Women Over 60 Will Love These Age-Defying Beauty Tips
As skin changes with age, the beauty tricks of yesteryear may not work so well. For instance, the sun is not a friend to gray hair, and powder is a big no-no for wrinkled skin. Keep reading for hair, makeup, and skincare advice that every woman over 60 should know.
Avoid Using Powder As Much As Possible
It may seem counterintuitive to avoid powder, especially if you have oily skin. However, powder can settle into fine lines, making wrinkles more apparent. It can also make pores more visible and make your complexion appear duller.
Moisturized skin looks more youthful, so a little shine can actually have a more glowy, natural appeal. If the shine is just too much, stick to just powdering the forehead, cheeks, and chin where oil tends to collect the most.
Fill In The Eyebrows
Thin eyebrows have come in and out of style, but it's best to lean toward thicker eyebrows in older age. That's because thick eyebrows help to shape the face and give a more youthful appearance.
If your eyebrows will no longer grow back thick, you can fill them in with makeup or use a growth serum to help them fill back in. You can also try brow tinting to fill them in temporarily.
Make Thinning Hair Less Noticeable With A Short Haircut
Hair can naturally become thinner as we age, making shorter haircuts a great idea for senior women. There are plenty of flattering styles to chose from that can keep the look youthful and classy.
Those who have very thin hair may enjoy a pixie cut since the choppy style can add volume to hair that would otherwise fall flat. Those who want a longer look may prefer a bob with some layers for extra volume.
Apply Concealer After Foundation
Putting on concealer after your foundation, BB cream, or CC cream can help make it look more natural. Be sure to add some eyelid primer underneath your eyes to smooth out fine lines.
Try to avoid concealers that are formulated to cover blemishes since these can be thicker and more obvious. Instead, opt for one made to lightly conceal dark circles under the eyes. Apply it like an upside-down triangle to draw attention to the apple of your cheek and away from under the eye.
Stick To Cream Blush
Powder blushes can settle into fine lines, making wrinkles more apparent. Since blush sits on the cheekbones, it can cause the fine lines near the bottom of the eyes to really pop.
Instead, opt for a cream blush that offers a more glowy look. Avoid overdoing it, as exaggerated makeup can age you more! Dab a modest amount directly onto the cheekbones and blend it out so that the cheeks look naturally rosy and youthful.
Use Blue Mascara To Make The Eyes Look Whiter
As eyes age, they can start to appear less white, but there are a few tricks to get the brightness back. One idea is to swap out your black mascara for a navy blue one.
The blue tone will emphasize the whites of your eyes and give the illusion of them being brighter. Another trick is to use a highlighter pen on the outer and inner corners of the eyes to make them pop a little more.
Pick The Right Kind Of Eyeshadow
As we age, the skin around the eyes thins, becoming more translucent and susceptible to wrinkles. These changes make finding the right eyeshadow all the more important since the wrong kind can draw attention where it isn't wanted.
Avoid shimmery eyeshadows as they can highlight wrinkles. Be sure to start with a primer to create an even tone for the shadow to sit on. Cream eyeshadows are ideal since powder can settle into wrinkles.
Use A Primer To Even Out Lines And Pigment
As skin ages, it can start to develop fine lines and uneven pigmentation. That's why using a primer is so important. It will help even out the skin so that makeup has a smoother foundation to rest on.
Plus, primer can keep makeup looking fresher longer by preventing it from rubbing off or soaking into the skin. Opt for a primer that suits your specific needs, such as one that moisturizes dry skin or minimizes the appearance of pores.
Avoid Exposing Gray Hair To The Sun
Just like the sun can alter dyed hair, it can also have an impact on gray hair. That's because your hair's natural pigment still exists in the strands. When the sun bleaches this pigment, it causes the hair to become more yellow.
This can make the lovely blue hue of silver hair appear brassy and dull. To keep your grays looking vibrant, wear a hat on sunny days and make use of a heat protectant spray.
Use BB Creams To Prevent Skin Damage
BB creams are ideal for those who don't need much coverage but rather want something to prevent future damage. These creams are very light so they conceal some blemishes while offering a barely-there appearance.
BB creams are predominantly useful for hydrating skin and keeping it firm. They contain SPF to protect skin from the sun and concealer to lightly even skin tone. Applying this cream every day can help to maintain the skin's radiance and slow down the effects of aging.
Use CC Creams For Light Age Spot Coverage
CC creams are the middle man between BB creams and foundation in terms of coverage. It can even out skin tone while hydrating the skin. These creams can be especially helpful for those with age spots.
They lightly cover the spots and give a more flawless appearance to skin. At the same time, CC creams are light enough that the coverage won't be as apparent. The result is even skin that looks like there's hardly anything on.
Exfoliate For Brighter, Smoother Skin
Over time, dead skin cells can start to build up on the face, resulting in clogged pores and rough skin. Dead skin cells can even make wrinkles and dark spots more pronounced by creating a rough skin texture.
