What women over 40 want

Mineral makeup has swept the beauty scene, with department stores and drugstores alike vying for a customer’s every last pore.  Put down your stick concealer and walk slowly away – The Vogue City will make a believer out of even the most diehard liquid (foundation) lady.

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals powder foundation, $25, takes the cake on quality, price and coverage. 

Originally a QVC late-night special, specialty stores took note when sales skyrocketed.  Available at almost every Sephora and some full service salons, this venerable fairy dust comes in over ten shades and is miraculously free of all of those bad things – parabens, synthetic dyes and other harsh chemicals – that can irritate skin.  While Sephora offers great online shopping specials, this is one you’ll want to test for yourself in store, in person, as the color tends to deposit darker on the skin than in the jar.

Mineral Fusion’s loose base, $33 at Whole Foods, is a hearty contender in this battle of the beautiful.  

Also free of nasty additives, this powder sweeps on easily and gently.  However, at nearly $10 more per container, we expected more of a color selection and better packaging.  Nonetheless, a little goes a long way.

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers, $8, wins in the price department, and also comes in a convenient, travel-friendly shape with added brush. 

With only four colors to choose from and availability in drugstores only (most of which don’t let you test product before you buy), it may seem like a bit of a drawback; one option is to buy two shades closest to you and mix to the perfect tone.  At $8 a pop, you can certainly afford to.

Janet Jackson is the only Nasty Girl we respect.  Keep your brushes clean by washing them once a week with gentle cleanser (baby shampoo works wonders) and air drying between use.  Your newfound glowing skin will thank you!

-Karyn Polewaczyk

The skincare junkie in me emerged early.  While friends would swap secrets before bedtime at middle school sleepovers, I was busy in the bathroom completing Clinique’s 3-step skincare system.  I concocted homemade masks of oatmeal and egg whites in high school; and in college, became obsessed with everything anti aging, sampling alpha hydroxyl acids the way Marie Antoinette tasted cakes.  My path to poreless enlightenment came to a screeching halt when my previously peaches-and-cream complexion became engulfed with cystic acne after using a high-end department store skincare line.  The only thing that brought relief was abstinence from overpriced jars of wonder cream, which, in my opinion, are packed with empty promises and far too many chemicals.  However, I still needed to cleanse, tone and moisturize, and with my cheeks, chin and nose on the defense, I had to tread carefully.  A friend recommended I try natural skincare products, a suggestion at which I initially scoffed.  I associated price with performance, a beauty blunder no matter what your budget.  I eventually came around, and five years later, haven’t looked back to the glowing plastic beauty counters where I could normally be counted on every Saturday afternoon.

If you’re a natural newbie or are just looking to test the rosewater, look no further:  The Vogue City’s beauty department has you covered like SPF 45.

The Burt’s Bees brand takes the cake for its combination of economics and capability.  Their carrot seed oil complexion mist, $10, is a must for on-the-go moisture touchups, and also works well over makeup to matte down loose powders and blushes. 

Juice Beauty’s line, in addition to being paraben, pesticide and petroleum free, packs a punch against free radicals with a potent combination of antioxidants and vitamins.  Try their cleansing milk, $22, for a gentle-yet-effective (and delicious smelling) way to remove city grit and grime. 

Say goodbye to crow’s feet with Suki Pure’s eye repair balm, $33.  Concocted with beta carotene and rose hips, this balm is gentle enough for everyday use, yet powerful enough to battle signs of aging overnight.

Last but certainly not least is Lush’s Skin Nanny moisture cream, whose namesake does just that.  This rich moisturizer literally pampers and soothes even the most sensitive skin.  Priced around $46, it’s a bit of a splurge, but Lush’s staff swear a jar can last up to eight months.

Check your local Whole Foods for these and other natural skincare lines that are good for your skin, good for the environment and good for your wallet.  And what’s not to love about that?

–Karyn Polewaczyk

I was given the great pleasure to attend “An Evening of Rhythm and Romance” hosted by 1-800-Flowers.com and Robin Thicke.  After entering the Gibson Guitar Showroom on West 54th Street, I was immediately greeted with a friendly face and taken through a room filled with all the beautiful flowers and goodies available for the quickly approaching Valentine’s Day on February 14th. 

While waiting for Robin to perform, we continued through to a room that had staged ideas including the absolutely beautiful “Altar of Love”.  This idea is a unique and creative way to remind your significant other of the many reasons you love them.  Simply type up (or better yet, handwrite) meaningful quotes, inside jokes, past date mementos, etc and in this case they used a beautiful tree branch and hung them all with beautiful satin ribbon.  This idea is a creative way to say, “I love you” without spending a fortune.

I spent the remainder of my time speaking with the other guests that were invited, and eagerly waiting for the anticipated performance to begin!  If you can get invited, (which isn’t always an easy task) these events are the perfect way to network with your peers and make connections for potential future business. 

Soon Julie Mulligan, famed floral lifestyle expert, was on the microphone taking all the guests through the two featured bouquets: The Sweetest Love Bouquet that features a dozen red roses (inspired by the hot new single by Robin Thicke) and a creation of her own, True Love. This arrangement of red roses, pink spray roses, purple lisianthus, white dendrobium orchids, blue limonium and pink wax flowers features a keepsake ceramic heart tattoo charm, which will last well beyond the candy and flowers. Each arrangement of fragrant flowers retails for under $100 dollars and feature modern, yet romantic touches.

Immediately following Julie Mulligan’s demonstration, Robin Thicke took the stage with his signature gold microphone.  (Yes, he’s as cute in person as in pictures!)  He performed three songs on one of the most beautiful baby grand piano, including “The Sweetest Love.”  Well worth the wait, the mood of the room was filled with romance and love.  Later that night I left the event feeling absolutely ready to celebrate true love and I was full of great ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Both Bouquets, along with many other beautiful options including chocolates and baked goodies can be ordered directly from www.1800flowers.com.

-Lindsey  

Whether you want something handy to pull on over a bikini as you run to a corner store for a flavored water, you want to protect your skin from the sun, or you have a creepy uncle that shows up at your families’ summer home – a swimsuit cover up is a great to have.

In fact, I recommend having more than one. They’re crucial on my vacation list.If Heroes‘ hottie Milo Ventimiglia happens by my poolside and asks me to eat dinner with him and his friends, I want to be prepared.

There are several choices out there, but I narrowed it down to my top six from some of TheStylishCity.com’s favorite stores. See what you think.

1. BCBG Max Azaria Embroidered Ikat Cover Up from Nordstrom ($198.00). I love how flouncy it looks, especially the sleeves.
2. Dotti Pleated Shirt Cover Up from Macy’s ($48.00). Or, get it with pleated pockets.

1. DKNY Swimwear Dot Cover Up from bloomingdale’s ($108.00). For the glamazon in every female.

2. Milly Merano Crochet Mini Dress from Saks ($271.00). Good for petite frames. Subtly flirty.
3. Shosanna Swim Cover Up from Saks ($175.00). This is similar to the Milly one, but I wanted to include it because I love Shosanna. This is a little less virginal, and will compliment a curvy figure better.

4. Diane Von Furstenberg Harlequin Fish Cover Up from Saks ($225.00). This will enhance your bust. Plus, so pretty.
Stylishly yours,

Jessica Rae