Looking and Feeling Our Best!

I work out. I eat well. I take a joint supplement and use a daily moisturizer and serum. Of course, botox is my friend. I do the same things most of you do to look and feel your best. Like my friend Jacquelyn told me while discussing this topic: “I can’t stop aging, but I am hoping to look the best I can for the age I’m at—and that makes me feel better.” That is probably the goal for all of us!

Here, I am not going to address the basics we probably all already use. Instead, I am going to share the products that I have found that have made a clear difference in how I look and feel. I hope that you, if you have the same concerns, might try them with similar results. Likewise, if you have a great product to share, please add your story in the comments section.

Feeling My Best

In June 2023, my sister, Best-Life Co-founder Lauren Briggs, and I were in Miami to visit my Aunt Marita on the occasion of her 100^th birthday. Because we live in different parts of the country, the days we had together were a treat. She’s my big sister, 4 years my senior, so I look to her for guidance—especially on aging. While we were together, I was complaining about some post-menopausal issue. Lauren asked if I was on hormone replacements. I am not and I am resistant to any medication that requires a prescription. She is on bio-identical hormones—which does require a prescription. She advised me to research over-the-counter hormones.

When I came home, I started a search for supplements that address the typical post-menopausal symptoms. I studied and read reviews. I got down to two: SeroVital and Better Body’s probiotic + prebiotic bundle—made up of Provitalize and Previtalize. They each cost about the same, so that wasn’t a determining factor. Ultimately, I went with the Better Body Bundle—primarily because SeroVital’s directions for use didn’t fit how I live my life: “Take 4 capsules with water on an empty stomach, either in the morning two hours before breakfast or two hours after dinner prior to bedtime. [Do not eat two hours before or after taking SeroVital.]”

My main health concerns were being awake in the middle of the night (typically from 2-4); a bloated feeling, lumpy, stomach; and regularity. Thanks to heavy television advertising, I was taking Relaxium to sleep. It did work—though it is pricey and didn’t help any of the other issues (nor was it advertised to). I took Benefiber at night but was still having regularity issues, felt bloated, and had a mildly irritating hemorrhoid.

When I started taking the Better Body Bundle, I quit taking the above products. Within the first month, the changes were so remarkable, I wanted to tell you about them! I now generally sleep through the night—with, maybe, one trip to the bathroom around 2:00 (after which I go back to sleep). I am not sure how this works as I do not take any supplements at night—just the 2 suggested capsules of each bottle, taken in the morning. The regularity issues are gone, as is the hemorrhoid. I no longer feel bloated, and my mid-section doesn’t look so lumpy. The only criticism of the promised benefits: I haven’t lost any apparent weight—though that was not my biggest issue and since taking the Better Body Bundle, I have been paying less attention to my usual low-carb lifestyle. The website advertises the products help with other issues that I do not have; therefore, I cannot attest to their effectiveness.

I was so happy with the Better Body Bundle, I decided to try another product in their collection: Radiancy. They claim Radiancy “helps women achieve dewy, supple skin naturally. By harnessing the power of ‘skin-loving’ probiotics, high grade collagen and cherry blossom extract, Radiancy provides the support women need to nourish their skin naturally from the inside out.” The changes with this product are harder to measure, and I haven’t been on it as long, but I do believe it is making a difference. A month, or so, ago, I was at Walgreens. A woman passed me and turned the corner. She backed up and tipped her head back around the corner and said: “Your complexion is beautiful.” Then, went on her way while I stood there, stunned. When the bottle of Radiancy was low, yes, I reordered.

One other product I tried within the past few weeks is Wellamoon Sleep Patches. I know, if I am using the Better Body Products, why do I need something else? Notice, I said I now generally sleep through the night. Wellamoon, advertised on Facebook, made the price point so attractive I decided to try it. I believe it makes a difference. If sleep is your biggest issue, you might try Wellamoon first.  

