Aging gracefully is something many of us aspire to, and the right skincare and makeup routine can make a significant difference. Today, I’m sharing nine easy tips to help women over 50 on how to tweak their beauty routines to achieve a more youthful appearance.

Let's dive into these tips and explore how to incorporate them into your daily regimen.

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1. Cleansing and Exfoliating

In my journey to maintain vibrant, youthful skin, I've learned the importance of a tailored cleansing and exfoliating routine. I want to share with you the practices I've adopted that have significantly improved the look and feel of my skin.

My Daily Cleansing Routine

I emphasize using a cleanser that serves a dual purpose: removing makeup effectively and cleansing the skin. I use this cleanser twice a day. It's gentle enough for my aging skin yet powerful enough to remove all traces of makeup and cleanse my skin thoroughly. Here’s why this is important:

Gentleness on Aging Skin: As our skin matures, it requires products that are effective without being harsh. A gentle cleanser such as Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ensures that the skin’s natural balance is maintained.
Dual-Action for Efficiency: A product that can both cleanse and remove makeup saves time and ensures your skin is perfectly clean, which is vital for the steps that follow.

My Exfoliation Routine

Following up with a gentle exfoliator is a step I never skip. Here's how I approach it:

Daily, Gentle Exfoliation: I use a soft exfoliator, Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads, that are suitable for everyday use. This consistency in exfoliation helps keep my skin clear and vibrant.
The Right Kind of Exfoliator: I choose an exfoliator that is mild. Some exfoliators can be harsh and are recommended for use only once or twice a week, but mine is soft enough for daily use.

The Benefits I’ve Observed

This combination of daily cleansing and gentle exfoliation has been transformative for my skin:

Removing Dead Skin Cells: Regular exfoliation plays a crucial role in removing the layer of dead skin cells, which often contribute to a dull appearance.
Clearer, More Vibrant Skin: This routine has helped give my skin a clearer and more vibrant look, something I’ve always aimed for in my skincare journey.

2. Managing Facial Hair

My Personal Experience with Facial Hair Post-Menopause

One of the biggest things I wasn’t expecting when I hit menopause, and my 50s was the increase in facial hair! This included hair growth in areas like my eyebrows, which became thicker and unruly, the development of a unibrow, and noticeable hair on my upper lip and chin. I even encountered peach fuzz on my cheeks and jawline.

What’s up with that? So I decided to tackle the issue at home, and here’s what I do to tame my facial mane.

Tools for At-Home Hair Management

To address these changes, I discovered and incorporated a couple of key tools into my routine:

Precision Trimmers: For precise areas like eyebrows, the unibrow, upper lip, and chin, I use a small power trimmer, Conair All-In-One Facial Trimmer for Women. This tool is ideal for at-home use, offering control and accuracy without the risk of razor burn or stubble associated with traditional razors.
Facial Shaver for Peach Fuzz: To tackle peach fuzz, particularly along the cheeks, jawline, and neck, I use this Schick Hydro-Silk Touch-Up Dermaplaning Razor facial shaver. This tool gently removes the fine, soft hair without irritating the skin.

The Benefits of Regular Hair Management

Regular use of these tools has made a notable difference in my skincare and makeup routine:

Smoother Makeup Application: By removing peach fuzz and other facial hair, makeup applies more smoothly, leading to a more polished and flawless finish. The absence of fine hairs means foundations and powders glide on without getting caught, which can otherwise lead to a patchy look.
Enhanced Skincare Efficacy: With less facial hair, I’ve noticed that skincare products absorb better and more evenly, improving their effectiveness.
Boosted Confidence: Managing facial hair has also boosted my confidence. It's empowering to take control of these changes in my appearance and to feel good about how my skin looks and feels.

Ease and Convenience of At-Home Tools

One of the reasons I advocate for these tools is their convenience. While professional treatments like waxing are an option, the ease and privacy of handling it at home have been a game-changer for me. Since discovering these tools in 2020, I've found them to be indispensable in my beauty regimen.

By incorporating a small trimmer and facial shaver into my routine, I've maintained a smooth, hair-free face, improving my makeup application and boosting my overall confidence in my appearance. Remember, the key is finding what works for you and embracing the changes in your body with grace and self-care.

3. Anti-Aging Skincare Products

If you want to turn back the clock on aging, consider a skincare line that reverses aging.

