It’s cold, your skin is dry, and your makeup routine is boring. Even I, with my ridiculous quantities of makeup, get bored and uninspired! The solution? Watch makeover videos of mature ladies! This month, I asked my friend Elaine to join me in my studio for a totally new look. In true diva fashion, Elaine brought her ultra-cute doggie, named Molly, to join us. Stay tuned to the end of the video to see their adorable photo we took outside my house.
In this fun and easy tutorial, I demonstrate how a pretty, natural look can be incredibly flattering, confidence-boosting, and practical, especially when the focus is on enhancing what you already have rather than covering it up. This beginner-friendly guide walks you through a simple, fresh makeup routine designed specifically for mature women who want a healthy, natural glow.
Start with Skin Care First
Before any makeup goes on, it’s important to start with well-hydrated skin. As skin matures, it tends to become drier, and makeup can settle into fine lines if skin isn’t properly prepped.
A lightweight moisturizer, vitamin C serum, and/or hyaluronic acid can help create a smooth, comfortable base and allow makeup to blend more naturally. Think of skin care as the base of your makeup; it sets the stage for everything that follows.
Using a hydrating CC Cream foundation that is a light to medium coverage is perfect for mature women and my go-to favorite. To keep everything very clean and natural, layer the foundation over discoloration, and only use concealer on top if needed. Think: less is more.
Easy trick: Be sure your skin is warm and freshly washed, this will ensure that the C serum and/or moisturizer is able to go beneath the top layer of the skin.
Simple Eye Definition That Brightens
Easy Cream Eye Shadows
Truth be told, when I worked in television as a makeup artist, I never touched a cream eye shadow. Now, as a woman in her 60s, I adore them. They are practical and simple to use including application and blending with a blender brush, and they last all day. On Elaine, I used one of my favorite shades, Toffee, all over her lid and under her eye. The neutral brown pops her blue eyes and looks pretty and natural.
Then I used water repellant eyeliner pencil in Wood all around her eye. This can be tricky. If you apply the liner too heavily and don’t blend sufficiently, it can look garish but properly done it can be gorgeous.
Easy trick: Place the liner between your lashes and thicken only on the outer edges of your eye.
Colored Mascara as a Style Choice
In the final images of Elaine, she is wearing a maroon jacket, so taking that cue, I applied a beautiful lengthening and thickening mascara in Mulberry. In fact, it’s always a good idea to consider what you are wearing before you do your makeup so that you can tie your outfit together with makeup choices.
I applied two coats of mascara and the final effect is a subtle pulling together of her total look. If you’ve never tried colored mascara, I encourage you to check it out. For blue eyes, try navy or maroon, green eyes look great with maroon or even brown if you are particularly fair skinned, and brown eyes can pull off just about any shade imaginable. Have fun with this!
Easy trick: Start at the roots of the lashes and wiggle the mascara wand to coat as much as possible. After that, swoop up to cover the whole lash.
Natural Color for Cheeks and Subtle Contour
Adding warmth back into the face is one of the most impactful steps in any makeup routine. A touch of blush and contour/bronzer can make skin look healthier and more lifted.
For best results:
- Smile slightly and apply a blush color to the apples of the cheeks.
- Add bronzer or contour just under the cheekbone, under the jawline, and highpoints of the forehead.
- Use a small amount of both and blend well in circular motions.
The goal is a soft flush that mimics natural color, not heavy contour lines.
Easy trick: Match your blush to your lipstick. Pink lips, pink blush. Warm lips, warm blush. The only time I don’t recommend this, is when your wardrobe is also pink, and it’s a color overload. In those cases, I use the opposite of the lipstick shade.
Hydrated Lips for a Polished Finish
As lips mature, hydration becomes essential. Instead of heavy, matte lipstick, a nourishing lip balm like Velvet Rose can add:
- Softness to the lips
- Aid in hydrating dry lips
- Give a healthy, flattering shine
For Elaine, I also used a neutral lipliner to stop any bleeding and make it look more polished.
As an aside, Elaine really loved this lip shade. She tries to add a flattering lip color daily and asked me to get this lip balm for her, which I happily did.
Easy trick: Put foundation on your lips before liner and lipstick. This helps your lipstick stay on longer and not droop as easily.
A Natural Glow at Any Age
Natural makeup after 50 thankfully doesn’t require complicated techniques or a long list of products. With a few thoughtful steps like hydrated skin, simple eye makeup, a touch of cheek color, and healthy lips, you can create a look that feels fresh, confident, and authentically you.
The new year is a perfect time to simplify, refresh, and embrace makeup that enhances your natural beauty. Remember, makeup isn’t about perfection, it’s about feeling good in your skin.
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Let’s Have a Conversation:
Do you like trying new makeup colors each season? Which ones look good on you in the winter?
