Gracefully Aging, Day 2: Is there an expiration date on beauty?

Israeli actress Daliah Lavi

A couple of years ago, some magazine fashion guy named John Januzzi raised hackles by suggesting that online style bloggers have a "shelf life" when it comes to blogging.

To quote Januzzi:

“Everyone out there has some kind of expiration date. What happens when a personal-style blogger wakes up and she’s 35 and not the cute 20-year-old girl in Brooklyn anymore?”

Granted, Januzzi was talking specifically about blogging. And mine is not really a style blog. But his remarks struck me as extremely age-ist and frankly, ignorant.

I responded on my blog at the time:

"Expiration date"? Absolutely not!

That cute 20 year old is not going to "wake up one day" and be 35...she's going to evolve in the space of 15 years, and most probably be better and more beautiful at 35 than she was at 20. (Unless she takes the route of excessive alcohol, tobacco and tanning and makes herself old before her time, of course.)

I'm in my late 50s, and determined to be the best "woman of a certain age" that I can be.  I'm one of MANY over 40 bloggers who still care about beauty and fashion.

 My friend Patti writes a blog called Not Dead Yet Style, and she hosts a blog link-up called "Visible Monday," so titled because women of our age often think we have to accept being invisible.

 Does that guy really think women should stop caring about these things because they're maturing?  Hogwash!

That sounds like a bunch of age-ist nonsense to me.

Even the most gorgeous 20 year old is getting older by the minute.  At some point she'll have to decide if she wants to just let herself go, or make a conscious decision  to be the best woman of ANY age that she can be.

A different kind of beauty

Yes, it means accepting flaws that aren't going to go away.  But it also means putting equal focus on inner beauty as you do outer beauty.

We have to be realistic: Changes in our faces and our bodies are inevitable as we age.  How we define our outer beauty may change.  But I am convinced, with some care and effort and intentionality, there need not be an expiration date on beauty.

I hope you'll stay with me on this 31 day blogging journey as we look at ways to gracefully age.

I'm participating in "31 Days: A Writing Challenge,"  in which I 'll be blogging on the subject of Gracefully Aging every day during the month of October.  Click the button below for more information and links to each post as they become available!

31 Days of Blogging: I'm Committing!

31 Days of Gracefully Aging

My blog has been rather hit-or-miss lately...mostly miss.  But today I came across a challenge that will force compel me to blog faithfully, at least for 31 days.

It's called simply "31 days," and it's a challenge to write on one topic in your blog every day in the month of October.

The topic I've chosen is:

Gracefully Aging

I'm on the far side of my 50's...so much so that I can see that big 60 milestone looming in the not-too-distant future.

A while back, I determined to be the best "woman of a certain age" that I can be.  My blog will focus on making the aging experience as beautiful as possible...not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well.

I plan to include, not only tips and advice from experts, but profiles of some of the gracefully-aging women that inspire me most.

Also, plenty of encouragement for those who, like me, want to believe that loveliness is not necessarily a quality that belongs only to the young!

Here's hoping for a successful month of blogging!

Here's a list of each post as it becomes available:

Day One: Modeling Joy

Day 2: Is there an expiration date on beauty?

Day 3: What about cosmetic surgery?

Day 4: Role models! My sister Beverly

Day 5: Wise Words

Day 6:  To gray or not to gray?

Day 7: Role models! Marie-Therese of The French Touch

Day 8:  Using health and fitness to defy your age

Day 9: YouTuber Miss Tammy

Day 10: Hair--The Long and Short of It

Day 11: Charla Krupp's How Not to Look Old

Day 12: Wise Words

Day 13: The Anti-Aging Serum that's Freely Available

Day 14: Blogs! 40+Style

Day 15: Makeup--Is Less More?

Day 16:  A Responsibility to Mentor

Day 17:  A Responsibility to Mentor Part 2

Day 18: Christie Brinkley's Anti-Aging Tips

Day 19:  Wise Words

Day 20: Blogs! Pam of OverFiftyFeeling40

Day 21: Our Aging Parents

Day 22: Our Aging Parents Part 2

Day 23: A makeup tutorial for mature women

Day 24: The Joy of Grandparenting

Day 25: Judy Chapman of Modern and Mature

Day 26:  Great Quotes about Aging Well

Day 27: Losing a Parent

Day 28: Living in an Empty Nest

Day 29: Blogs! Patti of Not Dead Yet Style

Day 30: Helen Mirren


Day 31:  I Did It!