Exfoliating twice a week helps to ensure that these skin cells don't build up. The result is more even, brighter skin that has less noticeable blemishes. Avoid over-exfoliating, as doing so can irritate the skin, and be sure to moisturize after.
Make Lips Appear Plumper With Neutral Lip Makeup
Though a may be tempting to go for a dramatic red lip, a more neutral tone may be the better way to go. Darker lipsticks and lip liners can end up making your lips look thinner.
In contrast, neutral lip liners, glosses, and lipsticks can make them appear plumper. A good rule of thumb is to only go a few shades darker than your natural lip color. Opt for lipsticks that have a cream finish to smooth over fine lines.
Moisturize The Skin Before Applying Foundation
When it comes to foundation, less is generally more. This rule of thumb is especially important for aging skin because the heavier the coverage, the more it can dry out skin. That's why it's so important to moisturize skin before applying foundation.
The moisturizer will help prevent the foundation from drying up and caking. Plus, it can help prevent future wrinkles. You can also opt for a foundation that has a moisturizing formula and creates a dewier look.
Take Care Of Gray Hair
It may seem like hair that's gone gray is simple to upkeep, but that isn't always the case. Gray or white hair can require a different set of products to keep it healthy.
Swap out your shampoo and conditioner for one that's specially formulated for gray hair. This can help keep the color looking shiny and healthy rather than dull and patchy. It may be worth trying out some hair masks and oils that are also helpful for gray hair specifically.
Use A Toner To Remove Lingering Impurities
Even after you've removed your makeup and washed your face, there may be some impurities left behind. This is what makes toners so useful. They remove any last bits of dirt or makeup while revitalizing the skin.
Toners can also help shrink the appearance of pores, moisturize the skin, and protect it. Different toners are formulated to help with different things such as hydrating or detoxifying the skin. Opt for one that meets your unique needs.
Avoid Shimmery Bronzers
Bronzers can be a solid way to achieve a younger look since they add color to the face. However, they can quickly slip into the realm of being too youthful if they have glitter in them.
While a shimmery bronzer may look nice in a nightclub, it can come off tacky on mature women. Opt for a bronzer that is free of sparkles and relies on a dewier look to get that subtle shine.
Use Semi-Permanent Hair Dye To Transition Into Gray
The more gray hairs start to come in, the more upkeep dyed hair requires. Instead of breaking the budget on salon visits, it may be time to embrace the grays.
To make the transition as smooth as possible, switch to semi-permanent dye and go a shade lighter each time it wears away. You can also add some highlights to help mask incoming grays. The lighter the hair, the less noticeable the grays until they become your new normal.
Opt For A Waterproof Mascara With A Shorter Brush
While mascara itself looks fantastic at any age, getting older can alter the logistics of applying mascara. For instance, heavier eyelids can make it easier the smudge, so a waterproof mascara is ideal.
Likewise, keeping a steady hand tends to get more challenging with age, so a shorter mascara brush may be easier to operate. Eyelashes can become thin over time, so getting a mascara with a thickening formula may be the most beneficial, as well.
Cover Your Roots With A Root Mascara
If you're trying to transition into gray hair, you may notice dark roots growing in as your hair becomes grayer over time. Alternatively, unwanted grays may come in if you're dying your hair a color.
Either way, a demarcation line can appear and make it obvious that you're in need of a salon visit. To help bridge the gap between visits, use a root mascara, spray, or powder to cover up those incoming roots.
Don't use hot water while bathing
Although the American Academy of Dermatology hardly expects women to bathe or shower in frigid waters, bathwater should be warm without being hot to prevent stripping the skin of its natural oils. Otherwise, it's likely to dry out consistently.
The academy also noted that time spent bathing should be kept short for a similar reason. Specifically, they recommended getting out of the shower or bath after a minimum of five minutes and a maximum of ten minutes.
Avoid hair spray
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, the late celebrity stylist Vincent Roppatte advised women who want to maintain a youthful bounce and shine in their hair after 60 to skip the hair spray from here on out.
As he told it, there's nothing more aging than a head of hair that looks stiff and rigid. That's all that hair spray can hope to accomplish. Roppatte said that part of the secret of the healthy shine and movement in Diane Sawyer's hair was the fact that he never used it on his clients.
Only thin layers of makeup are needed
When someone feels insecure about the facial signs of aging, they may feel tempted to cover as much of it as possible with makeup. However, makeup artist Lindsay Katsuk told Ipsy that this instinct does more harm than good.
Instead, it's better to start with light applications of thin layers and add color as desired. In Katsuk's words, "The less product that is there to settle into fine lines and wrinkles, the better. Always apply foundation first and use concealer sparingly to add a bit more coverage where you need it."
Hold your eyelid taut for the smoothest makeup lines
As the AARP expressed, one of the handiest tips for applying eye makeup is also one of the simplest: Hold your eyelid taut from the outer edge while applying makeup to the upper lid. This shouldn't feel overly tight or uncomfortable, but enough to smooth the eyelid out a little.
Apply the makeup from the outer eye inward and keep the eye slightly open to keep eyeliner from getting too thick. It may also help to rest your elbows on a table or counter while you do this.
