Makeup for older women - 10 secret pro 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. 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
From brows to dark circles to age spots and everything in between, here are 10 secret tips to swear by as an older woman.
1. Start with a primer
“I moisturise before I put it (foundation) on and use a teeny bit of Primer.” Primrose53
Using a primer is essential for achieving that flawless look. It creates a smooth base on which to apply your foundation and will help to smooth wrinkles and fine lines while evening out your skin’s pigment and it helps your makeup last longer. Primers are also available for eyelids and lips to prevent eyeshadow from creasing and lipstick from bleeding.
“Laura Geller…I like her Spackle which is a tinted under makeup primer, I get ‘Bronze’ which is enough on its own sometimes, if I’m not going out. Makeup sits on the skin, rather than sinks in, so you use less and it lasts longer.” GeorgesGran
There’s a primer for every skin type so choosing wisely will give you the best results. You may benefit from a product that minimises pores or one that suits dry skin. It’s worth remembering that ageing and the menopause change your skin - what suited your 40-year-old skin might not suit it now. If you're unsure of your skin type, it’s worth braving the beauty counters of your nearest department store and getting some advice - and free samples, of course!
“Boots 17 matte primer absolutely brilliant, a lovely smooth base for your foundation.” BlueSapphire
“A good primer helps again I have found Clarins instant smooth covers well but No 7 do some pretty good alternatives” rosie1959
Favourites among Gransnetters are Laura Geller Spackle, Boots 17 Matte Base Perfection Oil Control Primer, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch and No7 Airbrush Away Primer
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| Laura Geller Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer | Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch |
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Spackle is the perfect lightweight base for long-lasting makeup, minimising the look of pores and fine lines |
This oil-free skin perfector fills and smoothes as it glides invisibly over the skin.
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Buy: Amazon, £25.00 |
Buy: John Lewis, £32.00 |
2. Choosing the right foundation for mature skin
“I was converted to Laura Geller by Grans recently. Their foundations are wonderful.” Ailidh
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.
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| Garnier Anti-age Perfecting Care All-in-one BB Cream | Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30 |
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This anti-ageing BB cream is light, hydrating, 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. |
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Buy: Look Fantastic £9.99 |
- BB and CC cream
“ I run between Garnier BB cream or Estee Lauder Double Wear.” Neva2bananna
Containing several products in one, such as concealer and SPF, BB creams 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.
“If you’re interested in a CC cream…Clinique comes out top.” Georgesgran
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.
Try Clinique Moisture Surge™ CC Cream Hydrating Colour Corrector Broad Spectrum SPF 30
- Foundations
“Over the years I have tried many foundation creams from Dior to Rimmel and last year I eventually found the best foundation as follows. No7 Intelligent foundation. The reason it is so good is that it adapts to the colour of your skin. Do look it up on Boots website. I bought 2 for 3 the other day.” NanKate
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.
“Chanel Les Beiges is very good; light but with a good coverage.” BlueSapphire
If you just can't let go of your favourite full-coverage foundation, make sure to use lots of moisturiser and a primer beforehand to make sure you have a smooth base to work with.
Always test foundation on the jawline (not the back of the hand). It needs to be close to your natural skin tone, but it doesn't matter if it's not an absolute match as long as you blend well.
“Nars. Either their foundation or tinted moisturiser which transforms my face” Lostmyglassesxx
Gransnetters recommend a few different foundations including: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, Chanel Les Beiges, Boots No7 Intelligent Colour Foundation, Nars Light Reflecting Skincare Foundation and Laura Geller Baked Foundation.
- Application
“I need full coverage but hate that heavy claggy look and feel of some.” MaryEmBop
Invest in a decent sponge blender or foundation brush so you can get a photo finish. Sponges are easier to control but applying with a brush helps your foundation to last longer.
“I don’t like thick foundations and when some people put a lot on all you look at is how thick it is.” Primrose53
Application techniques and tools can make all the difference, so it's essential that you have the products to get that base just right. Apply your foundation to the centre of your face and work outwards to blend with your jawline.
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| The Ordinary Coverage Foundation | Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation |
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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. |
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Buy: Amazon £9.99 |
Buy: John Lewis, £39.50 |
3. Apply a concealer after your foundation
“The Maybelline Eraser, lots of different shades to choose from and it really does work!” Oregano
“My favourite has always been YSL Touché Eclat.” Theexwife
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’d rather not accentuate.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer is an excellent choice for mature skin and has a large range of shades available. Gransnetters love Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer and Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Highlighting Pen.
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4. Use powder sparingly
“I think applying foundation lightly is key, and powder dusting with a big brush as mentioned earlier…Has anyone noticed the new trend for shiny shiny faces?...Victoria Beckham seems to favour this at the moment.” Joseann
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'. Think fresh and dewy and you get the idea.
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.
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| e.l.f High Definition Powder | Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder |
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This soft focus effect powder masks |
This powder is fine and light enough to blot away shine without settling into lines. |
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Buy: John Lewis, £36.50 |
5. Blusher - use a crème blush formula
“A tiny sweep of colour to your cheeks and you will be good to go.” Theoddbird
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.
