Makeup After 60? Always, Sometimes, Never?
As a woman over 60, how do you feel about wearing makeup? Does it give you a lift and you wear it everyday, and wouldn’t dream of going out the front door without it? Or perhaps you just wear it for special occasions like parties, weddings, going out to dinner, etc.? Or maybe you never wear make up any more (or never did)? Perhaps you can’t be bothered, or feel it doesn’t look right on older skin?
Skincare
Most women over 60 I speak to think skincare is more important and would rather put their money and time into keeping their skin hydrated and looking as good as it can be. I can still recall my teenage years of putting Ambre Solaire oil all over my body, and basking in the sun until I fried!
Now, of course, I am much more careful and recently found a sunscreen that really works for me. It’s a bit expensive to buy, but I bought it at the airport and, so far, it has lasted me six months of travel in hot countries, without even a red face.
I also use a retinol cream I buy in Spain. I don’t think it is available over the counter in the UK. Other than that, it’s good old-fashioned Nivea. :)
Foundations
Oh, my goodness, does anyone else remember Pan Stick? It was a stick of foundation in a thick block. You twiddled the knob and up would pop a claggy lump. I would like to say it glided beautifully over my skin, but even with the gorgeous fresh skin of youth, I know it clumped together, a little bit like a weak cement mixture!
Now I give foundations a wide berth. They only fill my wrinkles up anyway (no wonder I used to use so much!) and then crack when I smile. I think I will stick with just a tiny bit of concealer, if I bother at all.
Have you found one that you like? Or maybe you are one of the lucky (un-fried) ones who have perfect porcelain skin!
Mascara
Being a blonde (ok a greyish blonde!) my eyelashes need a little something or they just disappear. Thankfully, they are still reasonably thick and quite long, so a smidgen of mascara goes a long way.
How many of you can remember sticking false eyelashes on (mine often looked a little like dead spiders at the end of the night!). What were we thinking of? Now, young people seem to be wearing eyelashes so thick they can barely open their eyes! How do they see where they are going? I’ve got enough trouble with my eyesight as it is, thanks!
Lipstick
How I used to love lipstick! The brighter the better! But that was when I had plump, luscious lips. Where did they go? Now they seem to have shrunk to half the width and instead of thick bow-shaped voluptuous lips, I have two thin straight lines that seem to droop down at the edges, rather than smile upwards.
For me, the only thing they get is a nude lip gloss (on high days and holidays) but mostly vaseline!
A Little Rouge?
I have recently been introduced to something I think we used to call rouge, but now seems to be called bronzer. It is amazing! I use the teeny-tiniest amount, and it completely transforms my face. It is so fine it doesn’t even go in my wrinkles, just gives me a lovely holiday glow.
I haven’t told anyone I use it, but every time I do, someone says to me, “You look well.”
I’ll take that. :)
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
But, you know, the real beauty is the one inside us. I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but I think it’s true. If you look at photos of really old people, not spring chickens like us, you can see so much beauty and radiance in their faces. It’s as if their wisdom, experiences and love shine through, and the best bit is, us, young ones, have still got all that to come!
For now, think about what is in your heart and your soul. If what you find in there is beautiful, then so are you. Your skin may never have that dewy look of youth again, your eyelashes may be a bit sparse, you may be lucky enough to have those lost hairs on your eyebrows not sprout on your chin, but you are gorgeous just the way you are. It’s as simple as that!
Let’s Start a Conversation:
How do you feel about make up? Does it change how you feel when you have it on? Is make up best left for young skin?
Morning !
Right you are about makeup! I’m 73 cough cough…..my skin still breaks out! So coverup good! No overall makeup…but use a tented moisturizer to help. Have yet to bronze. Right powder can make wrinkles stand out, no thankyou.
The other same and different is never lipstick, but lip liner closest to your lip color, covering whole lip. Gloss over.
Ease up on eye makeup…consider a tiny smudge of red on eyelids near eyes. Not enough to be noticed, just to look younger again. It’s the subtle difference.
Our current light colored hair is call ‘Icelandic blond’ by my hairdresser!! Easier to go lighter if you always were…. I was getting lighter highlights anyway! Still has some variety….
Do not always wear makeup. While shopping sometimes without, they take your money anyway!
If you are trying on clothes, and the attire looks good without makeup. You’ve got it!
Hi Kathleen, thanks for joining the conversation! What a well informed and knowledgable lady you are! I’m with you on tinted moisturiser. it’s the only thing that works on my skin. And the tiny smudge on your eyelids, perfect! Less is more as they say :) Lily x
Another Jane, and I’m 72. I cannot imaging leaving my house without makeup. I still work full-time so that may be part of it. I so long for “salt & pepper” hair so I can get very dark purple highlights (I saw on a lady once and they were spectacular), but alas I only have about 20% gray so I just stick with dying my hair, and my eyebrows. Vanity is a fun thing!
Hi Jane, thanks for joining the conversation. You are so lucky to have such little grey, but dark purple sounds rather fabulous!! Lily x
I have never liked make up. It’s a rare occasion that I wear some lipstick. I like nothing around my eyes. I think I have saved alot of money. When my Mom was alive she couldn’t go anywhere without her makeup.
Hi,thanks for joining the conversation. I imagine you have saved a real lot of money! I don’t even want to think how much I have spent over the years :) Lily x
I wear a tinted serum because I have always thought foundation was too much for me, it has always felt heavy. I had very oily, acne prone skin until my late 40s, even went through two bouts of Accutane. So my skin, even at 70, has never been dry. I wear a light blush, and yes, eye makeup, although the way I put it on has changed a lot over the years and is much lighter and smudged out in a light smokey eye, no black eyeliner for me. I at least wear a balm on my lips, sometimes a pale pink or nude lipstick. My eyebrows are sparse and nearly completely white so I fill them in with a pencil and tinted gel. I haven’t dyed my hair since 2010 so it is salt and pepper.
Hi Farrel, Thanks for joining the conversation. I think its’ a great idea to update your look a little. Love smoky eyes on older ladies, very delicate! Lily x
I’m 62. I have never worn heavy make up so continuing with a softer version of what I’ve always done has been very easy. 15 minutes or less. A tinted CC cream with sunscreen to smooth out, pinkish or peach blush, creaseless concealer from Tarte, and tubing madcara after a lash primer. The only thing I quit wearing really was an eyeshadow with the exception of a light highlighter on my lids to make them pop out a little more. I do still use an eyeliner with a very slight cat eye, but I use brown unless I’m going out dress up and which case it will be black and more dramatic. I have to say I was blessed with great genes (also. Ever smoked or worshipped the sun) and have few wrinkles and no spots and usually pass for at least 10 years younger than I am. I do still color my hair, too.
Hi Tamela, thanks for joining in! You seem to have got a really good routine going, I have never even heard of lash primer! Love the slight cat eye liner. Lily x