Make up for over 50

Have you noticed that the Makeup industry has really changed over the past 8-10 years and I feel like I have been so out of the loop.  For 8 years I ran my own bakery, so I wore little to no makeup on a daily basis, so I had a lot of catching up to do in the makeup department.   I believe in the saying, "What comes around, goes around."  Today's makeup trends definitely reflect aspects of years past, that we grew up with.  A couple of examples would be, the 70's cat eye look, making liquid eye liner the rage, and the 80's was all about bold colors and extremes.  While those styles are still considered dramatic, the industry as a whole has embraced the whatever floats your boat mentality.  If you like bold and dramatic, then go for it.  If you like natural, there are amazing products to help you achieve that youthful, dewy glow.  The thing that amazes me about make up options today, is all of the sparkles and glitter.  Seeing some of the adds or You Tube videos with so much glitter on the eyes, almost make my eye water, just seeing it!  Ha!

If you type in Makeup Over 50, you will find several videos/tutorials to watch and it can be a little overwhelming.  There are videos on eye makeup, contouring, highlighting, etc.  Most of what I found focused on the eyes, because let's face it ladies, the skin around our eyes change as we get older.  It definitely thins out and even thought I don't like this word to describe what happens, it does describe it fairly well....crepey.  I have noticed that the skin around my eyes have gotten drier, so finding a good moisturizer for that area in particular is so important.

When watching videos on You Tube you have to watch with a grain of salt.  Some of the videos give the feeling that they are showing the ONLY way for older women should do their makeup.  I watched one video that stated that mature women should never wear anything shimmery, sparkly or glittery, that we older women should leave that to the teenagers and 20 somethings.  While the glitter trend is not for me personally, I don't feel that there are hard and fast rules for aging women.  If you want to rock the glitter and that makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, then go for it.  I also watched some very informative videos on how to accentuate your eyes with shimmer shadows, so that you can feel trendy, but not step too far our of your comfort zone.  I noticed that a few of the videos were younger girls doing the make up on the models, so their train of thought might be what they would want their own mother's to wear, so they may be a bit biased of what a "mom" or "grandma" should look like.  So, while you may be able to learn a new technique, keep in mind, that you want to be you.

The videos that I enjoyed and got the most useful information from, were other fifty-somethings doing their make up on camera.  I tend to open videos that look interesting and look pleasing to the eye, because that is ultimately what I'm after, right?  The desire to be more pleasing to the eye.....my eyes.  I have to give it up these ladies for going on camera (You Tube) with not a stitch of make up on, for millions to see and match over and over again.  I will link a few of the videos that I enjoyed below.

My message for this post is to just be yourself.  We are fortunate enough to live in a time when we don't have to conform to what society thinks we should do. Our younger, more insecure days are behind us.  Our 50's and older can be the best times of our lives.  Be who you are, own it and enjoy it.  We can take life, fashion and make up a little less seriously and dabble in new products, styles and enjoy all that this industry has to offer.  So glam it up, or glam in down, whatever suites your mood, or style.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS2JOPKWVHs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6itu_Utb_uw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M59J0bzqfSs

Any and all of the videos by Dominique Sachse are highly recommended.  They are very professionally done because she is a news anchor in Houston Texas, but she does a great job with make up and hair tutorials.
https://www.youtube.com/user/dominiquesachsetv