“Add a little stick or cream blusher, Nars is good but pricey.” HannahLoisLuke
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.
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| Stila Convertible Colour Dual Lip & Cheek Cream | NARS Cosmetics The Multiple |
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A good quality option that allows you to build colour up gradually and can be |
This multifunctional stick blends to create a healthy glow with a subtle touch of shimmer. |
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Buy: M&S, £18 |
Buy: Look Fantastic, £30 |
6. Add a bit of bronzer
“When going out I tend to put on foundation, mascara and lipstick, sometimes bronzer ” Shirleyw
Far from essential but brilliant all the same, bronzer is an excellent way to give mature skin an extra youthful boost. Most bronzers, however, are powdered, which means you have to take extra care when buying one to make sure that it has finely-milled particles, so that it doesn't sit in any creases. Our favourite is Hoola Bronzer by Benefit, £27.50, as it's non-shimmer which is more complementary on mature faces. For something luxurious, we love the Hourglass range of Ambient Lighting powers, which are perfect for smoothing complexions and adding subtle glow.
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| Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit | Benefit Hoola Lite |
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The stunning powders filter surrounding light to blur imperfections and refine the skin's appearance. |
The entire Hoola bronzer collection ranges from light to deep so you can sweep on a natural-looking bronze. |
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Buy: Hourglass, £111.00 |
Buy: Benefit, £30 |
7. Fill in eyebrows
“Eyebrows really frame and lift your face don’t they.” FannyCornforth
Big brows may be in right now but nothing says 'child of the 60s or 70s' quite like an over-plucked brow. To add insult to injury, eyebrows can become sparser as you get older, due to hormone changes or other health issues.
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, 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.
“My (eyebrows are) disappearing through stress. I use Bourjois Brow Pomade no 2 Chatain (colour) it’s perfect for me it’s not harsh colouring. I had tried lots but this is the best. It stays on well. I got mine from Amazon.” Redhead56
Gransnetters recommend Bourjois Brow Pomade Crayon Pencil for value for money, for money and MAC's Eye Brows Big Boost Exclusive Fibre Gel, which is long-lasting and waterproof, ensuring it won't drip down your face if the temperature rises.
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| Bourjois Brow Pomade Crayon | MAC Eye Brows Big Boost Fibre Gel |
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Create natural looking brows with this easy-to-use pencil that comes in a wide range of shades. |
Contains microfibres to add definition and volume for a fuller brow that's still natural looking. |
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Buy: Amazon, £4.51 |
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
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| Max Factor Smokey Eye Drama Kit | Charlotte Tilbury's Rock 'N' Kohl Pencil |
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The beauty of this palette is that it comes in a variety of different colour combos and you can go as subtle or bold as |
Part liquid eyeliner, part kohl pencil, this is a wonder product, with intense pigment and the precision of a liquid eyeliner. |
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Buy: Amazon, £9.90 |
Buy: John Lewis, £23 |
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
“Rimmel Extra Super Lash - brilliant, inexpensive and you can buy it online. What's not to love?” Chardy
Let’s face it, age is irrelevant when it comes to wanting to achieve 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 - often due to shifts in hormone levels. 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.
Gransnetters recommend a range of different mascaras for a variety of reasons. The lashtastic lovelies on our Gransnet Style and Beauty forum say Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara won’t leave you with panda eyes, while Clinique Lash Power has a small, easy to use narrow brush and comes in black and brown. But there’s a clear favourite on our Talk Boards..
“Max Factor 2000 Calorie. It doesn't irritate or smudge. Buy new every couple of months.” Hopkins
“Yes, this one. It’s fabulous, doesn’t clog, never runs. I wear contact lenses and my eyes are sensitive, but it doesn’t irritate them.” Maggiemaybe
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| Max Factor 200 Calorie Mascara | Tweezerman Eyelash Curler |
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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! |
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Buy: Boots, £9.99 |
Buy: Look Fantastic, £17 |
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.
Ready for more makeup and fashion tips? Register here
10. Lips - go for a gloss or a nude lipstick
Although your lips naturally look less plump as you get older, due to a loss in collagen and fat, you can combat this with a gorgeous gloss or complementing lipstick.
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, which can have the opposite effect.
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| MAC lip liner | No7 High Shine Lipgloss |
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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. |
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Buy: MAC, £20.00 |
Buy: No7, £9.95 |
Lipstick
If, however, you still love a good lipstick, choose a fairly neutral colour - think a couple of shades darker than your natural lip tone - because this can give mature lips a boost by making them appear fuller. Again, try to avoid matte lipsticks, if you can, as a creamy, glossy finish will be much more flattering.
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| NARS Lipstick | Look Fabulous Forever Lustrous Colour Lipstick |
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This lipstick contains a pigmented sheer formula which hydrates your lips and adds a gorgeous shine. |
This creamy lipstick moisturises as it goes and gives you a healthier, more vibrant look: |
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Buy: NARS, £22 |
WATCH: how to apply perfect lipstick
Prices correct as of 01/01/24
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