You Can Look Fresh In Humidity Without A 17-Step Routine

Summer has a way of exposing every unrealistic beauty expectation we have ever absorbed. One minute you are picturing that effortless glow, the next minute humidity has turned your hair into its own weather system and your makeup is making plans of its own. I’m Marcy, and I’m talking straight to my women 40 and above about realistic summer beauty that looks fresh, feels comfortable, and does not require a $400 shopping cart or a 17-step routine.

We get practical about summer makeup for mature skin, from why heavy foundation can age you faster in daylight to what actually holds up in heat: tinted moisturizer or a skin tint, targeted concealer, cream blush, hydrated lips, and brows that frame your face without the daily fight. I share the little product truths I’ve learned the hard way, including why powder can look cakey in summer and why a truly dependable mascara matters more than any trend.

Then we zoom out to the stuff that makes the biggest difference: SPF 50 on your face, neck, chest, hands, ears, and arms, plus skincare that stays consistent instead of complicated. We talk about avoiding irritated “angry skin,” using self-tanner for a safer glow, and building hair and outfit strategies that work with summer instead of against it, think leave-in conditioner, anti-frizz help, linen, crisp whites, and shoes you can actually walk in. The point is not perfection. The point is feeling like yourself, only more alive.

If you laughed, felt seen, or got inspired to simplify your routine, subscribe to Inside Marcy’s Mind, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find us. What is the one summer beauty change you’re making this week?

Transcript

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Welcome And The Summer Beauty Myth

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hello, and welcome to Inside Marcy's Mind, the podcast where we talk about life, all the funny, frustrating, and confusing and surprisingly wonderful parts of it. There's so many parts to life. And I try to talk about it all here. I am Marcy, and today we're talking about summer beauty. I don't know why. I just thought it was something interesting to talk about. I, you know, I don't know if you remember back in the day when if you were, if you're my age or maybe younger, but magazine covers for beauty magazines always look so fresh, and there was always a girl with like wet hair just coming out of the pool looking fabulous. I don't know. That went through my mind this week, and I thought, oh, what a great topic. Kind of talk about summer beauty, talk about it at all ages. Let me tell you, young people, it is easier to look fresh and refreshed when you're young with just a little gloss. And but you know what? Everybody can still do it. And it doesn't have to cost you $400. And before anybody paddocks, this is not going to be one of those conversations where I tell you that you need 17 serums and $400 face creams and a refrigerator just for your skincare. Nope, nope, nope. Although I've seen those cute little skincare refrigerators, I think it's kind of awesome. If you can have one, I mean, why not? But uh it's definitely not a need. And, you know, I um I don't think beauty has to be expensive and out of everybody's costs. So, you know, first of all, I barely have room for my regular refrigerator, and that is a fact because, you know, I live in a condo and it's meant for a small refrigerator, and we have a full size in there, and you really can barely open my freezer. To be honest, it rubs on the wall there, but whatever. I can open it, I can't get into it. I do have an ice maker and I do have water and ice in the door, which most of the refrigerators in this building do not. I also have an in-unit washer and dryer. So I'm living quite the life here in my fabulous, um, my fabulous condo in Chicago. But no, I'm certainly not moving the mustard so my eye cream can have its own studio apartment. I'll tell you that much. But today we're talking about feeling good, looking fresh, and getting through summer without your makeup sliding down your face, your hair expanding into its own

