Susan is in my chair this week. We had great fun creating her fabulous make up. I wanted something natural, but with a sting its tail (bee related) Hence the strong power pink lip and a bit of a quiff hairstyle, which quite frankly I love.
Susan is an activist for all things environmental and a campaigner for the protection of bees – hence the post title. I have asked Susan to write a little bit about the beautiful Bee so I will hand her over.
Susan tells us about bees
Love Bees!
What could be more pleasurable than watching bees on a summer day going about their business collecting pollen and nectar?
Have you heard of the ‘waggle dance’? Worker bees – all girls – are great communicators and use the dance to tell fellow workers where the best flowers are!
Pollen is packed into ‘carrier bags’ on the bees hairy legs and quite by chance extra pollen is transferred from one flower to the next to perform the vital act of pollination.
Without insect pollination, our diets would be dull – no delicious strawberries, tomatoes, beans, apples – the list is huge.
How can we pamper our pollinators? My best advice is to choose a selection of flowers, shrubs and trees – depending on the size of your garden – that provide food throughout the year or as soon as the large queen bumblebees emerge in the spring AND please don’t use pesticides – they poison everything including us!
A little bit about Bees and Beauty from me
Both Bees wax and honey are used widely as ingredients in the beauty industry
Beeswax is a humectant, which means that it attracts water and helps keep the skin hydrated. It is also a natural exfoliator, ideal for removing dead skin cells.
Honey is also a humectant to help keep the skin hydrated, but used also for its natural healing properties and is high in antioxidants.
Bees wax has been used for many years as a hot wax for hair removal. I trained using bees wax, by far the most efficient wax over strip wax which is used mainly today as it is no doubt less messy and economic.
We are becoming more savvie, choosing natural ingredients in our beauty products, which Honey and Bees wax most definitely are, but is this sustainable for the bees. This will all depend on the beekeeping. Good practice beekeepers will always leave enough for the bees, so worth checking your product credentials.
Beauty Chat
- How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking? 76
- Do you think your own life personal stresses has an impact on how you are visibly ageing ?
Some parts of my life have been more stressful than others which probably affects the ageing process
- How do you feel within yourself as you get older including health?
I have always been a pretty optimistic person but my body is getting a bit creaky! Getting older means developing the qualities within – the inner beauty which becomes more important than the outer appearance
- How do you feel about the physical signs of ageing when look in the mirror?
I get quite a surprise sometimes when I see this older person reflected – not quite how I am imaging myself!
- Have you or would you consider any intrusive anti-ageing treatments?
No
- Do you think our societies attitude to ageing has any impact on how you feel about yourself?
Most of the time, I don’t really feel old!
Older people can be ignored and their ideas marginalised but maybe I am growing wiser and it doesn’t matter what other people think!
- Do you think seeing untouched fun and positive imagery of older women can make a difference to societies attitude on age?
Untouched images show that women can be attractive and interesting at any age – youthful beauty may have gone but character and creativity can shine forth!
- Do you think seeing untouched fun and positive imagery of older women when you were younger would of made a difference to how you feel about yourself now?
Any dowdy images made me determined not to be like that! I think the example/images of older women I have known (old keeps getting older!) who look good and are fun to be with, has helped to give me confidence in myself as a person whatever my age
- What is your can’t live without make up product and brand?
Moisturiser – Monu firming moisturiser (not really make-up but I would feel lost without it!)
- What is your favourite skincare product?
Body lotion – presently using Bee Good lavender and comfrey
After Make up
- Have you enjoyed this experience?
It was great fun being the artist’s canvas – lovely surprise when you get to look in the mirror!
- Do you think having your make up done is an uplifting experience?
Karen is very skilful at bringing out the best, recognising the hidden possibilities – made me feel really good about myself
- Do you like the make-up even if not how you would wear it every day?
It was lovely – though most days I just tone and moisturise!
- Any Comments
Beauty is in the eye or the mind of the beholder!
It’s a special treat to have a make-up artist transform you – thank you Karen!
Make up Used
Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation | MAC Cosmetics – Official Site
Highlight pen: YSL Touche Eclat
Eyes: LFF Sheer Brilliance Lid Colour – Eyelid Makeup for Older Women (lookfabulousforever.com)
Eyebrows- Look Fabulous forever – Bring Back Brow Grey Eyebrow Makeup For Mature Skin: Look Fabulous Forever
Contour: Benefit Hoola Hoola Matte Bronzer powder bronzer for face | Benefit Cosmetics
Cheeks: Daniel Sandler liquid blush – Andel
Highlight: Violet Jordan Pearl Glow & Go Pearl – Violet Jordan
Lips: Mac: Mini MAC / Lipstick | MAC Cosmetics – Official Site
All photos created, styled and taken by me by my phone. no photoshop just light
Make and hair by me
Work Shops
Graceful Disgraceful Make up Experience
My face to face step by step make up and full face experience for women 50+ based in Wiltshire UK
Sunday 23rd January 2022 10am-12.30pm Full
Sunday 27th February 2022 10am-12.30pm Booking now
Details at: Graceful Disgraceful – Karen Lockyer Make Up Artist
Graceful Disgraceful Virtual Facial Workout
A series of massage and face exercises lots of chat on the ageing process – The ultimate face experience via Zoom in the comfort of your own home. Only taking request group bookings min3 max 5 pro age 45+ or via Airbnb online experience -The Facial Workout- for all ages
The Graceful Disgraceful Facial Workout Karen Lockyer Make Up Artist –
About This Blog
My aim as a make up artist and positive age warrior is to produce fun, untouched, non- stereotypical beauty images of faces, all different ages 50+ showing great make up and style. It is not about looking younger, just fabulous and hope to capture a little of the character of my models who are all local women. I’m not a photographer, but have a keen eye on how I want my image to look.
My blog is also a platform to inform you about my Graceful Disgraceful workshops, the experience and what women have said about it.
I wonder if when we look in the mirror our dread of ageing is partly triggered from how we are made to feel in our society. So, let’s try and change that narrative.
Lets make a difference one face at a time.
