I hope to welcome more faces to this “before and after” series of makeup makeovers and my desire to do so is for a number of reasons. Among them, I hope to better expose all of us to each other at various ages — to show how our true selves shine through, and the connections and pleasures of mixing generations.
Incidentally, the first writer that I know of to welcome her readers in their 40s, 50s, 60S, 70s and older is Tish Jett. Do visit her marvelous blog, A Femme d’un Certain Age, and search for her series, “Your Faces Through the Ages.”
My guest for today?
The vibrant and talented Sandra Sallin. Sandy is 74, turning 75 in November. She is a gifted artist on the West Coast, whom I’ve recently gotten to know online. I was stunned to find out her age.
I chalk up my surprise to impressions based on energy, intellect, engagement — and fun — and that in itself is a lesson for all of us.
It is also an example of our age-associated assumptions.
I couldn’t be more delighted that Sandy agreed to participate in this activity, and after you read her thoughts on the experience and see the lovely “after” shots, please start following Sandy in social media. She is a remarkable and talented woman.
Armani at Barney’s
Sandy likes makeup! (Lovely to hear a woman admit as much.) She has written about her journey to the pleasures of makeup in her blog post “Mirror, Mirror.”
Sandy writes:
I used to wear a simple amount of makeup. You know — mascara, lipstick, eyeliner. Maybe some foundation. But then… I discovered YouTube beauty videos and I went nuts. Never knew there were so many products out there and I had to try them. So I’ve been on this quest for the perfect foundation. Right color, not too powdery, not too thin. Perfection is what I’ve been looking for.
It turns out Sandy went on a quest for the perfect lipstick as well!
For this makeup makeover, Sandy wound up at Barney’s in Beverly Hills, and she decided to try the first counter she saw, which was Armani. She knows they have fine products, and she uses their blushes and bronzer.
Sandy explains:
There was a makeup artist there that day. She cleansed my skin, moisturized it, used eye serum, face serum, and on and on. Then she started to try and match my face color. Tried one — too light. Tried another — too yellow. Tried another — too dark. Finally she found a base color she liked. Then she added a darker shade as a bronzer, using a brush. I told her that I loved using a beauty blender because it allows the foundation to go on lighter.
She continued with the brush. To be honest, I think the foundation was too thick. In fact when I got home and asked my husband how I looked, he said it looked like I was wearing makeup on my face. I use makeup all the time but this time, he noticed it.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
I find this observation, that her husband noticed the makeup, very telling. As Barbara said in the first shake up your makeup post — what pleased her was that her husband didn’t notice the makeup, but thought she looked great.
Isn’t that the result most of us desire?
There is a difference between being painted for the camera lens versus a more natural look for real life. And likewise, there is a difference between day and night looks. Too much makeup, for most of us, is the last thing we’re after.
Despite the amount of foundation, Sandy tells us:
She used a new concealer on my eyelids, YSL, that I loved. She also tried a new eyeshadow palette from Armani and a new blush, both of which I loved. I really liked the way I looked except for the foundation. I do prefer something much lighter in weight and not so powdery, So I’m still on a quest.
Loved the new lip stain.
What Did You Buy? What Did You Learn?
While we are not compelled to purchase anything a make up artist might use , most of us come away with samples, and frequently, one or two of the products we like.
Sandy purchased the shadows and the blush. She adds:
The new thing is strobing. That’s adding light on your cheekbones and above your eyebrows. A little goes a long way for me. It was fun and I learned some new tricks.
And how did she feel about the makeup in general? Is this a new routine or a new look she would incorporate daily?
Sandy explains:
I do wear some form of makeup every day. I feel with my grey hair, it just takes all the color out of my face, so I need to do something. Thus I always color eye brows, put on eyeliner, eyelid primer, maybe one shade of eye shadow in a light color, blush and bronzer.
My friends are not interested in makeup the way I am. But then again none of them have grey hair nor are they artists.
