I’m back today for Fashion over 50 with another top I found at the Goodwill for $5 and change. Â And today I’m sharing what I do for my hair and makeup regime. Â I thought it would be fun to share pics of myself over the years. Â I love to see pictures of celebrities and how they have aged over the years, don’t you. Â Time goes so fast and aging is part of the process of getting older and it’s sort of fun to look back and see where I was 10-20-30 years ago. Â I feel like I’m aging pretty well and I think that has to do with good genes, trying to eat well most of the time, exercise and staying out of the sun (which I haven’t done so well with this year, having too much fun floating in the pool or lake).
So, take a look back with me at my hairstyles over the year. Â Since we’re talking about hair today, you can see how my hair has evolved too. Â I shared a post about my 8 years of blogging hair, but these pics go back way further than the start of my blog.
Age 17: High school graduation pic. Â I wore glasses since 4th grade and the summer I graduated from high school, I got contacts, which I still wear. Â That changed my life dramatically, no more glasses! Â I started off with blonde hair as a child and then it moved into darkish strawberry blonde by the time I was in high school. Â My dad is a red head, so I got lots of red highlights from him. Â You can see I have always had a lot of hair.
Age 18: Â First year of college. Â I discovered blonde highlights at this time and never looked back. Â I’ve been a blonde ever since. Â Farrah Faucett hair was all the rage and mine did pretty well in this style. Â I used a big round brush to tame my curls.
Age 24: Â Vacation in St. Thomas. Â Still lots of big hair and curls. Â I think I was sporting a sunburn here too, which I got way too often back then. Â Remember the days of iodine and baby oil or Hawaiian Tropic with NO sunscreen? Â We weren’t educated on the need for sunscreen back then, which wasn’t good.
Age 27:  Lauren was 2 years old and it’s fun to look back at her at that age, since she will be 33 this month.  I had already started working out by this point (at age 25) and going to the gym regularly.  I was always known for my big hair and when it was really in style, I had it naturally with no hair products to get it that way.
Age 28: Â Vacation in Hilton Head. Â I had a layered bob haircut. Â All I did was style my hair and add a little bit of mousse or gel. Â All the layers brought out my many natural curls.
Age 33: Â Vacation in Italy. Â I had let it grow out a bit from the shorter bob by this point.
Age 37: Â I let my hair grow out even more at this age, but it was definitely harder to style and keep it looking good. Â My big hair tended to take over my face. This is Easter 95, with my mom, sister and niece, Lauren. Â Lauren was 12.
Age 40: Â My sister threw me a surprise 40th birthday party. Â My hair was looking like a helmet this year and not very attractive. Â Still big and curly. Â Those jeans could use some help too.
Age 46: Â I had gone shorter by now with much less volume.
Age 47:  This was 2003 and Lauren and I went on a cruise together. We had so much fun dressing up. I don’t really love my hair this short, but I think the length I’ve settled on now works best for me.
Age 52: This was 2 years into blogging. Â Still layered and I used a round brush to pull out the curl.
Age 53: Â This picture was taken out at the Pioneer Woman’s ranch and I forgot my hair dryer and didn’t realize it until after I washed my hair. So, the curls took over once again. Â A stylist helped with her curling iron too to tame it into place.
Age 56: I finally found my hair stylist I have now and she does a great job. Â She is the best stylist I’ve ever found for my hair type and now with the invention of the flat iron, I can have sleek straight hair, something I’ve always wanted. Â This was in Nashville with my friend, Vicki, two summers ago.
Age 57: Â After baby Parker was born in February 2014.
Age 57: Â Grove Park Inn with Lauren in November of 2014.
Age 58: Â Back to beachy waves in my hair for summer. Â I found this White House Black Market top at Goodwill for $5 and change. Â It’s been fun to find these deals along the way, just by looking.
Cropped pants are from TJ Maxx and the brand is Max Studio (Max Jeans). Â Sandals are from Target.
I love black and white and have collected lots of it in my closet. Â I got that mother of pearl necklace at a yardsale years ago and wore my other mother of pearl jewelry with it.
