“The good thing about makeup is that there are no rules for any woman of any age,” says celebrity makeup artist and aesthetician D’Andre Michael. His advice is to embrace aging “and just focus on enhancing your features and beauty.” While there are no rules set in stone and makeup is, at its best, a vehicle for self-expression, the way your makeup goes on and appears at age 50 is different than at age 20—it’s a simple fact of life.
Celebrity makeup artist Sandy Linter says aging women have concerns about their skin, not that this is anything shocking. “They can see people looking at them and noticing all the problems—the wrinkles, the bags, the sags.” However, the makeup artist wants to remind people that 50 is not old, “as a woman over 70, I can tell you from my heart,” she says. While 50 is still a young, vivacious age, your skin is different, and the way makeup sits has shifted. To help you adjust your routine, experts share their best tips on how to approach makeup once you’re over 50.
What kind of makeup is best for women over 50?
“As we age, our skin gets drier, and we need creamier makeup with hydrating ingredients that nourish our skin, like liquids and creams,” says mature makeup expert and founder of the eponymous skin-care brand Laura Geller, who recommends her Quench-n-Tint Hydrating Foundation ($34). Mature makeup expert Amanda Hill agrees, noting that “mature skin looks best with products of more luminosity and hydration.” She suggests women in this category consider alternatives to foundation, like tinted skin serums.
Geller adds that light makeup tends to look better than heavier makeup as we age. She also recommends trying baked makeup, “which is a cream formula that is baked into a powder so it’s more hydrating and sits on top of skin. It won’t seep into fine lines and wrinkles, making them look worse.”
How should women over 50 prep their skin for makeup?
“Makeup prep starts at night,” says Hill. She emphasizes a nightly skin-care routine that provides ample nourishment and hydration. “If you’re using a quality nighttime routine, you should wake up with glowing, hydrated skin. This is always going to give you the best foundation for a mature makeup application,” she adds.
And for the morning of, Geller says it’s all about primer. She knows it can feel like an easy step to skip, but in the end, it’s worth the extra minute of your time. “I highly recommend consistently including it in your routine,” says Geller. “It creates a barrier between your skin and makeup so your makeup doesn’t seep into your skin, making it look cakey or creasy in addition to giving your makeup richer color and longer wear.”
What should women over 50 avoid when applying makeup?
While we recommend you wear whatever makes you feel your best, our experts noted some things they suggest avoiding when over 50, like brightly colored eyeshadow, “especially as our eyelids get more wrinkles or become hooded over time.” She also advises against over-applying powders to avoid cakiness and exacerbating the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
“Lastly, avoid only using bronzer,” says Geller. “I love bronzer for overall warmth and glow, but as we age, we need a pop of color on the cheeks, so don’t skip blush—it’ll help you look more youthful and avoid the sallow skin we all get as we age.”
Expert’s top makeup tips for women over 50
Expert-recommended makeup and skin-care products for skin over 50
“The absolute best makeup product for women over 50, especially when it comes to the under-eye area, is Demi Corrector ($20),” according to Hill. “This product is helping women achieve a very refreshed approach to under eyes that will deflect from the signs of aging by not creasing.” She also recommends Blue Marble SeLr Spray ($17). “This is a professional makeup artist hero product that does great things for setting mature skin and not causing the cakey texture,” she says of the spray that forms a water-based skin barrier to seal makeup.
Geller, who creates makeup with mature skin in mind, and has celebrity fans like Fran Drescher and Bethenny Frankel, recommends her Laura Geller Spackle Primer ($36), which comes in many varieties depending on your makeup needs or skin concerns, from hydrating to brightening. As Geller noted earlier, baked makeup is great for mature skin, and her brand offers a whole line of blushes, bronzers, highlighters, foundations and eyeshadow. Plus, Jelly Balm Hydrating Lip Color ($21) has vitamin E and the perfect wash of color.
Outside of her own brand, Geller says Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream ($140) is a favorite. She adds that the Dermaflash Luxe Razor ($199), a previous NewBeauty Award winner, is good for exfoliating and getting rid of peach fuzz. For an extra dose of skin care weekly, she uses Joanna Vargas Forever Glow Anti-Aging Sheet Mask ($75).
Makeup we love for skin over 50
Above, experts noted that shifting from a heavy foundation to lightweight tinted skin serums is advisable and Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops ($68) are the best option. Since Gucci Westman is familiar with painting gorgeous over 50 faces like Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman, she knows just what the skin needs, and she’s put all that knowledge into this skin-care meets makeup concoction. Another great option is Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer ($65). If you know, you know Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer SPF 27 ($75) is the best around. Beloved by celebrities and beauty editors alike, this formula also includes SPF, so your dark spots don’t get any darker while in the sun.
As a woman over 50 herself, Bobbi Brown creates her formulations with all ages in mind. Jones Road Miracle Balm ($48) provides a wash of soft-focus moisture and color. It’s ideal for no-makeup makeup or adding a light layer on top of foundation to make a look more dynamic. For a cheaper option, we like GEN SEE Clean Sheen Cheek + Lip Color ($22). The OGEE Contour Collection ($138), especially the Golden trio, has everything you need in your contouring toolkit. It’s also super buildable, so you can do as much or as little as you want.
We love the Merit Beauty Signature Lip Lipstick ($26). The lightweight lip option is comfortable, comes in both matte and satin finishes and offers a bevy of colors that are gorgeous at any age. Jillian Dempsey’s Lid Tint ($28) is a great creamy option for eyeshadow and comes in a lot of pretty neutral options. CHANEL Inimitable Mascara ($40) does it all—adds volume and length and separates lashes.
