Ways to help Eliminate Dark Circles Under the Eyes

There are some everyday things that you can try to eliminate puffiness and dark circles under your eyes. Get plenty of quality sleep, remove all of your eye makeup before you hit the bed, treat your allergies which can cause discoloration under the eyes, eliminate nasal congestion, eat well and  don't smoke. Natural remedies include cold compresses such as cucumbers slices under the eyes to eliminate puffiness or laying a cool tea bag (the tannins in tea assist with discoloration) or cold spoon to your eyes for 10-15 minutes. I know that there are a lot of over the counter products to choose from for restoring youthful looks to your face, especially your eyes, but don't be overwhelmed!

Dark Cirlces: Discoloration under the eyes can be caused by several factors, genetics, exposure to the sun, thinning of the skin due to aging, the loss of collagen or uneven melanin production. 

• Products that contain Peptides (these can increase collagen production) can help fill in the hollows under the eyes and diminish darkness. 
• Matrixyl 3000 as an ingredient helps restore pigment balance and evening out skin-tone.  
• Hyaluronic Acid is a moisturizer that plumps up skin cells which aids in boosting the thin skin under the eyes. 
• Eyes creams that contain Vitamin K and Retinol 
• Eye creams that contain caffeine, green tea, grapeseed oil or Vitamin C

I Would recommend that you search online to see which products contain the ingredients above. Natural remedies can be purchased at any health food store. Beauty creams can be purchase online or in stores. If you go to the manufacturer's website and if they have an email signup, they will usually have discounts or coupons available.

 I just bought ROC Multi Correction 5-in-1 Eye cream at Target, and am anxious to see the results! I found a coupon right on their website for $2.00 off under "promotions". It is around $25.00, which is a mid-range price. I am also considering trying Strivectin-EV dark circle and puffiness correction cream. It is $59.00, so I am waiting to see how the RoC cream does first! I think that you can spend a small fortune trying all of these wonder creams! Ultimately though, I know I will find which one is right for me, and it will be a lot less than getting a facelift!

Ta ta for now...save money!

My Third Ballet Class

Well yesterday was my third ballet class! I can't believe I keep going back for more punishment. I am feeling a little more comfortable in the class with the structure and the warm up combinations, but I am still sweating like a pig! (where does that saying come from anyway - do pigs really sweat?)

I have to concentrate really hard on remembering some of the footwork exercises. I think that this is really good for my brain. By forcing myself to remember intricate or direction changing exercises, I think I will keep my old brain more active. Yay for brain exercises too!

My hamstring muscles are extremely tight, so I can forget about doing the splits. Even in the old days when I was in the best of shape the splits weren't always my thing. I also have a very had time doing any jumping exercises. I find myself huffing and puffing and hanging my head out the door for some fresh air.

I have one class left that I prepaid for, so that should take me into next week. Then I am off to a wedding and don't know when I will get back to take that class. They will probably assume that they scared me off. Oh well.

Here's a picture of me when I was young and dancing the Dream Ballet in Oklahoma at the San Bernardino Civic Light Opera. I even danced it on "Pointe".

That seems like another lifetime ago, did I really ever do that? Oh to be young again!

Ta ta for now....

Ballet Class #2
Ballet Class #1

Happy Birthday Merideth Baxter

I don't normally pay birthday tribute to celebrities, but this morning I saw a picture of Merideth Baxter celebrating 64 and my jaw dropped! She looked amazing. So naturally I assumed it was a current picture. After googling images, I realized that there is no way to know what the age of the picture was that the article chose to run. Wouldn't it be nice if dates were on photos to help the real people out here not have an instant "fail" moment! 

I have no idea what year the left photo was taken, but the next one seems to be more current.  She is a beautiful woman, and has had a wonderful career but a less than  stellar personal life. I adored her on "Family Ties" and she has done a lot of work on TV and in films as both an actress and producer. She has been married twice, has kids, grandkids, suffered through breast cancer and has been living in a gay relationship since 2005. Her life seems to cover it all!  She has a memoir out that was released in 2011 called "Untied". I am sure that it would make for great reading.

So here is a birthday tribute to a wonderful woman over the age of 60! Happy Birthday Meredith!!!

Ta ta for now...



What's in Your Makeup Bag?

On most days I am either too lazy or too tired to put on makeup. Then later in the day if I catch my image I yell at myself (internally that is) and wonder who that tired, bland woman is. Let me clarify, I am not a heavy makeup wearer, but more a try-to-enhance-what-you-have kind of person. I love to go makeup free so I don't beat up my pores, but as I age I find that there are some things that just need a little extra help! Since most days I can't get up early enough to put makeup on at home, I have taken to carrying a small bag with me with some essentials to spruce up with at work.