I love stacking bracelets. I do have more of a tan this year from being out in the sun more. Â I usually don’t do that, but this year I have been determined to enjoy the summer and with that comes being in the sun more, floating in the pool and the lake. Â So, that’s part of it, getting more sun than usual. I do use a 30 SPF spray and I haven’t burned at all, but I do know that sun exposure is not good for you. Â I had skin cancer over 20 years ago and my dad has dealt with skin cancer on his face for many years. Â So, I’m definitely a candidate for it and have to be careful. I do go and get screened at the dermatologist pretty regularly and have had many precancerous areas frozen over the years. I have skin just like my father’s, freckled and fair.
I do cover my face and wear a visor when I’m outside floating. Â And I wear at least a 30 on my face too to protect it from sun exposure. Â Another thing I’ve always done is to wear sunglasses when I’m outside. Â My blue eyes can’t take the sun and for comfort, I just have to wear them, so I think it’s helped protect my eyes. Â Not that I don’t have crows feet, but they aren’t too deep.
I do love these flat black leather sandals from Target a lot. Â Just found them this year.
So back to the hair. Â My hair tends to be on the dry side and I do use a conditioner on it every time I wash. Â I wash my hair no more than 2 to 3 times a week and honestly when I let the waves come out like this, it feels like it needs washing more often than when I use the flat iron. Â I can go days without washing when I flat iron my hair. Â My hair is cut longer in the front than the back.
Since I got a keratin treatment at the beginning of summer to help with the frizz when I flat iron my hair, it does make the curl relax more.  So sometimes my hair is curlier than this.  I’ll talk about products below, but when I let my hair go natural, I just add some curling cream, and use the blow dryer on low and sort of scrunch and pull my hair to get the waves set.  It take a little bit of fluffing with the fingers to style it like this, but I’m used to that over the years. I don’t use a brush at all, when I’m letting it dry curly.  I will usually start with the blow dryer and then let the rest dry naturally.
I really liked it when it dried in this pic.  This was adding curling cream and then drying on low.  It can change from day to day too, with the changes in humidity making the difference.  You can see my freckles and tan here, so I need to be careful with that.
I took a few shots of the back of my hair so you can see how it dries. It’s mostly wavy when I do this method.
Another shot of the back. Â I have less layers with this hairstyle, so it won’t be nearly as curly as it was in my older pics. Â The layers make a big difference in how my hair curls.
And another shot after styling with waves. Â See how it looks different all the time? Â If you have hair like mine, you just have to play with it to figure out what works for your hair. Â Mine is very thick, coarse and wavy/curly. Â The humidity each days plays a big part in how it looks, but I’ve gotten lots of compliments on it since I’ve been wearing it like this for a couple of weeks.
It’s great to have options, so I’ll go back to using the flat iron again too. Â I enjoy it both ways and especially like the relaxed waves for the summer months.
I use Garnier Fructis Style cream gel styling cream. Â I use about a quarter’s worth size in my palms and pull it all the way through my hair from top to bottom. Â Then I use the blow dryer and fluff with my fingers, letting it air dry at the end.
If anyone has some tips on products to use to combat frizz for curly hair, please leave them below. We can all use more tips on that! Â Someone on Instagram told me to try Loreal Beach Waves, a styling spray. Â I did buy a Beach Waves spray that was called Sea Salt, but I hated it. It literally felt like my hair had been dipped in the ocean and dried. Â Not a good feel at all!
The Kenra Silkening Mist is what I use when I flat iron my hair to protect it from the heat and give it shine.
Now on to some beauty and skincare products. Â I am by no means an expert on skin care. Â I’ve tried inexpensive and expensive skincare products over the years, from Arbonne to Rodan and Fields, as well as the popular Oil of Olay. Â I honestly cannot tell a huge difference in the expensive products, even though I gave them a good try and would have loved to have fallen in love with something that worked. Â But, I just couldn’t see it, so I do not spend a lot of $$ on skincare. Â I use the basics. Â I’m using a Neutrogena foaming cleanser right now.