My Favorite (Best?) Posts of 2012

source

2012 wasn't my most prolific blogging year.  As I believe most long-term bloggers do, I went through some slumps.  But I believe I did do some quality blogging, and I thought I'd share what I consider my top 5 posts of this past year.

If you're a new follower, I hope you'll check out some of these oldies-but-goodies! In no particular order...

Adventures in Hair-drying - I take the opportunity afforded by Hair Dryer Appreciation day to reminisce about the ridiculously complicated hair styling routine I endured back in the 70s.

Saturday Review of Books: The Hunger Games - My review of "The Hunger Games" (the book, not the movie) was one of my most-read posts of the year...although I read it seemingly much later than everyone else.

Do You Hate Women Because They're Beautiful? - A British journalist's much-publicized article about how tough it is to be gorgeous prompted this post.

Is There an Expiration Date on Beauty? - When a male magazine editor insinuated that women have a "shelf life" when it comes to beauty and fashion, I asked what my readers thought about it.

The Most Famous Lovers of Literature and History - Somehow this ended up on Pinterest, so it has gotten a lot of views. It's a perfect fit for Valentine's Day, a costume party or just to see how many of them you've ever actually heard of.

Is There An Expiration Date on Beauty?

Source: Uploaded by user via Cindy on Pinterest

On the blog The Online Stylist, blogger Amanda Start is responding to an article in which some magazine fashion guy named John Januzzi questions how long people should people should continue style blogging. Januzzi is quoted as saying:

“Everyone out there has some kind of expiration date. What happens when a personal-style blogger wakes up and she’s 35 and not the cute 20-year-old girl in Brooklyn anymore?”

Granted, Januzzi was talking specifically about blogging. And mine is not really a style blog. But his remarks struck me as extremely age-ist and frankly, ignorant. I wrote this comment on Amanda's post (and by the way, Amanda took issue with Januzzi's comments as well):

"Expiration date"? Absolutely not!

That cute 20 year old is not going to "wake up one day" and be 35...she's going to evolve in the space of 15 years, and most probably be better and more beautiful at 35 than she was at 20. (Unless she takes the route of excessive alcohol, tobacco and tanning and makes herself old before her time, of course.)

I'm in my 50s, and determined to be the best "woman of a certain age" that I can be.  I'm one of MANY over 40 bloggers who still care about beauty and fashion.

 My friend Patti writes a blog called Not Dead Yet Style, and she hosts a blog link-up called "Visible Monday," so titled because women of our age often think we have to accept being invisible.

 Does that guy really think women should stop caring about these things because they're maturing?  Hogwash!

That sounds like a bunch of age-ist nonsense to me.

Even the most gorgeous 20 year old is getting older by the minute.  At some point she'll have to decide if she wants to just let herself go, or make a conscious decision  to be the best woman of ANY age that she can be.

Yes, it means accepting flaws that aren't going to go away.  But it also means putting equal focus on inner beauty as you do outer beauty.

What do you think?

Again, Januzzi was talking about style blogging. But I'd love to know what you think. Should women put themselves on the shelf, beauty and fashion-wise, when they get older? I'm still boggled that he implied that 35 is in any way old, by the way. Sheeesh.

Visible Monday: Why I'm Taking Pictures of Myself

Those of us who are my age all remember when women decided at around 40 that they were done trying to look attractive. They spent the rest of their days in polyester pants and shapeless tops. Not for me.

I often take a pic of myself in my car, just before I leave for work--when the look is fresh (my neighbors may think I'm crazy!)

Believe it or not, there was a time when I really didn't know what I looked like.

This was a period of several years, in fact.  I was some 50 pounds heavier than I am now.

I knew I was fat.  I could tell that by looking in the mirror.  But I had no grasp on my actual appearance.  I kind of had no body image at all.  I really couldn't close my eyes and imagine what I looked like to others.

I tried not to be photographed.  This was before digital cameras, before people were taking pictures left and right, so it was relatively easy to disappear when a camera turned up.

When you're fat, you tend to only look at yourself in the mirror from the neck up, and even then you may not realize just how fat your face is--I know I didn't.

Fast forward to the present.  I am still overweight, but I have a clearer image of what I look like.  I see the faults--the ones that can't be changed--and the things that can and should be changed.

After my sister gave me a bunch of her clothes, I texted a pic of myself to her when I wore them

Awakened by blogs


At some point, I made a conscious decision to do everything within my power to be the best woman-of-my-age that I can be, physically and otherwise.

I think it really began in earnest when I was unemployed for a while, and I started watching make-up and hair tutorials and following fashion blogs.