I'll open my bag and dump out the contents, here's what I have inside:

• A tube of Garnier Nutrishioniste "Skin Renew" anti-puff eye roller (good stuff, I have the Olay anti-puff tube at home and believe me it feels good and works).
• A small travel version of ROC Retinol Correction Eye Cream which claims to visibly reduce wrinkles around the eyes, crow's feet, dark circles and puffiness (bring it on!)
• A travel container of Elizabeth Arden's ultra restorative ceramide capsules (says it helps strengthen skin's barrier against the visible signs of time-YES! When I run out it will be a huge splurge to replace).
• A tube of generic concealer to mask dark circles and dark spots on my skin. I also use it before my base to tone down redness in small areas.
• Currently I am using Covergirl's natureluxe liquid foundation. It goes on smoothly and quickly and has an sps of 10  (I like fast, uncomplicated makeup applications). coupon offer
• An inexpensive, self contained mineral powder with built in powder puff applicator and mirror (quick, easy and non messy for travel).
• Clinque #110 precious posy blush, (this was a splurge, but I love the color and it is lasting forever!)
• A cheap  eyebrow pencil for filling in the outer edges of my eyebrows that seem to be balding away, ughhh!
• Almay's crayon contour eyeliner pencil for lining my eyes (I love this product).
• A tube of Rimmel Lash Accelerator, both a mascara and lash treatment (I love how it goes on and separates my lashes and gives them length. They seem fuller). And look Zooey Deschanel is a model on their website, I didn't know that! Cute!!
• A tiny sample tube of Clinque's high impact mascara that I received for free. (still testing, no impression yet)
• An inexpensive lip lining pencil.
• And lastly a small bottle of Advil (never without headache relief!), a comb, a tooth flossing pick in a plastic wrapper (what?), a pearl baby barrette and a tiny suction cup (I have no clue).

I can honestly tell you that most of these makeup items were purchased with a coupon at Target. The specialty creams were purchased during specials at Costco (I'm in big trouble when they run out) and I buy generic whenever possible.

Rimmel and L'Oreal makeup coupons. Scan the personal care section. If you can't find them, enter your own zip code!

It doesn't always have to cost a lot to look nice!

Ta ta for now...

When People Age

Aging isn't easy, and it is even harder as we see our parents and older loved ones struggling with their own passing into the golden years. Sometimes  it is even harder when they deny that there is a problem, or have no recollection of the things that they have said or done.

The main care and support of these beautiful and beloved people falls on many of our friends and family. They sometimes struggle with the extra burden of trying to maintain a normalcy in their lives, as the lives of their elders fall apart. I have a dear friend whose father is 94, blind and whose health is going downhill. I can tell from the tenure of her voice that the loss of her father is coming soon. Yet day by day she works, she comforts her mother and she assists with the care and comfort of her dad. 

I only hope that I have the strength and courage to face these things if need be. When it is thrust upon you, you deal with it the only way you know how. Deep within us is an inner strength that we sometimes don't even realize that we have, until we are called upon to use it.

This is for all of my friends who are currently in this situation. I pray that they have  continued strength to get themselves and their families through aging and sickness. I commend them for their spirit and giving nature, and I hope that I can be there for them if they need me.

Ta Ta for now...

Palm Desert Life

I don't mean to camp on the people that live in Palm Desert. I am sure that it is a phenomenon that happens in any area where there is wealth combined with retirement. For some reason however, I was really shocked by how many elderly women had face lifts or some kind of facial work done and by how obvious it was.  It was actually kind of scary. Women driving, shopping, walking or at the theatre who were well dressed, well coiffed, too thin and with faces that were just too tight. As if that weren't enough, they had an odd glistening texture to them. My sister thought some were the result of a face peel because supposedly it changes the texture of the skin.

Perhaps when you live in an environment where it is so easily and readily accepted it is natural to blend in. Since it is a big resort town it's natural to feel comfortable walking around in golf clothes or tennis outfits, even if you don't play the sport.

I think it is great that people want to stay and look healthy and young. But at what point do you just say I like a few wrinkles and puffs that show my life experiences? I suppose it's just obvious to an outsider, but to me, if the work is that obvious perhaps you went a little too far.

I hope I have the good sense and self esteem to accept my wrinkles and old age with grace and dignity as I ease into the golden years, or at least can pick procedures that don't alter my face and skin to such extremes. Only time will tell.

Ta Ta for now...