A U.S. Air Force veteran has created a lifestyle and beauty platform that is helping women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond look and feel their best.
Dawn Pfingsten created Just Doing My Best to build a positive community where mature women can embrace confidence through simple, affordable makeup tips and elevated casual style.
“I believe some women pave the way easily, while others of us, myself included, need to see someone else do something before they can see themselves doing it,” she said. “I want to share simple tips and show women how easy it can be to look and feel your best.”
Pfingsten said she knew nothing about the military before enlisting in the Air National Guard two days before graduating from high school.
“When I was a senior in high school, I worked at a department store - similar to Walmart - after school with friends from school who were a year older,” she said. “They joined the National Guard. After hearing their experience, I decided I wanted to try it. A friend and I went to see a recruiter. She and I both enlisted in the Air National Guard.”
Pfingsten said it was during Basic Training and Technical School for Personnel that she realized not everyone in the world lived in her hometown of Toledo, Ohio.
“As soon as I came back to my National Guard unit, I asked about active duty,” she said. “After one year in the National Guard in Ohio, I left for my first duty station in Indiana. I worked in the base personnel office. I also served on the Honor Guard.”
Pfingsten was also stationed in Japan and Mississippi during her nine years in the Air Force.
“In the military, I loved seeing women succeed and grow in their positions and careers,” she said.
Pfingsten went into direct sales after she left the military, which she said gave her the confidence to grow and stretch beyond her abilities.
“From the USAF to direct sales and now starting a blog and YouTube channel, helping women while being a friend to them is important to me,” she explained.
Women over 40 and 50 often feel like makeup and style are out of reach now that they are older or have put on some menopausal weight, Pfingsten said.
“I want women to know they can be stylish and feel beautiful in their makeup and clothing,” she said. “We just need to adjust a bit for the body and skin we have now.”
Small adjustments can make a huge difference in the way women see themselves during midlife, continued Pfingsten.
“We can definitely wear current trends and makeup,” she said. “We don’t have to participate in every trend. I certainly don’t. Pick and choose. Decide what works for you and make it your own. I’m often inspired by women over 50. I see how they do it and choose how it can work for me.”
You can find JustDoingMyBest on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
“Beauty doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive,” Pfingsten said.
Julia LeDoux can be reached at Julia@connectingvets.com.