I turned 63 this year.
And somewhere along the way, apparently I was supposed to receive a list of all the makeup things women over 60 are no longer allowed to do.
No shimmer.
No bold lipstick.
No dark eyeliner.
Don't wear too much foundation.
Don't wear too little foundation.
Don't do this because it makes you look older.
Definitely don't do that because—heaven forbid—you might draw attention to a wrinkle.
Good grief.
I've been in the beauty business for almost 30 years, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's this:
There are no makeup rules after 60.
There are things that may work differently on our skin than they did at 30 or 40. Absolutely. My skin has changed. My face has changed. And yes, I've changed the way I apply my makeup because of it. However, I've also never been one to wear a lot of makeup to begin with. I've still not mastered eyeliner and smoky eyes.
But that's very different from someone telling me I can't wear something anymore because of the number of candles on my birthday cake.
Rule #1: Women Over 60 Shouldn't Wear Shimmer
Says who?
There's a difference between adding a little light to your face and dipping your entire head into a bucket of glitter.
I still love a touch of shimmer. The trick for me now is where I put it.
A little luminosity can make mature skin look gorgeous. I just tend to stay away from piling highly reflective products onto areas where I have more texture. Instead, I use them strategically—just enough to catch the light and brighten my face.
We're allowed to sparkle. We've earned it. I still miss Stila's Kitten eyeshadow. Hmmm maybe they still make it. I know Charlotte Tilbury has some good shimmer shadows, which one is your favorite?
Rule #2: Mature Skin Needs Full-Coverage Foundation
This is probably one of the biggest things I've changed.
For years, we were taught that foundation goes everywhere. Put it on, blend it out, cover everything and then start adding dimension back into the face.
These days?
I would much rather see skin.
As we get older, heavy foundation can sometimes emphasize the very things we're trying to disguise. Fine lines, texture and dry areas suddenly become much more noticeable when there's too much product sitting on top of them.
I prefer to use coverage where I actually need it and leave the rest of my skin alone.
A little redness showing through? Fine.
A freckle? It's lived here longer than some of my friendships. It can stay. 😂
Rule #3: You Need to Cover Every Imperfection
This one goes right along with foundation.
At 63, I'm not interested in erasing my face.
I want to soften certain things. Brighten others. Even out my complexion a little. But I don't need my skin to look like it was run through a filter. I've got Vitligo and I've gotten to the point where I've said hell with trying to cover it up. I use a bit of Keromask Camouflage Cream and moisturizer together for a nice tinted moisturizer or I use my Merit sticks.
That's also why I've always loved highly pigmented products like Keromask Camouflage Cream. You don't need to cover your entire face with it.
A tiny amount in the right place can do the job.
That's something I think becomes even more important as we get older: less product, better placement.
Rule #4: Women Over 60 Should Only Wear Neutral Lipstick
Absolutely not.
If you love a beautiful nude, wear it.
If you love pink, wear pink.
If you feel fabulous in red lipstick, for goodness' sake, wear the red lipstick.
Color near the face can actually be incredibly flattering as we get older. Our natural coloring changes over time, and sometimes that little pop of color is exactly what wakes everything up.
I've never understood the idea that getting older means we're supposed to slowly fade ourselves into beige.
No thank you.
Rule #5: Makeup Should Make You Look Younger
This may be the rule I disagree with most.
I'm 63.
I don't need to look 43.
What I want is to look like me on a really good day.
I want my skin to look healthy. I want my eyes to look brighter. I want a little color in my cheeks. And I want to walk past a mirror and think, Yep. Looking pretty good today.
There's a huge difference between wanting to look your best and believing you need to look younger.
Aging isn't something makeup needs to fix.
What I Have Changed After 60
Now, before you think I've thrown every beauty lesson I've ever learned out the window, there are definitely things I do differently.
I use less product.
I'm much more particular about keeping my skin hydrated before I apply makeup.
I pay more attention to texture.
I blend more.
And I've become much better at knowing when to stop adding things.
That last one might be the greatest beauty lesson I've learned in almost 30 years.
Sometimes the answer isn't another product.
Sometimes it's putting the brush down. 😂
Here's My Rule for Beauty After 60
Wear what makes you feel beautiful.
Maybe that's nothing but moisturizer and lip balm.
Maybe it's concealer, mascara and blush.
Maybe it's a full face, false lashes and the brightest lipstick you own.
The wonderful thing about being 60+ is that we've had plenty of time to figure out who we are.
Our makeup doesn't need to make us younger.
It doesn't need to make us look like someone else.
And it certainly doesn't need to follow somebody else's rules.
It should simply make us feel like ourselves.
Preferably ourselves on a really, really good day. 💕
xx,
Lisa
Beauty Cafe — serving up a few of my favorite things since 1997.