I enjoyed them immensely and learned a lot, but there was just one problem.  The blogs and tutorials were pretty much all by young women.  Let's face it--young women have a leg up in this whole beauty thing because they ARE young!

So I was delighted to discover blogs by women closer to my own age, some even older, who were determined not to just lay down and die when it came to beauty and fashion.

Most of those blogs are ones that take part in the very bloghop I'm taking part in today...Visible Monday,  hosted by Not Dead Yet Style.  I love the title of that blog, and I love the subtitle: "how to look authentic and beautiful in our middle years."

I was actually wearing a pony tail in this pic--not sure how it didn't show up in this pic, but it wasn't a good look for me!  I felt it made me look frumpy

Visible!

These are women who are determined to look their very best, regardless of their age, size...whatever.

At first, I was hesitant to post pictures of myself "modeling" an outfit I put together.  I'm no expert on style, and I'm certainly not a model.

But reading these blogs has energized me.  I am more conscious of my appearance, the image I present to the world--in a good way! Those of us who are my age all remember when women decided at around 40 that they were done trying to look attractive.  They spent the rest of their days in polyester pants and shapeless tops.

Not for me.  I'm far from perfect...as I said, I'm all too conscious of my flaws...but there are some I can work on!

Taking pictures of myself


Although I don't blog or publish all (or even most) of them, I've started taking a picture of myself most  days.

It's amazing how helpful it is.  I've found things that I wouldn't have noticed in the mirror, and I take note of it.  Things like..."Cindy, you laid that top eyeliner on a little too thick."  "A ponytail is not a good look for you."  "You need to blend that blush better."  "Those shoes didn't really work with that outfit." "Wearing eyeliner on your waterline makes your eyes look smaller."

I used this outfit for a Visible Monday several weeks ago

I don't mean hating on myself...we're talking constructive criticism.

Of course, they're not all negative.  I can also see the things that ARE working--colors that suit me best, styles that are more slimming than others, etc.

Texted this to my mom, who wanted to see how my latest hair-coloring turned out

I don't know how long I'll keep doing it, but for now these self-portraits are proving helpful.

I'd love to know how you feel!


Please share in the comments section whether you're trying to evaluate your appearance more, and what you're doing.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I'm linking up today with Visible Monday--click the icon below!

Do you hate women because they're beautiful?

Samantha "Don't-hate-me-for-being-beautiful" Brick

On Twitter this morning, several of the British women I follow were reacting to this article in the UK's Daily Mail by journalist Samantha Brick.

In the article, Brick recounts many incidents in which men lauded her for her beauty, while women hated her for it, tried to block her success, wouldn't let her talk to their husbands, and  didn't even ask her to be a bridesmaid in their weddings--apparently because her stunning beauty would show them up.

So, yeah, I have some observations.

First off, while I think Brick is pretty, she's NOT that gorgeous.  I have friends and loved ones who are much more beautiful that she, and they don't constantly get champagne sent to their table or their credit cards waved away by smitten men.

Secondly, while confidence and self-esteem are good things, Brick's article exhibits an overweening self-love that borders on real conceit. 

 Women who are so outwardly and verbally sure of their own beauty are, frankly, obnoxious.  Feel free to have all the self-esteem you want, but please use a modicum of modesty when talking about it, Sam.

Thirdly?

Her article raises some good points.

I DO believe we as women are hard-wired to distrust and even dislike beautiful women, often for no good reason.

It's so easy to be envious.  Frankly, jealous.  

I remember in college, I was intimidated by beautiful girls, and sometimes just shied away from them.

My sister was the total opposite.  Some of her best friends were the most beautiful girls in that small college. She was absolutely not threatened by them, and gave them the chance to show that they were sweet, kind, talented, whatever.

  She saw past their stunning-ness to the real person within.

And sometimes those gorgeous looks actually hid a very insecure, even damaged person.

I learned to follow my sister's example and not hate beautiful girls just because they were beautiful.

I have a dear friend who is, by any standards, drop-dead gorgeous.

Amazingly, she is rarely complimented by anyone.  Her own mother downplays her daughter's good looks.

Sometimes when I'm looking at her and seeing just how beautiful she is, the natural inclination is to not say anything about it.  After all, she looks in the mirror...she's got to know how beautiful she is, right?

Not necessarily.  So I decided early on to be the one to compliment her.  I'm not threatened by her beauty, because I love her and know what an amazing person she is inside.