The Role of PTT-6 Stem Cell Serum in Calecim's Products

Calecim's skincare line stands out due to its incorporation of a patented ingredient, PTT-6, which is derived from stem cells. This innovative approach to skincare is based on the latest advancements in science and technology. Here's how PTT-6 enhances the efficacy of their products:

Stem Cell-Derived Actives: PTT-6 is a compound derived from stem cells known for their regenerative properties. These actives work at the cellular level to rejuvenate the skin.
Supercharging Skin Cells: The presence of stem cell-derived actives in the serum helps in supercharging the skin cells. This means that the cells receive messages to behave more youthfully, enhancing the skin’s natural regenerative processes.
Protein Production: PTT-6 aids the skin in producing essential proteins. This contributes to various skin health aspects, such as improved elasticity, reduced inflammation, and overall skin repair.

Benefits of Using Calecim's Skincare Range

Investing in skincare products like those offered by Calecim can provide numerous benefits, especially for those looking to address signs of aging:

Reducing Inflammation: Products containing PTT-6 can help reduce skin inflammation, often a precursor to various signs of aging and skin damage.
Improving Skin Elasticity: Enhanced elasticity is a key factor in youthful skin. Calecim's products work to improve this, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Repairing and Rejuvenating Skin: The overall effect of using these products is a more repaired and rejuvenated skin appearance. This is particularly beneficial for those experiencing the visible effects of aging on their skin.

Personal Experience and Endorsement

In the video, I shared my experience with Calecim's skincare products and how they have positively impacted my skin. The noticeable improvements in skin texture, hydration, and overall appearance affirm the effectiveness of these products.

If you’d like an additional discount on these products, use code NANCY2023 or the links below! You can use this coupon on any product on the Calecim website.

Here are the Calecim products I use:

Professional Serum (Pink) - This product is the holy grail of the Calecim line. You only need a few drops of this stem cell serum patted into the skin for maximum results that repair skin and reduce inflammation.
Multi-Action Cream - If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, I love Calecim’s Multi-Action cream. It gives you an entire jar of stem cell lotion applied after serums and before moisturizer in your daily skincare routine. Use it to boost collagen and elastin production, lifting and firming skin.
Professional Pigment Solution - This is one of the products I’m most excited about. I have a lot of freckles and sun damage, including this large sunspot I’ve had for twenty years. The professional pigment solution works to brighten and is a superior treatment for uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation.
Restorative Hydration Cream - If you’re looking for a top-notch moisturizer to hydrate and plump your skin, I recommend this hydration cream.
Recovery Night Complex - Need a little boost through the night? Try Calecim’s Recovery Night Complex. Just apply a thin layer at night and wear it as a mask. In the morning, rinse it to uncover bright, smooth skin with less inflammation.
Advanced Hair System - I didn’t try this product, but if you’re struggling with thinning hair, alopecia, or hair loss, Calecim’s advanced hair system is a game-changer. It uses stem cells to help regrow hair, and the clinical results are astounding.

4. Eyebrows

The Aging Impact on Eyebrows

As I've experienced firsthand, eyebrows can undergo significant changes as we age. They can become thinner, lighter, or even turn gray. These changes can subtly alter how our face is framed, often making us look older than we feel. My eyebrows have grown lighter and faded to the point where they sometimes aren't even recognized by social media filters!

Enhancing Eyebrows for a Youthful Look

Properly enhancing eyebrows is essential in countering these aging effects. Here’s how I approach it:

Choosing the Right Color: The correct shade for eyebrow makeup is crucial. It should complement your natural hair color and skin tone. Using a light color to fill in and define my eyebrows works best for me. It’s enough to make a noticeable difference without looking unnatural.
The Technique Matters: How you apply eyebrow makeup can significantly affect your appearance. I focus on a subtle enhancement that defines the brows without overdoing it. This means filling in sparse areas and gently shaping the brows to suit my facial structure.

The Visual Impact of Enhanced Eyebrows

The difference enhanced eyebrows can make is remarkable. When I do one eyebrow and compare it to the other, the contrast is clear:

Face Framing: Well-defined eyebrows help frame the face more effectively, drawing attention to the eyes and enhancing overall facial symmetry. I use Thrive Causemetics Instant Eyebrow Fix Eyebrow Gel to accomplish this.
Youthful Appearance: Fuller, well-shaped eyebrows are often associated with youth. By enhancing my eyebrows, I can create a more youthful and lively appearance.

