Paula Shares her beauty secrets

11 May

The current beauty market is very focused on the younger target group. ‘Ageless by Carmen’ show that you can be beautiful at any age! Every month we ask an ageless woman about her beauty rituals, secrets and tips for growing old in a beautiful and healthy way.

This time: Paula Begoun 67 jaar, also known as "The Cosmetics Cop", is an American talk radio host, author, and businesswoman. She is the founder of Paula’s Choice and Beginning Press Publishing. She is known for her view that skin care and cosmetics should be based on ingredients that have been subjected to peer reviewed research.

Do you feel ageless?
Feeling beautiful is definitely not related to age. At any age feeling beautiful is about self confidence, self esteem, and how balanced and full a life you lead. For me personally, I certainly don’t feel “old” and I feel I am an attractive woman but I certainly don’t look the same as I did when I was younger! At 67 I do see a rich full life ahead of me but I also know there are less years in front of me then there were behind me. That knowledge is sobering and definitely influences how I make decisions about what I do and don’t do that are very different from when I was in my 20s, 30s, 40s, and even 50s.

Is there a difference between your hair and makeup from now and the past?
My hair style is definitely different than it was in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and it completely changed when I started going grey in my late 40s. Nowadays I prefer a straighter hairstyle and I like having longer hair. In terms of makeup surprisingly that hasn’t changed very much except for wearing false eyelashes when I’m really dressing up. My eyelashes just aren’t as thick as they once were.

Which beauty ritual makes you happy?
My morning and evening skin care routines make me very very happy because I see the amazing results in the mirror every day.

“Feeling beautiful is definitely not related to age.”

What is your beauty ritual?
I have been using my Paula’s Choice Skincare products since we launched on the internet in 1995!
This is my morning skin care routine:

In the morning, I use my SKIN BALANCING Oil-Reducing Cleanser followed by SKIN BALANCING Pore-Reducing Toner.
Next, I apply my CLINICAL 20% Niacinamide Treatment
After that, I apply a thin layer of my RESIST Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Serum.
On my hands, chest, and the brown spots on my face, I apply my 10% Azelaic Acid Booster and my 25% Vitamin C Booster.
Around my eyes I apply my Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer.
Last, but not least, I apply my moisturizer with sunscreen RESIST Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30.

This is my evening skincare routine:

I start with my SKIN BALANCING Oil-Reducing Cleanser applied with a soft washcloth to be sure all my foundation is removed. Depending how much makeup I have on I sometimes go over it a second time.
Next, I smooth on my SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
I alternate nights using my Peptide Booster and my 10% Azelaic Acid Booster.
Then I apply my RESIST Anti-Aging Eye Cream.
Last, I apply my LIP & BODY Treatment Balm.

What is / your biggest beauty miss?
The biggest beauty mistake I make is the occasion when I’m so tired I fall into bed before doing my evening skin care routine. I always pay for it the next day and my pillow case is also a mess!

What is your "evergreen" beauty product or new discovery?
My SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Exfoliating Liquid which I formulated about 21 years ago and my new 20% Niacinamide Treatment are two products I would never want to be without. The benefits for my skin have been astounding and I see and feel the difference every day!

How important is grooming to you?
Incredibly important given what I do for a living but I do try to keep it balanced and not obsess about it. Aside from my work I know that psychologically research has shown that people who care about how they look are emotionally healthier than people who don’t tend to their grooming needs. Of course the other side of the coin is true too. Obsessing about how you look can lead to body dysmorphia which can be emotionally difficult.

How much time do you spend on your appearance every day?
This varies greatly depending on what is happening in life. My morning and evening skin care routine goes pretty fast, only 5 to 7 minutes. During the day I only apply makeup if I’m working or going some place nice but that is also a fairly simple application so maybe another 5 minutes to 7 minutes in the morning. For a special event I do a more elaborate makeup that can take more than 30 minutes. Then at night taking off a full makeup can add another 2 or three minutes to my evening skin care routine. My hair often just goes up in a pony tail but for special events doing my hair can take quite a while because I have a thick head of fairly frizzy curly hair that I like making smooth and sleek.

Do you spend more or less time on your appearance than in the past?
For me this has never changed, I spend the exact same amount of time year after year!

Which beauty products are standard in your handbag?

Cover Girl Mascara;
NYX Lipstick;
Maybelline Blush';
L’Oreal brow powder;
Paula’s Choice Lip and Body Balm;
And a set of mini-brushes I bought on Amazon.com.

What are your favorite make-up brands and why?
I like most all inexpensive beauty brands such as Cover Girl, Maybelline, L’Oreal, Neutrogena, NYX, among others. I just pick and select which of those products are the best.

What is your "best kept beauty secret"?
Nothing I do is a secret. I’ve written about everything I use and have had done and that information is all available on PaulasChoice.com.

Which cosmetic product or treatment is absolutely sacred to you and why?
I’m not sure sacred is the right word, but for treatments by far Botox and filler are very important. Both of these work almost overnight to dramatically smooth deep wrinkles and lift sagging skin.

For skincare it would be my Paula’s Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid. BHA (the active ingredient is salicylic acid) has been proven in countless studies to unclog pores, improve acne as well as hydrate and smooth skin. It is one of the superhero ingredients in the world of skincare.

“Be sun smart and use sunscreen 365 days a year.”

What is your beauty tip for all ageless women?
I’m okay with aging because there is no alternative except not being alive anymore! 😊 However, I want to avoid looking “old” for as long as possible. The only way to prevent skin from looking “ageless” is to use sunscreen 365 days a year and to be sun smart. Most studies show that at least 75% of what we think of as aging skin is really about sun damage. You can’t hope look “ageless” without being aware of what sun damage does to the skin and prevent that from happening.