We all need affirmation...and sometimes a lovely woman DOESN'T get it from her sister-women.

How we as women react to a woman that is prettier than us says a lot about our own character.  Are we secure enough in ourselves not to be threatened or intimidated?  Are we generous-spirited and kind enough to see past the outward beauty to the person inside?  I hope so.

OK, so maybe you'll find out that she's a conceited and arrogant jerk.  But maybe not.

Fashion Friday: A Kate Update

Source: cynthiasusan.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

It's been a while since I linked up with Blonde Episodes' Fashion Friday.  However, I actually have a board on Pinterest devoted to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge (I still want to call her Kate Middleton).

I love her style, and her clothes are just amazing. (Although I do wish she'd put back on a few pounds. I think she'd look een more beautiful!)  Enjoy some of her (mostly) recent looks!

Source: cynthiasusan.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: cynthiasusan.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: cynthiasusan.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: kateandwilliam-love.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: lovecocochanelxoxo.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: gofugyourself.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: kateandwilliam-love.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I'm linking up with Kori at Blonde Episodes for Fashion Friday!

Visible Monday: What I Wore to a Winter Wedding

Jacket: Macy's clearance

Shell:  Gordman's

Skirt: Notations from Gordman's

Shoes--Victor, Bergner's clearance

OK, so I'm having a tough time figuring out the best way to take my own Outfit of the Day picture with my trusty little point-and-shoot. (Yes, I cut off the top of my head.)

 I do have a little tripod now that attaches to my camera, so I can perch it on things and self-take my picture. 

 However, I guess I'll never get those awesome magazine-quality shots that many of you get with your wonderful SLRs (not that I'm covetous or bitter. :))

Anyway...this is what I wore to the wedding of a co-worker Saturday.

I love the dark turquoise velvet jacket.  I got it last week on a 75% off clearance rack at Macy's...it was just under $15.00.  Saturday was unseasonably warm for Northern Illinois, so I didn't even have to wear a coat!

I love the way the jacket flares out in an almost peplum-fashion...it's flattering. 

I fiddled with some effects here to let you see just how pretty the color of the jacket is.

Here is my make-up look for the day.  (I once again broke fashion rules by wearing eye-shadow the color of my jacket.)

 On the lid I'm wearing  Estee Lauder Peacock Blue.

  On the crease (which you can't really see), I have black ELF shadow.  

Under the brow is something I'm loving, that my Clinique-selling daughter gave me for Christmas (among many other Clinique treasures!) It's an under-the-brow illuminator that gives just the right touch of shimmer for a fancy occasion. 

Mascara is Estee Lauder Sumptuous in black.

Eyeliner is (under eyes) Estee Lauder pencil liner, (above eye) ELF eyeliner.

Foundation is Estee Lauder Double Wear in Fresco.

Blush is MAC Mineralize in Gentle.

Lipstick is Estee Lauder Pure Color in Candy.

Lip gloss is Clinique Longlast Glosswear in Bamboo Pink.

Do you ladies have any ideas on other things I can do with this velvet jacket? This is the only way I've worn it...ideas are welcome!

I'm participating today in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style...click on the icon to join the fun!

Texas Beauty Mini-Haul!

Source: flickr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

All right, you know me. I never met a cosmetics counter I didn't like. So imagine my delight when I found (well, actually was directed to by my sister) two awesome discount cosmetics stores at the Outlet Mall while visiting in Round Rock, Texas.

You have to be careful with these outlet stores...sometimes their prices are just a fraction less than they would be ordinarily. Just as with other shopping, hit the clearance racks and you can get some amazing deals!

One store was mainly devoted to Lancome products. There, I found a Tresor in Love gift package that, after 50 per cent off the outlet price, came to a little more than 20 dollars. It includes a 1.7 oz. bottle of Tresor in Love (which smells absolutely yummy), and 1.7 ounce tubes of lotion and shower gel.

Source: search.swagbucks.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I also got a Lancome Renergie night moisturizer (sorry I don't have the correct name--it was too big for carry-on, so my mom is sending it to me) that is 93 dollars in department stores. At 65 per cent off outlet price, it was also not much more than 20 bucks.

My sister has used this and says it's absolutely wonderful. She's crazy about Lancome skin care products, and only gets them at this outlet...which she says often has even better deals than the ones I found!

Also at the Lancome outlet, I got my husband a good-sized bottle of Armani Diamonds for Men after-shave for only 10 dollars on a 75 per cent off table.

