This post is part of the Gorgeous 50’s series inspired by a book given to me by one of my sisters on my 50th birthday – ‘Grown up and Gorgeous in your 50’s’ by Pamela Robson. I will be sharing some of Pamela’s words and my own thoughts along the way. To see all posts published as part of this series, go here.
Pamela says:
A beautiful complexion is your biggest asset; it’s an accessory in itself. Beauty trends come and go, but flawless skin is in every season, every year – we’re talking dewy, fresh and natural. Yet it’s easy to get stuck in a time warp, wearing foundation that looks like, well, foundation. It’s almost a century since Max Factor and Elizabeth Arden took pancake make-up from the (silent) silver screen and sold it to shopgirls. Today a cakey, powdery base can make even the prettiest woman look like a drag queen – and certainly far older than her age. The solution? Take advantage of technology, and look for foundation that contains light-reflecting properties. Trial different brands at the department store beauty counters. Bases that promise to make your skin ‘dewy’ or ‘luminous’ contain particles that bounce light off, creating the illusion of a fresh, smooth surface.
Expert Tip
Your skin becomes drier with age and your make-up must allow for this. Rather than using a regular foundation (which can be too matte), consider tinted moisturisers or moisturising foundations. There are products out there that multi-task beautifully: moisturiser, light foundation or face tint, and sunscreen, all in one! There is a whole industry competing for the older woman’s complexion – which means there are many new products containing anti-aging and light-reflecting ingredients.
Here’s an idea!
Apply a creamy concealer that’s about two shades lighter than your skin tone on dark eye circles. This instantly makes you look more rested and youthful.
My thoughts:
Other than the suggestion of using a tinted moisturizer as a foundation (I wouldn’t), I totally agree with what Pamela says. I left it a little late in life to put time and effort into skin care. I dabbled in it throughout my life, trying a variety of different products. Ultimately though I never stuck to anything and resented the expense of it all.
Nowadays I see the value in good skin care and want to conserve and protect while I can! I’ve discovered the WomanOil8 Australia products and of course I love them so much (I use the Gorgeous Woman Skin Care range) that I not only use them but I sell them as well (here if you’re interested). They’re 100% natural plant-based oils. Once you start me talking about them, it’s very hard for me to stop so I won’t say anymore except that my skin has never, ever felt so beautifully hydrated, nourished and glowing as what it does now, at the age of 54!
As for make up, I think I could do better. I agree that we need to avoid thick, cakey, matt foundations. We need dewy and luminescent! We want a product that will cover the blotchy, pigmented elements of our skin and even out our skin tone, but we want to still have a lovely healthy, natural glow! Also, as we get older, the less is more mantra becomes more and more relevant to us!
I’m sure you’ve heard that our skin is our largest organ and it absorbs all that goes on it straight into our bloodstreams. With this in mind, I believe it is very important to avoid makeup (and skin care) that is full of chemicals and toxic substances that are bad for us. 100% natural ingredients is what we should be looking for.
I like the foundations I use but I have my eye on another range at the moment that I believe would be a better partner for my skin care products and me. I use 100% natural and nourishing products on my skin as part of my skin care regime and I want the same from my makeup. I believe I may have found the range for me. I’ll share more about this range and what I think of it once I’ve tried it, and if I’m happy with it.
Have you got a favourite make-up brand? Is it doing you favours or do you think you might need to revise your choice? Are you team ‘dewy & luminescent’ or team ‘matte’?
Ciao for now
Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit | Kathy of 50 Shades of Age |
Deborah of Debbish | Jo of The Hungry Writer – Joanne Tracey.
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all five blogs.
16 Comments
I use a tinted moisturiser or BB cream most days and only use foundation when I go out or if I’m in the office. I tend to favour a lighter foundation. I’m on the search for one that’s more natural at the moment but that still feels (and smells) good, so if you find one, let me know!
I use a BB cream for casual day wear and a proper foundation for special occasions etc. I’ll let you know if the brand I plan to test out turns out to be a winner! 😃
I’m just old. I believe I’m generally invisible so I don’t worry too much about this anymore. I don’t wear make up most days but I do like benefit pore reducing whatever for going out. I use that as foundation.
You are not invisible Lydia, or old! I don’t wear makeup during the day at home, only if going out and even then, I don’t wear much. I wear it though for myself. I find that if I pop on some BB cream or Foundation, a bit of mascara and some lippy (for casual day outing – bit more for night event) – it gives me a lift and makes me feel better about myself. 😉
I bought some ‘real’ foundation a year or so ago but tend to just use the BB cream I have – which is white but goes on skin-colour – if I need something. I can’t seem to get foundation right and of course I get sweaty with anything on my face. I’m trying to moisturise more though as my skin was already dry and it’s getting worse.
I have that BB cream that goes on white and matches your skin colour too Deb – Garnier? I have dry skin so I’ve been moisturising all of me after every shower. Just routine now!
I’m a bit of a makeup minimalist – but I do use a great (cheap) foundation/cover that is easy to dab over the areas that need it and then I leave the rest of my face free to breathe. I bit of eye makeup and a touch of lippy and that’s my full makeup routine that only happens if I’m going out somewhere or to work. I’ll never be the glamourzon with eyelash extensions and the full works – it’s just not my thing.
I’m a makeup minimalist too Leanne. I truly don’t wear much. Day time outing – foundation, lippy or lip gloss, mascara and maybe a bit of eyeliner. Night time outing – definitely I’d add eyeliner, brow pencil and some blush. I don’t do eyeshadow. All of it is light and nothing that looks drawn on and fake – I don’t like that look at all. I have never tried eyelash extensions! lol
I use a power instead of foundation. It looks natural and keeps my skin hydrated (at least I think so). I am OCD with moisturising my face morning and night but I think I should deep clean more often than i do
Anything that looks and feels natural and makes us feel good is perfect in my books! Keeping our skin hydrated gets more important as we get older because our skin gets dryer as we get older. I always give my skin a good cleanse before bed each night and again when I wake up.
Hi Min, I’ve used tinted moisturisers but they don’t provide coverage which is what I need. Plus I love the Gorgeous Woman Facial Oil. I’m currently using a foundation from Look Fabulous Forever which is quite good. My only problem has always been getting the right coloured foundation. To me good skincare is paramount because if you don’t have the base then no makeup will improve the look.
Hi Sue – I’m the same about tinted moisturisers – they don’t provide me with enough coverage. I’m so glad you love the Gorgeous Woman Skin Care products. You have to use them to understand how fabulous they are and what a game changer they are for our skin! With foundations – I haven’t had a problem getting the right colour but I like it to look natural and not pasted on and that’s where it can be problematic finding the right one. I’ve got one I really like but I’d like to improve on it with regards to ingredients within the product. I agree with you that no amount of makeup will disguise unhealthy skin. A good skin care routine is essential for healthy skin!
I prefer a dewy foundation as opposed to a matt one. I think too heavy and matt foundations emphasises the wrinkles and lines too much. My makeup routine has certainly simplified as I’ve got older. I think less is better. I hate seeing older women with too much makeup.
Totally agree Kathy – dewy not matte. Matte was ok when we were younger but not now. It’s aging and can make us look lifeless. My makeup routine has become simpler as I’ve gotten older too. Less is more!
I’m still team matte. I use Thalgo’s foundations. Still works for me at the moment (for now) but I can see it may become dry as I age.
I used to be team matte too in my younger days. I remember absolutely LOVING Shisheido powder (in a compact) foundation and it used to look so good! These days though, I need all the life/luminance I can get! lol x