7 Pretty Powerful Performing Beauty Products of 2024
We are nearing the end of 2024, and I’ve got to say, I’ve truly enjoyed navigating and experimenting with my beauty routine this year and sharing “all the things” with you ladies here on SAACA. I’m 2 months away from turning 47, and despite the un-fun parts of aging like, constant stiff joints, failing eyesight, and forgetfulness (“why did I walk in this room??”), when it comes to my physical and outward appearance, I’m really content with it. And feeling content with our appearance is a “Pretty Powerful” thing in my opinion…
Is there room for improvement? Of course there is. Why wouldn’t we want to continue to care for and improve ourselves?? But improvement can always be in the same room with embracing the present - and being content with it. Is my neck really starting to look a wee bit saggy where it didn’t use to? - Yes. But I’m okay with it, and will put in the work to keep using my red light mask and neck creams no matter what, to at least give myself a fighting chance to slow down the sag…Ha Ha!
Since we are in the season of giving, I’m going to share with you 7 of my most Pretty Powerful products of 2024…so far! Of course, there are many many others I could touch on, but I’m going to focus on just these that truly stick out in my mind for today. These are products I either use on myself and/or that I use on my makeup clients of all ages, but particularly focus on those that I pull for my women over 40, 50, and 60+ years old.
Without further ado, let’s get into these products that make me feel “pretty” by being “powerful” in their performance…
7 Pretty Powerful Performing Beauty Products of 2024 For Mature Women
Eyeshadows
#1 For Eyeshadows, I am all in with Natasha Denona’s shadow palettes. Yes, they’re a tad pricey, but luckily she offers a variety of palettes from the larger scale ones for those makeup obsessed, to her mini’s , $27, which are more affordable and great for the makeup minimalist. Either way, her formulas perform the best for me.
Even on her official website, Natasha (a celebrity makeup artist) admits that because she couldn’t find the luxe, intensely saturated pigments that would blend effortlessly, so she decided to create her own with the help of her mother who was a chemist. I’m wearing shadows from her My Dream Palette, $69.
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Concealer
#2 Keeping with Natasha Denona, you know I think her Hyglam CONCEALERS are the holy grail, $30. This is a category of makeup I need to be powerful and effective. I like these because they’re hydrating, with very little creasing (look, ALL concealers eventually crease a little under wrinkled eyes, even the reeeeallly expensive ones), and they’re a full luminous but matte coverage that I don’t have to use a lot to see a noticeable improvement. And the shade range is ridiculously thorough - so there’s something for everyone.
I’m including her super helpful chart above to help you figure out which shade you are - which is really half the battle for getting your concealer to look its best. I find the “rosy” shades to look best on me.
Cream Blushes and Highlighters
#3 CREAM BLUSHES + HIGHLIGHTERS, $42, by Charlotte Tilbury deserve some applause! As a gal with skin that is mature, drying out by the day, and losing its natural luster, these beauty wands have given me back that luminous glow with a bit of color! I love love that they are very pigmented and come out with a cream-gel like feel that blends out to give such a pretty finish on the cheeks.
I’m wearing a combo of the “pink-gasm” highlighter and the blush wand in Pillow Talk Pink Pop, in these photos. As we age, we do tend to look better in cream products that sink in nicely and look more realistic than all powdery products that sit awkwardly on top of the skin if it’s on the drier side. And the best way to apply these creamy cheek products? This elf Putty blush brush for only $5 is my go-to applicator because the head is small enough for the tiny cheek area so you don’t end up applying too much!
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Light Therapy Mask
#4 The CURRENT BODY LED SERIES 2 LIGHT THERAPY MASK, $469, is the ultimate at-home luxury skincare treatment. It looks like a scary Halloween costume, but trust me when I say, wearing this crazy looking thing once a day for 10 minutes, will change your skin for the better. I started to notice a significant improvement on my skin after a 2+ solid months of use - I almost gave up, but now I'm so glad I didn’t!
But after that, I was getting compliments on my skin left and right. Seriously. It didn’t make my deep forehead wrinkles disappear (I don’t get Botox) but it did alter my skin tone to look more even, no more redness, and a glowy and overall tighter appearance. I’ve included a recent photo I took of my skin at 10pm the other night after washing my face, zero makeup on, to show you just how good…I mean great!, my skin is looking for reference.
If you want to try one of these, Currentbody is currently offering 10% off any of their LED devices if you use code : JENNYSUE at checkout.
Argan Oil
#5 ARGAN OIL is the multi-purpose skincare item that does it all! Its nickname is “liquid gold”, which says a lot about this fatty acid miracle ingredient in the skincare world! And argan oil is much more than just an oil, it provides many essential benefits to not only your skin, but your hair and nails. It helps to soothe, nourish, and maintain a healthy skin pH balance as well.