The other outlet store featured mostly Estee Lauder, Clinique and MAC. I got a MAC loose powder and a MAC blush. I can't remember exactly how much I paid for them, but I'm in love with both products. (Believe it or not, it was the first time I've ever purchased MAC cosmetics, although I've bought their amazing Turquatic cologne.)

We currently don't have an outlet mall where I live. If I lived in Round Rock, I think I would be addicted to those cosmetics stores!

A Beauty/Fashion Book That Was Ahead of Its Time

One of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus, Emily Eddington, asked the question on Facebook today: "What is your favorite beauty-related book?"

The book that immediately popped into my head is one I haven't read in many years. In fact, I was probably in my teens when I checked Pull Yourself Together: How to Look Marvelous on Next to Nothing out of my local library.

I was always going on self-improvement kicks, and I remember this book as being a very down-to-earth, reader-friendly, practical treatise on beauty and fashion that was way ahead of its time.

The book was written by Barbara Johns Waterston, who, interestingly enough, was married to actor Sam Waterston at the time.

This reader wrote on Amazon.com:

"The paper back version of this book has been on my bookshelf since 1968 when I was a teenager. When I found the hard copy version I had to have it for my collection. The tips, advice and wisdom in this book never go out of style. If you have a copy of this book, keep it forever. If you don't have a copy, try and find one. It's a simple but great read and it is definetely (sp) a motivator."

Marlo Thomas as "That Girl" in the era of "Pull Yourself Together"

Unfortunately, if you try to buy a used copy of this book, it can run you over 100 dollars, and the cheapest soft-cover copy I found online was $64.00. It's apparently not in my local library system, either.

I did find a few tidbits about it online, though. Simon Doonan talked about it in a 2000 New York Observer article:

"In 1967, Ms. Waterston wrote the Mein Kampf of self-help books, Pull Yourself Together Or, How To Look Marvelous On Next To Nothing . This book is bursting with delightful bossiness, accusations and forthright solutions, and I strongly advise that you get yourself a second-hand copy..."

I even found a Facebook fan page for Waterston--titled, of course, "Pull Yourself Together"--where participants share how they got copies of the book, and quotes from the book.

Here are a few:

(from p. 47 of the book) "I have this friend Marra, who - in spite on her very fine figure, her warm personality, her zest for living, her taste in clothes, her quick wit and intelligence - had a repellent quality about her.
She never looked clean. In fact, she looked as though she smelled."

(from p. 108) "Beauty is beautiful, let's face it. Otherwise why have artists been wasting their time all these centuries? Beauty is uplifting. When I see a greasy-faced, greasy-haired girl walking down the street I feel squirmy. I imagine my scalp is itching. But if I see a freshly scrubbed young thing, all clean and neat, I feel uplifted, just as a smile is always more uplifting than a frown."

Another edition of the book

So, yeah. I remember loving that book as a young girl, and using its down-to-earth wisdom as a tool to help develop my personal style. Maybe someday I'll get to read it again!

Monday Melange: What's Going On in My Corner of the Blogosphere

Actress Lea Michelle at the Emmys

So, yeah, I'm bringing back (at least for today!) an old feature called Monday Melange, in which I give you some cool/interesting links to check out at your leisure.

--No, I didn't watch the Emmys last night, but I always like to check out the fashions the next day. Above, actress Lea Michelle, whose look I thought was really pretty. (Oh, and Christina Hendricks of "Mad Men"? We know you have cleavage. We get that. Dial it back a notch, please.)

Anyway, here's a link where you can browse all the looks, "best, worst and wackiest."

--Biggest Loser winner Olivia Ward is asking the question on her blog, "Is Big Really Sexy?" Prompting her question is the TLC show, "Big Sexy." Says Olivia:

"I have to admit, I watched all 3 episodes and I could not for the life of me figure out how I felt about them. My initial reaction was “You GO girls…flaunt those curves”….I was so moved by how brave these women are to really encourage people to be comfortable in their own skin...

Another part of this is how do I justify supporting people who want to continue to stay in an unhealthy state? It’s one thing to be overweight and working on it…it’s quite another to say that it is healthy to stay overweight and being proud of that."

--The Ink Slinger, my favorite brilliant teen-age blogger, has a list of Books Every Guy Should Read. (And this is just Part One.)

--As you know, I'm a big fan of YouTube beauty gurus, but I've noticed there are not many who represent women of "a certain age" (don't you love that French expression!). It seems most of the beauty gurus are very young.