Realistic Beauty After 40

SPEAKER_00 2:18

weather system, or your thighs filling a filing a formal complaint. Um, I, you know, as most of you know, four years ago I moved from California to Chicago. And there is a humidity issue here. It's not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. I have to be 100% honest with you. Um, it's not nearly Florida or Texas. I lived in Texas. It was a hell of a lot worse there in the summer. Um, do we have moments here? Absolutely, but it's not a constant summer problem. But it the humidity is something that has its own issues. So um, every summer I have this fantasy. I picture myself looking relaxed and effortless. My skin is glowing, my hair has like shine to it without being greasy. I'm wearing a breezy white shirt. I have a refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail in my hand. I look like I spend my summer somewhere along the Amalfi coast. You know, I don't know. Then reality arrives. The humidity hits, the heat hits, my hair looks greasy, my sunglasses are greasy from my fingerprints. Uh, my breezy white shirt is completely wrinkled and sweaty. And instead of looking like I summer in Italy, I look like I've been locked in a car outside Costco. Honestly, I do. So today let's talk about realistic beauty for those of us that are over 40. If you're under 40 and listening to this, God bless you, but I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to my girlies that are 40 and above. Um and this, and and you know, the thing, as I turn 65, I'm never gonna look young again. I damaged my skin when I was young. I am what I am. I can't, I don't want to spend the money on a facelift. And even if I had the money to spend on a facelift due to my medical complications, I can never have one. So I have what I have. I never took skincare seriously when I was young because my skin was fabulous. What do I care about skincare? Big mistake. So I have what I have and I work

Affordable Facials And Skin Changes

SPEAKER_00 4:25

hard at keeping what I have good. I will say that. I I do, I found, um, oh, I found this wonderful place here. And you can look around and see if you have something similar to it. I did find a place called um, what is it? Clean your dirty face. And it is a facial place, and it's not like a fancy spa facial place. They have three chairs in a room, and you get your facial next to somebody else having their facial. But for $110, I get unlimited facials a month. And they're basic facials. If you want to add a little something, you can. And if you're a member, it's 50% off. It's the greatest thing I've ever found because I go once a week, and most of the time I get just their basic free facial. I'll do an additive like every three times. I'll do a little longer one or what have you. But I get my face really clean and moisturized once a week. And I've noticed such a difference in my skin. So I will say that. That is something that I've done. $110, it's very doable. That's $25, a little over $20, what, $27 a week. And it is certainly worth it to get my skin really looked at. So that's something I've done for myself. So just looking like ourselves, not anything a little more refreshed, a little more polished, and a little less like we've been wrestling with a garden hose. Okay. So I want you to grab your coffee, your iced tea, your water with lemon, whatever you're doing, whatever makes you feel fancy, and let's get into it, okay?

Ease Over Perfection Mindset

SPEAKER_00 6:01

What does summer beauty even mean now that we're above 40 years old? I think beauty changes as we get older. And I will say that. I and I remember my mom changing, and I remember being so angry at her for it. I remember my mom stopped wearing makeup. And I thought, you're just not trying anymore. I really did think that. I thought, what the hell's wrong? You retire, you move to Oregon, and you just don't wear makeup anymore. Well, guess what? I retired and moved to Chicago. And during the week, unless I'm going out to something, I don't wear makeup. Now, I will say the difference between my mom and I. Let's touch on that for a moment. I go to the gym five to six days a week. I'm in a pool five days a week. Okay. My mother never saw the inside of a gym. So maybe that's I'll I'll, you know, I go to the gym, I get out of the pool, I meet my friends for coffee. I do put on moisturizer. Sometimes I put a little mascara on, but you know, most of the time I go without makeup. So I do put under-eye stuff on because my under-eyes, the skin gets so thin there, and your under eyes get so dark. That is a new thing for me. But okay, back to summer beauty. Nonetheless, I did, I was a judgy wudgy, was a bear with my mom. And um, I'm trying to give myself a little more grace than I gave my mom. She's in heaven, just laughing her ass off at me. But at least I can see it, mom. But I do think beauty changes as we get older. You know, when I was younger, beauty meant following trends. I do not follow a trend to save my life now. It's what, you know, it meant buying whatever shade of lipstick somebody in a magazine said was popular or TikTok now. Now there's TikTok and all these other things telling you. Now, I'm not gonna lie, I've listened to a few TikTok things geared towards my age, but I've stopped even doing that. It meant squeezing into things that were uncomfortable because apparently discomfort was fashion. That included shoes. It meant wearing shoes you couldn't walk in, mascara you couldn't cry in, and hairstyles you couldn't touch. Now I want to look good, but I also want to sit down comfortably. I want shoes that don't require medical intervention, but I certainly don't want them to look like I bought them from the medical page of Amazon. I want makeup that doesn't settle into my lines. I did not invite to the party. I like I don't want that. That is a fact. And I want hair that can survive being outside for longer than six minutes. At this point in my life, I think summer beauty is less about perfection and more about ease. Do I feel comfortable? Do I feel attractive? Do I recognize myself when I look in the mirror? And can I leave the house without carrying an emergency kit the size of a carry-on suitcase? Fact, facts, facts. That is beauty. Beauty is not necessarily looking younger, it's looking alive, it's looking engaged, it's looking like you still care about yourself while also refusing to spend your entire morning trying to look as though you didn't spend your entire morning getting ready. Preach, girl, preach. I'm hearing it. I'm liking this. And I think there is something wonderful that happens after 40. We start knowing ourselves better. We begin to understand which colors work for us, which clothes make us feel good, which trends are worth trying. Because although I'm 65, I know some of you listening are not. And there are some trends worth trying. And which trends should remain on TikTok where they can't hurt anybody? Because I don't need to participate in every trend, neither do you. I've earned the right to say this is adorable for someone else. I can appreciate things on other people like nobody's business at 65. I appreciate a young girl that looks great. There is a girl that gets ready in our locker room that has skin to die for and an amazing figure. And I can appreciate that. I remember being there once. I don't beat myself up for not being there anymore. I am proud of myself for being 65 and being in that gym. So things shift. Life changes. And if you constantly fight it, go ahead. I honestly don't have the energy for that. That sentence will save you money, too, the one that it's adorable for someone else. And at least one dressing room breakdown, I promise you.

Simple Summer Makeup That Stays

SPEAKER_00 10:32

So let's first start out. Let's get into summer makeup. Let's begin with it. Summer makeup is complicated because the weather is actively working against stuff. And that is a fact no matter where you live. Um, you put it on, the sun sees it, the humidity sees it, your pores see it, and everybody begins making separate plans. Your skin goes one way, your foundation goes another way. Oh my slip sliding away is the perfect song for that. Mascara is running down your face. There is a moment in summer when you leave the house looking perfectly presentable, and two hours later you look in your reflection and it's like, why is my mascara down at my chin? If you wear eyeliner, it's moved to the north. Your blush has completely disappeared, and you are shiny as a freshly glazed donut at Krispy Kreme, I'm telling you. So I've reached the conclusion that summer makeup needs to be simple, not non-existent, simple. Lighten up that base. I, for one, because again, I don't wear makeup very often anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't put anything on my skin. Heavy foundation can feel like spackling. It's not what you need at this time. I honestly, I'm gonna say it, I don't think heavy foundation has a place anywhere in the world anymore. I honestly look at these influencers that do makeup on Instagram and stuff. It doesn't even look good on young people. I think that covering up your skin when you're young is a crime. You know, beautiful skin, enhance it. So I use um I and I've talked about this on a podcast not too long ago. So a little bit of this will be a repeat, but I use Lumi. Um, it's a skin-tinted moisturizer. It's the greatest thing I ever found. It blurs your skin. It's Lumi by um L'Oreal. And I use their um moisturizer. They have a foundation, they have a whole line now. It started with these kind of um what do you want to call it? Uh glowing things, but they're great. So instead of using a heavy moist, uh heavy foundation, use a tinted moisturizer, a light skin tint, a little concealer where you actually need it. I have to use a little concealer underneath my eyes. I also use one that adjusts to your skin tone. Look for them now. You don't have to buy a summer and a winter. Well, you might, because right now I'm pretty tan and I get pretty white in the um in the winter, but get something that kind of tints to your skin, it changes. Powder has no place in summer. I'm sorry. Powder is great for the winter. I I don't see any reason to use it. And that's it. Um, mascara and a gloss. And honestly, you can do it. You can carry this off at any age. Find ones that work for you. I also like L'Oreal's telescoping mascara, it's the greatest mascara I've found in my entire life. I want you to remember L'Oreal is owned by um Oh my gosh, it just went right out of my head. My favorite high-priced skincare. It did go right out of my head, everybody. Sorry, and I didn't write it down on my notes. It'll come to me. Oh, Lancombe. Knew it would come to me. Lancome owns L'Oreal now. And Lancombe has always, in my opinion, had the best mascaras. But this telescoping mascara has the best brush. You get a thin coat on your lashes, no gloppy, gloopy. There is no room for that in life in winter or summer, people. No room. It doesn't move anywhere. It doesn't crawl, it doesn't flake, it doesn't anything. The brush is fabulous. It's a thin, thin brush, so you can get a thin coat on all your tiny little lashes. It's the best. I recommend it highly. So keep it simple. The kiss method. Keep it simple, stupid. I think this goes for winter and summer, but in summer, you can get away with maybe just a little less. You may have a skin glow. I do. I have a really nice little glow on my skin for being in California a couple weeks ago. Um, I do think it becomes even more important after 42 because too much foundation makes our skin look drier and older rather than smoother. I know we think we're covering it up. You're not, you're you're you're bringing it to the forefront. I think less is more, less lets your skin, especially that Lumi, it really is like putting Vaseline on the lens of a camera. And believe me, we all need that. Um, you think you're covering up something and it's just settling into it. So less is more. All right.

Cream Products Brows And Lips

SPEAKER_00 15:12

Let's go on to cream products. Because um, at one point when I was younger, we used cream blush, we used cream shadows, we used cream things, and then someone told us that was terrible, and we all went to powder things. I think cream is wonderful for everyone. Cream blush is wonderful in the summer because it can look soft and natural. Remember, I'm not talking none of this, and I never will talk about going out at night makeup. I even do a little bit more of everything when I'm going out at night. That's a whole nother conversation. But daytime makeup needs to be light and fresh, and creams are perfect, a little on your cheeks, blend it out. You can do a little bit of that contouring, but let me tell you, the Kardashians got us thinking we need to contour like we are in a Shakespeare play, and we don't. I need a little coffee there to wet my whistle. I have to tell you, I did take um stage makeup when I was in college, and uh that's where I learned about contouring. And honestly, sometimes I look at these girls and I think, holy crap, you have just taken a class in stage makeup. That's not what we need. So keep it simple. Cream products are great, they go on light, you can build on them if you want to. But know if you are a peach, a pink, or a rose or a berry tone person, stick with it. And you can be all, but most people you you know, peach is better, pink is better. Hold up a little fabric next to your skin. Look, hold up a little piece of fabric of a shirt that you have in each one of those tones and look at when you're looking in the mirror and go, ooh, that makes me look better. That's how you know your tone. You don't need to have somebody do your colors. The goal is not to look heavily made up, it's always to look light and fresh. And if you use powder, it's cakey. I've talked to you about mascara. I you don't want anything that's cakey, gross, thick, clumpy. Clumpy never looks good. I think the false eyelash trend is dying out. But I did do the um eyelash extensions for a while, and I loved them. I do think they I look at pictures and I think, oh, my eyes look so awake there, and it was because it was during my eyelash extension time. The problem with them is they do fall out, they can look a little wonky, and you have to keep up with them. And I'm just not willing to do that now. But I do highly recommend eyelash um extensions, and you don't have to do mascara at all. And I think that's a fabulous way to go. Just don't get those big floppy ones. Those are not good for anyone. I think when you're doing light makeup, especially, really focus on your brows. Um, I have fought with my brows. I have great eyebrows. I really do. Um, I lost quite a bit of them during chemo, but they're back. I oh, I screw them up every once in a while. I have my gal that does them, and I need to stick with that. I do dye my eyebrows now, and I think I got out of dyeing my eyebrows for a while, and then I was penciling them in, and then, you know, that one day they'd look good, one day they look stupid. I can't pencil exactly the same or powder the same or balm the same. I have bought more eyebrow products in the last two years than I ever want to admit, and none of them do well. So I think a tinted brow gel is probably the most you need with a little bit that has like a comb to it, if you do anything. And if not, just have your eyebrows dyed. And do I you could buy it from uh Amazon and do it yourself every couple of weeks, and that's all you need. Lips definitely need moisture. Uh, this the whole dry thing, nope, nope. And again, if you figured out your color, if you're a coral, a rose, a berry, or a pink, stick with it in your gloss too. I don't wear lipsticks uh a lot. I have a couple of Revlon lipsticks that I like that I wear at night. But other than, and they're ones that I liked when I was young. They still make them. Mocha is one of them. Great neutral. I stick with neutrals, nothing bright on my lips, but I do moisturize my lips a lot now. I do realize that, especially, oh, girls, as you get older, those lips deflate like a, you know, uh this summer's raft, I'm telling you. But moisturizing them helps. Um, I, you know, I'm not opposed to Botox and all that. You all know that. After I got cancer, I haven't done any of it. I don't think it gave me cancer. That's not why. I just stopped. I enough chemicals in my body through chemo and radiation. I didn't need to shoot myself up with anything. And although I know it would make me look a little better, I don't know if I'm gonna go back to it. Because it is a maintenance thing. And as we get older, our money gets tighter, and I'd rather spend my money on uh unlimited facials than Botox. Hmm. Sunscreen.

Sunscreen And Smart Sun Habits

SPEAKER_00 20:08

There's something everywhere. Do I need to say more? SPF 50, our necks, our chests, our hands, our ears, our arms. I just I do it now. It's too late. I I ruined myself with the sun. A lot of us over 40 did, especially over 50 with baby oil. I mean, they didn't even have sunscreen when I was young, okay? So use it. We spend years carefully moisturizing our face while our neck gets left out. Don't leave out your neck or your declete. Your hands, especially my hands are horrible. Well, we all know I have horrible hands, but um also the spots on my hands, excuse me. Um, scun sunscreen helps protect our skin from damage, uneven color, and the kind of sunbird that makes sleeping. Poor Kyle. Kyle came down to the beach house, sat on the porch with me, and got fried. Fried, I say. I didn't even think to tell Kyle to put sunscreen on. Kyle's 33. Uh, you know, I I I should have. I feel really bad. Kyle got French fried. Um, there are so many different types. There's lightweight, there's so much sunscreen out there now. You don't have to look white, you don't have to put the white nose on. Um a beautiful hat is skincare with a brim. So wear a beautiful hat. I do love a beautiful hat. All right, let's get into the skincare of it all.

Skincare Without The Overwhelm

SPEAKER_00 21:35

Skin care without losing your mind. I've noticed that skincare has become incredibly complicated. There's acid, peptides, retinoids, ceramides, essence, ampules, toners, oils, masks, serums, and seriously, little bottles that cost more than gasoline. At some point, skincare stopped being washing your face and became chemistry homework. I'm not against skincare. I love anything that makes Makes your skin feel good. But I don't want you to can you hear Patrick? He's got things to say this morning. I do apologize. I can't keep him quiet. He's yelling at me about he wants to go in the hallway. Anyways, pick your skincare, stick with it. I don't think it needs to be complicated. Um I have a link on my website, MarcyBacchusmedia.com, for um what I use. It's Dragonfly Botanicals. I found them when I was in Golden, Colorado. They run great deals. They have great skincare. They have, I use a product that has magnesium in it, a magnesium cream that I rub on the bottom of my feet. I sleep great since I've been using that. Um, but their skincare is wonderful. It's what I've been using. I also um was told by a um esthetician years ago, and I do use a lot of things from Trader Joe's. Don't sleep on Trader Joe's skincare. Go in there and read the bottles. You'll get some good stuff. It doesn't have to be expensive. Do you know what it needs to be? It needs to be consistent. Consistent. So a morning routine should be gently cleansing your skin because what comes up, you will be amazed at how dirty your um either your your cotton puff or your washcloth will be from morning what comes out of your skin while you're sleeping. Get your moisturize on there, your sunscreen. That's enough. If you want to do other steps, go ahead. I do love a creamy toner now, a milky toner. I do use that. Um, evening, make sure you get that makeup off. Cleanse that skin, use your treatments, moisturize, done. There is no award for using the most products. And if you're a traveler like me, I'm not taking a laboratory with me when I travel. So I keep it to the basics. And after 40 hydration becomes especially important, skin can become drier. If you're putting any makeup, uh any kind of lumination on your skin, anything, and you're not putting on moisturizer first, ooh, look at the difference. Put on a moisture, then put it on. We've got hormone changes. I'm on an uh estrogen blocker from cancer that I have to be on for five years. If you don't think that's messed up my body, ugh. Weather changes. Just pay attention to your skin and see what it's asking for and make sure you give it. Sometimes it needs moisturizing, sometimes it needs exfoliation. Mine is in desperate need of exfoliation. I haven't had a facial for the last couple weeks. I will see my girl tomorrow. You know, if your face is red, peeling, and angry, it may not be purging. It may be filing a restraining order. Don't make your skin mad. Mad skin is not great. Self-tanners are great. Get that summer glow going. There's one that's out there, um, PETA, by the girl from Dancing with the Stars. I haven't tried it, but it looks amazing. You can just spray it, and even if it goes on your hair, it doesn't color your hair. I don't know. I haven't used it. Um, but a self-tanner is the way to go. Get your skin that summer glow without um without the sun. And remember to wash your palms. Wash in between your fingers. Because nothing says I've made a mistake quite like orange palms. And I will tell you a lot of and I say that orange color, um FYI, uh

Self Tanner For A Safe Glow

SPEAKER_00 25:26

like these new things like Pita Jane, and I've gotten a couple that um I got from actually Walmart, uh a non-name brand one there that work great. They don't make you orange anymore. Last thing we're gonna get into is hair. Don't fight your hair. If you have curly hair, let it go curly. I have um I keep my hair extraordinarily short. I mean, you all know my hair is like a quarter inch long. Um, right now it's longer than that, and I hate it. My gal, I went on vacation, she went on vacation, or I have an appointment next Wednesday. Um, I get my hair cut every six weeks. I like it short. People say, oh, your hair looks so cute a little longer. No, it doesn't. No, no, no, it doesn't, Julie. It really doesn't. Um, so don't fight your hair. Work with it. Look at products that work with your hair in the summertime. Um please don't sit there with a with in the summer with a hot iron and straighten your hair. Work with the waves. Find uh if you have curly hair and you hate it, find with a stylist that understands curly. You may hate, I am a hairdresser, you may hate your curly hair because you don't know how to do it. So here are a few other strategies. Use leave-in conditioner, anti-frizz products. If you have um thin hair, this is not the time to bulk the products on. Don't pull it back in a ponytail, don't fight it. Use a stylish clip, a low ponytail

