, but it’s fun and I love it, too. You should do an updated makeup post!

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment