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We get lots of beauty questions from Cup of Jo readers, and today I thought I\u2019d answer five (I\u2019d love to hear your answers, too!)\u2026 <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat holy-grail products have made the biggest difference to your self image?\u201d \u2014 Claire<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> What a fun question. I love playing around with makeup and finding things that work well. Looking at my bathroom counter, I realized there are five products I wear every single day and buy in multiples: \u201cOur longtime favorite foundation (Armani) is no longer being made! What have you moved on to, and do you like it??\u201d \u2014 Gwen<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> Confession: I was influenced by an Instagram ad to try the Il Makiage foundation<\/a>, and I have to say, I love it. My face tends to be ruddy and splotchy when I wake up, and the formula evens everything out but still looks natural and soft. <\/p>\n Q. \u201cI\u2019m on the hunt for an under-eye concealer that doesn\u2019t crease AND isn\u2019t $100. Recs?\u201d \u2014 Ivy<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> I don\u2019t have a strong opinion, so I turned to my genius bff Gemma<\/a>. \u201cI wear Hourglass<\/a> on my blotchy bits and blend blend blend,\u201d she texted me this morning. \u201cThe formula is very creamy, hides pores and fine lines, and lasts all the livelong day. Under-eye is tough because of wrinkles, but this is the most seamless concealer I\u2019ve ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n (Gemma is wearing Laneige glowy makeup serum<\/a>, followed by Hourglass<\/a> and Ilia blush in Closer<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWhat spa treatments do you regularly commit to?\u201d \u2014\u00a0Joanne<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> I know Hunter Harris<\/a> swears by facials, and her skin is gorgeous<\/em>. I don\u2019t get facials myself, but I do love treating myself to 30-minute foot rubs every few months at Bergen Spa<\/a>; they somehow make your whole body feel amazing. And during the holiday season, Freddie and I have a new tradition of going together to Aire Ancient Baths<\/a>. They\u2019re not cheap (hence, the once-a-year splurge) but the candlelit baths and plunges are sooooo romantic and otherworldly. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m turning 40 soon! What are your best beauty tips for entering this decade?\u201d \u2014 Jenn<\/strong><\/p>\n A.<\/strong> I\u2019ve never written this, but for some reason, I always thought I\u2019d be someone who would die young. (Maybe too much Little Women<\/a><\/em>?) So, now that I\u2019m firmly 46, I always feel kind of stunned and lucky to be here. I read something this weekend that speaks to the way I feel about beauty at this age, by Erin Shetron of Frequent Criers Club<\/a>: \u201cI want little girls to look at us and feel safe to age. I want us to all be a little bit ugly in our own unique ways. I want us to resist external beauty standards so that we can define and meet our own internal beauty standards that reach beyond our aging faces, our crooked noses, our sagging skin.\u201d Yes! I love playing around with lipstick and my trusty hairbrush<\/a>, but when it comes to aging, I also love the smile creases around my eyes and the freckles on my right thigh that look like the Big Dipper and even my neck lines from watching 30 Rock reruns on my phone in bed. No little kid ever looks at you and thinks, \u201cDamn, time for Botox!\u201d Instead, they shriek, \u201cAuntie Jo!\u201d, toss up their arms, and come tearing down the block on wobbly legs for a hug. At least, that is what happened last night when Toby and I brought strawberry popsicles over for Georgie<\/a> and her brother, and I hope she looks at me, 43 years her senior, and somewhere deep inside, feels safe to grow up, too.<\/p>\n Thoughts? How would you answer these questions? And if you have any other beauty qs, please leave them below! xoxo<\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. Our 10 most recommended beauty products<\/a>, and my thoughts on getting Botox<\/a>.<\/p>\n
*\u00a0Gemma\u2019s lipstick find<\/a> in perfect colors that somehow brighten up your whole face (the beauty item I get the most compliments on, by far)
*\u00a0everyday sunscreen<\/a> with an incredible<\/em> scent
*\u00a0blurring primer<\/a> to make skin look lit from within
*\u00a0Baby Cheeks blush<\/a> for the sweetest sexiest flush
* Ilia mascara<\/a> which makes eyelashes look longer and fuller but doesn\u2019t have the gross chemical smell of many mascaras<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cupofjo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-07-at-12.54.30-PM.jpeg\")
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