Hair That Works With Humidity

SPEAKER_00 26:58

can look so chic. A loose bun, braid your hair. Hats are great. Although hats have their own issue. Um, once I put on a hat, I have a commitment because my hair is so short that it mushes it down and it makes marks in it. And when I take the hat off, it can't come off. So, you know, know your audience, know your hair. And I the final thing I just want to talk about, I want to brush in is clothes. Looking effortless in your clothes without looking like you're a hobo. Um, a great white shirt, a crisp, uh white shirts, white jeans, white shorts. I don't care your size. Don't tell me you have to wear all black because you're heavy. Bullshit. Put the white shorts on, put the white jeans on. Look, crisp, roll up your sleeves, add a nice earring. I always add an earring. If I'm wearing something that is like a two nick length, I always wear a long necklace to bring your eye down. Um less is more, and I'm finding that in my fashion period. Less is more. Another thing, um, I love linen. I don't care that it's wrinkled, it's cool, it's classic, it looks expensive. And you know what? Even if it's wrinkled, it looks expensive. It's not wrinkled, it's European. Dresses are fabulous. Skirts, if you don't want to wear shirts, wear shorts, excuse me, wear skirts. Wear skirts. And if you're gonna wear a capri, get it to hit you right. Not all cre uh capris are created equal. I'm here to tell you, look in the mirror if it's breaking up your length, it's if you're short, you gotta be careful. I'm tall, I've gotta be careful. Where do they hit me? Do they hit me in the right spot? Are they the type of capris that I like now? I like a little soft flowing capri. I don't want to wear the tight stuff anymore. Remember. And I will tell you, do not sleep on jockeys um bike shorts. They're not they're not made to make you look thinner. They're meant to make you look cool to keep you cool and your thighs from rubbing together, ladies. All right, shoes, shoes, shoes. Shoes are everything.

Effortless Summer Clothes And Shoes

SPEAKER_00 29:22

And unfortunately, my favorite fashionable sandal that from Rika that I can walk around the city in that is comfortable have been discontinued. I have it in silver, gold, and black, and I'm going to have to. The good news is I live in Chicago now, so my sandals are only worn for a couple months. In California, I'd wore them 12 months out of the year. So I should get a little bit longer out of them. Find a shoe you love, get it in every color to accentuate what you're wearing. You don't need to have 20 different pairs of shoes. I say that while I have a closet full of shoes, but I don't wear them. I honestly wear those three Rika sandals. I love them, and I'm so sad they discontinued them. Well, this episode is longer than my usual episodes. I've been talking an awful lot, and you're probably pretty sick of me. But just remember what it is, what all of this is, is basically making yourself comfortable, making yourself happy. The most confident woman isn't wearing the most expensive clothes and makeup. She's the woman that's wearing what makes her feels good. So this week's challenge for you is choose one small thing that makes you feel fresh, confident, and cared for. Not something you think you should do, something you actually like. Maybe it's buying a new lipstick, cleaning out your makeup drawer, and just having in there what you use. I've done that. All the other crap is gone. Finding a sunscreen new life, getting a pedicure, wearing a bright color on your toes, keeping everything else neutral, trying something new with your hair, letting your hair go with the flow. You'll find when you wear your hair the way it's meant to be worn and you find the style that suits your hair, you will get more compliments. I get compliments on my hair all the time. And it's because I don't fight it. Do I like longer hair? Yes. Did I wear a wig every once in a while? Yes. Would I like to? Yes. But I will tell you, when my hair is cropped, freshly colored, I get more compliments on my hair in the city than anything else. Summer beauty is not about looking flawless. Nobody looks flawless in 90 degree heat. Summer beauty is about feeling comfortable in your own skin. It's about making things a little easier, using fewer products. And I think you can do that all year long. We'll talk about it in the fall. Wearing clothes that move, letting your hair do what it wants every once in a while, and finding out that people will really love that. Protect your skin. You are not a before picture. You are not an age category. You are not invisible. You are living, changing, an interesting human being who is still allowed to have fun with beauty. If your hair frizzes, your mascara smudges, and your self-tanner goes wrong, put on sunglasses, add lipstick, throw on some earrings, and call it a look. I want to always thank you for spending time with me on Inside Marcy's Mind. If this episode made you laugh, if it made you feel seen, or made you want to clean out your makeup drawer, share it with a friend. You can always follow the show, leave a review or join me for more conversations about strange, funny, and wonderful parts about life. Pretty much after 40. Until next time, take care of yourself, wear the good perfume, and remember, looking fresh is wonderful, but feeling alive is even better.