Makeup for older women - 10 secret tips

Getting older might come with its challenges, but looking good shouldn't be one of them. We've been on a quest to discover the secret to flawless makeup when you're over 50 because, as our skin changes with the years, so too do our beauty needs. With the help of professionals Jane Cunningham (British Beauty Blogger) and Tricia Cusden (Look Fabulous Forever) - and, of course, the wisdom of some glamorous gransnetters - we've compiled the best tips for perfecting your makeup, no matter your age.

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Makeup for older women - the best tips and techniques

1. Start with a primer

2. Choosing the right foundation for mature skin

Once you've primed your skin, you can move on to applying your foundation. A lightweight foundation, BB cream or CC cream will give a more natural look. That said, if you're battling with menopausal sweats, you might want to choose a foundation that will stay put all day.

If you're confused by the difference between them then you're not alone; here's what each product does and how to best use them.

• BB creams

These contain several products in one, such as concealer and SPF, and are great for those who need next to no coverage, as they are primarily for prevention and maintenance. They hydrate and firm skin, protect it from environmental damage and lightly cover blemishes.

• CC creams

CC creams, or 'colour correcting' creams, are a lighter version of foundation while still having more coverage than BB creams. They prime and even out your skin tone, and often have hydrating benefits, making them ideal for mature skin and those concerned with age spots. 

Now you're in the know, your next job is to find the right BB and CC cream for you. 

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream	Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme CC Cream
As recommended by Jane, this BB cream is light, won't settle into lines and provides just enough coverage.	Nourish and revitalize your skin's appearance with CC cream, specially formulated to reduce the signs of ageing.
Buy: Boots, £6.66 (currently on offer)	Buy: Look Fantastic, £49

• Foundations

Foundations are thicker than BB or CC creams and offer more coverage. They cover small imperfections, even skin tone and add a slight warmth to the skin. They also come in a larger variety of shades. 

The heavier your foundation, the more pigment it contains, which is essentially powder. This will make mature skin feel and look dry, whereas a lightweight or moisturising formula will make it look hydrated and dewy.

The Ordinary Coverage Foundation	Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
A lightweight, affordable foundation that gives good coverage and glides over fine lines and wrinkles.	A favourite among gransnetters for its stay-put power, SPF and suitability to all skin types.
Buy: Beauty Bay, £4.75 - £5.75	Buy: John Lewis, £28.90 (on offer)

 

3. Apply a concealer after your foundation

If you have blemishes or dark circles under your eyes that you would rather not be on show, then pop a bit of concealer on after you've applied your foundation, BB or CC cream. Here are our top tips for applying concealer:

• Always apply after foundation and not before. That way you'll only use what you need and it will look more natural.
• Choose the wrong concealer and it will just sit in any creases and draw attention to eye wrinkles. Make sure you are using a product that is specially formulated for the delicate skin around your eyes. Concealers that are designed for blemishes tend to be thicker in coverage and won't give the desired natural look. 
• Use an eyelid primer. It's designed to keep your eyeshadow in place but equally suitable for the delicate skin under your eyes. Dot a little on to smooth out any fine lines.
• Apply your concealer like an upside-down triangle with the tip pointing downward toward your cheek. This not only provides coverage but it helps to deflect light away from the areas you don't want to draw attention to.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer, £25 is an excellent choice for mature skin and has a large range of shades available, while Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, £8.99 targets dark circles and fine lines, resulting in a fresher look.
 

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4. Use powder sparingly

Unless you suffer with oily skin (and possibly even if you do), you should try to avoid using a powder. In the past we were taught not to shine, but these days, shine is 'glow'.

Powder can seep into the lines and creases of mature faces so, if you really feel the need to wear it, keep it to an absolute minimum and only apply around the t-zone area where oil can settle.  

e.l.f High Definition Powder	Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder
This soft focus effect powder masks fine lines and imperfections, giving your skin a radiant finish.	This powder is fine and light enough to blot away shine without settling into lines.
Buy: e.l.f cosmetics, £6.50	Buy: John Lewis, £30

5. Blusher - use a crème blush formula

Crème blush is the friend of mature skin, as opposed to powdered which can stick to dry patches or get folded into creases. It's as simple as smiling, dabbing a dot onto your smile lines and blending over those apples!