However, Judy Chapman of Modern and Mature is not only my age, but she's gorgeous. She doesn't talk about make-up much--she leaves that to her daughters, make-up artist Samantha and Nicola of Pixiwoo. But she gives marvelous fashion advice, and she looks AMAZING. Always appropriate for her age, but fashionable and attractive.

With scarf-wearing weather on the way, check out her tutorial on many ways to tie scarves.

(Not the least of my favorite things about the Chapman ladies: their lovely British accents.)

My favorite beauty guru, Emily Eddington, talks about ELF

I admit it. I love make-up. I never met a cosmetics counter I didn't like.

I eschew the "natural look," because I think that's the domain of young girls who still have flawless complexions and rosy lips and cheeks

Being a woman of "a certain age," I employ such tricks and tools that are at my disposal to help me look my very best.

That's kind of how I got started on YouTube beauty tutorials. One of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus is Emily Eddington, whose Beauty Broadcast usually focuses on the more affordable beauty items that can be found in drugstores, at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. (Read my 2-part interview with Emily here and here.)

I think it was through Emily that I found out about ELF (eyes lips face) cosmetics, and they have become a staple in my budget-conscious make-up collection.

Many ELF products cost only a dollar--ONE DOLLAR!--and I've been very pleased with the majority of products I've bought.

But I'm going to let Emily tell you all about them, because she's really good at doing it!



Be sure and check out all the helpful videos on Emily's YouTube channel!

From the Archives: Part 2 of My Interview with YouTube Beauty Guru Emily Eddington

"I've gotten emails that have brought me to tears. From the teenager who said her mother was fighting cancer and they used my videos as an escape-- to the overworked mom who said a new makeup look she tried brought about the first compliment from her husband in years.... this is big stuff."-Emily Eddington, Beauty Broadcast

26-year-old Emily Eddington is a TV news anchorwoman in southern Illinois, but her YouTube beauty tutorials may be what really brings her fame! She recently marked the 50-thousandth subscriber to her Beauty Broadcast YouTube channel, and her Facebook page and blog draw thousands too.

In Part 1 of my interview with Emily, we talked about how she became so interested in cosmetics, and her philosophy of beauty--there's a real connection between looking good and feeling good.

Here's Part 2...

CINDY: One thing people love about Beauty Broadcast is that you usually feature very affordable make-up. I know it's trial and error, but do you find the less expensive products are sometimes just as good as the really expensive ones?

EMILY: Absolutely! When I first started watching YouTube videos, I didn't see a lot of people offering budget-friendly advice. That was a void I felt I could fill by posting reviews about all the great inexpensive products I had tried. Sure- that $35 prestigious foundation from the department store might be great- but what's the fun in discovering that? I am practically addicted to the act of going into a drugstore, finding products, trying them out, and reporting on an unexpectedly AWESOME piece of makeup. I love seeing others get excited about the affordable options I recommend. Still, I do like to try out high end items here and there to have a frame of reference for how the cheaper things stack up.



CINDY: Have you always been a bargain hunter?

EMILY: I think so. When mom saw my interest in makeup steadily grow throughout high school, I don't think she would've wanted to get me near a department store makeup counter! She tolerated my interest in makeup, but considering that she was funding this obsession- she wasn't going to let it leave the walls of the drugstore. I was always happy spending a good half hour in the aisles of Wal-Mart, picking out a new item or two every now and then. It was basically all I knew-- my mom always wore drugstore makeup brands and looked great... so why couldn't I?

CINDY: You have thousands of subscribers. How do you feel about having such a huge audience? Any feedback that surprised you, touched you, or otherwise sticks out in your mind?

EMILY: I really can't fathom the amount of people that view my videos. To think that more than 50,000 people have clicked the "Subscribe" button after seeing me sitting in my small extra bedroom rambling about the latest must-have eyeshadow primer is beyond me! YouTube's format is such that feedback can be posted alongside every video. And in the somewhat anonymous world of the internet where an abstract username is your only source of identification- people are very free with their opinions! I'm fortunate to say that the support has been overwhelming. I've gotten emails that have brought me to tears. From the teenager who said her mother was fighting cancer and they used my videos as an escape-- to the overworked mom who said a new makeup look she tried brought about the first compliment from her husband in years.... this is big stuff. It makes any hesitation or fear of a large audience less of a factor, because I know the videos are making a difference.




CINDY: What would you say to encourage someone who has never really used make-up, but wants to learn how?

