I have been obsessed with makeup since the days of standing on the back of the toilet seat to reach the bathroom cabinet where my mom stored her makeup in the late 1970’s. My earliest experiments included frosted blue eyeliner and a pink frosted lip. I graduated to melting my black eyeliner pencil with a lighter for a kohl effect and contouring with rosewood blush in the 80’s. I even worked at the department store makeup counter in the early 90’s. Nowadays, I enjoy watching YouTubers (shout out to Angie Hot and Flashy, Miss Gold Girl, and Brits Nadine Baggot and Trinny Woodall!). “We’ve come a long way, baby!”
However, our skin can become more delicate as we age. Therefore, we don’t only adapt to the trends, we have to adapt to our changing canvas. Here are our picks for the best makeup for older skin!
Moisturizer and Sunscreen
Even the best makeup for older skin won’t work its best if you don’t start your routine with a moisturized and exfoliated canvas. Start by cleansing and exfoliating your face. Follow this up with a moisturizer formulated for your skin type. Next, don’t forget to liberally apply an SPF that fights both UVA and UVB rays. Whether you opt to use a primer is up to you. I also recommend using a primer — although the choice is up to you. Primer will give your makeup staying power and can help you achieve a flawless look.
Best Foundation and Concealer for Older Skin
Next up is foundation. For mature skin, staying away from a very matte finish foundation is key. The matte foundations will settle in pores, fine lines and wrinkles. Look for a hydrating formula that will be skin-like, rather than mask-like. Also, apply with a light hand and build up to the coverage you want. Dewy or luminous finishes may work well too, particularly on drier complexions. Make sure the shade of foundation you are using is not the same one you’ve been using since you were 20!
COVERGIRL Simply Ageless 3-in-1, $9.99
Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation, $60
CLINIQUE even better Foundation, $39
Concealers can help with a multitude of skin issues. They help correct under-eye circles, tone redness around the nose and on the chin and camouflage the blemishes you might find yourself still getting as hormone levels fluctuate. You may need two shades of concealer, a green-toned one for redness and a brightening one for under the eyes and all else. Use the same “less is more” approach. Heavy layers can highlight more than they conceal.
Bobbi Brown Skin Color Corrector Stick, $35
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, $36
Best Eye Makeup for Mature Skin
For daily wear, I suggest a simple, neutral eye. Start with your eyebrows; keeping them groomed is important. As we age, we often find our brows may be more sparse. Penciling in or using a powder brow color will help frame your eyes. No need to go all Joan Crawford, just fill in as needed!
Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit, $4.99
L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer, $12.99
benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel, $28
Milani Stay Put Eyeshadow Primer, $10.99
I love an eyeshadow primer, so I start with a swipe of that blended out on my lids.
e.l.f. Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer, $5
If you are in the habit of wearing eye shadow, find a good daily go-to color or combination of colors, if you want to ramp it up a bit. Here are our top picks for best eye shadow for older skin.
Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette, $12.98
Tarte tartelette In Bloom Amazonian Clay, $49
Maybelline Color Tattoo, $8.98
Lining the eyes is another area where women tend to go a bit too heavy-handed. Our lids may be a bit more crepey, so a softer pencil liner tight along the lash line may be best. If you are used to the staying power of a liquid liner, I suggest using a pencil, followed up by a layer of powder eye shadow matching the eye pencil, still staying along the lash line. A couple of coats of black mascara will complete your eye look.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, $23
Rimmel London Ultimate Kohl Kajal Waterproof Eyeliner, $16.99
L’Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara, $8.95
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara, $34
Blush and Highlighter
Blush used on the apples of your cheeks will help give your complexion a youthful boost. Creme blushes are excellent on mature skin, but powder blushes are also great.
E.L.F. Powder Blush Palette, $10
FLOWER Beauty Flower Pots Powder Blush, $14.98
I now cannot live without my highlighter. I find it gives a nice, natural spotlight to the top of my cheekbones and brow bones and adds plumpness to the apples of my cheeks.
Hourglass Cosmetics Vanish Flash Highlighting Stick, $46
Flower Beauty Shimmer and Strobe Highlighter, $11
Lips
Find your best daily, go-to lip color. That may change depending on what you’re wearing, but don’t be afraid of a pop of color on your lips. As we age, we tend to lose volume in our lips. Applying a bright shade of red, pink, or coral can add the illusion of volume, especially if the shade has a hint of satin or shimmer. Long-wearing formulas tend to highlight fine lines on the lips.
Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick, from $4.98
FLOWER Beauty Petal Pout Lip Color, from $8
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick, $6.87
Powder
Lastly, do not go heavy-handed with powder. There are so many amazing, finely-milled face powders these days. Apply only if you need them and with a big fluffy face brush!
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $43
E.L.F. High Definition Powder, $7
Do you have a suggestion for the best makeup for older women? Leave a comment below. We would love to learn about it and try it ourselves.
