Dolled-Up!

TLC and I were talking about the things that make us FEEL “fancy.” Things we do to get prepared for FUN, good times with friends, parties, weddings, family get-togethers, Date Nights with Hubbies, shopping trips, Girls’ Days Away, etc. We decided to limit ourselves to seven items—since this is the 7^th month of the year. That was tough.

TLC’s Requirements for Feeling Doll-ed Up:

1. Shiseido Eyelash Curler. The Best. Hands down. {From ELC: This could have been on my list, also. TLC inherited, from me, the straightest, most useless eyelashes on Earth. We discovered this curler about 8 years ago and cannot live without it.}
2. Glitter Eyeshadow. Lay it on thick—the thicker, the better. No real preference or brand—I’ve tried many and pretty much like them all.
3. Conair Hot Rollers. I heart big hair. Those flat irons just do not work for moi. I need VOLUME!
4. Bvlgari “Notte” Cologne/Perfume. It has notes of chocolate and vodka. What’s not to love?
5. Boots No. 7 Lipgloss. High shine without the sticky-icky-ness.
6. Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub. I HAVE to wash my face before bed. No matter what. Especially after a fabulous and fun night out—the sole reason behind getting extra dolled-up, after all. (Remember, most nights I’m lounging at home, in front of the flat-screen, in my yoga pants, and catching up on our new favourite show—Breaking Bad.) And I love exfoliating! This scrub is positively refreshing. Also smells YUMMO.
7. Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. ELC introduced me to this product. I’m hooked. It makes removing my extra-glittery eyeshadow a breeze! {From ELC: I read about this in one of my many “girly/woman” mags—but after TLC watched me use it one night at her casa, she had to tell me to shake it up first—I didn’t read the instructions! Definitely makes a difference.}

Disclaimer from ELC: Before I begin my list, I’d like to share that, at 57, I’m pretty much worn out when it comes to “doll-ing up.” I’ve been putting on makeup, almost every day of my life, for 44 years. Enough already! Yet, as TLC has previously shared, I would never even consider going to Wally World without a touch of powder, blush, and lipstick. And earrings. Won’t happen. Not just because I’m always fearful of peeps with cameras—luckily haven’t seen myself yet on The People of Walmart—but also because I don’t feel right unless I’ve made some effort not to scare those with whom I come in contact.

I do enjoy doll-ing up a bit more when having lunch with friends or dinner and a movie with Hubby!


ELC’s Requirements for Feeling Dolled-Up:

1. Revlon PhotoReady Makeup. My new favorite foundation. I’m currently using Vanilla. I always want to be perfection for the Paparazzi! LOL. This is kind of dry-ish—powdery. But I love the coverage—and, believe me, I need all the coverage I can get.
2. Estee Lauder Pink Kiss Blush. Just right—summer and winter. We (Us?) “mature” women have to be careful not to have that red rouge “circle” on our cheeks that many little blue-haired ladies end up having. Bless their hearts. I’m not quite there—yet.
3. Estee Lauder Midnight Metallic EyeShadow. Very navy-ish/midnight blue/ish. Discreet, subtle glitter—not too scandalous for women who read “More.”
4. Maybelline Mineral POWER Illuminator. TLC put me onto this. It says to “sweep” it all over your face. I don’t do that. If I was under the age of 40, I might. I don’t need people walking away after talking to me and saying: “Good Grief. What is she thinking—that she’s J-Lo?” So when I’m completely through with applying all makeup, I take a q-tip and dip it in the little container (it comes in two or three shades), then “sweep” it under my brows. Some glitter falls onto my eyelashes. I love when that happens! Gives me some sparkle that 98% of the people I’m with don’t/won’t notice. But I know.
5. Estee Lauder Knowing Cologne/Perfume. I’ve been using this for over 25 years. When TLC was in Intermediate School, one of the moms told me her son said he could always tell when I’d visited because he could smell me in the halls! Hmmm. I do realize that might not be a compliment. When I discern/sniff intriguing colognes on others, I’ll try them out. They simply don’t work the same for me. I’m sure there’re some peeps that are either tired of me wearing this cologne or who think I put too much on. (Yes, Hubby. I hear you.) I do apologize. Apparently, as we age, our sense of smell slowly deteriorates. Like many other things on our bodies. Sheesh. I heart my Knowing--what can I say?
6. Estee Lauder Café Rose Lipliner. Another Estee product I’ve used for over 25 years. Yep—never said I was adventurous. Every now and then a Makeup Counter Rep will scare the bejeebies out of me and say Estee’s about to discontinue Café Rose. It’s not funny. They shouldn’t do that. This is my everyday and dolled-up lipstick and I can’t bear to think of living without it.
7. Dove Soap Bar. Seriously. Twenty-five years ago, my awesome dermatologist in Fort Worth suggested I use Dove in the winter/coldish/dryish months. I use it all year. It’s so reasonably priced—so easy to find—so soft on your skin. Even after a late-night out, I look forward to taking all my makeup off with Dove. You can buy it in a couple of different “flavors”—like cucumber. Marvelous!

We’d love to hear about products you couldn’t live without or that make you feel “dolled-up!”

ta-ta for now!