Right now I’ve got Aveeno moisturizer for my daily moisturizer. I have always had oily skin, which I’ve heard is a good thing for aging better and now it’s mostly oily in the T-zone. Â So I use a bit of moisturizer and a primer on my skin before putting on makeup. Â At night, I have been using Boots No. 7 products that can be found at Target. They are from the UK and I’ve heard good things about them over the last few years, so I’m trying them out. Â I use the serum and night cream. Â Are they working? Â I have no idea really, but I feel better just using something at night. Â I use an eye cream when I think about it. Â I also bought a Clarisonic Mia 2 skin brush last year. Â I had heard some of my friends talk about this, so I decided to buy one too. Â I don’t know if it’s really helping a lot, but I figured it would help with exfoliation which is crucial for our skin to stay fresh, so I use it most nights in the shower when I’m taking off my makeup.
Boots No. 7 Â Night Cream (affiliate link)
Boots No 7 Filler/Primer (affiliate link)
For my makeup routine, I keep it pretty simple these days too. I used to wear more makeup than I do now and spent way more time on it when I was younger. Â Now, I can put my makeup on in about 10 minutes max. Â I use a good under eye concealer. Â I have 2 that I like, Elizabeth Arden and Nars. Â They are both creamy in consistency and do a good job with under the eye circles. Â I’ve been using Bare Minerals for probably 7 years now and love it too. Â It’s not heavy coverage, but allows the skin to show through and just looks more natural. Â With oily skin, it’s really good for summer too. Â I use a little blush and to seal it all in as a finishing powder, I use the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil. Â It sets everything and keeps it looking glowy, the Mineral Veil has a bit of shimmer to it so I like that too. Â That little Kabuki brush is what I use to apply the foundation mineral powder. Â These are both mineral powder products and I love them.
Nars Concealer – I use Custard, but check out all their colors. (affiliate link)
Elizabeth Arden Concealer – I have medium (affiliate link)
Sometimes in the summer, I will use a tinted moisturizer and this one is Oil of Olay. Â It’s a color and moisturizer in one and has an SPF 15 in it too, so somewhat protects the face. Â If I’m in a hurry, I’ll just use this for the day.
For my eye makeup, I use a simple pencil eye liner. The one I have now is Almay in Brown and I bought the Naked palette by Urban Decay and love it.
With my blue eyes, I look good in browns and soft earthy pinks, so those are the ones I use the most. This eye shadow palette has lasted me a long time and a little goes a long way. Â They have come out with different colors in their palettes, so you can take a look if you’re interested and see which ones you think might work for you.
Here’s the Urban Decay Naked palette I have. Â (affiliate link)
These Clinique lipsticks are my fave for summer and I usually buy these on Ebay. Â You can see that these are the freebies that Clinique gives away and there are a lot of them sold (brand new) on Ebay. Â Or see the full size ones below.
Clinique Raspberry Glace from Nordstrom (affiliate link)
Clinique Glazed Berry from Nordstrom (affiliate link)
These are my every day hair, skincare and makeup ideas, so I hope you got some tips of your own. Â I don’t do anything really outrageous, but just consistently use these products and sometimes try new things to see how they work. Â I used to buy much more makeup than I do now, but I’ve honed it down to these for the most part.
Hope you enjoyed seeing my hair pictures from the past! Â It’s fun to look back and see what’s changed over the years. Â Sigh….life keeps on moving, doesn’t it?! Â There’s nothing we can do to stop the aging process, but I’m doing my best to keep looking as good as I can as I continue moving forward in age.
Thank you for a wonderful post, Rhoda! It’s fun looking back. You have aged very gracefully and look wonderful. Your blog is my fave and I especially look forward to Wednesdays. I am fair with blue eyes, a couple inches shorter than you but have your build…..long and lean. Unfortunately, I do not have as much hair as you do. It is thin and fine and getting wavy. At 61, no complaints – happy to be here!
Thanks for all the good info, Rhoda! What a fun post:) On your recommendation, I’ve started using the Kenra Silkening Mist, and it is very nice and does help with the flat iron process.
