The Essential Makeup Products Every Older Woman Needs

These items will enhance your beauty as the birthdays accumulate.

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Published October 03, 2024
photo collage of different beauty product recommendations for mature women
Ethel Staff

I seem to remember when I was a teenager reading somewhere that Jane Fonda — who was probably in her 20s at the time — proudly proclaimed that she could put on her makeup and be out the door in about an hour. An hour?? I could have used those 60 minutes to rearrange all my bedroom furniture, read Tiger Beat cover to cover or teach my parakeet a new trick. In those days, I dotted my breakouts with concealer, boosted my eyelashes with a layer of mascara and swiped on my Bonnie Bell lip gloss in five minutes max!

These days, my routine takes at least 15 minutes and is more deliberate than it was in my teenage years.

Here, are some essentials that will enhance your beauty as the birthdays accumulate:

— Before applying any makeup, make sure your skin is well hydrated. Use a rich moisturizer such as Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel with Hyaluronic Acid, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream or Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream to help create a smooth canvas.

— Use a primer on top of your moisturizer but before applying foundation. I was skeptical about adding this step to my morning makeup routine — until I tried it. It really does help smooth out fine lines and pores. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer (a brand founded by Rihanna) keeps skin moisturized all day while also extending makeup wear. e.l.f. Poreless Face Primer is a great drugstore pick. From Carmindy Beauty, the Lit From Within Daily Prep, sold at Scent Beauty is a hybrid moisturizer and primer all in one; the foundation literally glides on top.

— Throw away powdery foundations which can look dry and chalky on mature skin. Instead, choose a lightweight, hydrating formula that won’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles. Apply foundation sparingly with a damp sponge or brush to achieve a natural finish. L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation with SPF 50 is lightweight, evens out skin tone and provides daily sun protection. Designed for darker skin tones, BLK/OPL TRUE COLOR Pore Perfecting Liquid Foundation goes on smoothly and blurs imperfections. And despite its higher price, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my personal favorite, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Natural Glow Foundation, which leaves skin looking hydrated and dewy.

— A good concealer is a multi-use product that corrects color, covers dark spots and brightens the under-eye area. The best ones for mature skin should be lightweight, creamy formulas. COVERGIRL Clean Invisible Concealer; NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer; and Maybelline Instant Age-Rewind are all packed with pigments and hydrating ingredients for a natural-looking finish.

— Blush is my favorite product, maybe because I’ve always been pale. Apply your blush on top of the apple of your cheeks, (higher than where you used to put it because as we age, our skin begins to sag a bit), up toward your temples. I like Jones Road Miracle Balm in a bronze-colored “All Over Glow” followed by a swipe of Miracle Balm’s “Dusty Rose,” a universally flattering color, as a second layer of color. Laura Geller Serum Blush Cheek Tint is a sheer wash that comes with an easy-to-use spongy applicator; Ilia Multi-Stick Cream Blush + Highlighter + Lip Tint is that multipurpose product I always keep handy.

— As we age our eyebrows become sparser. Benefit’s Goof Proof Brow Pencil and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz will both help fill in brows for a natural and more defined look. So too will e.l.f.’s Ultra Precise Brow Pencil, a drugstore brand that’s only drawback is its limited choice of colors.

— -Natural shades of eyeshadow brighten eyes without looking harsh. Again, do away with powders or shimmer, which can accentuate fine lines. Instead, opt for a matte or satin finish. Blend with your fingers for a quick application. Apply a light shade on the lid and a medium shade on the crease. Smashbox’s Always On Cream Eye Shadows; Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Cream Eyeshadow Sticks and ColourPop Shadow Stix all blend effortlessly.

— When it comes to eyeliner, opt for a warm brown color instead of black, which can look harsh on mature skin. Almay All-Day Intense Gel Eyeliner has a smooth, creamy formula. The easy-to-apply Sephora Collection's Waterproof 12HR Retractable Eyeliner Pencil and NYX Professional Makeup Slim Eye Pencil Long-Lasting Eyeliner, a bargain at $5, are two other good choices.

— Mascara, applied in two layers, will help lashes achieve length and volume. Again, brown is a kinder, softer color than black. Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara from Thrive Causemetics is a “tubing” mascara that wraps each lash in a water-resistant tube rather than depositing the color on the lashes. Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Washable Mascara is infused with bamboo extract for long, full lashes. Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara features a dual-sided wand to help lift and curl on one side and lengthen and remove clumps on the other. This product comes in a mini as well as regular size, easy for traveling.

— Can we talk lips? My beloved Lipsmacker just won’t cut it anymore — and neither will some of the other, matte formulas I’ve loved which now settle into my fine lines. Instead, a hydrating satin lipstick works best to keep lips moisturized rather than drying them out, such as bareMinerals Mineralist Hydra-Smoothing Lipstick or Urban Decay Vice-Hydrating Lipstick (in satin, of course!). Revlon ColorStay Satin Ink is a liquid lipstick — wipe the excess formula off the wand before applying several thin coats to build up color.

— And finally, my last and best tip, this from makeup artist Carmindy Bowyer; “Our eyesight is waning. Get yourself a good magnifying mirror so you can see what you’re putting on your face without your glasses.”

 

What brand of makeup is YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments below.

Lynn Schnurnberger is a bestselling author, longtime contributor to major national publications, frequent TV guest, former NBC talk show producer, and founder of Foster Pride, a nonprofit empowering youth in foster care through mentoring and the arts.