My friend Kirsten and I got together to take before and afters and it was a lot of fun!! Hopefully, she will post hers soon. First, let me say that I had on more make up then I ever wear routinely but listening to all of you I wanted it to show up on the camera!

I wrote below the AL products I had on. I love Aromaleigh. It is an addiction as good as chocolate and ice cream.

Indoor photos:



Outside photos:



I am wearing:

Face: silk powder, metamorphis and then 2 WL voile
Blush-Sinister Rouge - I like this and didn't think I would!
Eyes - Brow: Daphne, Lids: Psyche, Crease and V: Holy Grail. (These colors didn't show up well and I had tons on!)
Eyeliner: Endangered Topped with Topaz Drama Eyeliner
Lips: Adorable Liner, Gala Lipstick with Noir (older, my favorite color AL gloss) on top

A dusting of illuminator.

I also have to somehow link this to the "over 40" thread! Thanks for looking. It is hard to put one's photos up on the internet, or it is for me.

Wow, you did a great job. Good pics, too.

Pinky

Hi Lisa! Wow, you did a great job! The colours you used really brought out your eyes... such a pretty green.

I really like the before and afters. Thanks a lot for posting yours

You look great, thanks for posting!

I also really like your haircut! I am always on the lookout for new short to medium styles without bangs for me to try

You look fabulous! Love that lippie on you

Lisa, thank you for doing this! You look great! I know what you mean about the pics showing up like real life. Whenever I take pics to post I pile on the makeup, then end up rubbing most of it off on my way to work! I really like how you did this makeup - it accents everything nicely, but it's not too much. Good job, you brave girl!

I love your colors! You look fabulous!
you girls are giving me more and more courage to do this b&a myself. I'd like to have my macro figured out on my camera first -- good excuse, right?

Amazing pics Lisa. It's taking me a long time to work up the courage to post. You, my brave lady did a marvelous job. Your afters look so polished and professional. Thank you so much for posting.

Lisa, you look beautiful! Before and after! LOVE the colors you chose for your after!

hothothot!

-b.

You look great!!! And the afters look even better! The colors you chose are perfect for your eyes -- really brings them out -- you look polished and lovely! Thanks for having the courage to share -- it's tough to take the leap! AND there are always more wrinkles on the picture than there are in the mirror...it's odd that way...sigh.
--Natasha

You look beautiful! Thanks for sharing your B&A's. You have such stunning eyes, and your application & color choices really put the spotlight on them!

You look fantastic!!!

You are all so nice, thank you! I should post more often especially when I am feeling old . Sometimes I look in the mirror and can't believe I am 47. I still want to party like I did when I was 27!

Speaking of 40s, I asked a skin care question of all of you under the 40 plus challenge thread. I was wondering if any of you had used retinoids at night in addition to C in the am maybe and if you had, what brand or type? I am confused about where to get this I guess, yet I keep reading about it and it seems like something I should do. Right now I do use a vitamin C and also a fruit enzyme mask....

Thanks for all your kind words. This is the place to come when you are feeling blue!

Va-va-voom...I love that bold berry lip color on you in the afters! You look so beautiful and vibrant in the befores and the afters.

Oh, I do use retinoids at night and vitamin C in the morning. Keep in mind that you cannot use retinoids if you aren't wearing sunscreen every day during the day. The combo of those 3 products are the most powerful anti-aging treatment you can find, short of surgery. Keep in mind it will take 6 months+ to see results with retinoids, but you will continue to see results for years as they will keep building and improving the structure of your skin and brightening and evening out the surface.

I use Tazorac gel. Differin is a nice starter retinoid for those with sensitive skin. Renova is nice for those with dry skin. Tazorac and Retin-a are both powerful retinoids that come in cream and gel bases. Basically, you need to see a dermatologist for a prescription unless you travel a lot, you can buy them over-the-counter in many other countries (which is what I do because I travel a lot and it's so much cheaper over there otc.) Insurance typically covers retinoids for acne but not for anti-aging. You can also order from an online pharmacy in Canada once you get your prescription; I think that is cheaper. There are over the counter products that contain retinol and other forms but these are not worth it in my opinion. They are so much less effective (and retinol is MORE irritating) so why not just pull out the big guns.

You look great!! Thanks for joining the club! You did a wonderful job on the application and choice of colors.

You look great in all the photos!! Thanks so much for posting.

Loida

You look beautiful! Thanks for posting your over 40 B/A pics. Regarding skin care. . .I alternate nights, one with Roc Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Night Cream (you can get it at Rite Aid and other drug stores) and the next night with an AHA cream (as soon as I run out I'm switching to AL's Glycolic Acid) and I spot treat oily areas and blemishes every night with Nocturne. During the day, I use AL Vit C serum on face, neck and chest (sun damage on those last two areas). . .let it soak in and then use an oil-free moisturizer with spf 15.

Thanks again for posting your lovely photos!

P.S. As far as otc products go, Consumer Reports gives Roc (not my exact formula) and Olay Regenerist high marks in showing improvement in skin. Rx creams are of course going to be more concentrated, but I'm not at the point of needing a prescription yet. HTH.

Lisa, you look very pretty!

I use vit C serum in the morning. I used to use a retinoid (OTC) at night, but now I work outdoors all day -- and retinoids increase your sensitivity to the sun, so I quit using them and now use Nocturne at night. Retinoids and vit C cancel each other out which is why you shouldn't use them at the same time. A twice a day vit C regimen is working pretty well -- I have a lot less sun damage than might be expected for someone my age working outdoors.
--Natasha (btw I'm 44)