February 9, 2025
The Best Makeup for Women Over 50: A Guide From Beauty Experts

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Makeup for women over 50 is all about the dew. Out with any product that’s prone to caking on the skin, say the pros, and in with skin care—think hydrating face bases and blushes infused with radiance-boosting ingredients. A well-placed bronzer never hurts, either—after all, a sun-kissed glow is winsome at any age.

Below, three celebrity makeup artists share a step-by-step guide to luminizing makeup for women over 50, from primer to makeup, eyebrow shaping, and the final spritz of setting mist.

Our Top Picks for Makeup for Women over 50

Skin Care Prep

“I find that the better the skin prep, the less makeup I need to use,” says celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon. For women over 50, “my focus is to hydrate, plump, and smooth the skin as much as possible,” she says. “I’ll often start with a sheet mask or serum as it delivers the product more deeply. Then I tend to massage on a heavier cream or oil, or apply a mask that can be left on under makeup to ensure a healthy glow.”

She gravitates toward brightening creams for the eyes. “Just don’t use anything too heavy as the makeup can slip and settle in any fine lines,” she instructs. Aharon is in favor of using the fingers or hands to apply skin care products; a brush will also do the trick.

Joanna Vargas

The deep-conditioning sheet mask uses epidermal growth factors to even out the skin tone and boost radiance.

Tata Harper

Packed with hyaluronic acid, this flower-powered mask replenishes lost moisture while evening out the skin tone—massage a generous layer onto the face and neck, then leave for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing off.

Next Up, Priming

Photo: Courtesy of Ingu Chen & Sena Murahashi

“The right primer can really help blur fine lines and pores, and extend the life of your makeup,” Aharon says. She recommends brushing on a thin layer of primer after your skin care products have set in. “Let it settle for a minute before applying foundation,” she says.

Laura Mercier

Perfecting Pure Canvas Primer

With vitamin C for brightening and green tea extract to moisturize, the primer also has aloe vera to soothe irritated skin.

Saie

If a bronzing, lit-from-within glow is what you’re after, look no further that Saie’s Glowy Super Gel. This weightless multitasker adds a hint of radiance to the skin—as a primer below foundation or simply on its own.

Concealer for Women Over 50

The best concealers for women over 50 meld hydrating ingredients with actives, such as peptides, for anti-aging benefits. When it comes to application, a gentle approach pays off. “On the delicate under-eye area, less is always more,” says celebrity makeup artist Azra Red, who works with Isabella Rossellini. “Proper hydration is essential, so start with a hydrating eye cream and incorporate eye masks into your routine—they make a noticeable difference. I like to keep my eye patches in the fridge and apply them in the morning while going about my daily tasks.”

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