EMILY: It's never too late to learn, and your routine can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to be. I'm not a big "makeup rules" person. You will probably never see me make a "makeup do's and don'ts" video, because we all have different methods and preferences- and like art- I don't believe there's any one right way to get it done. I like providing suggestions that have worked for me, but I hope people understand that it's not the only way. In this day and age- there are SO many ways to learn about makeup. Books, magazines, online forums, videos, blogs... they offer so much instruction. Start drawing inspiration from the people and the world around you. Start small, practice, and use the beauty resources that are available to you. You'll be glad you did!



(This was originally posted May 3, 2010)

CINDY: How do you envision the future of Beauty Broadcast? (I could see you becoming your own brand, even writing a book!)

EMILY: I would love to expand Beauty Broadcast! Right now my full-time career (anchoring morning news) accounts for a lot of my time, but I would love to one day take what I do in videos- and do it in person. Perhaps some sort of seminar where I could meet the people that have been watching, and really communicate with them face to face. Or what if Beauty Broadcast made it's way to your TV screen? THAT would be awesome :)

From the Archives: She Broadcasts Beauty: My Interview with YouTube Beauty Guru Emily Eddington

I'm a firm believer in the connection between looking good and feeling good on the inside. We all naturally seek acceptance and love from others-- and ourselves. If makeup can be a small tool to bring that out- I think that's great.--Emily Eddington

(This interview was originally posted May 1, 2010).

Emily Eddington is a TV newscaster, but her YouTube beauty tutorials may be what brings her fame

When I recently decided to try using velcro rollers in my hair, I did a Google search for video tutorials on the subject. (By the way, in case you didn't know? You can find a video on how to do just about ANYTHING on YouTube.)

One of the videos I happened upon was a YouTube tutorial on using velcro rollers by "emilynoel83."

I was intrigued by this lovely young woman with her straightforward, down-to-earth approach, so I checked out some of her other YouTube videos--most of them explaining make-up techniques, reviewing beauty products, and showing how to use inexpensive make-up to get a great look.

In no time, I was hooked--and I became one of over 50-thousand people who suscribe to Emily Eddington's YouTube channel, Beauty Broadcast.

A TV newscaster with a penchant for beauty



26-year-old Emily Eddington is a morning news anchor for WSIL-TV in southern Illinois. That fact resonates in her articulate, factual but friendly and approachable manner in her tutorials.

It doesn't hurt that she's downright gorgeous, and that her lovely face is the perfect canvas for the many make-up looks she demonstrates.

So far, Emily has parlayed her tutorials into a popular blog and Facebook page, and I'm thinking the sky's the limit for Beauty Broadcast.

How did a relatively small-town newscaster end up with a YouTube channel that boasts 50-thousand subscribers? I was curious, so I asked Emily to take part in an e-mail interview, and she graciously answered my questions.

Here's Part One of our interview:



CINDY: How far back in your life does your interest in make-up, hair, and beauty go?

EMILY: I remember always being somewhat intrigued by my mom's makeup collection, and whatever makeup she was carrying around in her purse. My mom & sister are beautiful ladies- and always seemed to have their hair & makeup looking good (my mom is a former cosmetologist)- so I knew I would one day get involved with makeup as well. I believe that day came in 7th grade when I joined the cheerleading squad and put on some very minor makeup for a game (powder, lip gloss, blush). Magazines like "Teen" and "Seventeen" became my main sources for beauty education, and in high school I reached that phase where I was somewhat of a "collector" of drugstore makeup.

CINDY: Why do you think it's a good thing for a woman to use the tools available to her to try to look her best?

EMILY: I'm a firm believer in the connection between looking good and feeling good on the inside. Makeup is an extremely affordable way to enhance your natural beauty, and put an extra spring in your step. I always hear from viewers who say they tried a particular product I suggested and they got "so many compliments". We all naturally seek acceptance and love from others-- and ourselves. If makeup can be a small tool to bring that out- I think that's great. For those who get especially interested in makeup- it truly does become an art form for expressing your creativity. You don't have to be a professional to have fun with that!

CINDY: Tell me about the evolution of "Beauty Broadcast"...how did your interest in make-up, etc, end up being regular videos on YouTube?

EMILY: Shortly after I began working at the TV station where I currently anchor, I noticed this incredible beauty community on YouTube. I was practically frustrated with myself when I tapped into this vast makeup resource- because it could have been SO useful to me- had I discovered it in college. I remember sitting on the couch one night, randomly looking up some info on a product I wanted to try- and a link to a video came up... about a dozen videos later, I realized- I can do this! I love to talk, and I love makeup... maybe I can contribute to the YouTube world of beauty as well! I consistently started posting videos for a short time, and then work really got busy for me and I took a short hiatus from YouTube. At that point, I didn't think all that many people were watching... so, why bother, right? Well, people were messaging me, saying, "Where did you go? I miss your videos!" At that point I realized- this needs to continue. Well over 300 videos later... I'm still here! :)

CINDY: Do you ever have trouble coming up with ideas for your videos?

