Ladies, let me spill some makeup secrets that’ll have you turning heads at any age! As a makeup artist who’s worked with countless beautiful women over 60, I’ve seen firsthand how the right techniques can enhance your natural beauty while addressing changing skin needs. These makeup ideas aren’t about looking younger—they’re about looking fabulous exactly as you are right now.
1. Hydrate Before You Create
Honey, moisturizer is your new best friend! I’ve watched mature skin transform from parched to plump with just one step of proper hydration before makeup application.
The days of slapping foundation on dry skin are over. A hydrating primer creates the perfect canvas, filling fine lines and giving your makeup something smooth to cling to rather than settling into creases.
My clients swear by hyaluronic acid serums underneath—they’re like a tall drink of water for thirsty skin!
2. Embrace Cream Foundations
Powder foundations are yesterday’s news for mature skin! Though I once reached for them automatically, I’ve completely changed my professional kit for my 60+ clients.
Cream foundations melt into skin rather than sitting on top, creating that seamless finish we all crave. They bring a natural dewiness that makes skin look alive and vibrant without emphasizing texture.
Apply with a damp beauty sponge using bouncing motions—never drag or pull on that precious skin!
3. Lighten Up Your Concealer
Where have I been all your life? Right here, telling everyone that heavy concealers are the enemy of beautiful mature eyes! Instead, opt for lightweight, hydrating formulas that won’t crease.
Hence my golden rule: choose a concealer just one shade lighter than your foundation. Anything brighter creates that dreaded reverse-raccoon effect that ages rather than refreshes.
Pat gently with your ring finger rather than rubbing—this finger naturally uses the perfect amount of pressure for delicate under-eye skin.
4. Redefine Those Brows
If there’s one feature that dramatically frames your gorgeous face, it’s those beautiful brows! As we mature, brows often become sparser and lighter—a perfect opportunity for subtle enhancement.
However, forget harsh pencils that create obvious lines. I reach for powder or tinted brow gels that create soft definition while looking completely natural.
Where brows have thinned, use short, feathery strokes in the direction of hair growth. Remember: sisters, not twins—aim for balance rather than perfect symmetry!
5. Cream Blush Is Your Friend
Nothing brings life back to the face faster than a touch of blush! Though powder formulations were once the standard, I’ve converted all my mature clients to creamy formulas.
Cream blushes blend seamlessly into skin without emphasizing texture or settling into fine lines. The subtle glow they provide mimics that natural flush we all love.
Apply with fingertips to the apples of cheeks, then blend upward toward the temples for a gentle lift. Peach and soft pink tones flatter most skin tones beautifully!
6. Skip The Shimmer (Mostly)
While I adore a good sparkle moment, I’ve learned through years behind the makeup chair that heavy shimmer can emphasize texture on mature skin. Instead, aim for products with a subtle luminosity rather than obvious glitter.
Though you should avoid chunky glitters, don’t fear all shine! A touch of fine pearl highlight on the high points of cheekbones creates dimension without drawing attention to texture.
If you love shimmer eyeshadows, concentrate them just on the center of the lid rather than all over for a modern, flattering look.
7. Embrace Softer Eyeliner
Those harsh black lines we once loved? They’re doing us no favors now! I’ve switched all my mature clients to softer eyeliner shades like brown, plum, or navy that define eyes without the severity.
How you apply liner matters too. Smudge it gently after application for a softer, more flattering look that enhances eyes without harshness.
Where the eyelid has become more hooded, keep liner thinner in the middle and slightly thicker at the outer corners to create the illusion of lift and openness.
8. Prioritize Eye Primer
If you’ve been skipping eye primer, you’re missing out on the secret weapon in my professional kit! Mature eyelids often have natural oils that cause eyeshadow to crease or disappear throughout the day.
Though it seems like an extra step, eye primer creates the perfect base for shadow to adhere to. It prevents creasing and keeps your gorgeous eye makeup looking fresh for hours.
Apply a thin layer from lash line to brow bone, then let it set for 30 seconds before applying shadow for maximum staying power.
9. Matte Shadows With Strategic Placement
While the beauty world goes through trend cycles, I’ve consistently found that matte eyeshadows are most flattering for mature eyes. They don’t emphasize crepey texture or fine lines the way shimmers can.
However, placement is everything! Apply your darkest shade at the outer corner and blend inward, keeping the intensity at the lash line and outer V.