You’ve always been beautiful, now you are gorgeous. It’s a testament to great genes and becoming evermore comfortable in your own skin. Speaking of skin, there seem to be milestones in one’s life when it’s time to change up the beauty routine. I know I’ve just reached another one. After struggling for over a year with how to meet the challenge, I think I’ve finally found a solution. Foaming cleanser applied with a small, gentle exfoliating pad (finally found some at CVS) is essential step number one. Morning step two is Botanic Touch Rosehip oil, then switching to Palmer’s skin therapy oil at night. After using Lancome moisturizers for ever (and then finding they no longer worked); experimenting through Sephora products for 1 1/2 years to no avail; it seems that inexpensive products are what now work for my very dry skin. For cosmetics, e.l.f came to the rescue. I swear by their tube concealer as foundation and complete coverage concealer set. I use many of their other products. I find that drugstore mascaras outperform expensive versions 10 to 1. For eyeshadows, Mabelline and Urban Decay are my favorites. I’m really curious as to what works for your other readers. Thanks so much for posting about this topic, Rhoda. Cheers, Ardith
Wow! This was a fun post. Thanks for sharing all the pictures of your styles throughout the years. Gotta love those octogonal glasses from high school. You look great in every photo. I swear you could have easily been a fashion model. Time has been good to you because you now look fantastic! I love your fashion over 50 series!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing the pictures you posted as a timeline of your style. It is a great glimpse into your family life as well. Thank you for sharing!
I love your hair with the waves this summer…I think it makes you look so young! Thanks for all the great photos and tips!
I love your hair more natural with the summer waves. I have VERY straight hair and wish it was or would even hold a curl. Luckily I live in Colorado, no humidity, so how you style is how it will usually stay but mine being so heavy and I’ve got so much hair it is still difficult. For my hair I do use a bit – VERY small bit – of Argon oil or Soybean Oil. Right now I’m using Soybean oil from Bed Head. It makes your hair very soft. If you try it really use only a little (pea size or less) otherwise you’ll make your hair oily looking. I put it on my wet hair and dry it but you can also put it on dry hair. At 50 my hair is still pretty oily so I’m careful with it.
I have also tried different skin care products and yes I remember the Hawaiian Tropic oil with no sunscreen. We are much better educated now though and I use sunscreen every day. I use to have red hair which has gotten darker over the years but my skin has always been oily and prone to freckles so sunscreen here at 7800 feet is an everyday thing for me. I haven’t tried the Aveeno yet, I’m currently using Olay Regenerist. I too haven’t found any difference between the really expensive products and the drug store brands. I use ROC with retinol at night and under my eyes during the day. I really like it and I’ve read good things about retinol. I also don’t have much in the ways of wrinkles or crows feet yet – I do have a pillow wrinkle forming that I’m learning to sleep without smushing my face up! I think that having oily skin does have it benefits with wrinkles as we age – luckily one good thing about oily skin!!
Thanks for sharing all your tips and fashion. You ROCK! Victoria
My hair is similar to yours but not so thick. To control the frizzles that happen no matter what I do is use “Bumble and Bumble Straight blow dry”. My daughter has super curly hair (rarely blow dries it), my sister’s hair is wavier than mine and we all LOVE it. It just seems to cut the frizz that always happens during the day and so keeps the shine. I can even go a day or two without washing, it’s a miracle creme.
Also, my newest big excitement is Urban Decay lash primer and mascara. The primer really makes the most of every lash.
I don’t understand how Bare Minerals works for older ladies. I tried it when I was in my mid 50s and it made my skin look gorgeous but every wrinkle was very pronounced. I looked like a beautiful bulldog! Maybe I should try the liquid another reader referred to. I use this stuff by Dior, it’s called Skin Tint but it’s really foundation, I mix it with moisturizer, I have never cared to wear foundation very often.