EMILY: Thankfully, no. Through emails, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook- subscribers are constantly telling me what they want. With these requests coming from literally *thousands* of different directions- I always have some sort of idea floating around! Plus, new products are always hitting the market, so there's always something for me to review. Makeup offers endless creativity in terms of the looks you can create, so I don't think there's any limit to the types of tutorials I can create.



CINDY: How important to you is the feedback you get from your Beauty Broadcast facebook page?

EMILY: I especially value what people have to say on the Facebook page, because I know these people who are willing to seek me out in numerous forms of social media really care about Beauty Broadcast. A number of times- people on the Facebook page have referred to the group as their "Beauty Broadcast Family". I love that! I get a lot of enjoyment out of seeing people answer each other's questions on the Facebook page. It's like we're all a big bunch of friends on there.

Next time: In Part 2 of our interview, Emily Eddington talks about why it's important to her to show how you can look great on a budget--and what could be in store for Beauty Broadcast in the future

Friday Fabulousness: The Joy of Primping

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Elizabeth Taylor

Friday Fabulousness! From the "I enjoy being a girl" file...The Joy of Primping (and yes, that's primping, with an r. )

Definition from MerriamWebster.com: "to dress or groom oneself carefully "

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Kim Kardashian

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Grace Kelly

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Deborah Kerr

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YouTube make-up guru Emily Eddington

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Elizabeth Taylor

Today is As Young As You Feel Day!

I don't know how young Christie Brinkley feels, but at 57, she looks fantastic!

"We need to stay viable, we need to look vibrant, and we need to stay visible. Because if you feel good about yourself, veryone around you will feel good too. Confidence is contagious. You have to get to the point where you can look in a mirror and say, 'Wow! I look fabulous!'"--Charla Krupp


Today, according to Wellcat.com, is As Young as You Feel Day: "Now more than ever you are as young as you feel. So stop acting your chronological age and get out there and start feeling peppy!"

I admit it...the older I get, the more I resist the idea of looking and acting old. I mean, I know I have to be realistic...I'm definitely not young anymore, and I couldn't look like a teen-ager if I wanted to. However, I do want to be the very best (mumbling my age under my breath)-year-old woman I can be!

Inner Beauty

Of course, I believe inner beauty is the most important thing of all. A woman in her twenties may be absolutely gorgeous while being ugly on the inside...but by the time she gets to be my age, believe me, that ugliness is showing up on her face.

But I think it's important for a woman to at least try to look attractive. I have to laugh when I remember something my dad used to jokingly say: "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone!"

"How Not to Look Old"

A few years ago, I blogged about Charla Krupp's book, How Not to Look Old. Now, Charla's pretty opinionated about some of the wardrobe items she thinks we need to get rid of in our quest for a more youthful appearance, and I can't say I agree with her on every point...but here's the list:

Holiday sweaters with bells and appliqués (reindeers, teddy bears, bumblebees, pumpkins).
Granny necklaces that tell how many grandchildren you have.
Souvenir T-shirts.
T-shirts with meant-to-be funny sayings.
Acid-washed jeans.
Ripped jeans.
Shoulder pads.
Flannel shirts.
Muumuus. (**Does this really need to be stated?)
Photo handbags (the older you get, the more sophisticated your accessories should be).
Flesh-colored hose.
Penny loafers.
Oversize blazers.
Mommy robes.
Thin gold chain necklaces.
Elastic-waist pants.
Granny undies.
Baggy sweats.
Bearlike, full-length fur coats.
Short shorts.
Cargo pants.
Stockings with reinforced toes.
Three-piece suits with vests.
Backpacks.

Now, I don't agree with her on everything, but it's certainly worth thinking about. Sometimes it can be as simple as changing your hair color, covering your gray, or getting rid of your 80's poodle-perm. We tend to get stuck in a rut, and sometimes we have to take a good hard look at ourselves and see what could be improved. If we look better, we're going to feel better--and you're as young as you feel!

I will not go gently into age-induced frumpiness!!!

Check out my book blog, Cindy's Book Club, where I'm currently reviewing Mel Starr's A Trail of Ink!