Easy Makeup Ideas for Older Women

by: Linda Robison / Facial Fitness Specialist @ ABZ

Here are my 5 easy makeup tips to help you look more vibrant, awake, and well… just a bit better. 😊

These makeup ideas focus on those little-unknown tips that can make a big difference in how your makeup looks.

Instead of a step-by-step guide on how to apply makeup, I'll cover some simple techniques to help you to accentuate your features.

Try these ideas to bring out your best look.

Let's start with the eyes first

I don't know a woman over 50 who doesn't struggle with eye makeup application.

Too much eye makeup and we look aged and harsh. Not enough and we look washed out and tired! It's hard to find a balance that works.

As we age, wearing eye makeup is tricky because our eyes change in a number of ways, including:

Eye color:

This is the number one reason why I wear eyeliner, to help my eyes pop!

My once very blue eyes, just don't seem as vibrant, now that I'm in my 60s. That's because the color of our eyes can fade with age due to changes in the production of melanin.

For example, blue eyes may become more gray or green, and brown eyes may become lighter.

Skin:

The skin around the eyes become thinner, wrinkled, and less elastic, leading to the formation of dark circles, and bags.

What to do?

How my eyes look after using golden champagne gel eyeliner on upper and lower lashes.Makeup Idea: I lined the lower and upper eyes with this champagne brown gel liner. It creates a soft focus without harsh lines.

Consider lining the upper and lower eyelids with a medium colored (but intensely pigmented eyeliner. You want to create a soft focus all around the lash line.

Here I used a very thin brush to apply a rich gel eyeliner in Golden Champagne Brown. Note: The brush and eyeliner were created by award-winning makeup artist Debra Rubin-Roberts.

It helps my eye standout, without looking harsh. Also, you don't have to be super precise in your application since it doesn't require precise, defined makeup lines. You can also try this with a soft colored eyeshadow.

See more ideas on applying eyeliner for mature eyes here.

Get thicker eyelashes with powder

Eyelashes before and after applying powder.

Dusting your eyelashes with powder can make them appear thicker because the powder adds volume and texture to the lashes. It essentially creates a base for mascara to cling to, making your lashes look fuller and more prominent.

You can use a finely milled, translucent face powder or a specific lash powder for this purpose. 

What to do?

To apply, you can use a clean, dry mascara wand or a disposable spoolie brush. Gently coat your lashes with the powder before applying mascara. Just be sure not to overdo it, as too much powder can clump and look unnatural.

Have your eyebrows disappeared?

A makeup idea for more defined eyebrows is to pencil them in with a sharp eyeliner pencil.

With age, our eyebrows thin out. Nothing makes beautiful eyes stand out more than well groomed, defined eyebrows. Not to mention, thin, spares brows you age your face.🫤

What to do?

I like to use a super sharp eyebrow pencil. It has a nice waxy consistency, so it won't deposit too much color and is easy to work with. 

Tip: If the skin around your eyebrows has any oil or moisturizer, the pencil may deposit too much color or look too waxy. I found that by dusting the brows with a bit of powder helps the pencil makeup go on smoother and last longer. You can use same powder you used on your eyelashes.

How: Use a clean spoolie or Q-tip, dip it in powder and rub across your eyebrow hairs. Then apply your eyebrow pencil.

Now, use the pencil to draw tiny lines to fill in the bald spots. Usually you only need to fill in the bottom of your eyebrow line and the outer corners. That's where there seems to be the least amount of hair.

Eyebrow Shade Rule of Thumb: If you have dark hair, go for lighter shade. Got light hair, go for darker shade. However, always consider your skin tone for the perfect match.

For example, fair skin with dark hair, try taupe or ash brown. While dark skin with light hair, try caramel or chocolate brown. This ensures your brows look natural and harmonize with your hair color.

Finally, take an old toothbrush and brush the brows up and over. This grooms the hair and helps blend in the eye pencil color.

Interesting Tip: Beauty editor Lois Joy Johnson, AARP, suggests you fill in your brows before your eye makeup, not after. It creates a bigger frame for your eyes, and can even change how much eye makeup you'll need – maybe not as much as you think!

Exfoliate before applying foundation

Exfoliate your face before applying foundation.

As we age, our skin can't shed dead cells effectively. This buildup makes makeup look uneven, blotchy, and dry. Exfoliating is crucial for older women, creating a smoother base for a polished makeup look.

What to do?

Exfoliate! Light exfoliation should be done weekly and chemical exfoliating peels should be done a few times a month.

Here are some easy ideas:

Washcloths: This is a simple gentle exfoliation method for mature, sensitive skin. The texture of the cloth helps remove dead skin cells. 

Homemade Scrubs: Use natural ingredients like baking soda, sugar, salt, coffee grounds, or oatmeal. Then mix one of them with a hydrating base like honey, yogurt, or olive oil to create a paste. Gently scrub in a circular motion for a few minutes. Then, rinse with warm water and moisturizer immediately. Do this a few times a week or as needed.

Chemical Peels: This is a more potent exfoliation method that you can do a few times a month. They involve the use of acids like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) that remove dead skin cells more effectively. Chemical peels can help improve skin texture and reduce signs of aging. I love lactic acid because it's great for dry skin.

Highlight and lift your face

I added a dot of a highlighter makeup above each eyebrow to give the eyes a lift.Above eyebrow highlight. Here I used Mommy Makeup Champagne Brown Gel Liner as it can be used anywhere on the face.

As we all know, sadly, our facial features tend to droop as we age.

One simple trick to give your features a "makeup lift" is to dot a bit of shimmering highlighter above the eyebrows and on the top of your cheekbones.

Makeup Ideas: Final Say

While there are countless makeup tutorials for older women out there, I didn't want to cover that same ground.

Instead, I wanted to zero in on the five areas most affected by the aging process, which can present unique challenges when it comes to makeup application.

This includes:

  • highlighting the eyes
  • enhancing eyelashes
  • Filling eyebrows
  • smoothing the skin
  • lifting upper face

It's all about enhancing your natural beauty as you gracefully age.😊



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