Word to the wise though - don't whip it up to your ears; you're aiming for a healthy looking flush, not a Sable Colby lookalike. 

If you want to go a step further and fake high cheekbones - or draw attention to your god-given ones (lucky you!) - lightly apply a highlighter pen over your cheeks, where your face naturally catches the light. This will give skin a healthy glow and a subtly luminous finish. A highlighter stick works well as it is easy to apply and blend.

Stila Convertible Colour Dual Lip & Cheek Cream	NARS Cosmetics The Multiple
A good quality option that allows you to build colour up gradually and can be used on lips too - we love a multitasker!	This multifunctional stick blends to create a healthy glow with a subtle touch of shimmer.
Buy: M&S, £18	Buy: Look Fantastic, £30

6. Add a bit of bronzer

7. Fill in eyebrows

Nothing says 'child of the 60s' quite like an over-plucked brow. To add insult to injury, eyebrows become sparser as you get older. 

Fixing thin eyebrows can be a bit of a challenge depending on the kind of treatment you need, but, in the meantime, a little brow pencil can do just the trick.

The key is to keep your brows tidy (snip if you have to) and look for a brow pencil with a brush at the other end so that any obvious pencil lines are brushed out.

If you have very thin brows, it's best to leave them alone entirely or go for a shade or two down - it's better to have a whisper of definition than an awkward-looking line. Another great product is brow gel, which you can use to set your brow pencil, feather your brows or add some colour to them.

And, best of all, you don't have to play by any rules - budget buys are often just as good as more expensive brands when it comes to brow products.

Gransnetters recommend Avon's True Colour Glimmerstick Brow Definer for its easy application and MAC's Eye Brows Big Boost Exclusive Fibre Gel which is long-lasting and waterproof, ensuring it won't drip down your face as the temperature rises.

"I lost both eyebrows due to thyroid problems. I have found that Avon Glimmerstick for brows is wonderful. I use light brown as I am blonde but there are other colours."

"I use MAC eyebrow gel. I think the trick with brows is to go a shade lighter than you think is right - they always seem to look darker on the skin - and apply with feathery strokes."

Avon Glimmerstick Brow Definer	MAC Eye Brows Big Boost Fibre Gel
Enriched with vitamins A and E to help it glide across your skin and achieve that perfect shape.	Contains microfibres to add definition and volume for a fuller brow that's still natural looking.
Buy: Avon, £3.50	Buy: Look Fantastic, £19.50

 

8. Eye makeup - master the smokey eye look

This is often a problem area for older skin because of natural elasticity loss which can make lids creased and give you hooded eyes. If you want to achieve that smokey eye look, stick to these steps:

• Apply an eye lid primer. As your skin gets thinner with age, you'll notice that your eyelids will develop a translucency and uneven skin tone. Dot a primer onto lids before you apply any hint of colour.
• White eyeliner applied to the edge of your top lid will help your other colour to stand out more and open up the eye to make it look bigger and brighter.
• If you have creased lids and don't feel confident with a gel eyeliner, then opt for kohl and apply it as close to the lash line as you possibly can, dotting the pencil rather than dragging it. Brown or a soft grey pencil can be a less severe option.
• When it comes to eyeshadow, whatever shade you choose, don't be shy with it. Cream-based products sit better on mature skin as, unlike powder eyeshadows, they won't settle into creases. However, if you've always used powdered eyeshadows and don't want to change the habit of a lifetime then make sure to use a primer first. Avoid eyeshadows with a shimmer as these only serve to highlight fine lines. 
• Do make sure you apply eyeshadow with a small, soft brush and blend it - a cotton bud is ideal - just to smudge it a little so that the colour doesn't look like it’s been crayoned on.

Because a smokey eye is such a good look at any age, it's almost foolproof. After all, it's not supposed to be precise.

