As we age, our skin loses some of its vitality, resilience, and healthy glow. From our 50s and beyond, our skin thins, becomes drier, develops fine lines and wrinkles, and loses elasticity, firmness, and volume, as well as changes in tone and texture.
This may sound very “doom and gloom,” but the silver lining to aging is gaining the ability to embrace changes and earn life experiences. However, there are some steps we can take to prolong, camouflage, or—in some cases—even reverse these physical signs of aging.
We all want to look and feel our best, and it is amazing what a little makeup, a good hair day, or the right outfit can do to boost confidence. Our tastes and styles also tend to evolve to suit our current stage of life. Most of us are not strolling the streets in the same trendy fashions from our youth, and this applies to makeup as well.
If you’re still using the same makeup products, techniques, and colors for the better part of a decade or more, it might be time to change your routine and freshen up your. Many of us get stuck in makeup routines that once worked but are now dated or age-inappropriate. But, with a few simple tweaks and product updates, you can be feeling more gorgeous and confident in the skin you’re in today.
There are plenty of ways to improve the skin’s appearance prior to reaching for a makeup brush or sponge. A good skincare routine and healthy lifestyle go a long way to stave off Father Time. Taking good care of your skin will keep it healthier, more even-toned, firmer, and evenly textured, which means makeup applies smoother with less needed to conceal imperfections.
One important step is to moisturize religiously, both in the morning before makeup and again at night before bed. Hydrated skin is more radiant, resilient, and plump, allowing makeup to glide on and adhere to a smoother “canvas.”
Exfoliating regularly is another way to keep skin soft and smooth. It removes the dead skin cells on the surface and should be done up to twice a week, depending on the skin type and exfoliating method. Dryer skin types may want to start with once a week to see how skin responds and work up to twice a week, whereas oiler skin typically benefits from at least two to three exfoliation sessions per week.
Also, always remove all makeup before bed. Use a daily sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 after using serums and moisturizers but before makeup. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and get the proper eight hours of sleep each night.
These steps alone will result in a huge improvement to your complexion.
Makeup Tips, Techniques & Products
As well as proper skincare, those with mature skin can also update their makeup routine to achieve beautiful, age-defying looks and the well-deserved confidence that comes with them.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
The older we get, our skin produces less sebum (natural oils) and retains less moisture, making it dryer. The first step in any makeup routine should be to start with a good moisturizer.
Hydrating the skin plumps and smooths it, allowing makeup to glide over fine lines, wrinkles, and rough textures while also minimizing their appearance.
Sunday Riley Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream is a deeply moisturizing, lightweight cream packed with humectants like hyaluronic acid and coconut extract that plump and hydrate. Antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract fights free radicals as squalane and ceramides lock in those benefits by strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream is an anti-aging moisturizing cream that boosts collagen and plumps the skin while reducing wrinkles. Key ingredients include bionymph peptides to smooth and plump, vitamins C and E to brighten and even tone, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, aloe vera to calm and soothe, and shea butter to nourish and soften.
Always Use a Primer
Always use a hydrating primer to prep and plump the skin before applying foundation. Primers are especially beneficial to older skin types as they prevent makeup products from settling into fine lines and wrinkles.
Primers also prolong the wear of makeup. Many are infused with illuminating and hydrating benefits which are great for more mature skin.
Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Face Primer creates younger-looking and smoother, super-hydrated skin. Peptides and hyaluronic acid smooth and plump while florescent core light diffusers produce a soft-focus effect to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps makeup apply with a smooth, dewy, and fresh finish.
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch has a light, melting texture that instantly conceals lines, pores, and imperfections. Acacia micro-pearls refine the skin’s texture while filling in lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E also protects the skin from free-radical damage.
There are also primers specifically designed for the eyelids and lips before shadows and lipsticks. They are effective at keeping color in place, prolonging makeup wear, and preventing color bleeding, creasing, or smudging.
Find Luminous or Radiant Foundations
Unlike powder formulas, liquid and cream foundations with medium or full coverage prevent buildup from settling into fine lines or dry patches. A foundation with hydrating ingredients and a dewy finish will also be more flattering on older skin rather than a matte finish.
