Is This Why Skin Creams Don't Work?

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Have beauty brands been deceiving us for years with products containing ingredients that don't penetrate the skin? 

It's all to do with a unit of measurement called a Dalton. It's a unit of mass used to measure the size of molecules. 

What's significant about it is that some small beauty brands are claiming that research from Harvard University suggests commercial skincare products with "miracle" ingredients are actually biophysically too large to do the heavy lifting they are marketed for.

Your Best Face: Look Fabulous Forever

 And #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends.  A veritable feast of beauty tips for the over 50s today as I share my thoughts on two products you've probably seen advertised on Instagram. I'll also be creating a natural "no make-up look" with products from Look Fabulous Forever (gifted).

Should I Go Grey? Beauty Chat

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends.  Let's talk about going grey. I'm getting a bit fed up with the hours spent at the salon and am thinking about it, although it's not an easy decision when you're warm toned. 

In today's post I'm also sharing my progress with products and treatments aimed at improving ageing skin. Plus there's a low-cost perfumed treat and a body oil that works marvels on crepey skin.

Everything was bought by me so you're getting honest reviews. 

Life Lately: Retro Dress, Nails and More

 & Tuesday Twirl

Dear friends. It's been a busy time lately, with a trip to Plymouth last week for the scattering of Mum's ashes, and another trip this week. 

I've been buying Christmas presents and studiously avoiding Black Friday deals  (if you weren't going to buy it at full price, don't buy it!).  I've bought a few new beauty products recently and will cover them today.

RETRO DRESS WITH LONG BOOTS

This is my second "retro style" dress from Madcap England. It's sleeveless but I find they work better in autumn/winter with a jacket and maybe a silky roll neck underneath, as the material is not what I'd consider for summertime.  It's a silky type of scuba material. It skims over curves, lumps/bumps.

This dress isn't in Spring colours as such but I added some brightness with my Roxy in aqua (Kettlewell) and red handbag  (Etsy).  The suede boots are old, from Boden. 

It's shorter than I would normally wear, but I think that's fine with opaque tights and boots. 

Tomorrow I'm off to have my hair done, having let two months elapse which means my roots are pretty awful. 

NEW BEAUTY BUYS

My nails and cuticles are finally in a good place, thanks to products from Manucurist  (serum and oil). and taking Biotin daily. 

I bought some non-gel nail polishes from a new brand, Harriet Westmoreland. Harriet is well known for her "clean" nails: short, natural looking and beautifully manicured (Nigella Lawson is a fan).  I bought the basecoat, topcoat and two of the Vanilla Gloss Polishes.  

It looks darker in the bottle than it actually is.

I can't resist a beauty box, and the Boots Show Stopper box caught my eye.  It was £90, but well worth it because there's very little I wouldn't use, or don't like.  I'm already using the Grown Alchemist Polisher and Boots Berry Lip Sleep balm, plus the Caroline Herrera perfume La Bomba and Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment in Strawberry Glimmer. 

I've also bought a couple more pieces for autumn/winter, a brown suede skirt and brown cord jeans. I'll show you these next week.

How do you like your nails? Long with nail art, or short and subtle?  Do tell in the comments.

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TUESDAY TWIRL

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LAST WEEK'S FAVOURITES

"This is getting to be quite a habit", from Penny at Conversations with an Older Woman

Great advice from Laura at I Do Declaire on how to evaluate purchases. 

"How I am grey blending my hair with toners" by Alison at Midlife and Beyond

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Summertime Skin Care

 & #TuesdayTwirl

Dear friend. It's time for another beauty update where I share what's working and what isn't.  Everything was bought by me, so you can rest assured you're getting a frank and honest view.

At 64, I'm well aware that creams and potions don't turn back the hands of time. But how about the latest LED and RF (radio frequency) devices?

Step Into My Beauty Laboratory

 

Dear friends. This promises to be a bumper beauty post, as I'll be covering several topics including how to improve your eyebrows, what to do with ever more shocking nails, and the products I've bought recently. 

Beauty and Energy Boosters

 

Dear friends. Time for a beauty update, as I've changed my routine as winter approaches, and have been trying a few new products. Unless indicated, I bought them myself, and these are my honest thoughts. I've also covered some of the energy and cell rejuvenating supplements I use. 

First, my usual disclaimer, which is not to expect any radical improvements from using skincare products, no matter how enticing the marketing messages - how pro-ageing or pro-menopause they are.

Beauty Catch-Up

 And Wow on Wednesday

Dear friends.  It's time for a beauty update, where I share products I've both bought and been gifted, and give my honest reviews. 

First up, new creamy eyeshadow sticks (gifted) from Look Fabulous Forever. Many of you are fans of this brand, created for the specific needs of older women.  