Smudging the eyeliner is a valid alternative
As Sixty+Me noted, it's not exactly the end of the world if a straight, smooth line isn't possible for eyeliner, no matter how you hold your eyelid. Instead, smudging the line with a Q-tip or small makeup brush can help make overall styles look softer.
It can also help to draw the line only on the outer third of the bottom lashes. It's also good practice to use a lighter eye makeup color than the liner.
Products with fragrances are not your friend
Although many more places nowadays are considered "scent-free" environments, it turns out that the skin isn't any friendlier to these kinds of products than those with sensitivities to them are. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, products that feature fragrances are known to irritate the skin.
This obviously includes perfumes and colognes, but fragrances are a feature of many unrelated skin care products as well. It's specifically helpful to look for "fragrance-free" on labels as "unscented" products can still carry some of the same problematic chemicals.
Look for high-pigment eye pencils in black or dark brown
According to the AARP, the type of look that an eye pencil should achieve is opaque without looking too slippery, dry, or sheer. Although the right pencil texture can depend on specific eyelids, a high-pigmented pencil with black or dark brown coloration is the most likely to achieve this effect.
Otherwise, those with dry eyes should use a soft pencil, while those with warm, moist eyelids would benefit from a waterproof. That goes double for people who notice their eyes frequently watering.
Avoid alcohol-based toners
According to the Kansas women's clinic Mirabile MD, the advice to use a toner to hide persistent impurities isn't quite as straightforward as it sounds. That's because some toners use alcohol as their base, which does fewer and fewer favors for the skin as it ages.
That's because these toners will strip moisture from your skin, rather than achieve the desired effect of keeping it nourished and hydrated. A hydrating toner or mist is a better choice before any other considerations are made.
Testing makeup on the "L" of the hand works the best
Although people often test how makeup will look by applying it to the back of their hand, this doesn't really match the kind of skin that makeup will eventually be applied to. Instead, the AARP recommends testing lipstick on the thumb.
Furthermore, they advised testing foundation, concealer, and eye shadow on the web between the thumb and index finger. That's because the pad of the thumb better matches the texture and shade of the lips, while this web matches the thin, loose, and crinkled skin around the eyes.
Eye cream is sure to come in handy
As Woman + Home Magazine suggested, even women who didn't use eye cream when they were younger will likely see benefits to using it now. Specifically, it should be used after serum and before moisturizer and gently dabbed (not rubbed) onto eyelids and the sides and underside of the eyes.
Why? As beauty therapist Elizabeth Ross told the magazine, "They are essential in promoting brightness and delaying lines and wrinkles." She said it should be used day and night.
Go to sleep with lip balm on
Although people of all ages are likely to use lip balm when they notice chapping, it can also be a preventative measure for future discomfort as we get older. As the Kansas women's clinic Mirabile MD mentioned, the likelihood of lips becoming dry and wrinkled makes moisturization all the more important.
For that reason, applying lip balm shortly before going to bed can help lock in their existing moisture. A rich lip balm is more useful for this purpose than a standard Chapstick.
Exfoliate with mild chemicals, not scrubs
Although exfoliating can be great for keeping skin bright and unburdened by dead skin, the advice to avoid damaging the skin more than benefitting it doesn't just stop at avoiding over-exfoliating. It's also good to remember to stick to a gentle chemical exfoliant for this purpose.
As the Kansas women's clinic Mirabile MD explained, this is because the abrasive scrubs that might otherwise be used for exfoliation tend to be rough on older skin. Since this skin is more delicate, irritation and inflammation are likely risks of these scrubs.
Apply skin care products in gentle upward, outward sweeps
When applying creams, serums, and oils to the face, the AARP recommends starting from the center and working upward and outward in gentle sweeping motions. This is partially because it's better for circulation and helps products blend into the skin while also introducing a soothing sensation.
In the long run, however, it helps to counteract a subtle effect that aging tends to have on the skin. Over time, gravity makes it sag downward and leaves deep expression lines on the face. Making a habit of applying products upward over time can help lessen that effect.
Opt for a foundation in a slightly warmer tone than normal
As Ipsy noted, the prevailing wisdom for choosing a foundation prioritizes finding one that matches a person's natural skin tone as closely as possible. However, the rules change a little as that person's skin ages.
This is because matching mature skin too closely with foundation can make it look washed-out. Instead, the outlet recommends finding a shade that's slightly warmer than your skin tone and blending it thoroughly, especially around the jawline.
Daily chores become a lot healthier when you use gloves
Although many beauty tips for older women will understandably focus on the face and hair, they're far from the only parts of the body that can be influenced by our daily habits. That's why the American Academy of Dermatology included a tip that takes the hands into account.
As the academy explained, housework can expose the skin to harsh chemicals, while outdoor hobbies like gardening can keep it exposed to sunlight for longer than is ideal. For that reason, they recommend wearing gloves for this work to reduce the risk of drying, irritating, and otherwise damaging the skin on your hands.