As with all makeup products used on mature skin, less is more, so you want to apply everything in thin layers and build where necessary. Start in the center of the face around the nose where most discoloration occurs and blend out toward the hair and jawline using a flat, fluffy brush or damp beauty sponge. Using the proper tools to apply makeup and fully blending can have a huge impact on the final results.
NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation has a lightweight texture and provides 16 hours of fade-proof coverage that easily conceals discoloration, redness, and dark spots. An antioxidant-rich blend of raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts support the skin’s elasticity and improve its texture.
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Foundation Balm helps blur the appearance of pores and fine lines while evening the skin’s tone. It provides natural, buildable coverage that dries to a velvety, powdery texture and is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and antioxidant-rich vitamin E. It also includes a specially-designed brush for flawless application.
If you haven’t tried KROMA’s foundations yet, they are a must. KROMA Foundations have been used in swimsuit catalogs and at celebrity events before the “natural look” reached today’s prime. Made in Florida, these foundations are known to withstand heat and other conditions, plus these non-clogging cosmetics have been spa-approved and doctor-recommended for two decades!
You may want to consider using a BB cream or CC cream rather than a foundation as well. Both are ideal for mature skin as they provide lighter coverage and are typically loaded with skincare and hydrating ingredients.
CC creams generally have more coverage than BB creams, but it varies from brand to brand, so be sure to diligently read the labels and ingredients to choose the correct one for your needs.
Pause the Powder
The days of a full matte, no-shine complexion are gone. Today, a fresh, natural sheen is considered a healthy “glow.” This is especially true of older skin, as too much powder can make makeup look cakey or settle into fine lines and creases.
It’s ok to use a little setting powder to cut excess shine, just use it minimally and only where needed. Typically, this means on the eyelids to prevent creasing or lightly dusting over the t-zone. Just be sure to choose a very finely milled powder so it melts seamlessly into the skin rather than sitting on top.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a cult favorite that sets and maintains makeup color with 24 hours of shine control. The soft-focus finish is breathable, has a smoothing effect, and instantly blurs imperfections. Vitamin C and E powders help even skin tone over time, and the ultra-finely-milled texture melds with the skin for an undetectable finish.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder has finely milled pigments that brighten the complexion while preventing excess shine. Soft-focus powders from nano-particles smooth and blur the appearance of pores, fine lines, and imperfections as rose wax and almond oil hydrate and smooth the skin. Light-reflecting ingredients also diffuse light to deliver a luminous, even complexion all day.
Use Concealer Sparingly
The delicate undereye area is one of the first places on the face to show age. The skin is thinner and less able to retain moisture which causes fine lines, bags, and discoloration. The constant movement of our eyes wears the elasticity of skin sooner in this area as well. This is where a good concealer can work wonders. If you apply concealer after your base is applied, you will use less because the base will provide a certain level of color correcting and you will be able to determine exactly where more coverage is needed. Always use a good brush when applying and blending concealer as the warmth of your fingers will lift some of the product as you blend, causing you to potentially use too much. Start in the lower inner corner of the eye where most discoloration appears and blend outward in light layers only where concealment or brightening is needed. Choose a rich creamy or liquid formula with hydrating and brightening ingredients. These concealers are excellent choices for mature skin:
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer is waterproof with a smooth, creamy texture that delivers highly-pigmented full coverage to effortlessly conceal dark eye circles, redness, age spots, and broken capillaries for up to 24 hours. Infused with anti-aging peptides, hydrolyzed collagen, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, this concealer won’t crease or crack.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen instantly brightens, smooths, and perfects skin with a natural, luminous finish. Light-infused pigments blend seamlessly for a healthy, natural glow, and the creamy texture has medium buildable coverage that glides over fine lines without catching.
This convenient pen design with a built-in brush makes for mess-free precision placement. Use it to lighten the inner corners of the eyes for a pop of bright-eyed radiance.
Opt for Cream or Liquid Blushes and Eyeshadows
Cream or liquid-based products perform better on mature skin as it’s typically drier and less elastic. This applies not just to foundation and concealer, but also to blush and eyeshadows.