Vegan Hair Products that Hydrate

 

Dear friends.  If you're anything like me, you scrutinise hair care products to check their ingredients, while keen to find hair care solutions that work.

I was pleased to be invited to try a new range from well-known Vegan brand Vegamour. Not only are their products free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, gluten and artificial fragrance, but they're a good natural alternative to products which can give unwanted side effects.

The range I tried is called HYDR-8, formulated for those with dry, damaged hair.

Why Gentle is Better for Skincare over 60

 

Dear friends. I've done a complete 360 degree turn on my skincare and makeup routine. I've turned my back on "active" ingredients. My skin looks far better as a result.  

I was using a lot of "actives," products with ingredients like retinol, AHAs and peptides. These are said to improve the appearance of mature skin, but what they do is exfoliate. They are fine if you're in your 40s and early 50s. But my belief is, they are too harsh once we're past menopause.

So here's what I'm doing instead.

Beauty Update and Make-up Bag Rummage

 & #WowOnWednesday 

Dear friends.  Today I'm sharing the beauty products that I'm finding really good. And who doesn't like to peak into someone else's make-up bag?

The Big Festive Giveaway {2023}

 

PLEASE NOTE: THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER AND A WINNER NOTIFIED.  

Dear friends.  Would you like to get your hands on over £150 worth of beauty treats, some full size, and all brand new? It's very easy. 

My No-Frizz Hair Trick

& WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I don't often accept brand collaborations, and only do it for products I would buy. The Zuvi Halo Hair Dryer was a complete no-brainer.  I'd been thinking about replacing my old hair dryer, over 10 years old and clearly not doing my hair any favours. So when I learnt how the Zuvi has an entirely different method of drying, resulting in shinier, healthier hair, I was hooked!

Read on to see how I got on with this stylish hair saviour, and how to claim the best ever discount offered, especially for Is This Mutton readers.

Beauty Rummage and the Cult Products I Can't Live Without

 & #WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I won't lie to you, it has not been an easy week.  I lost my devoted companion Molly seven days ago and the grief has been intense. Last week I threw myself into work - blogging and cleaning. But the last few days have been more difficult.  I sent J to collect her ashes, which we will scatter on the garden on a sunny spring day. 

I jettisoned plans for an outfit shoot today when it started raining again.  Instead it's a good time for a periodic rummage in the makeup bag and a look at the products I consider indispensable. Plus the cult products I can't live without.  These would surprise the young beauty bloggers and social media managers I suspect. But we like to surprise them, don't we? 

Pretty Daytime Make-Up with Look Fabulous Forever

Dear friends. Pull up a chair, it might be a long post. I can't wait to talk to you about some of my latest beauty discoveries. 

Today I'm going to create a pretty everyday make-up with Look Fabulous Forever, the brand created specifically for older women. And I'm going to reveal my best beauty secret. But let's start with skincare, because unless our skin is looking good, make-up can't do its job.

Thinning Lips and Barcode Lines

 & WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I was asked recently what we can do about thinning lips, something which happens as we age.  I'm also troubled by "barcode lines," those lines  above the top lip. They're usually associated with smokers but we all have them to some extent. I'm going to explain a few ways of camouflaging these issues, and what's available if you decide to get professional treatment.

The Best Beauty Products on Holiday

 & #WowOnWednesday

Dear friends. I'm back from a wonderful 10 night stay in Skiathos, Greek Islands.  We've been there several times and I've already re-booked for next year. No wonder they call it the boomerang island. 

It's very hard to beat in terms of a perfect location, beautiful scenery and good food. Above, in a new-to-us restaurant in Skiathos Town, called Paraxenos. It was a great discovery.

Today's post will focus on the capsule wardrobe I took - pros and cons - and a few standout beauty products. 

The Big Beauty Bonanza

 

Dear friends. It's been a while since we had a look at my latest beauty buys and what I'm currently trying from brands who have gifted me. So here's my big beauty special. There'll be an update on my eyelash growing experiment; a brilliant new mascara; a new serum, and some body "bio hackers" to reverse cell damage. 

The Lowdown on Collagen

 

Dear friends. Chances are you may have seen one or two ads lately for collagen to improve your skin, maybe peppered with a celebrity or two.  And you may be wondering if it's worth trying.  Alternately, you may be thinking about collagen to try to improve arthritis.  I've been looking into the subject so here's what you need to know.

Six Months to Improve My Nails

 

Dear friends.  I'm ashamed of my nails. When I was young, I had long, strong nails. But for the last few years, my nails have been in a terrible condition.

I try to do the right things. I always have at least 3 different cuticle creams and oils on the go, and apply them twice a day. I use rubber gloves. I rarely use nail polish.