For the past year, I subscribed to Ipsy, it’s a $10 monthly subscription for makeup and skin care. It’s mostly geared to a younger crowd but it was a lot of fun. I learned that I too can wear blue nail polish. You receive 5-6 items, often some full size. There was always at least one product I really liked and used, great for travel size items as well. This is how I know I don’t need to buy Beach Spray but hair oil can be good. I just quit because it got to be too much stuff but I will probably renew next year. It’s hard to experiment when you don’t even know what’s out there!! Like lash primer!!
The people that say you are so “lucky” to be fit and trim are somehow missing the point that you keep making – you started working out when you were 25 y/o????? You’re very inspirational. Ok, I am off to do my little jog now.
Had to chuckle at your beautiful bulldog comment! 🙂 Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue is light and kind of like a BB cream….not a heavy foundation. And I must admit, as much as I didn’t want to do it, I forked out the $29 for the blending brush..it made a huge difference! All I can say is that my skin looks better with it, than without it. I know others who love it too. But it is a real trial and error search for the right things for our skin and hair…love the Ipsy suggestion
!
Oh Rosie, I think I will try this. I have a Bare Minerals store near me. I forgot to say you can get some “equipment” from Ipsy also. I received a couple of excellent brushes. I had no idea what a difference a good brush makes. Thanks for the information.
Love this post and thanx for sharing all of the pics. You still look fabulous! My hair is super curly. The line of products that work great for my crazy hair is Ouidad. She only sells at certain salons so I get mine on-line. Not the cheapest, but then again it’s comparable to other well known brands only sold at salons. I live in MI and I mainly just order them when the humidity hits in the summer, or frizzy season. 😉 For hair products, my experience is that the more expensive products work better. Would love to change that! This year I decided to let my gray hair grow in. I have dark hair and I was tired of the roots showing in just two weeks time. I was touching up every three weeks because I believe if you are committed to color, roots that show are a huge no-no. Although my gray is definitely noticeable, it is still mostly my dark color. I am amazed and some of my friend’s aversion to it. It saddens me that there is such a double standard. Why is it ok for men and not women?! Anyway, although I don’t want to go gray, I’m almost 55, not 20 so it is what it is. They need to relax; my hair doesn’t define who I am! Ok, off of my soapbox. Sorry. 🙂 For skin I struggle with finding the best products as I have Rosacea, so I could never use anything with exfoliating products in it or use a brush, as that would just aggravate it. I’d love to find a foundation that has full day coverage without being so heavy.
Wait, you went to the Lodge?? When?? Can you link me to that post??
You look great in all your shots!!
hi Kate, yes I did. I met Ree and stayed in the lodge back in summer of 2010. it was a promotion we did with blog her.I am NOT on my laptop and I’m traveling for the next few days but if you do a search on the Pioneer Woman it should come up on the blog.
You look fabulous Rhoda, we are the same age and I like to think I am ageing gracefully like you…well I am a year older on Saturday. I have so many photos like you with the ‘big’ hair, how things have changed over the years, I wonder if it will ever come back into fashion apart from the catwalks.
I love your latest hair style, Mine is very curly and I straighten it with the Godsend GHD’s but I think I might try and leave my hair a little curlier next time but mine is so very very thick it ends up curly underneath and frizzy as on top, like a big birds nest.
I too buy from thrift shops, I actually volunteer in one and off shortly as it is my turn today. I have bought so many gorgeous designer items in there for a fraction of the cost and now am a thrift shop addict…not to mention the money goes to cancer patients for hospice so its all in a good cause. Well off to work I go, have a lovely day.
These are great photos – gosh you look even better now!
I have the same thick wavy hair, and am not happy with my cut right now – far worse than your ‘helmet style’ photo.
Being fair and blue eyed, I wear 50spf ultrasun (my mum had skin cancer on her nose).
I was spending a small fortune on face serums/moisturisers and now make my own every couple of months, that way I avoid all the nasty parabens etc.
You don’t seem to have any slackening around your jaw – lucky you. I am 46 and can see slight jowling beginning eeeek!!! It probably helps that you have maintained your weight and fitness I am guessing.
