I feel like the older I get, the more adventurous I become to try new things. During most of my grooming lifetime, I’ve always been very conservative with my makeup routine. Although I’ve been a bit more aggressive with night-time looks, after a few hours everything melted because of my oily skin.
Recently, I started viewing YouTube videos to find products suitable for my aging skin and a more age-appropriate makeup look. Although many of the video tutorials and product reviews are for the most part very helpful, I’ve found that trying things on your own is your best bet.
Not all products are right for all ages, skin type, and overall complexion. I found myself purchasing too many products and trying various formulas, and ended up with a drawer full of products I don’t like and will most likely never use again. There’s nothing worse than having a graveyard of products you tried once or twice and never touched again. So how can you avoid this? How do you know if a product works for you if you don’t try it first?
Here’s what’s worked for me:
Most beauty stores such as Ulta, Sephora, and Beauty Brands, and even some department stores, will give you free samples, or you can apply products at the store. Walking away with a sample in hand or on your face that you can wear for a period of time will give you a chance to see how the product works for you. Stores that don’t provide samples or feel application may sell cheaper products, which are not a huge investment or risk if you don’t like them.
I’ve watched many video tutorials claiming that certain colors, formulas, and textures will not work on mature skin, but I’ve found this not to be true for many products not recommended for aging skin.
For example, I’ve always been a fan of red lipstick, and many makeup artists suggest that women over 50 should avoid it but I just can not part with yet. Solution? Line your lip with a red lip liner; apply your favorite red tone to the outer edges of the lips, almost reaching the middle; blot this application with either face powder or with a paper towel; then finish the look with a lighter shade of lip gloss on the areas you have not applied the lipstick. This technique will tone down the color, giving you a lighter shade appropriate for your fun self. Don’t forget to apply a lip primer prior to applying the lip liner and lip product.
A smoky eye that a woman in her 20s would wear may not be suitable for mature eyelids, but that doesn’t mean we need to give up on the smoky look completely. The trick is to tone it down and apply the shadows that will not make your eyes look more saggy or sunken in. For ideas, run a Google search on eye makeup application in your 50s, and you will find many resources. I don’t provide ideas on this post because every eyelid, shape, and aging process is different for everyone.
Don’t be too conservative with color. I think as you age, more color can brighten a dull, tired-looking complexion, which is what most of us end up with. The key to great makeup application in your 50s is to prime the skin with a good primer, concealer, foundation, and setting powder. Once your palate is primed, you are only limited by your imagination. Play with colors and different formulas, and you may be surprised at what you end up loving and using most.