The Challenge of Thinning Eyebrows

Thinning eyebrows is a common issue as we age, and finding ways to enhance them naturally becomes more important. I’ve experienced this thinning effect, which makes the enhancement even more critical in my makeup routine.

Everyone’s eyebrows and aging process are different. It’s important to experiment and find what works best for your particular eyebrow shape, color, and the aging changes you are experiencing.

5. Mascara Application

The Challenge with Bottom Lashes

As I've realized in my makeup routine, how we apply mascara, especially to the bottom lashes, can have unintended aging effects. Here’s why:

Accentuating Under-Eye Wrinkles and Dark Circles: Mascara on the bottom lashes tends to draw attention to fine lines, wrinkles, or dark circles under the eyes. This can be more pronounced as the skin ages, and these features become more prominent.
Risk of Smudging and Flaking: Mascara applied to the lower lashes is more prone to smudging and flaking throughout the day. This can create a shadow effect that makes dark circles appear worse or gives an impression of tiredness.

Focusing on the Top Lashes

To combat this, I've shifted my focus to enhancing the top lashes only, and I use Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. This approach has several benefits:

Opening Up the Eyes: By applying mascara primarily to the top lashes, the eyes appear more open and lifted. This creates a more alert, youthful look.
Avoiding Unwanted Attention to Under-Eye Area: By skipping mascara on the bottom lashes, I avoid drawing attention to areas that might reveal signs of aging, such as under-eye bags or wrinkles.

Application Techniques for a Youthful Effect

When applying mascara to the top lashes, I use specific techniques to maximize the youth-enhancing effect:

Wiggling the Brush at the Base: This technique adds volume to the lashes at their base, giving a fuller, more vibrant look.
Light Application Towards the Tips: I avoid heavy application towards the tips of the lashes to prevent them from looking weighed down or clumpy.
Curling the Lashes: Using an eyelash curler before applying mascara can add an extra lift to the eyes, enhancing the open-eye effect.

My Personal Experience and Results

In my experience, this change in how I apply mascara has made a noticeable difference. It's a simple tweak to my makeup routine that contributes significantly to a fresher and more youthful appearance. My eyes look more lifted, and the focus is drawn upwards, away from any potential under-eye issues.

6. Blush Technique

The way we apply blush can greatly influence our overall appearance, especially as we age.

Traditionally, many of us have been taught to apply blush to the apples of our cheeks, but I've discovered that this method may not be the most flattering, especially for mature skin. As our skin loses some of its elasticity over time, applying blush to the apples can inadvertently accentuate a downward shift in facial features.

However, a simple adjustment in technique can counteract this effect. We create an illusion of lift by applying a blush higher on the cheekbones and sweeping it upwards towards the temples. This upward motion helps counteract the appearance of sagging and adds a youthful contour to the face. The key is to find the highest point of the cheekbones, usually just below the outer corner of the eye, and use this as the starting point for your blush application.

The choice of blush also plays a crucial role in achieving a youthful appearance. Selecting a color that complements your skin tone and mimics a natural flush is essential; softer shades tend to be more flattering on mature skin than overly bright ones. Additionally, the texture of the blush can make a significant difference.

As we age, our skin can become drier, so a cream blush, which adds a touch of hydration and gives a dewy finish, can be more flattering than a powder blush. I use Thrive Causemetics Triple Threat Color Stick Blush. Blending is crucial to avoid harsh lines and to ensure a natural transition of color, enhancing the face's lifted appearance.

To further accentuate the lifted look, I sometimes incorporate contour and highlight into my routine. Applying a contour just below the cheekbones can add depth, while a touch of highlighter on the top of the cheekbones brings radiance and emphasizes the lifted effect. It's remarkable how this simple change in blush application can transform our look, offering a more vibrant and rejuvenated appearance. This technique is a testament to the power of makeup in not just enhancing our features but also subtly turning back the clock on our overall look.