Chris 🙂
Arundel, West Sussex
Chris, yes that’s slackening is starting to happen with me too. I do not like it at all! But what are you going to do?
for those of you worried about me getting skin cancer and staying in the Sun too much, for heaven’s sake, I am a grown woman. I know about skin cancer and sun damage. from what I hear about skin cancer, it’s those childhood sunburns that cause that to happen and I have already had plenty of those. I do get screened and have had many spots burned off already. I’m not trying to ruin my skin but I do enjoy life and don’t just stay in the house because of that. I spend maybe two to three hours a week outside in the sun. Certainly not a daily thing.
hear, hear!! I always thought the damage was done in childhood too. I wasn’t educated in wearing sunscreen when I was younger and got burned many times. Last year, I was told by my GP to get ‘more’ sun exposure without sunscreen protection as my vitamin d levels were too low!
Regarding the slackening around my jaw, I have started using the neckline slimmer. I know it looks a bit of a gimmick, but I believe its working for me. I only do the exercises where you push the gadget by opening your mouth, like an elongated ‘O’.
Chris 🙂
Skin looks really bad – severely sun damaged.
Enjoyed seeing the pics over the years. I, too, have worn glasses since 4th grade and had some just like yours. Still have them somewhere.
You are adorable from the inside out. Thank you for sharing your looks throughout the years. You’ve always had great taste and looked fabulous. Like you in this summer’s waves, but love your straight bob look too! Thanks for being “real”!
I love this post. I enjoy your post every day, but today is absolutely wonderful. I am a few years older than you and we have the same hair. I have green eyes and also have to wear sunglasses. I now live in Naples so humidity is a huge problem with my hair. Thank you for sharing your hair secrets. I also wear bare minerals and a lot of the same beauty secrets you do. Thx for sharing!!
Skin that is checked regularly is still vulnerable to cancer. You should stay out of the sun with your fair complexion. Skin cancer runs in your family. Bottled or spray tans give you color without the risk. Is it worth the risk? Protect your skin.
It appears the damage is already done … too late.
Have wavy coarse hair as well. It’s a 10 (ten) leave in hair conditioner works well with this type hair. I have purchased it from Sally’s Beauty Supply as well as Target
You look gorgeous.
When I moved to Vegas, I started using sunscreen on a daily basis. After all we all can can burn. Sadly, I suffered a burn on my legs. It was terrible especially since I’m a longtime chronic pain sufferer.
I could be your hair twin! I have coarse thick, curly, wavy hair. I have wore the same hair styles. You featured. I have never had a keratin treatment and wonder do you think it is worth the money? My latest products working for me are Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Shampoo and Conditioner. My hairs looks nice when it dries naturally when I use this. If I am in a hurry I blow dry and add Frizz ease Dream Curls to bring back a little of the curl the blow dryer takes away. I have told you before I enjoy your blog and your sincere manner in which you write. This has been a fun blog post to read!
Hi Lorraine, I like the keratin but it lasts 2 or 3 months for me & I think that some frizz products might be just as good. I may not do another one & just try some new products. Thank you for the kind words.
thank you all so much for the positive comments today! I enjoyed reading every one of them and I am taking some notes on products I want to try. Thanks to all of you for chiming in on this post and making it so much fun.
This post is way too self absorbed for my taste. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I agree Diane.
My goodness, Diane and Tonya. With each subsequent comment you lost your credibility to the point of simply coming across as very unhappy people. Insulting someone on their own blog only reflects badly on you. Taking cheap shots at anyone, anywhere, only reflects badly on the person issuing the insults.
Thank you for speaking up Ardith. Trolls belong under bridges!
Agreed! I don’t feel like this is self absorbed at all! Geez, it took me until I was almost 40 to figure out what type of clothes look good on me! I like hearing from other women about what works from them. My hair is very similar to Rhoda’s and can be hard to style, so I appreciate her tips.
I think it’s ok to look the best you can with what you’ve got – why not! I feel best when I’ve got my hair and nails “did” and my work clothes on. It just feels better when I am put together. The minute I get home from work, I put on my t shirt and exercise skort – I like my comfort too!