I enjoy the transformation that makeup achieves. I have way too much and I am cutting down and giving away and REALLY trying to buy less. But this trip to Barney’s did me in. I now have more blush, more, lip stain, more eye shadow more… actually, I’m returning the makeup. It just didn’t look right to me once I got outside.
Becoming More or Less Ourselves
These last observations are key. Makeup enables us to achieve a sort of transformation. One could say the same of wardrobe, and style. There is an element of fantasy in our transformations, as well as an element of practicality. Noting that she is an artist, and this is part of her love of makeup, I have to smile as I understand Sandy’s point completely. It is about creativity and self-expression. After all, what could be more fun than using one’s own face as a canvas for mood expression and experimentation — especially if your paint washes off at the end of the day?
Transformation is terrific if it’s what you want, if it reinforces confidence, if it gives you an “in” you might not otherwise have a shot at.
Transformation, or for that matter, a little bit of tweaking, is useful if the person you are presenting is who you wish for the world to see, and how you imagine yourself.
Sandy’s discovery that she didn’t like the makeup when she walked into daylight is another important lesson for all of us. In tangible terms, if we are trying on a new color in a scarf or glasses or makeup, we really ought to see it in the different settings that we are likely to be in.
Makeup, for many of us, is a way to become who we are — in a moment or at our core — by enhancing the outside to better reflect the inside.
I think Sandy is pretty spectacular with or without makeup. But I must say, she looks ready to dance the night away with the touch of YSL and Armani!
My heartfelt thanks to Sandy, and please visit her here:
And a little note: We have another equally fantastic makeover coming tomorrow!
Read more of the Makeover Series here. Or, if you like, peek at all the makeup makeover posts here.
You May Also Enjoy
I think the hair trim/restyle also made a difference…it gave her face a bit of a lift and slimmed her neck! The lipstick is lovely too…she should take advantage of the fact that she still has fullness to her lips at her age!
WHAT hair trim…….. It is the SAME CUT! TAKE another peek!
OMG!
SHE LOOKS FANTASTIC! I know because I know HER! I have never seen her withOUT make~up but she just RADIATES………. her JOIE DE VIVRE is contagious too!I think SHE LOOKS STUNNING HERE………
I recently purchased the YSL concealer TOO!!! But not for my eye lids…….my under eyes!I think I will TRY SANDY’s method!I am ENJOYING this SO MUCH………………what a BRILLIANT IDEA you had MADAME D.A.
Speaking of TISH…….. I cannot open her email blog posts!Anyone else having that problem?
Thanks D.A. for the opportunity to be featured in this series. Lots to learn about choices, how we look, how to improve, how to just be out there! Loved it.
I love having you here, Sandy!
Sandy is gorgeous before and after! Would love to spend the day with her at a makeup counter- lunch, too, of course.
I think you look fabulous with or without makeup, Sandy! But, I admit that your look with makeup highlights your eyes really well! Just little tweaks and what you said that you should look great without looking made up is exactly the look that I want for myself!
Oops, I made a little mistake. The YSL that I liked was a primer for the eyelids. I would buy that. It’s excellent.
What a lovely series! Sandra is gorgeous with or without makeup, but I’m happy she was game to share her before and after’s. Thanks, ladies, for sharing your insights.
beth
What a beautiful lady! With makeup, without makeup, with or without the glasses. An insightful, inspiring post. It’s vanity, but we are girls and that’s how it goes! Can’t wait to see tomorrow’s post!
She is gorgeous….and sitting here at my computer with no make-up on…I AM INSPIRED!
Sandra is absolutely stunning. With or without make-up she exudes a vibrancy; simply gorgeous!
I like what you say about make-up ‘by enhancing the outside to better reflect the inside’…the perfect way to look at the beauty of make-up.
