Beauty Bits

As I have gotten older, my skin went from being combination and slightly oily to very dry. I’ve had to rethink my entire skincare routine and change up what I use in order to help keep my skin balanced and nourished. Dry skin is one of the most common skincare concerns causing tightness, flaking, irritation, and dullness. Many people can accidentally worsen their dry skin by using harsh cleansers, over exfoliating, or skipping moisturizing steps. In today’s post, I am sharing a skincare routine that you can use as a guide in order to help keep your dry skin balanced and healthy.

Liquid bronzers is one of the easiest ways to add warmth, dimension, and a healthy glow to your skin. It’s different from contouring which is designed to sculpt and define the face by mimicking natural shadows which create a more chiseled look. If you want to add a bit of sun kissed color or warmth to your face, using a liquid bronzer is one of the best ways to achieve that. Today’s post is dedicated to helping you understand how to apply liquid bronzer to give a radiant, natural finish.

I’ve been testing quite a few new (to me) concealers and thought I update my blog post with all the formulas that I’m loving. There are some new additions and a few got removed in favor of other formulas I like more. As I’ve gotten older, I need a different kind of concealer that helps to conceal but still keeps my under eye area smooth, won’t settle into fine lines and doesn’t emphasize texture. If you are in the market for a new concealer and you have mature skin, this is the post to bookmark! 

There are a handful of skincare ingredients that I always have in my routine because they provide so many great benefits to the skin. Vitamin C is one of those key ingredients I always have in my skincare lineup. There are so many great benefits to using vitamin c daily on the skin but it’s important to find a formula that works for your skin. Vitamin C can be quite strong so there are tons of different percentages and formulations out there to suit almost any skin type. I have tested quite a few vitamin c serums and currently have a handful of them that I love and would recommend.

Cream blushes have continued to gain popularity over the past couple of years as an alternative to powder blush. Years ago the formulas weren’t as good as they are now so I personally didn’t use them regularly. My skin was also very different 10 years ago and powder blush suited my combination skin type. Now that I am in my late 40’s, my skin has changed drastically and I need makeup products with more moisture.

I’ve been sharing my monthly favorites nearly every month for the past 10+ years but only on video (IG, Tiktok, YouTube). I’ve never shared my favorites in a blog post but thought I would begin doing so in case you ever miss my monthly favorites video. These are all my favorite, most worn and most enjoyed products from the month. I love putting these lists together and sharing the best of the best with all of you! Here are my favorites from the month of February 2026.

As I get older, my approach to makeup has had to change. The products that used to work on me don’t look the same anymore. Mature skin definitely handles makeup differently and the less is more approach is mantra at this point. Heavy or fuller coverage foundations don’t work on my skin as well as they did years ago. I gravitate towards thinner formulas, skincare based skin tints and complexion products that give just a hint of coverage. I rarely use any traditional foundations anymore but I had a feeling the new Natasha Denona HyGlam foundation could be an exception. I already swear by the Natasha Denona HyGlam concealer especially for mature skin so there was a good probability that the foundation would be as beautiful. Spoiler alert: it definitely was. If you are in the market for a “special occasion” makeup that gives a bit more coverage and wear time compared to a tinted moisturizer or lightweight skin tint, this foundation could be perfect. Especially for mature skin!

I first fell in love with Then I Met You after trying their top selling cleansing balm which has now become one of my all time favorite cleansers. I was curious to try out more from the brand Then I Met You and thought I would give me thoughts on all the products I’ve tested. Their founder, Charlotte Cho, is a pioneer in the beauty world after creating the website Soko Glam which brought popular Korean skincare products to the US. She finally started her own skincare line and has grown it slowly and intentionally with thoughtfully formulated products rooted in the techniques and ingredients found in Korean beauty culture. If you have not yet tried the brand, I highly recommend reading my reviews on these products to find something that would work for your skincare routine. Also, if you buy directly from the Then I Met You site, you can use my discount code: MAREE10 for 10% off!

I have an extensive nightly facial skincare routine but I realized that I have failed to share the other half of my nighttime self care process. Besides my facial skincare, I always have an entire process for my body, hair, feet and hands. I never really prioritized anything else besides my face but I’ve noticed a definite need now that I’m in my late 40’s and also in perimenopause. Everything is so dry on my body – head to toe, so I had to begin a regular routine of treating all parts of my body in order to help manage my dry skin and hair. I do rotate and test out different products so I will update this post in the future with any new additions or removals from my routine. For now, here is my current nightly hair, feet, nail and body care routine.

Skincare does not have to be expensive to be effective. More and more brands are formulating products at affordable price points that rival the results and efficacy of their luxury competitors. You may feel that budget friendly skincare is only good for younger skin and that in order to get good results for mature skin, you must spend more.