Blush is one of the easiest ways to add radiance and a youthful glow to your complexion. Cream and liquid blushes won’t stick to dry patches or accentuate creases the way powder can. Application is as simple as placing the blush on the upper apple of the cheeks and blending up and out to achieve a natural seamless flush.
Stila Convertible Color brightens the cheeks with a natural, radiant fresh burst of sheer, buildable color. A soothing, nourishing beeswax base along with other hydrating ingredients blend seamlessly into the skin to create a gorgeous glow.
NARS Liquid Blush effortlessly glides onto the skin for a long-lasting, natural-looking glow. Use anywhere from one drop to a full pump to build and layer intensity. Monoi and tamanu oils provide extra moisture and resilience.
For extra radiance, lightly apply a highlighter pen above your blush and blend. I like to use the Burberry Fresh Glow Highlighting Pen and MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter.
As for eyeshadow, the colors and textures you once used in your 20s and 30s don’t perform or yield the same results in your 50s and beyond. I find lighter, more natural colors in matte or subtle shimmer finishes to be most flattering on mature skin.
Try to avoid very dark or extremely bright colors, as well as glitter or metallics that can settle into fine lines or creases, drawing attention to them. However, darker colors are great for adding depth and definition to the outer corners of the eyes and—when blended well—really make them pop. Today there are many options of cream and liquid eyeshadows to choose between.
Fill in Your Brows
Well-groomed, shaped, and defined eyebrows add youth to the face like no other feature. They frame the face and compliment the eyes.
As we age, brows get thinner, sparser, and begin to gray. Over-plucking or waxing also doesn’t allow the hairs to grow back the same. Therefore, a little extra attention to brows can really make a huge improvement to your overall makeup look.
The goal should be to maintain your brows’ natural shape, not to completely reshape and draw on new ones. Subtle refinements make a big difference; it’s ok to go slightly outside the natural parameters of your eyebrows to thicken just a bit.
It’s best to use a pencil in light, hair-like strokes to fill in and shape brows, followed by a gel to groom and keep them in place. Tinted gels will give you a little extra volume and color, whereas a clear gel is for styling and setting only.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz is an ultra-slim, retractable pencil that’s ideal for filling and detailing. The waxy formula adds texture to create the appearance of fuller-looking brows. Use the spoolie end to blend for a natural-looking finish.
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil has a retractable, no-sharpen tip to define and fill, as well as a spoolie end to brush into place and soften. The rich, blendable color is waterproof and lasts for 12 hours.
Benefit Gimme Brow + Volumizing Eyebrow Gel volumizes, tames, and tints brows. It’s natural-looking and buildable as well as water-resistant and long-wearing.
Define Your Eyes
With age, the skin on our eyelids begins to loosen, wrinkle, and can become hooded. This makes it more difficult to line the eyes as they are not as taught and firm as they once were, and liners don’t glide over them with the same ease.
For this reason, I find it easiest to line mature eyes with a gel liner as opposed to a liquid, which can be thick and messy, or a traditional pencil, which can be dry and drag on the skin. Gel liners are softer and easier to apply on older skin and many are waterproof.
I find black can also be too harsh, but softer colors like bronze, slate, navy, and green work better while still giving the eyes a pop. Apply a thin, tight line as close to the upper and lower lash lines as possible for more natural definition. Gel liners can also easily be smudged to give a diffused, smokey effect.
Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eyeliner delivers richly-pigmented color and precision lining with up to 12 hours of water-resistant wear. The self-sharpening design lets you apply on the go, while the lightweight, creamy texture won’t pull, tug, smudge, or fade.
Make Up For Ever Aqua Resist Color Pencil pairs a liquid liner’s color intensity with a pencil’s functionality. It glides on and won’t smudge or transfer for up to 24 hours. This waterproof pencil is safe to use on the waterline, has both matte and pearly finishes, and uses a twist-up design to ensure the tip will never dull.
Eyelashes also become thinner and sparser with age. One of the most effective ways to get them noticed and open up your eyes is to curl them. Curl just one eye and compare the two: The difference is undeniable.