A lovely post, thank you… looking forward to reading more in this series. 🙂
I do prefer the way Sandra looks with her skillfully applied makeup, it IS a form of art! I’m very wary of the ladies behind makeup counters though – firstly because they trowel it on, and secondly because very often i have a product which will produce the same effect already… just have to remember to put the darn stuff on.
Wow. This series is inspiring me to go out and get some new makeup! Great Post!
Linda… If you’re feeling brave and want to participate with a before, an after, and what you learned — let me know! (There’s an email on the About page.) 🙂
I adored this post! I turned 60 this past year and my hair is the color of the lovely Sandy’s. Our mutual friend Elizabeth told me to stop by and I am so glad I did!! I need a makeover myself. I think they did a lovely job by the way…extremely flattering!!
Cindy – Same offer to you, too, as to Linda — if you decide on trying out a new makeup routine. Delighted you stopped by. I hope you will again!
Gorgeous and I love that Sandy radiates and doesn’t look overly made up! Hope she had fun plans afterwards!
A great smile is probably the beautiful way to lighten up one’s face as Sandy shows us, but it is closely followed by skillfully applied make-up. I also am allowing myself to go gray, but careful grooming is essential. That, and good posture, of course. Love this series, D.A.
So glad you’re enjoying it, Cornelia! I’m always happy when you stop by. 🙂
Sandy is gorgeous inside and out!! With or without makeup, she’s a star in my book! Wonderful series!
Sandy looks great. I can identify with her foundation dilemma. It’s so hard to get a foundation that does what you want without looking too “made up.” And it doesn’t help that make-up applied under the colour bleaching lights of a department store can often look totally different in natural light. The girls at the Bobbi Brown counter in Holt Renfrew, where I used to shop, always gave me a mirror and sent me to the outside door, so I could see what I really looked like.This was so helpful. But not possible at many stores located in malls.
Another great make-over post, D.A.
Good point Sue. The Barney’s makeup department is now in the basement. I didn’t even think of walking upstairs and looking in a mirror. In fact now Neimans makeup department is downstairs also. I used to just step outside and see how the makeup really looked. Loved your makeover Sue.
Oh she is beautiful! Just enhanced a bit more in the after. She’s lucky to have such nice “bones” to begin with. And I can feel her positive energy through the computer screen. What color/shade was the lipstick? It’s so pretty. These are so much fun, D.A. Thank you to Sandy for sharing this with all of us. I ended up loving the new foundation I purchased for my make-over. It’s lighter and was, I think, my favorite find. It’s liquid and I have to shake the bottle – but the effect is so natural. I went to the Trish counter.
How lovely that you’re enjoying the foundation purchase, Barbara. I think that and maybe lipstick are the two hardest things to get right. And you looked pretty Oooo-Lala and Paris ready in that makeover, my friend… Good for the countdown to your Parisian stay!
Well, I’m haivig second thoughts on the lip stain. The color looked off yesterday. So I need to futz with it some more.
Oh I loved this and admire Sandy even more than I already have for doing it – which takes courage! I am surprised that hasn’t been mentioned so far! Yes, yes, yes she is gorgeous just as she is but I love makeup too and really appreciate that she did this. Bisous to you both!
Why thank you. I must admit it does take guts to show my face with nothing but a tiny bit of eye brow powder. With out some color on my eye brows I am NOTHING! 🙂
Sandra seems to be a beautiful lady inside and out but these pictures are just stunning … as always it’s not just the jawline or the eye colour – it’s the light that shines within!
Thank you both for such a great blogpost.
Sharon
Thanks sweetie. That’s my beautiful daughter!
You are so beautiful mom, love these photos!!!!
Gracious, what a beautiful face she has! The makeup looks amazing on her. I agree about the foundation though, I’d like to see her in something a little less powdery… something that looks more like her natural skin and has a bit of dewiness. I love everything else though… and what a beautiful smile she has. I’d put plenty of lipstick on to highlight that!
Great idea for a series, D.A. xx