Sandy has lived in Ecuador for 9.5 years. We happen to live in the same neighborhood and met one day as I was headed to buy some vegetables at the local tienda (store). Her cute little Shih Tzu ran up to me, jumping up and down as if I were an old friend. As a retired executive assistant married for almost 50 years, Sandy doesn’t wear makeup because she has felt that makeup will only make her hooded lids look heavier. To a certain extent, she is correct. When you apply makeup to mature hooded eyes, it’s important to work at it slowly so that you don’t overdo it, adding just enough to make your ..read more

As I look out of my bedroom window over the orange and brown tiled roof of my landlady’s house, the tiles look like they are covered in snow. But they can’t be; its 55 degrees and the sun is setting over Cuenca, Ecuador. Tomorrow I leave. I don’t want to leave, mind you, it’s just that my dad’s dementia has taken a turn for the worst as has his ever-increasing blindness. My mom is exhausted in her roll of caretaker, and my sister is frustrated at a life lived dashing between responsibilities. I came to Ecuador to rest, maybe even to run away. But duty calls. Duty vs Self Not that my dad is a d ..read more

Janice retired to Ecuador a few years ago along with her two twin brothers. A happy bunch that I had the good fortune to meet and become friends with. Janice reminds me of a gleeful fairy spreading joy-dust wherever she goes which, thankfully, included my film studio. All her life, Janice has lived by the theme that if it’s not fun, don’t do it. Couple that mindset with a smokey eye, silver glitter shadow, lip gloss, and fluffed-up curly hair, and you have our video tutorial for today! With that in mind, these five steps to glamour are so easy to implement as well as to shave off a few years ..read more

by Suzanne Blons The Beauty Shaman Diving into the world of topical vitamin C serums is like stepping into a buzzing beehive of anti-aging magic for your skin. Picture this: you’re on a mission to find the perfect vitamin C serum to turn back the hands of time and restore your skin’s youthful glow. But as you scan the shelves packed with promising bottles and try to decode the jargon spouted by eager salespeople, the overwhelm sets in like a stubborn cloud on a summer day. You can practically hear your skin whispering, “Help! How do I choose the real deal from the imposters? How do I make sur ..read more

As the years pass by, our eyes often take on a more deep-set appearance, presenting a unique challenge when it comes to makeup application. The question arises: How can we enhance the beauty of deep-set eyes with makeup that is not only effective but also easy on the pocket? Fear not, for I bring you four foolproof strategies that promise to revolutionize your makeup routine in one fell swoop. 1. Sculpt Your Eyebrows The transformative power of well-defined eyebrows cannot be overstated. Your brows serve as the frame for your eyes, accentuating their depth and allure.  Unsure about the p ..read more

Every year, Pantone arrives at a color that (in their opinion) best represents the upcoming year. Because our world is on a hamster-wheel of perpetual turmoil, Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, has declared Peach Fuzz to be the color we all need to calm us the heck down, mellow us out, and make us forget all the nonsense. I’m not sure this will work. Here is her statement:  “In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offe ..read more

Tamara is a retired Environmental Protection Policy and Operations professional, and moved to Ecuador about 7 years ago. In her male dominated career, she felt it best to maintain a buttoned-up look with short hair and little makeup. Many of you can relate. To be taken seriously, many of us have had to minimize our penchant for glamour and stick to more conservative leanings. With her retirement and move to Ecuador, Tamara decided to let her hair grow and wear fuchsia! With that in mind, our makeover included a little glitter, eyeliner, and big hair which brought out her newly mined feminine a ..read more