Though conventional advice suggests avoiding warmer tones, I’ve found soft terracottas and warm browns actually bring out eye color beautifully while looking modern and fresh.
10. Curl Those Lashes
If there’s one step too many women skip, it’s this game-changer! Lash curling instantly opens the eyes and creates a more youthful, awake appearance without any product.
Though it seems intimidating at first, a good quality eyelash curler becomes your best friend. Position it at the base of upper lashes, squeeze gently for 10 seconds, then release.
Where lashes have become straighter with age, try heating your curler with a quick blast from your hairdryer (test on your hand first!) for a longer-lasting curl that transforms your entire look.
11. Mascara Magic For Mature Lashes
As a makeup artist who’s worked with thousands of clients, I’ve noticed how lashes often become sparser and finer as we age. The right mascara application technique makes all the difference!
Though volumizing formulas seem like the obvious choice, they can become heavy and clumpy. Instead, opt for lengthening formulas applied in thin, building layers.
Wiggle the wand at the base of lashes first, then sweep upward. Focus more product at the root than the tips for lift without weighing lashes down.
12. Define Those Lips
Where have your lips gone? It’s a question I hear daily in my studio! As we mature, our lips often lose definition and fullness—but the right liner technique brings them right back.
Though overdrawing seems tempting, it rarely looks natural. Instead, trace precisely along your natural lip line with a pencil that matches your natural lip color.
If your lipstick bleeds into fine lines around the mouth, try this pro secret: apply a tiny amount of translucent powder around the lip perimeter before lining to create an invisible barrier.
13. Embrace Satin Lipsticks
Matte liquid lipsticks might be trending, but they’re rarely flattering on mature lips! I’ve steered my 60+ clients toward hydrating satin formulas that add moisture while delivering beautiful color.
Though glossy finishes seem youthful, they can actually emphasize fine lines and travel beyond lip borders. Satin finishes hit that perfect middle ground—not too matte, not too shiny.
When choosing colors, don’t shy away from vibrance! Soft berries, roses, and warm peaches bring life to the face while remaining sophisticated.
14. Setting Spray Over Powder
Heavy powdering is officially canceled in my makeup studio! Though we once set our entire face with loose powder, this technique can leave mature skin looking flat and emphasize texture.
Instead, I’ve converted to the strategic use of setting spray which locks makeup in place while maintaining that coveted natural glow. If shine control is needed, use powder only in the T-zone with a light hand.
Hold your setting spray at least 8 inches from your face and spritz in an X and T formation for even coverage that extends wear time beautifully.
15. Invest In Good Brushes
If there’s one investment that transforms your makeup game overnight, it’s quality brushes! I’ve seen clients achieve professional results simply by upgrading from fingers to the right tools.
Though synthetic brushes work beautifully with cream products, natural hair brushes blend powders seamlessly. A good foundation brush, blending brush, and concealer brush form the foundation of any collection.
Where budget is a concern, prioritize eye brushes—the difference in blending and precision with even one good crease brush is remarkable!
16. Color-Correct With Care
Color theory becomes your secret weapon after 60! I’ve watched clients’ faces transform with just a touch of strategic color correction before foundation.
Though purple-tinted products brighten sallow skin, use them sparingly to avoid an ashy appearance. A peach corrector works wonders on dark circles, while green neutralizes redness around the nose or cheeks.
Where age spots or hyperpigmentation appear, a tiny amount of salmon corrector tapped directly on the spot before concealer creates an even skin tone without heavy coverage.
17. Frame Your Face With Bronzer
Forget harsh contouring—soft bronzing is the mature skin’s best friend! I’ve developed a technique I call ‘frame bronzing’ that adds dimension without the drama.
Though traditional bronzing covers large areas, try this instead: apply a matte bronzer (never shimmer!) just along the hairline, under the jawline, and lightly under cheekbones. This subtle framing effect adds warmth and structure.
When choosing a shade, go lighter than you think—bronzer that’s just one shade deeper than your skin tone creates the most natural sun-kissed effect.
18. Magnify Your Makeup Session
If I could share just one practical tip after decades in the industry, it would be this: get yourself a good magnifying mirror! Vision changes are real, and what looks blended in a regular mirror might not be up close.
Though it can be shocking at first (we all have pores!), a lighted magnifying mirror transforms your application precision. Position it in natural light whenever possible for the most accurate color representation.
Where glasses are normally worn, apply makeup with them on intermittently to check how your look appears to others.