The Best Makeup for Mature Skin, According to Makeup Artists over 50

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We often hear from friends and Insiders that they’re using less makeup as they get older. Some say they’re finding that it doesn’t apply as evenly anymore and tends to settle and cake. Others say that the colors just don't look right or that they'd rather focus on skincare.

Let us tell you what happens when you mention these observations to some of the most experienced over-50 makeup artists in the beauty industry: "Don't give up on makeup! It's such a useful tool to help us look and feel our best—even more so after 50. It makes my eyes look bigger and my jawline more defined. You are never too old, and it's never too late," says makeup artist Laura Geller, whose eponymous brand is made for women 40 and older. When it comes to shying away from color, makeup artist Jeanine Lobell (who founded Stila Cosmetics and now owns Neen) says: "Beauty rules around aging make me annoyed—wear what you want! A royal blue eyeliner is going to look amazing. An older woman with a matte fuchsia lip is so cool." Makeup artist Sandy Linter shares that many people give up on cosmetics because they don't know what to use. You have to refresh your cosmetics bag, she says. What used to be go-to formulas may not work for mature, often dry skin and features that have changed over time. What will work? Keep scrolling.

Multeye-Tasking Eye Care Set

Some of the most important products in your makeup bag are skincare, says celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg: "You have to start with clean skin or your products can pill easily." Then, apply moisturizer. Greenberg also has an eye prep protocol ("It's such an overlooked step but tired eyes drag us down," she says). She uses Lumify eye drops to whiten the eyes, applies eye cream under the eyes to help plump fine lines, and then places her reusable silicone masks on top "to help the product marinate" for a few minutes.

Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer

The biggest mistake you can make, according to Geller? Skipping primer. “After 50, it’s an important everyday step. It stops your makeup from creasing or settling into wrinkles, and it helps colors look richer.” The Hydrate version from Geller's iconic primer collection is like a moisturizer and primer in one.

Crème de la Mer Moisturizing Cream

"When skin is particularly dry, it will 'drink' up some of the foundation you apply," Lobell says. "I always prep the skin with La Mer. It has an almost tacky, dewy texture that I prefer over primer. It grabs the foundation perfectly and keeps it from absorbing."

Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

“The texture of our skin changes as we age, but don’t let that feel like a downside to aging! It just means that you need to switch up your routine,” Lobell says. One swap she’s made: “I prefer using a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. This is my go-to; it gives enough coverage without being shiny or cakey.”

Veil Hydrating Skin Tint

“If you have mature skin, these are the key words you have to look out for on a foundation label: hydrating, dewy, moisturizing, radiant, or glowy. Matte is no longer for you," says celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine. "This formula in particular is beautifully hydrating.”

Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Concealer Pen

You'll likely need a concealer, but it can be hard to find one that doesn't cake or settle into crinkles. "This diminishes darkness around the eyes without ever looking heavy," Linter says.

Spot Stick Concealer

After Lobell blends in her tinted moisturizer, she covers any still-visible brown spots or broken capillaries with this creamy, super-pigmented concealer. Applying it to the under-eye area “can be tricky. The days of just sweeping it on are long gone,” she says. “I use a small makeup brush to feather it and then set it with pressed powder—always pressed, not loose.”

Face Defender

“Translucent powder is the enemy! It sits in every single pore and wrinkle—and magnifies them,” says makeup artist Mally Roncal. This transparent balm is a smart alternative; tap it on with the included sponge to diffuse pores and fine lines.

Créme to Powder Skin Foundation

“Sometimes you may need extra coverage in certain areas or to set your makeup under your eyes. That’s when you can use this cream-to-powder formula," Fine says. "But, to be clear, don’t powder the entire face.”

Makeup Sponge

Overall, less is more, which is why it’s important to find tools that apply your makeup in transparent, blendable layers. “I swear by the Beauty Blender,” Greenberg says. Make sure you wet it, squeeze out the excess water, deposit makeup on it, and then “tap it onto the skin to work the product in seamlessly,” she says.

