When wearing makeup becomes important

How wonderful to have White hair, mine is seriously S&P. Have a look at Look Fabulous Forever for hints and tips on enhancing without looking dressed as lamb. Go for it!

Only/always lipstick. Don't know about the looks but certainly makes me feel better and that'll do for me every time.

As long as it makes you feel good that's all that matters .

Thanks, everyone for your encouraging comments.

MawB Yes, I do have difficulty keeping up with my Italian co mother-in-law and my sisters-in-law! My best to your daughter. I have no sense of smell so perfume is wasted on me.

Suki70 I agree LFF give really give advice and I use their products but more now than before.

winterwhite primers are colourless but a light beauty balm plus blusher will give you a lift.

dahlia I do wear lipstick but it disappears almost instantly, no matter what I do.

Am thinking of trying some products specially for white hair that are supposed to make it look better but have read that they can be very drying. As my scalp problem already makes my fine and it breaks easily, this might be risky.

One of my friends, late 60s, usually wears very subtle makeup. I saw her one day this week and she looked so tired and older - she hadn't had the time to put her 'face' on. So it does seem to have an effect on how others see us, their reaction and in turn our mood.
If you see what I mean.
Personally I don't wear makeup now - too old at nearly 84.

winterwhite Try using a tinted moisturiser or mix a little moisturiser with an ordinary foundation to make it thinner. I too am very pale, so much so that a work colleague once begged me to use some self tan as my pale face was worrying her! Now my hair is white, a tinted moisturiser and blusher give me some colour.

Have your brows and lashes tinted. It's so much less hassle. I am often mistaken for being 10-20 years younger that I really am.

I only ever bothered with makeup when I was a teenager, and only then if going out in the evening. Oddly enough I have had comments about why don't I dye my hair to make me look younger but no one seems to have latched on to my lack of makeup!

I never leave the house without make up. But that isn't really a good thing. It's a habit I have, and I feel hideous without it. I would love not to care, and just get up and go out.

I find being grey gives you more options. I use a fair foundation or primer, then add colour with blusher. Eye shadow and mascara are a must, but again it's possible to ring the changes. The real difference is lipstick: I use anything from pale pink to deep carmine, depending on my mood. And I'm lucky enough to have kept colour in my eyebrows, though they are steadily getting out of control - more Dennis Healey than anything if I don't tend them regularly! I have been struck down with a horrid virus for weeks, and feel much better when I make the effort to apply the make-up.

Hi, guilia, I don't wear make up if not going out...but do when going out or if we are having a family gathering.

It makes me feel and look healthier. I also colour my hair red and will defo not let it go grey. I believe it adds years.

I`m 67 and will NOT grow old gracefully!

Thank you for this thread, Giulia, this is my dilemma too. I’m bad at choosing foundation shades myself, but often don’t like what people on beauty counters recommend. I know I look pale at the best of times and fear looking totally washed out with grey hair. But because of a greater fear of looking conspicuous with unaccustomed make up, I shuffle around using any old thing I find in the drawer. Might primer on its own or with blusher help? Less to go wrong.

I definitely look better with makeup. Trouble is cba-ness has kicked in.

Do what you feel right. Personally, I have gone grey (salt and pepper) and just love NOT wearing make-up. So, each to their own.

Anthea, I don’t wear any unless going to a wedding or some occasion. I had to wear it every day for years as I was a front of house receptionist. The freedom of not having to put on the slap every morning is great. Likewise, the tonging of the hair. For those who want to wear it that’s fine, whatever makes you feel good. Just glad I don’t have to join in.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I have never ever worn it but I appreciate that a lot of ladies swear by it

Go for it, watching your face be transformed with a little make up is fun! Tricia Cusdon's Look Fabulous Forever videos illustrate this perfectly. The only time I regret wearing make up is when I go to the GP feeling ill and she says, "Hello, you're looking well".

Everyone must do what is good for them, I remember years ago a workmate older than me used a bit of everything and I thought she looked awful, I'm now the same age and always remember her and don't wear more than a bit of lippy!!!!

I always wear make up, perfume, do my hair, try to dress nicely every day, even if I am only staying in. It makes me feel better, more prepared to face the day. I wouldn't go out without my make up on, etc. wouldn't want to look scruffy, as if I couldn't care less about myself

Only slightly off topic, but still to do with “feeling good”.

Perfume- even at home alone, or shopping or “out out”
Why not- reaching our age should mean doing things for ourselves, not to attract or impress anybody, but because we like it.

A subtle amount of blusher and a flattering lipstick may help. What about some pretty earrings and a scarf to add colour?

Some of these fancy make-up ladies at Boots, etc do demonstrations which might point you in the right direction. Good luck.

I softened my makeup when I decided to go grey. Experiment.

If you look good you feel good. Try a trip to a Department store that does free make up sessions they will make advise you on the colours that compliment you new hair colour.

I can't remember the last time I wore make-up but I didn't wear it much when I was younger either. This might be a reaction to my sister who won't bring the milk in unless she's 'got her face on'. I think she feels insecure without it.

I have changed my style a fair bit now I'm older though. I chose my clothes on how practical they were for work. Now I please myself. Scarves are my make-up, I suppose. Today I have a long floaty one (two metres long) with a bird and feather print in shades of blue that tones well with what I'm wearing.