I’ve been buying this Now Solutions brand, $14, from Amazon for a while now and love it - price point and performance. The key to a GOOD argan oil, is to look for it to be at least : cold pressed, 100% pure, and made in Morocco. I use this as my last step in my skincare routine in the evening to lock in my anti-aging serums, moisturizers, tops of my hands, and specifically rub into my eyelashes so they are hydrated and conditioned overnight.
I’ve also heard wonderful things about Josie Maran’s Argan oil based line that sells on QVC that includes full body offerings as well!
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Plumping Lip Gloss and Liners
#6 PLUMPING LIP GLOSS + LINERS that give aging lips the perfect pout by Buxom Cosmetics. It should be no secret to you regulars around here that I own about every shade in the Buxom line of their lip polishes and lip creams (both $25 each) and power liners, $22! And I’m not being dramatic! We lose volume in our lips as we age which I’m sure you’ve all experienced.
So the only way to combat their thinning, is to add lots of shine (to give the illusion of fullness) and to overline your lips a wee bit (to give back much needed definition to a fading lip perimeter). Their lip liners also contain a tiny lip brush to help blend out and soften your lip liner which is so helpful.
You will enjoy the slight tingle and feel of them and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better line of flattering shades than with Buxom. One of their newest and limited edition shades, “Apple Cider Mule,” that I”m wearing in all of these photos is a GORGEOUS rosewood shade I’d highly suggest you snatch up before it’s gone!
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Skin Primer
#7 The two SKIN PRIMERS that truly help to prep the canvas and lock in your makeup! I haven’t found a skin primer that is one size fits all. But if you’re super dry skinned like myself, the MILK Hydro Grip Primer, $38, has become a cult fave and one of the few I use. I like it for an aging face because it also contains skin plumping hyaluronic acid and glow-boosting niacinamide.
And for you oily-skinned gals, I recommend using the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Blurring Primer, $46, because it's silicone-free, takes down unnecessary shine, and truly blurs and minimizes the large pores. Be sure that you apply this AFTER your skincare and moisturizers but BEFORE your concealer, foundation, and cheek products. A light coat is all you need with both of these formulas.
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Pretty Powerful
Have you noticed the “Pretty Powerful” theme on my shirt yet? This has been my mantra for years now after I became a mother, then started my own freelance makeup business, and now have been creating beauty content on various platforms to share with other women. I believe that we all have different versions of what it means to be “Pretty Powerful” as individuals.
But for me, as I reflect on what I have accomplished and as I look around at my friends and female family members I surround myself with, I’m constantly in awe with how powerful we are in what we take on in life, work, and in the home. It might not look “pretty” all the time, but if you truly take a step back and notice what we are capable of, while also doing the important self care things like taking time to do our makeup, hair, exercise, and nutrition, the sum of it all is a “Pretty Powerful” thing.
So if you resonate with this message, I have a link here to my online store front where I have created two “Pretty Powerful” message shirt items just in time for the holidays. One is my pink hoodie sweatshirt with a kangaroo pocket in front, and the other is a workout tank top. Because how powerful does it feel to move your body and take care of it through exercise?? The year of 1978 is an ode to the concert and band tees you see where they put up the year their band either got together or their tour date! Mine happens to be the year I was born.
The Athens Community Council on Aging
A portion of the proceeds from this sale are going to a local non-profit here in Athens called ACCA - The Athens Community Council on Aging, who services 27 counties here in Georgia. Their mission is to promote a lifetime of wellness, encouragement, provide meals and support for our older neighbors in this area who sometimes get left behind. They believe everyone should be able to AGE WELL. I’ve worked a few makeup demos for their clients there and always leave with such a full heart and wanting to do more.
For size reference before ordering either of these styles - I am 5’5”, 125 lbs, and wear a bra size of 36C. I wear a large in the sweatshirt (bc I like this style roomy personally) and I wear a medium in the tank top. You’ll notice that each shirt will have the branded JennySue Makeup tag on it - placed on the arm sleeve on the sweatshirt and back of the neck for the tank.
The online store is only going to be open from November 16th until November 30th, 2024, so be sure to place your order before it closes. This is so they can be ordered and shipped by December 25th. So treat yourself to a cozy Pretty Powerful sweatshirt or tank and wear your confidence proudly. It’s perfect for lounging, errands, or making a bold statement about the strong, beautiful woman you are. Because you deserve to feel amazing inside and out.
Leave a comment below if you resonate with this message and which product from my list you’re going to try for yourself!
Wonderful post, or should I say, “powerful post!”
Thanks Jennifer.
Why thank you Nancy! Glad you enjoyed it!