For many of us, makeup simplification becomes more important particularly as we age. This post discusses some of the steps we can take to achieve a more minimal makeup over 60 routine. Topics include the use of multi-purpose makeup, creating a makeup capsule, aging and luminance contrast, and the key components of a minimal makeup look.
Also included is a short video demonstrating my own simple makeup capsule.
Makeup Over 60
What makeup can and moreover what makeup is a woman over 60 willing to wear and still look great? The answer to this question becomes a bit complicated as our attitudes toward what we want from our beauty routines often change over time.
At least mine did and it seemed sudden. My decades-long quest to accrue beauty and makeup products faded away as did my desire to spend a lot of time “doing” my makeup. Simplification became the name of the game. And, in speaking with my peers, I don’t believe I am alone in this.
For those of you in this camp, let’s talk about some steps to take and priorities to simplify your daytime makeup by creating a “makeup capsule”. This capsule is comprised of a select group of products that allow for easy quick makeup with a natural but better result.
To do this, I share 8 steps or fundamental rules of the road that help achieve the look and the capsule.
STEP 1: Acceptance
Making changes to our beauty and beauty routine requires not just changes in the physical world but also in our inner world.
It’s hard to age and aging and its acceptance (along with ageism) is a much bigger topic than this blog post. However, I will say that acceptance of what we see in the mirror and even honoring it is important to take a beauty routine to the next level.
Acceptance gives us the opportunity to objectively and consciously choose what we want to do with our beauty routine and with a better result. Repeating what we did years ago most likely will not continue to work.
STEP 2: Multi-Purpose Makeup
The underpinnings of a makeup capsule are simple makeup and a “less is more” philosophy. For instance, if you were on a trip and could only take the smallest of makeup bags, what would it contain? Most of us would need to be thoughtful and strategic. That is the spirit of the makeup capsule.
Swiss Army knife your beauty product choices, and consider products that can do double or even triple duty.
My simple makeup capsule contains only 6 products excluding skincare and foundation. With that said, even my skincare/tinted sunscreen does double duty as a foundation.
The 6 products are:
- Bronzer/Contour-for warming the face, adding dimension, and eyeshadow
- Blush-for blush and lipstick and eyeshadow
- Eyebrow Pencil
- Mascara
- Moisturizing Lipstick/Lip Color for blush as well
- Eyeliner
STEP 3: Prioritize Skin Condition
Makeup simplification works best when skin is in its best possible condition at any age but particularly so with age. In fact, starting with the most hydrated and exfoliated skin means less makeup overall and minimal makeup is advantageous for our best look ever.
While we were younger, more makeup could compensate for a lot of skin sins. That’s not the case anymore.
As we age, more makeup simply means a higher likelihood of stuff getting into wrinkles and/or laying on top of the skin. This results in a caked-on look and is the opposite of the result we want.
For reference, I have 2 posts on the topic that can help with achieving the best skin possible. The first is a Daily Skincare Routine and the second is Exfoliation. I am passionate about the topic simply because it is such a game-changer and confidence booster.
STEP 4: Color and Vibrancy
When pulling together a makeup capsule and simplifying makeup, thoughts about the colors we use become more important than ever.
Luminance Contrast Diminishment
As we age, we lose something called luminance contrast.
Luminance is defined as the light that enables us to see objects in the world. It is the brightness that is received into your eye i.e. how bright an object appears. Luminance Contrast is the relationship between the luminance of a brighter area and that of an adjacent area.
With age, the color and luminance difference between facial features diminishes. Studies with focus groups have shown that this diminishment cues us to our perception of someone’s age. The less of a contrast difference, the older someone looks.
We fade from Technicolor to grayscale and with that fading, there is also a flattening effect- 3 dimension to 1 dimension. It’s hard to quantify I know, but it’s very real. Our color change affects every area of the face and head including skin, hair, eyebrows, lips, etc.
Makeup Color Choices
This means that when pulling together a Makeup Capsule, we think about a.) punching up the color we put on our face, b.) ensuring there is contrast/added dimension integrated into what we do, c.) minimizing any cakey type of look on the skin.
Warm vs Cool Colors
If you have always gravitated towards cool colors with blue, red or pink undertones, I would encourage you to re-evaluate and consider trying warmer tones with golden, yellow or peach undertones. While this will not work for everyone, it works for many and you may be surprised at the effect.
Color is a huge topic and I have many requests to devote some time/posts to it. I will be doing that. For our purposes here, it’s clear that we may need to reassess what color tone we are and/or what looks best on us now. The rule of thumb is to re-evaluate every 5-15 years. I can attest that my colors have dramatically changed over time (and with hair color changes too).
STEP 5: Cream Products
Whenever possible, consider cream products as opposed to powder products. Cream is much more forgiving to wrinkles and dryness. They even act as a sort of primer laying on top of the skin to give it a bit more of a smoothing effect. They can also help add luminosity which in turn combats luminance contrast diminishment.
Fortunately, many cream options now exist for most makeup categories. If interested in a few options, take a look at my Holy Grail Shop.
STEP 6: Easy Application
For an optimal minimal makeup capsule, consider products that are exceedingly easy and quick to apply. Fingers are great if you prefer them!
Cream products often and automatically fall into this category.
Here are a few products to consider:
Bronzer
Bronzer adds subtle natural color, warmth, and dimension to the face. It enhances blush, accentuates cheekbones and hits many of the checkboxes for our makeup over 60 beauty goals. It also can serve as an eyeshadow.
I have a whole post on it here along with some recommendations.
Blush
A luminous, dewy, and more translucent blush advantageously placed adds dimension and color as it can serve as a kind of highlighter giving shine and color to the high points of the face.
Blush as Eyeshadow or Lipstick: Some of that blush can be placed where your eyeshadow or lipstick would go. Just dab a little with your finger. It’s quick and natural looking.
Here are a few good blush options that I recommend at different price points. My favorite is Ilia and it’s clean/natural too.
Makeup Kit Tools
Read more about simple and easy alternatives to your finger in this post here.
STEP 7: Eyebrows Frame the Face
Eyebrow Pencil
As you assess what is in your makeup capsule, consider that one of the most youth-enhancing things we can do is our eyebrows. It frames not only our eyes but also our faces. Eyebrow color can brighten our entire face (much like bronzer).
For more information on eyebrow color and products, read my post here and access the eyebrow color guide in the Free Resource Library here.
STEP 8: Lips Balance the Face
Lipstick/Lip Color
Lipstick adds balance to the face. Consider playing up the lips with color to brighten the face. It is equally important to keep your lips well moisturized.
The key here is choosing the color. In the spirit of being judicious, natural, and vibrant, go a shade or 2 darker or brighter than your natural lip color and keep with the warm or cool tone of the rest of your makeup. As I mentioned previously, your cream blush can also multi-task for lipstick.
Here are a few lipsticks options that are easy to apply at various price points.
Trinny London Lip Luxe
Glossier Ultralip
Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Color
Summary
This post discussed 8 steps to achieve a more minimal makeup over 60 routine. Topics included the use of multi-purpose makeup, creating a makeup capsule, aging and luminance contrast, and the key components of a minimal makeup look.
I would be very interested to know your path to makeup simplification.
Thank you for reading!
xO
Andrea
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Kay says
I love this simplified approach to makeup. I use a lot of the products you mentioned. And I discovered that I have been putting blush on wrong! Thank you!
The Beauty Maestra says
Thanks Kay! I’m glad it was useful.
Kierin says
Great content!
The Beauty Maestra says
Thank you!