Looking My Best

For my entire life, I have struggled with dark circles under my eyes. When I was a child, people would look at me and ask if I was tired. I started trying to cover them up when I was 13. I have tried dozens of products (many of which, eventually, get discontinued) and I’ve gotten very good at covering the circles. (When friends of mine have had a facelift, they come to me to help them cover up the bruising—they know, I know how to do it! What I do is different from what the doctors tell them, but it works better.)

Here’s the plan. After your moisturizer, use a light foundation. The foundation is not what is doing the cover-up. Instead, it is giving you uniform color and provides a “foundation” for the other products. Next use Revlon ColorStay Full Coverage Concealer in a color slightly lighter than your skin. (This concealer is getting hard to find. I fear they are discontinuing it.) Using the applicator, sweep the concealer over the dark skin (under eye or bruise). Gently pat the concealer over the dark skin. Do not try to rub it in. Use your finger, or a brush designed for cream make-up, to remove excess product from the edges. The concealer will be thick. Due to the heavy application, to avoid creasing, you will need to set it with a powder. However, before the powder (not relevant for bruise coverage), I suggest using your powder blush—brushed on while your face is still moist (My personal preference here is Laura Geller Baked Balance-n-Brighten Color Correcting Foundation—which I use as the powder and Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten Marbleized Blush). The blush will probably look a little overdone. Don’t worry, applying powder over both the concealer and the blush will help blend and set both. (I also love Revlon ColorStay Brow Crayon and  the  Ultimate Suede lipstick. Unfortunately, both seem to be discontinued and I can only find them through Amazon.) Frequently, at the end of the day, my makeup still looks so good, I hate to go to bed.

While I am addressing eyes, let’s talk eyelashes. A couple of years ago, a handful of us were on a girl trip. We were hanging out when Jacquelyn brought up eyelashes. Hers are amazing! She’d just received an email for the big 25% off sale for Revitalash. To receive the discount, the total dollars purchased had to be higher than most of us would be willing to spend. Jacquelyn told us about this product. She’d been using it. It was why her eyelashes look so great. At the time, I’d looked in the mirror and begrudgingly acknowledged how stubby my eyelashes were. I’d tried nearly every lash-lengthening mascara and concluded this was as good as it was going to get. At Jacquelyn’s encouragement, we all ordered Revitalash—and got the discount. It took several weeks, but before the first tube ran out, the change was remarkable. We’ve all reordered it again and again. We’ve shared it with others and now, I am sharing it with you. (Revitalash is not available in California. I order it for Lauren and give it to her when we are together.) Recently when we were together, the topic of Revitalash came up. Another friend, who was part of the original purchase, commented that she’d gotten cheap and bought a less expensive lash serum. She reported that it didn’t work.

Speaking of eyelashes, mascara does make a difference. I first discovered the WowCombo Cosmetics My Amazing Lashes Mascara through an ad on Facebook. It cost just slightly more than what I was using at the time, so I decided to try it. It is unbelievable and enhances Revitalash’s work. It is waterproof and doesn’t smear—yet it comes off easily with soap/cleanser and warm water.  

Lastly, if you make this much effort to have great eyes, finish it up with Bausch + Lomb LUMIFY eye drops. You can buy them at Walgreens, Walmart, and many other outlets. You’ll have nice bright eyes instantly and they will stay white all day long.

One More Thing

I have thin, fine hair—which is getting thinner post-menopause (a typical post-menopause symptom). Last year, I was visiting a friend in California who deals with the same concern. She introduced me to It’s a 10 Miracle Blowdry Volumizer. I spray it on my hair while it is wet and then blow dry it. And then style as usual. I get much more fullness and height than I have ever had! Do any of you have a hair-thickening supplement you love?

No, I am not getting any kind of commission from these companies. But I do like to look and feel my best—and, I bet, you do too. These are the specific products that I really like and that have made a noticeable difference in how I look and feel. I hope they will work for you.

Please feel free to offer your response to these products or to share the secrets that make you look and feel your best!

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Marita Littauer Tedder has spent the majority of her adult life working with women—helping them improve relationships, achieve their speaking and writing dreams, and being the best version of themselves they can possibly be. The author of 20 books, this Living Our Best Life Project is her newest effort—through which she hopes to challenge women to be fulfilled where they are.