Lip2Cheek

“On older women, it's nice to apply the same color on the cheeks and mouth. You’ll get a slightly different tone because your lips are naturally darker, and it's going to end up blending together nicely," says makeup artist and founder of RMS Beauty Rose-Marie Swift. We love her creamy color pots, especially in the "Illusive" shade, a warm berry nude.

Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

“When I’m working on Queen Latifah, Vanessa Williams, or Gabrielle Union, I’m reaching for dewy, but not shimmery, finishes. We don’t want to fake the glow with shimmery highlighter or glittery blush. We want a hydrating formula that gives a real glow—that’s what this blush does,” Fine says.

Going Rouge

Do replace your powders with cream versions, but don’t feel as if you have to change the color. “As we age, we may tell ourselves that we are too old for a certain color or that it's ‘inappropriate,’” Lobell says. “Ladies, I am here to tell you that shimmer eyeshadows, highlighters, bold lips, and bright cheeks are amazing for older women. Have fun!” Example A: this berry blush from Lobell’s brand, Neen.

Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

"Most over-50 women look great with bronzer, and this lightweight cream formula is very easy to blend." Linter says.

Luminizer

"A cream, no-shimmer highlighter gives a dewy, light-reflective glow that signals youthfulness. That said, I can’t handle this 'dolphin skin' trend where the highlighter is allover. It looks like a greasy wrestler," says Swift. "Place it strategically—the cheekbones, bow of the lips, eyelid, browbone, and a little down the center of the nose.”

Bravo Brows Soft Pencil + Brush

Sure, you can skip eyeliner, Geller says (although she herself applies it daily). Even mascara is optional. "But never skip your brows," she says. This powder-in-pencil formula defines their shape without looking too harsh.

Major Brow Defining Pencil

For even more motivation to make time for our eyebrows, Fine notes that “when our brow hairs thin and lighten they no longer frame our face. So fill them in with a brow pencil. Choose one that’s at least one shade lighter than your hair.”

Waterproof Lip Liner

“As I’ve gotten older, my lipcolor bleeds a little more easily and seeps into lip lines. But that’s nothing a little lip liner can’t fix,” Geller says. “Outlining the lips frames them and makes them look plumper while also keeping my lipcolor in place.”

Positively Plump Lip Gloss

“I love a lip gloss. But don’t bring it all the way to the edge of the lip. If you have vertical lines around your mouth, the color will bleed into them,” Roncal says. “Keep your application focused on the center of your lips; you will still get a gorgeous, shiny pout.”

ProMaster Lash Curler

"After making the skin look healthy, the second most important feature I enhance is the lashes," says celebrity makeup artist Brigitte Reiss-Andersen. "A good eyelash curler and then a swipe of mascara give you a hot flair."

Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner

"If you find that rimming your upper and lower lash lines with black eyeliner gave you nice drama some years ago but now looks quite harsh, switch to a gray or brown pencil eyeliner, which looks softer," Reiss-Andersen says.

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow

"Every feature does not need to be equally enhanced. I like color, but I suggest keeping it on the lips and nails and leaning into matte browns and earth tones on the eyes," Fine says. "If you want to add a touch of a shimmery shade, tap it on the inner corners of the eyes and the brow bone—spots that don't wrinkle."

Evercolor Shadow Stick

“Creamy shadow sticks are a staple for me,” Roncal says. The ones from Roncal's eponymous brand are easy to use and have an eyeshadow primer built into the formula so they won’t smudge or crease.

Lid Scrub Original Foaming Eyelid Cleanser

Many women develop styes (from old makeup) or chalazions (from an inflamed oil gland), says Linter. It's important to use clean makeup tools and products that haven't expired, and to remove makeup before bed. "This remover isn't too oily and prevents blocked hair follicles," she shares.

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