WATCH: how to create a smokey eye look from Look Fabulous Forever

No7 Stay Perfect Eye Shadow Palette	Charlotte Tilbury's Rock 'N' Kohl Pencil
The beauty of this palette is the variety of flattering colours - so you can go as subtle or daring as you like!	Part liquid eyeliner, part kohl pencil, this is a wonder product, with intense pigment and the precision of a liquid eyeliner.
Buy: Boots, £15	Buy: John Lewis, £19

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see our FacebookLive with Look Fabulous Forever founder and beauty vlogger, Tricia Cusden

9. Choose a mascara that's right for you

The bottom line is that age is irrelevant when it comes to dark and defined lashes but there are some things to consider before choosing a mascara that's right for you.

• If you have heavy lids as a result of reduced elasticity, then your mascara might be prone to smudging. And just like your brows, your lashes are likely to get sparser. With that in mind, your best bet is a water resistant mascara with a thickening formula.
• Before applying your mascara, make sure your lashes are clean and free of product so that the mascara stays put.
• If your hands are somewhat unsteady then you'll benefit from using a smaller brush - a bigger wand will make a mess in shaky hands.
• Invest in some whitening eye drops to make your natural eye colour more vibrant.
• Try gently warming an eyelash curler to help the curl in your lashes set.
• Look down and apply up from the root of the lash to the ends which tend to be lighter in colour.

"I've got thin, sparse lashes but I discovered Lancome Hypnose mascara a couple of years ago. The shape of the brush makes it much easier to catch those tiny lashes in the corners of the eye. It never clumps nor flakes and is easy to wash off at the end of the day. Wouldn't use any other now. Not the cheapest but I think it's worth every penny."

Lancôme Hypnôse Volume-à-Porter Mascara	Tweezerman Eyelash Curler
Recommended by gransnetters for long-lasting, intense volume without the clumps.	These sleek lash curlers are great for added definition and volume - prepare for many compliments!
Buy: John Lewis, £21.60 (on offer)	Buy: Look Fantastic, £16

What can I do for thinning or uneven lashes?

Fear not as there are products that have been proven to condition and protect lashes, causing them to break less and grow in length and volume. Try Revitalash or RapidLash.

My eyes are sensitive - can I still wear mascara?

Sometimes, as we age, our eyes become more sensitive. If this is the case for you, you can opt for an all-natural mascara. For example, Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara offers weightless volume while being kind to eyes.

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10. Lips - go for a gloss or a nude lipstick

The aim is to make mature lips look as full as possible, which means you'll want to have a gorgeous gloss or complementing lippy to hand.

Lip Liner

Go for a natural shade to line the outside of your lip and achieve a fuller look. Going for a shade that's too dark will leave you with a harsh outline if your lippy does start to wear off.

Lip gloss 

Lip gloss is the ideal choice for making your lips look plumper, but beware of gloopy, extreme glosses and matte products - they can sometimes have the opposite effect.

MAC lip liner	No7 High Shine Lipgloss
MAC's famous lipliner comes in a variety of shades and glides on smoothly for easy application.	Whether you want a bright, bold colour or a translucent gloss for a subtle shine, this product is perfect for special occasions.
Buy: MAC, £15.50	Buy: No7, £9

Lipstick

If, however, you can't deny yourself the love of a good lipstick, choose a fairly neutral colour - think a couple of shades darker than your natural lip tone - as this can give mature lips a boost by making them appear fuller. Again, try to avoid matte lipsticks if you can, a cream finish will be more flattering.

NARS Lipstick	Giorgio Armani Rouge Sheer Lipstick
This lipstick contains a pigmented sheer formula which hydrates your lips and adds a gorgeous shine.	This award-winning sheer lipstick moisturises as it goes, evening out lines and wrinkles.
Buy: NARS, £22	Buy: Look Fantastic, £32

WATCH: how to apply perfect lipstick

Prices correct as of 09/03/21.

More beauty tips

For more top beauty tips from an industry expert, watch our eye makeup tutorial below with beauty vlogger and founder of Look Fabulous Forever, Tricia Cusden. She gives us the low-down on the best makeup ideas for older women, plus reveals some invaluable tips and tricks! 

Images: Shutterstock