Move over, ageism. The older woman has been savouring her moment in the global beauty spotlight for the last year. Not only is she looked up to for being ripe with wisdom, strength and life’s rich experiences, but also, the global beauty industry has made a beeline to create products particularly suited to mature skin and hair.
Stunners like Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Naomi Campbell and Jenifer Lopez have demanded attention for epitomising ageless beauty and turning heads with effortless sophistication. Let’s take a leaf out of their books to look and feel like a million bucks, no matter how many years we have walked the earth.
Eyeing your beauty – Sparse eyebrows will do nothing to frame your face, so filling them in (ever so lightly for a natural effect) will make all the difference. You may be past the cut-crease and winged-liner look, but you can still befriend crinkly or pigmented eyelids with an eye-lid primer (or a dab of concealer) and a medium-toned eyeshadow that you can use to create a fake crease slightly above your natural crease to open up the eye. Smudge the upper lash line with a brown pencil or eyeshadow for soft, doey eyes. Skip this step for the lower lids; it tends to lend wise-with-age eyes a droopy look. A couple of coats of good quality mascara and you’re ready to receive admiring glances.
MAKE-UP
The use of make-up is purely per choice, whether you are 25 or 55. It can, whenever you feel like it, be used to enhance your looks to come across as the best version of yourself. But when you’ve come this far with knowing yourself and speaking your mind, make sure to let the real ‘you’ shine through your make-up. Here’s how a dash of greasepaint can keep it looking elegant.
Firstly, throw out the rule book – Going through all the make-up motions of a 20- or 30-something YouTuber may not be to your advantage. Overlook the extras like contouring, highlighting and ‘baking’. Concentrate on what you absolutely have to hide or need to play up, and keep a light hand while you’re at it.
Laying the foundation – Primer gives make-up staying power and moisturiser will allow you to buff it all out without that dry, patchy finish. Go sheer and steer clear of full coverage bases that end up in a cake-face appearance. A tinted SPF by day and a light-weight foundation by night will help you achieve an even tone while keeping skin looking like skin (as opposed to the last pancake in the stack).
A playful flush – Applying blush (muted hues please) slightly higher on the cheekbones with an upward sweep lifts the facial features.
Lips that seal the deal – The formula of your lipstick can make or break your look. Stay away from the extremes – drying mattes or high-shine gloss. Choose colours that complement your undertone and use lip liner just a tad beyond the border to keep colour from bleeding.
SKIN CARE
The key is to think ‘healthy and radiant’ rather than ‘younger and anti-ageing’. Years of pollution, sun exposure, bodily changes and lifestyle habits take their toll on the skin, making it rougher, drier, less elastic, prone to pigmentation and much thinner – all causing the dreaded W word – wrinkles! Here’s how to help your skin to age with elan
An effective emollient – Rich facial moisturisers work to soften and hydrate skin, saving it from resembling the Sahara. Oils like argan, almond, olive, shea and coconut are easily absorbed into the skin to keep the moisture locked in, and double up as effective eye cream.
Go natural – Using products free from phthalates, fragrance, sulfates, soap and parabens helps older skin.
Exfoliate – A good scrub keeps the face free of dead skin cells that make it look dull and allow it to better drink in the moisturiser and serums you feed it.
Avoid hot water – It dries skin, stripping it of necessary natural oils. Using lukewarm water foams the cleanser, removes surface dirt and balances sebum well.
Vitamin C – A serum infused with this potent antioxidant neutralises free radicals that lead to fine lines and wrinkles. It improves collagen production, helping to support skin structure while resulting in a bright, even skin tone. It’ll allow you to use less foundation and concealer, which is one of the fundamental beauty commandments for mature skin.
Sun protection – The sun’s UV rays cause skin proteins (elastin and collagen) to deteriorate, thereby causing thin, wrinkled skin. Slather on a sunscreen with at least SPF30 every morning.
NAILS
Keep hands looking notice-worthy with regular at-home or professional manicures. Be mindful to file nails in one direction and not overdo the use of any nail tools. And use that hand cream. Also, don’t listen to anyone who says that red polish is only for younger gals!
HAIR
Whether you colour, or show off your grey, wear your mane in style. Gone are the days when milestone birthdays came with a mandatory (read outdated) short crop. Talk to a trusted stylist about long layers, soft bangs, a pixie or a long bob. Nourish your tresses often with hair oils, masks and conditioner to keep the hydration and shine going. If hormones are wreaking havoc with your hair, consult a doctor for necessary supplements.
