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
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
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.
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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.
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I felt the same way about Jones Road balm. It just didn’t do much for me. I love the makeup look you came up with. It’s the perfect natural look! My holy grail product probably would be YSL Touche Eclat brightening pen. It’s the most amazing concealer. It’s expensive but worth every penny.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Ohhh some good stuff here- thanks so much for sharing! Writing some of these down 🙂
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Thank you!
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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
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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.
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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.
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Great advice. I have a friend who is in the know about all things beauty and I will ask her.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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Thank you! The jelly tints were new to me!
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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!
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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!
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Estee Lauder Double Wear – they just came out with a new formula not a fan. Looks like for now they plan on keeping both (hopefully). I guess they are changing the rules on what is in some of the cosmetics so we will see a change in the formula of alot of things before next year sometime. I do have to use a good moisturizer and primer under the doble wear and put it on in a thin layer but it last all day and doesn’t rub off. I use DHC two step cleansing oil and face wash which is the only thing that doesn’t make my skin feel dry. I also like to try to new products and I now but most cosmetics from Target because if they don’t work out you can return them. They are getting expensive so I don’t feel bad returning them if they don’t work for me. Before Double Wear and I am sure you can relate to all the foundations purchased that were not the right color so I don’t mind paying the price for foundation. I think the lighting in stores alters the color of things. I do find that many of the things that love get discontinued !!
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You are beautiful! I’m 53, almost never wear cosmetics anymore, but still reach for lip gloss and Bayfree Dewy Glow Balm as a matter of self-love if I will be out and about – and sometimes a touch of mascara – top only – because it’s obnoxious if it gets in the eyes, and the more we uplevel in years, the harder it is to apply anyway. 🙂
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