7. Lipstick Choices

As we get older, the way we approach makeup, especially lipstick, needs to adapt to the changes in our skin and features. In my experience, one significant shift has been moving away from dark, matte lipsticks to lighter, glossier options. Matte lipsticks, particularly those in darker shades, can be less forgiving on mature lips. They tend to draw attention to the smaller size that lips often become with age and can highlight fine lines around the mouth. This is due to the nature of matte formulas, which, while long-lasting, don’t reflect light and can make lips appear flatter and less plump.

In contrast, opting for glosses can have a remarkably rejuvenating effect on the overall appearance. Glosses inherently reflect light, which can make the lips look fuller and more hydrated. This added sheen brings a youthful vibrancy not typically achieved with matte lipsticks. In my routine, I’ve found that glosses, such as the Revlon Super Lustrous The Gloss line or those from Thrive Causmetics Glossy Hydrating Lip Serum, offer the right balance of color and shine. They provide sufficient pigment to make a statement, while their glossy finish keeps my lips looking plumper and more youthful.

Another technique I’ve found helpful is to start with MAC Lip Pencil, that matches my natural lip color. This helps to define the lips and prevent any feathering or bleeding, which can be a concern with glosses, especially for those of us dealing with fine lines around the mouth. The lip pencil is a barrier, ensuring the gloss stays in place. The combination of a well-defined lip line and a light-reflecting gloss creates a fuller, more defined look that is both modern and age-appropriate.

8. Cream-based Makeup over Powder

As we age, our skin undergoes various changes. It can lose some of its natural oils and elasticity, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. This is where the choice of makeup texture becomes crucial. In the video, I've talked about my own shift from powder-based to cream-based makeup products and how this change has positively impacted my skin's appearance.

Powder makeup, while it has its benefits, can pose challenges for mature skin. Its tendency to settle into fine lines and wrinkles can inadvertently highlight these signs of aging, making the skin appear older. Additionally, powders often lack the hydrating properties needed for aging skin, which can result in a cakey or dry appearance.

On the other hand, cream-based makeup products, such as foundation, concealer, and blush, offer several advantages for aging skin. First and foremost, their hydrating properties help in maintaining a dewy, youthful look. Cream products blend seamlessly into the skin, minimizing the appearance of lines and wrinkles rather than accentuating them. They also tend to have a more luminous finish, which can bring a healthy glow to the skin.

In my routine, I've found that switching to cream-based products has made a noticeable difference. A cream foundation and concealer provide a smoother, more even coverage, and help in achieving a more natural look. They feel lighter on the skin and avoid the heaviness that can sometimes be associated with powder makeup. Similarly, a cream blush adds a natural flush of color and can be blended effortlessly for a subtle, youthful radiance.

Moreover, cream-based products are versatile and buildable. They can be applied lightly for a natural day look or layered for more coverage or intensity, suitable for evening wear. This flexibility is particularly beneficial as it allows for tailoring the makeup to specific needs and occasions.

9. Don’t Forget the Neck and Hands

As much as we attempt to look younger by using creams and lotions on our faces, our necks and hands often reveal our age.

The neck and hands are constantly exposed to environmental factors, much like the face, but they receive significantly less care. This disparity in skincare attention can result in the neck and hands revealing one's age more prominently. In the video, I emphasized the importance of not neglecting these areas and shared some of my strategies for maintaining their youthfulness.

Regular application of SPF is crucial for both the neck and hands. The skin in these areas is thinner and more susceptible to sun damage, accelerating the aging process. Sun exposure can lead to age spots, wrinkles, and a leathery texture, all contributing to an aged appearance. We can significantly reduce these effects by applying a good SPF sunscreen daily, such as Jane Iredale HandDrink Hand Cream with SPF. This practice protects against immediate sunburn and wards off long-term damage.

In addition to sun protection, using products like multi-action creams can be particularly beneficial. These creams often contain ingredients that target the signs of aging, such as hyaluronic acid for hydration, peptides for skin repair, and antioxidants for protection against environmental damage. Regularly using these products on the neck and hands can help improve skin texture, elasticity, and overall appearance. In my routine, I apply these types of creams to my face, neck, and hands, ensuring that they receive the same level of care and attention.

Furthermore, it's essential to realize that the skin on our neck and hands might have different needs than our facial skin. For instance, the neck might be more prone to sagging and benefit from firmer, more lifting products, while the hands might require intense hydration to counteract dryness and exposure elements.

Do you have any additional tips or questions about skincare and makeup for aging well? Let us know in the comments below!