You can also try lightly heating the curler under a hairdryer for 5–10 seconds to help set the curl in your lashes. Two of the best eyelash curlers on the market are Kevyn Aucoin Beauty’s The Eyelash Curler and Tweezerman’s Procurl Eyelash Curler. Both are easily maneuverable and do a great job of grasping all the lashes without pulling them out when released.
When it comes to mascara, those with more mature skin want to look for a thickening and volumizing formula with conditioning ingredients. One that is water-resistant to prevent smudging is always a good idea as well, especially for hooded eyes.
Black mascara is the best option to go with. It gives more definition and volume, and the contrast will make the whites of the eyes look whiter, bright-eyed, and youthful.
Lancôme Hypnose Volume-a-Porter Mascara turns barely-there lashes thick and dramatic from root to tip with six times the volume. The buildable formula is enriched with vitamin B5. It also won’t smudge, smear, or clump, and it comes in a waterproof version as well.
Loreal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara is an affordable option that not only saturates lashes in rich color but adds length and volume. It also does not clump, flake, or smudge, and the wand brush is designed to fan and spread lashes out. It also comes in a waterproof formula.
For even more drama, use an eyelash primer like Covergirl’s Lash Blast Amplify Eyelash Primer before mascara for even more volume and staying power.
Plump Your Lips
Lips become drier, thinner, and less full over time, and they develop vertical lines around them as we get older. The easiest and most effective way to combat this and create a fuller-looking pout is with a good gloss.
The reflective shine finish of a gloss bounces light to give the illusion of plumper lips. Glosses also tend to have a “wetter” texture that helps keep lips soft, supple, and moisturized. Look for hydrating and plumping ingredients whenever possible.
Lighter colors also make the mouth appear larger, as opposed to darker colors which can appear harsh on mature lips.
Laura Mercier Lip Glace is a shiny gloss that wears with the comfort of a balm and delivers up to 24 hours of moisture to the lips. This long-wear non-sticky formula offers a blend of antioxidant-rich hydrating, anti-aging, and plumping ingredients that apply smoothly without feathering or bleeding. It applies with sheer medium coverage and shimmer or satin finishes.
Stila Plumping Lip Glaze uses a high-shine formula that plumps and hydrates for a fuller, softer pout. It features 1.0% of the MAXI-LIP plumping complex to plump lips from the inside out. Over time, this Plumping Lip Glaze causes the lips to become more firm, smooth, defined, and hydrated.
Lining the lips is another effective way to create fullness and youth.
Choose a neutral color that is one or two shades darker than your natural lip tone and apply to just barely outside your lip line. You can then fill in halfway to create an ombre effect, all the way for more drama, or not at all to create a crisp border that helps prevent feathering and bleeding. The MAC Lip Pencil and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil are both ideal for mature lips.
If you prefer to use lipstick, you want to choose one that makes mature lips look as full as possible.
Try a neutral color a few shades darker than your lips (darker shades work well with darker skin tones). Avoid matte finishes and instead opt for creamy and satin formulas with some sheen.
Also, seek hydrating and anti-aging ingredients. Exfoliate the lips regularly to slough off dead skin and keep them hydrated and smooth. Try applying concealer to lips followed by a layer of lip balm prior to lipstick application to provide extra staying power, show truer color, and lock in moisture.
Lock in Your Look with a Hydrating Setting Spray
As the skin ages, makeup doesn’t adhere to it the same and may fade faster or settle into fine lines. After all the effort of painting a flawless face, the last thing you want is for it to not last.
Instead of setting makeup with powder, try a good hydrating makeup setting spray. This will not only lock in your look and keep it in place all day but will also give your complexion a fresh, dewy radiance. The Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist and MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ are both up for this task.
Aging is a beautiful thing that should be celebrated. With it comes wisdom, experience, and a unique beauty unto itself. Being open to updating your makeup look to suit your current appearance doesn’t mean that there are hard and fast rules you must follow.
These are just a few recommendations that have worked for me with older clients over the years. Hopefully, some of them work for you as well, but ultimately, you must be comfortable and confident in your own skin.
Whatever gives you that extra boost of confidence, just remember, nobody does you like you do you!
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
