New year, new opportunity to pamper your skin.
Back in October, we took a Coffee Break to check in with the men who read Senior Spirit in an article titled Grooming Secrets for Mature Men. Most of those facial care tips hold true for women, as well: we all benefit from wearing sunscreen everyday, adding a face scrub to our routine, and applying fragrance-free moisturizer. But one area we didn’t cover is makeup.
The Internet is teeming with makeup tutorials, including ones for women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and up. All the advice out there acknowledges that as we age, the products that once made our skin glow may not achieve the same effect anymore. Some people want to stay loyal to the moisturizer or foundation they’ve been using daily for 20 years or more–but with a new year, why not try something new?
The First Step: Moisturize and Apply Sunscreen
Skin tends to become drier as we age, even if you were always fighting an oily shine in your younger years. Drier skin shows more fine lines and wrinkles. Hydrating the skin plumps up and smooths. Another way to up the plumpiness factor is to use a gua sha roller or your fingertips to apply your moisturizer. Massaging the face helps to boost circulation and integrate the moisturizer, and it is relaxing.
To state the obvious, wearing sunscreen daily is a must. Nothing else you do will have as much effect on maintaining unblemished, healthy skin. Foundation, eyeshadow, everything else is extra: moisturize and apply sunscreen every day, and you’re golden. If you want an actual golden glow, too, a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen could be the perfect all-in-one. According to Allure, tinted moisturizers “complement a wide range of skin tones, and their light, buildable tints tend to be more flexible than foundations, which is why the ranges are smaller than fuller-coverage formulas.”
Tips for Applying Foundation
If you like to go beyond step one and apply makeup, experts recommend using a priming oil or serum on mature skin. According to artist Beth Foller, prepping is essential before applying makeup: “That’s where primer comes in, as it can be particularly beneficial for mature skin types since it can keep makeup products from settling into fine lines and wrinkles. Priming formulas also often come with illuminating and hydrating benefits, both of which can be great for older skin.”
When applying foundation, go with light layers and use concealer where you need a bit more coverage. Also consider using a color-correcting foundation palette if you’re concerned about evening skin tone. Makeup artist Melissa Formica recommends these tips:
● For redness: Use yellow or green corrector
● For purple or brown: Use orange corrector (darker skin tones)
● For blues: Use peach (light/medium skin tones) or pink corrector (fair/light skin tones)
Opting for a liquid, rather than powder, foundation can give skin a dewy glow and add extra moisture. Power foundations may settle into wrinkles, and they offer less hydration. Another tip from the experts is to choose a foundation tone that is just slightly warmer than your actual skin tone–again, for that “glow” that makeup helps us achieve.
Tips for the Eyes
Using a primer on your eyelids has the same smoothing and moisturizing effects as a primer below foundation on your face. According to makeup artist Lindsay Katsuk on Ipsy, “The general rule of thumb for smoother texture is to use more matte shades on the eyelids. For brighter eyes, try to stick with lighter colors and also keep the darker shades more towards the outer portion of the eyelids.” Many women find that the inner eye area becomes darker with age, and a brightening concealer can help with that. If you’re looking for specific product recommendations, check out AARP’s eye makeup list here.
Did you notice? Like many beauty product manufacturers and the magazine Allure, among others, we don’t use the phrase “anti-aging” to describe the desired effect of makeup and skincare. There’s no need; after all, everyone’s aging, and we’re talking about beautiful, healthy skin at any age. With that in mind, promise yourself you’ll treat your skin to a little extra moisture as these January winds blow.
