We get lots of beauty questions from Cup of Jo readers, and today I thought I’d answer five (I’d love to hear your answers, too!)…
“What holy-grail products have made the biggest difference to your self image?” — Claire
A. What a fun question. I love playing around with makeup and finding things that work well. Looking at my bathroom counter, I realized there are five products I wear every single day and buy in multiples:
* Gemma’s lipstick find in perfect colors that somehow brighten up your whole face (the beauty item I get the most compliments on, by far)
* everyday sunscreen with an incredible scent
* blurring primer to make skin look lit from within
* Baby Cheeks blush for the sweetest sexiest flush
* Ilia mascara which makes eyelashes look longer and fuller but doesn’t have the gross chemical smell of many mascaras
“Our longtime favorite foundation (Armani) is no longer being made! What have you moved on to, and do you like it??” — Gwen
A. Confession: I was influenced by an Instagram ad to try the Il Makiage foundation, and I have to say, I love it. My face tends to be ruddy and splotchy when I wake up, and the formula evens everything out but still looks natural and soft.
Q. “I’m on the hunt for an under-eye concealer that doesn’t crease AND isn’t $100. Recs?” — Ivy
A. I don’t have a strong opinion, so I turned to my genius bff Gemma. “I wear Hourglass on my blotchy bits and blend blend blend,” she texted me this morning. “The formula is very creamy, hides pores and fine lines, and lasts all the livelong day. Under-eye is tough because of wrinkles, but this is the most seamless concealer I’ve ever known.”
(Gemma is wearing Laneige cream skin, followed by Hourglass and Ilia blush in Closer.)
“What spa treatments do you regularly commit to?” — Joanne
A. I know Hunter Harris swears by facials, and her skin is gorgeous. I don’t get facials myself, but I do love treating myself to 30-minute foot rubs every few months at Bergen Spa; they somehow make your whole body feel amazing. And during the holiday season, Freddie and I have a new tradition of going together to Aire Ancient Baths. They’re not cheap (hence, the once-a-year splurge) but the candlelit baths and plunges are sooooo romantic and otherworldly.
“I’m turning 40 soon! What are your best beauty tips for entering this decade?” — Jenn
A. I’ve never written this, but for some reason, I always thought I’d be someone who would die young. (Maybe too much Little Women?) So, now that I’m firmly 46, I always feel kind of stunned and lucky to be here. I read something this weekend that speaks to the way I feel about beauty at this age, by Erin Shetron of Frequent Criers Club: “I want little girls to look at us and feel safe to age. I want us to all be a little bit ugly in our own unique ways. I want us to resist external beauty standards so that we can define and meet our own internal beauty standards that reach beyond our aging faces, our crooked noses, our sagging skin.” Yes! I love playing around with lipstick and my trusty hairbrush, but when it comes to aging, I also love the smile creases around my eyes and the freckles on my right thigh that look like the Big Dipper and even my neck lines from watching 30 Rock reruns on my phone in bed. No little kid ever looks at you and thinks, “Damn, time for Botox!” Instead, they shriek, “Auntie Jo!”, toss up their arms, and come tearing down the block on wobbly legs for a hug. At least, that is what happened last night when Toby and I brought strawberry popsicles over for Georgie and her brother, and I hope she looks at me, 43 years her senior, and somewhere deep inside, feels safe to grow up, too.
Thoughts? How would you answer these questions? And if you have any other beauty qs, please leave them below! xoxo
P.S. Our 10 most recommended beauty products, and my thoughts on getting Botox.
