Preparing Your Canvas: Skincare is Key
Great makeup begins with great skin, and this is especially true for mature skin. A consistent, hydrating skincare routine is the most critical step to achieve a smooth and radiant finish.
- Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: As skin ages, it produces less sebum and can become drier. Use a rich, high-quality moisturizer both morning and night. Allow it to fully absorb for several minutes before applying any makeup to avoid pilling.
- Use a Hydrating Primer: A primer is not a nonessential step for mature skin; it’s a game-changer. A hydrating, blurring primer with ingredients like peptides or hyaluronic acid can smooth the skin's surface, fill in enlarged pores, and create an even base that prevents foundation from settling into fine lines.
- Don't Forget SPF: Protecting your skin from further sun damage is crucial. Opt for a moisturizer or a foundation with broad-spectrum SPF to incorporate sun protection seamlessly into your daily routine.
Foundation and Base: The "Less is More" Approach
Heavy, matte foundations can often look cakey and emphasize fine lines on mature skin. The goal is to even out skin tone and add a healthy glow, not to create a mask.
- Opt for Lightweight Liquids: Choose a lightweight liquid or serum foundation specifically formulated for mature skin. Look for formulas with a radiant or satin finish and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. A skincare-makeup hybrid can offer nourishment while providing coverage.
- Use a Damp Sponge for Application: For the smoothest, most natural-looking finish, apply your foundation with a damp makeup sponge. This sheers out the product slightly and presses it into the skin for a seamless, airbrushed effect.
- Conceal with Care: Skip heavy, opaque concealers that can accentuate crepey texture. Instead, use a lightweight, creamy concealer with light-reflecting properties sparingly under the eyes and on any redness. Pat it in gently with your ring finger or a damp sponge.
Adding Color: Cream vs. Powder
Choosing between cream and powder formulas can significantly impact the final look. For mature skin, creams are often the better choice as they blend more seamlessly and won't settle into lines.
| Feature | Cream Makeup | Powder Makeup |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Dewy, luminous, and hydrating | Matte, can look dry and flat |
| Effect on Lines | Blends over fine lines without settling | Can settle into and emphasize fine lines |
| Best Use | Best for mature, drier skin | Can be used lightly on top of cream for setting, or avoided |
| Application | Blends easily with fingers, sponge, or brush | Can require more precise blending to avoid patchiness |
- Cream Blush: A pop of color on the cheeks adds a healthy, youthful flush. Apply a cream blush in a soft pink, peach, or rose shade to the apples of your cheeks and blend upward along the cheekbones to create a lifted effect.
- Subtle Highlighting: Avoid glittery, shimmery highlighters that can emphasize texture. Instead, use a subtle liquid or cream luminizer on the high points of the face, like the top of the cheekbones, to catch the light and create a soft, healthy glow.
Eye Makeup: Enhancing, Not Masking
As eyelid skin becomes thinner and looser, a different strategy is needed for eye makeup. Heavy, dark, or shimmery shadows can be aging.
- Prep the Eyelids: Use a dedicated eye primer to create a smooth, long-lasting base that prevents eyeshadow from creasing.
- Choose Matte, Neutral Shadows: Opt for matte eyeshadows in soft, neutral shades like peaches, soft browns, or grays. Use a lighter shade all over the lid to brighten, and a slightly darker shade in the crease to add definition.
- Use Brown Eyeliner: Black eyeliner can look harsh. A soft brown or grey pencil or gel liner provides definition without overpowering your features. Apply it as close to the lash line as possible and gently smudge it for a softer look.
- Curl Your Lashes: Eyelashes can thin and straighten with age. An eyelash curler can make a surprising difference in opening up the eyes. Follow with a light coat of mascara, focusing on the upper lashes to avoid emphasizing under-eye circles.
- Define Your Brows: Framing your face with well-defined brows is vital. Use a brow pencil or powder that is slightly lighter than your natural brow color. Use light, feathery strokes to fill in sparse areas, then brush through with a spoolie to soften.
Lip Color and Definition: Adding a Pop of Life
Lips can lose their fullness and definition over time. Hydrating lip products and careful application are key.
- Moisturize Your Lips: Use a nourishing lip balm before starting your makeup to plump and hydrate your lips.
- Use a Lip Liner: A natural-toned lip liner is essential to prevent lipstick from feathering into fine lines around the mouth. Use it to outline your lips and fill them in completely for a longer-lasting base.
- Opt for Creamy Finishes: Choose creamy or satin lipsticks and tinted lip balms. Avoid very matte or thick formulas that can look dry. Softer, brighter colors like soft pinks, peaches, and neutrals can be more flattering than very dark shades, which can make lips appear thinner.
The Final Touch: Setting Your Look
To ensure your makeup lasts without looking powdery, a light hand is crucial.
- Minimal Powder: If you need to set your makeup, use a very minimal amount of translucent, blurring setting powder only on areas that tend to get shiny, like the T-zone.
- Setting Spray: A hydrating setting spray can lock everything in place while adding a fresh, dewy finish. This is often a better option than powder for mature skin.
Conclusion
Applying makeup in your 70s is all about celebrating your beauty and enhancing your features with a lighter, more focused approach. By prioritizing proper skincare, choosing hydrating products, and mastering gentle application techniques, you can achieve a sophisticated and radiant look that feels comfortable and confident. Remember, beauty is timeless, and a little strategic makeup can go a long way in helping you look and feel your best.
For more expert advice on healthy living at any age, visit AARP's Health and Wellness section.
