Makeup for older women focuses on hydration, lightweight formulas, and strategic placement to enhance radiance, not mask aging; key techniques include using hydrating primers and liquid/cream products, applying thin layers of foundation, focusing concealer only where needed, using cream blush high on cheekbones, opting for soft brown/grey liner, defining brows lightly, and avoiding heavy shimmer to lift features and maintain a fresh, luminous look. Good lighting is crucial for application to avoid harshness.
Avoid heavy, matte foundations as they can settle into fine lines, making them more prominent. Everytime I give a makeup lesson, this is the biggest mistake I see that is aging my client. Instead, opt for a lightweight, hydrating foundation or a tinted moisturizer.
Yes, an older woman can wear mascara on her bottom lashes, but it often requires a lighter touch, a smudge-proof formula, and sometimes a softer color like brown, focusing on definition rather than heavy volume, as heavy application can accentuate fine lines or create a droopy look, while a light coat can open the eyes, but skipping it is also a great option if it doesn't flatter your features. The key is adapting the technique for mature skin by avoiding clumps and harshness.
Less is More As we age, heavy or excessive makeup can sometimes settle into fine lines and wrinkles, potentially accentuating them. Using a lighter touch with makeup application can create a more natural and fresh look.
Tips from the pros!
You may wonder - how to apply foundation on mature skin? Start by prepping the skin with a hydrating primer to create a smooth base. Use a damp makeup sponge or a brush to apply the foundation in light, tapping motions. Avoid dragging or pulling on the skin, as this can emphasize wrinkles.
Lines deepen on dehydrated skin, increasing the chance that foundation will settle in them. Find a hydrating serum and moisturiser to help counteract this. Additionally, a smoothing primer is your BFF! The primer will fill in lines and prevent your foundation from doing the same.
The "3-1-1 Rule" for makeup (and liquids) in carry-on bags means containers must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller, all fitting into 1 clear, quart-sized, resealable bag, with 1 bag allowed per passenger, ensuring security can easily see and access it during screening. This applies to liquid makeup (foundation, mascara, lip gloss) and other gels, creams, and aerosols, while solid cosmetics like powders or lipsticks in stick form are generally exempt.
Foundations: “Choose luminous, sheer foundations or tinted moisturizers for a radiant look,” Brown says. Blush: “Cream blush adds a natural lift to cheeks,” Brown says. Brows: Brown advises older clients to keep the brows soft by using a gentle pencil.
Here are a few easy tips you can apply that will help you maintain a younger looking body, and restore your confidence:
The no-mascara makeup look, as you can probably guess, involves forgoing mascara and accentuating the eyes only with eyeliner and eyeshadow. While skipping mascara may sound strange, especially if you have shorter or fairer lashes, the unexpected approach allows you to play up your eyes without looking too “done.”
When you apply thick layers of black mascara to the top and bottom lashes, it can look really harsh, and spidery, and may even age you. This was the way for so many years, but now more and more people are choosing not to apply mascara to the lower lashes in order to appear more youthful.
For Those With Mature Lashes - The best mascara for older women is often brown rather than black. Brown mascara adds definition while keeping the overall look softer and more natural, which can be especially flattering as lashes become finer over time.
Best Foundation For Wrinkles
What makes your face look older? Loss of collagen, sun damage, repetitive facial expressions, poor skincare, and unhealthy lifestyle choices contribute to an aged appearance.
For older eyes, flattering eyeshadow colors include soft neutrals like taupe, champagne, beige, and light browns, along with subtle pops of color such as peach, dusty rose, soft lilac, mossy green, or plum, focusing on matte or satin finishes to avoid settling into fine lines, and strategically using shimmer on the inner corner or center lid for brightness. The key is to create lift and brightness, using darker shades like soft browns or plums just on the outer lash line for definition, rather than heavy eyeliner.
Our Top Foundations for Mature Skin
This is because heavy makeup (particularly matte foundations) formulas can sit in wrinkles and creases causing them to look more pronounced. Instead, choosing a lightweight liquid foundation that looks more like a second skin, and applying it strictly only where you really need it, will give you a healthy radiant glow.
If You Have Mature Skin
Don't skip out on makeup primer—it's the perfect product to add to your routine to smooth over fine lines, wrinkles, and imperfections to create the perfect canvas for a beautiful complexion.
Tip 3: Pack Your Makeup
Some airports will require that all of your liquids fit in one clear plastic bag– TSA says that all of the liquids that you're traveling with in your carry-on must fit in 1 quart sized, clear, plastic, zipped bag– so it's smart to have that handled before departure.
But how long you wear it matters more than you might think. Stick to a 6–8 hour limit whenever possible. Don't make it a habit to keep your makeup on for 12+ hours, and never sleep with it on. Prioritize washing and give your skin time to recuperate.
A search for “Vaseline under eyes” brings up thousands of people raving about this trick and several experts explaining how it works. You simply dab some onto the fragile skin under your eyes each night in place of eye cream to lock in moisture. The added hydration plumps up skin and can help reduce fine lines.
Mature skin: Those with more mature skin should opt for dewy makeup, since more matte formulas can settle into fine lines, wrinkles, and folds. Cream or liquid formulas will typically be your best bet.
A foundation brush offers more buildable, full coverage and precision, making it great for perfecting a flawless look, while a damp makeup sponge provides a sheer, natural, dewy finish by diffusing product into the skin but absorbs more makeup and can be less hygienic if not cleaned well. Choose a brush for control and intensity, or a sponge for a light, seamless, skin-like effect, often depending on your foundation type and desired finish.