Rococco, sure. Sephora should have a BE counter and a tech to play with your face. I was in Chicago last night and dragged my makeup phobic friend into the BE Boutique at Woodfield, (Mecca itself, only two in the midwest I think) for a makeup application. Had to ply her with a glass of wine first. We'd been up since 5, driven 3 hours, then had a tedious all day conference - our 50s faces were not exactly dewey and fresh... When they were done, she looked great!! Another convert. BTW BE is "15 spf", but you use so very, very little that I doubt it is sufficient protection. Oh, and on the messiness of the powders. I'd forgotten to swirl the brush in a bit in the lid, and was kinda dunking it instead. Duh. The lid and the Kleenex tip did the trick. Thanks.

Just wanted to share with you some of the experiences I've had with skin care. This I really long for me since I rarely chime in. I had Fraxel around my eyes 5 yrs ago. At that time there were 3 different Fraxel lasers available. The Board Certified Cosmetic Surgeon I used (and still do for skin treatments) used the strongest which only requires one treatment. Since then I know she's gone back to CO2 because the results are better. I also have friends who had complete whole face CO2 laser. After a few years, their skin still looks great and healthy. All in their 60's. i looked at the site listed and noticed she still had brown spots. This usually can be improved by IPL treatments which is laser type, no down time, and a little uncomfortable during the treatment. Same friends and I have had these treatments. You actually see the brown spots lift off and disappear and it's used to on the small spider veins that sometimes appear at your nostrils It's also good for brown spots on hands. I rarely wear foundation now since having these treatments. My skin has improved tremendously. I'm 64. Just want to share with you some other products which you can get on-line that have worked for me and were also recommended to me by the same board certified cosmetic surgeon. Jan Marini bioglycolic wash used daily at night. I use the one for oily skin which is strongest and my skin can tolerate it. I'm olive toned. This is strong at first because it exfoliates. Jan Marini Bioglycolic Creme used 3x a week at night. I mix a little retina A with it. When I do use foundation, it's by Colorescience. It's made to lay on the surface of your skin, does not penetrate into your pores, and has great coverage without looking caked on. Very natural. I turned a few friends onto it and they love it. Unfortunately they changed their line around and no longer offer the creme foundation. TG I recently found the primer and foundation on eBay and Amazon. Need to call them to see what they are recommended in their updated line. I used to use Chanel luminere for years. Same Dr. Recommended Neutrogena Moisturizer for daily use. I still have some fine lines but that's age appropriate. My skin is shiny healthy.

Fascinating topic :). I have never been interested in make up, and so never got into much of it. Daily routine is, after washing face, to apply an SPF 30 moisturizer, brow pencil since I plucked most of mine as a teenager and they never grew back, and a dot of Dermablend cover on a small but very pale and noticeable circular scar above one eye where I had a skin cancer removed. Quit bothering with eye shadow and blush years ago, ditto with foundation which is also nasty to wear in the Miami subtropical weather; feels to me like wearing a greasy mask, yuck. Actually the climate here strongly mitigates against the multilayer face 'painting' I read about; cannot imagine plastering on primer/foundation/powder and then leaving it to bake all day especially during what I call our double 90 season (heat and humidity). Have never used lipstick, rarely mascara and never tried eye liner. Have never had an interest in Botox or any other type of intervention or surgical options and probably never will. I did Invisalign orthodontia several years ago; had lived with crooked teeth until I was 50+ YO and the feeling about my improved appearance/smile, along with the greater ease in keeping up with dental hygiene due to straight teeth has been immeasurably positive. I have my hair professionally cut and highlighted every 10-12 weeks. Wash and blow dry it every other day, use a straightening iron too often--as I'm aging my hair is developing that brittle overprocessed look that I hate to see. I need to up my use of hair treatments but just haven't bothered. What else--do my own pedicures, no manicures or nail polish on my hands. Did fingernail polish for years on my own but didn't like how it discolored the nails and prefer natural. I am in major stall on exercise; was doing Pilates regularly with a trainer but she closed her studio and I haven't found a group class with a good instructor on a schedule that works for me. At 58, I badly need to get myself into a regular schedule of cardio, stretching and weight training. Have never had to worry about weight but the tone and fitness lack is worrisome. I'd call myself diligent in keeping clean, tidy and looking reasonable but in many ways I like being in the stage of life at which I've become 'invisible'. It's very freeing in a lot of ways not to worry about trying to live up to whatever i social acceptability standard for appearance is out there for women these days :).

I had a facelift at 50yo (6 years ago now) and would not suggest one at 80yo. For me, I didn't have wrinkles, but my eyes and jowls were starting to sag. My surgeon, now retired, is world renowned and one of the two original inventors of the microscopic brow lift. I look the same, only fresher and younger. One of my mother's healthcare companions yesterday asked me if I had any children. When I said they were in their late 20s and early 30s, and that I had 2 grandchildren she said she thought I would have toddlers. Most people can't believe I'm a grandmother. It's nice to hear, but I did it for myself. Now if only my hands looked better, but I'm not willing to do fillers (anywhere) especially when they are not longer lasting. My older sister had a facelift (same Dr) after me, and breast implants - he is also well known for breast cancer reconstruction surgery. She was 55yo when she had hers. If anyone is considering a facelift, or any kind of facial surgery, I would question whether or not they leave in tubes. My Dr did not. Mine was removed the morning after surgery. Recovery was easy. Sleeping in a recliner is best. I was no in pain, but I did swell and bruise a lot (fair skin). One of the benefits is not having a headache for over a year. I could not sleep on either side for awhile, and my left ear has a tiny bit of permanent numbness, but it's not painful and doesn't bother me.