Makeup routine that works for busy mom
I’m a stay-at-home mom to a busy toddler. I currently have two makeup routines: none or date night. What is a basic routine for looking put-together but not too overdone for playgroups and activities, while keeping costs and time at a minimum? Would love product recommendations if you have them too! the upper lashes is all you need. Maybelline Unstoppable eyeliner is a selfsharpener you can buy at drugstores and online.
Stick with a neutral like medium or light browns or grays. My splurge is Bobbi Brown Taupe 4 (department stores), brushed sparingly on the lids. But drugstores have a wide selection of neutral shadows at reasonable prices.
I stick with Maybelline Great Lash in the pink tube (drugstores). I’ve tried dozens of brands and keep coming back to this one.
This evens out your skin tone and can cover redness. For lighter coverage, BB creams are just tinted moisturizers, and there are plenty of shades and brands to choose from.
If you like a matte finish, there’s colorless or tinted powder at drugstores. I’ve been using Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation (drugstores) on top of my sunscreen for a little more coverage and to control shine.
One swipe with a powder brush is plenty. Blush can go horribly wrong if overdone, so check in the mirror and wipe off the excess. I use Cover Girl Cheekers (drugstores).
If yours are skimpy, Maybelline Brow Precise fiber volumizer (drugstores) will fill them in with a few swipes with the wand applicator.
Barns are a popular wedding reception venue, and trust me they don’t have hay on the floor or smell like farm animals. Pick a pretty dress or nice top with pants that’s suitable for church. That will work fine for the barn party afterward too.
I’m invited to a wedding in late October near San Francisco. Dress is semiformal. Outdoor ceremony (5 p.m.), dinner and dancing indoors, I can probably find a dress with wrap/jacket, but what about shoes? Party shoes are open-toed, no pantyhose. But it seems too casual to me to go with chickenskin bare legs. It’s not the beach, after all. Do I follow the trend or pay more money for shoes I may never wear again?
Don’t buy shoes that you’ll never wear again! San Francisco might be in California, but it still could be chilly (and windy) in October at that outdoor wedding. Shoes with open toes are definitely not a requirement and pantyhose are absolutely in style. They can be skin-tone, gray or colorful. There was a time not long ago when a lot of fashionable women went bare-legged no matter the temperature. Fortunately, common sense is back and you can cover your legs or not. Your choice.
“A casual restaurant closes at 9 p.m. Why do I feel unwelcome at 8:35 p.m.? I feel like I’m disturbing the workers as they clean up for the day. Forget sitting outside on one of our rare beautiful evenings. The tables are closed for the night. That’s fine if you let the customer know that it’s ‘beverages only’ so the staff can be out of there by 9. I don’t expect to get in a restaurant before or after business hours, but I do think ‘during’ business hours is not too much to ask.”