Given the heat of summer and the masks that likely now cover parts of your face, what’s happened to your make-up routine? Have you totally abandoned your cosmetic case or have you shifted to just focusing on your eyes? Are you now a minimalist or maximalist when it comes to make-up? Of course, there’s no one right answer, but it’s interesting to see what trends are out there.

First up, consider the ideas of blogger Alyson Walsh, creator of That’s Not My Age, who just revealed her pandemic products for face and hair. Declaring that she’s gone from “barely there” to “rarely there,” Alyson divulged her list of minimalist products to accompany her evolving ethos of less makeup is really more. From tinted lip balms to light moisturizers, find out her beauty secrets by clicking here. And further down this minimalist path, you may find the allure of do-it-yourself skincare products made from your garden bounty to be your new cosmetics find. Harkening back to centuries-old formulas from honey or blueberries (and now selling at Whole Foods) you’ll find there’s a new industry of creative make-up and skincare solutions from your kitchen and garden. So pull out your gardening shears and read more here.

At the other extreme are women who have decided the smudges from their masks are wreaking havoc with their make-up and thus have turned to semi-permanent cosmetic procedures to line their eyes, fill in their brows or tint their lips without the daily drudgery of re-doing everything. These may be expensive and invasive options, but perhaps the best chance of keeping your look fresh and smudge-free no matter how many times you put on and take off your mask.

Finally, despite the times, there’s still some fresh advice for those who are more “traditional,” ie, looking for your best new cosmetics counter concealer or cleanser. For example, the website Well & Good recently featured the advice of a 72-year-old celebrity make-up artist (Sandy Linter) who shares tips and tricks for older women in search of the best foundations and concealers. Also recently featured was 61-year-old New York dermatologist Dr. Diane Berson who reveals the 10 recommended products she herself uses to keep her skin moist and resilient despite the challenges of aging along with the pandemic. But on the other end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for budget-friendly products to take you through the long-term, you may want to heed the advice of 89-year-old Anita Marshall, whose gorgeous skin has never been “botoxed” or filled, and whose go-to products include drug-store witch hazel, spoons kept in the freezer and an inexpensive “buff puff” for exfoliation and glow. And while she does throw some expensive products into the mix, her most cost-effective beauty strategy may be keeping a positive attitude and smiling- something else to try in these challenging times!