Makeup-Bag Must-Haves in Your 50s

“In your fifties, most women are in some stage of peri- [or plain old] menopause. And because fewer are using hormone replacement therapy, the side effects can be pretty dramatic. “Two things that may affect your makeup: Your skin tends to be chronically dry, and it can heat up rapidly when you’re having a hot flush.” Your goal is to use products that won’t melt and smudge when your temperature spikes but that are still emollient enough to look and feel good on your parched complexion.

1. Primer(s)
To head off a meltdown, you can use primers on your skin, eyelids and even lips to help makeup stay put. Additionally, choose formulas, including a primer, that moisturise.

2. Moisturising Foundation
Most women in their fifties, need some foundation to look your best. Opt for formulas that boost hydration. Waterproof ones may also be an option.

3. Concealer
It may seem counterintuitive, but a sheerer concealer is more flattering as your skin ages,. Heavier cover-ups may be opaque, but they’re also apt to sink into lines around the eyes. A better bet: a concealer-highlighter hybrid. The luminescence softens flaws without the -layers of -caking-prone cover-up.

4. Eyelash Curler
Lashes don’t just thin as you age, they also straighten out. So if you haven’t been using an eyelash curler to date, now’s the time to start. Pump only once at the roots and again halfway down the lashes. Applying waterproof mascara (as recommended under Waterproof Eye Makeup, below) will also hold the curl better than traditional formulas.

5. Waterproof Eye Makeup
“Women start to complain in their fifties that their eye makeup just doesn’t last. Hot flushes (and the cosmetic slip-’n’-slide that results) are one reason. Upping the ante on a good moisturiser, such as Pause Hydra Crème is another; Using an eye shadow primer will help. But so will applying waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Another option: gel eyeliners (which come in a pot and are applied with a narrow brush); they aren’t strictly waterproof, but they’re pretty close—and they glide easily across ageing eyelids. Finally, don’t neglect your brows; use something there that’s water resistant, too.

6. Matte Eye shadow
Most makeup pros we spoke with agreed that shadows with a matte finish are most flattering on fifty-something eyes. (If you just cannot let go of your shimmer, we suggest you tap it in the inner corners of your eyes to subtly brighten.) Apply one matte light colour (ivory, sand, camel, soft pink) over the whole lid, then swiping on a slightly deeper shade in just the crease. Even if your eyelid is in a daily struggle against gravity, this will add some lift.

7. Bright Cream Blush
Following your mantra to moisturise, choose a cream blush. It’s less likely to streak on dry skin, and the formulas are typically pretty sheer, so you needn’t worry about looking overdone. The pros say keep your shades : pink, peach or alternatively use a matt bronzer. Tap the colour on the tops of the apples of your cheeks, about a half inch below your eye.

8. Creamy Lip Colour Plus a Pencil
Like the rest of your face, your lips need to be treated with products that are extra emollient. However, glosses and slick lipsticks are apt to bleed into the little lines around your mouth. To derail that, trace your mouth with a nude or rose lip liner, colour in your lips, then top them off with a sheer, bright and creamy lip colour.