Living in Florida I can’t help but notice older women and how they dress, makeup and do their hair. It may be due to failing eyesight or just getting stuck in a look but there comes a time when you really need to give yourself the once over and ask if you’re stuck in the fifties, dressing too young for your age, over applying make up or wearing your hair in a less than attractive look for your age just accentuates how old you look.
Brows:First of all you cannot take a black pencil and draw two semi circles where your brows should be. Older women tend to have thinning brows. A line is not an eyebrow. An eyebrow is made up of many little hairs. You can approach a thinning eyebrow three ways. You can use powders or an eyebrow pencil and if you’re hand is not steady there are stencils to guide you through creating fresh eyebrows. The eyebrows frame the eyes. Go lightly at first and practice your new eyebrow look. Steer away from Black. It’s harsh. Black eyebrows, eyeliner or hair is very harsh and unnatural looking unless you are of Indian descent. Even then it’s aging. What is best for a mature face is a medium to full brow with just a slight arch, not an upside down “V”. You can use brow powder or even eyeshadow in a light to medium brown and this will fill in the spaces where hair has thinned or is completely gone. I prefer a pencil with a sharp point and I literally draw little wisps indicating hair. If you feel the color doesn’t stay on all day try covering it with a brow gel. When purchasing a stencil look for the shape that matches your original eyebrow shape. You can find kits in places like Sally’s Beauty Supply. Each kit will have several stencils.
Here’s another little tip. Rogaine! You can apply men’s Rogaine with a Q tip wherever you’re brow hairs have gone missing. Rogaine has minoxidil in it and that will stir hair follicles to produce hairs..
Color: Blondes look best with brows that are dark blonde or taupe to a very light brown color. Both redheads and brunettes will find that light to medium browns work well. Deep Auburn to dark Brunettes can use a dark brown pencil or powder. If you happen to have hair with highlights match your darkest undertone. Women with Gray hair can use a brow pencil or powder that would match their original hair coloring.
If you still have brows but they’ve become wiry or unruly trim along the top line with cuticle scissors. after brushing the upwards. You can use a clean old mascara brush, called a “spooley” to brush them. A good beautician can also do this for you.
Skin: Skin ages. You have to re evaluate your skin care and make up. Dead cells linger, the texture may go uneven on you. This will only be accentuated if you use a powder foundation. To start with, you can get facials or do an at home treatment to slough off dead cells. Use a warm wash cloth when cleaning your face or clean with a good facial cream cleanser and wash cloth. You can do an oatmeal scrub to slough off the old skin cells. Heavy make up will settle in the creases of your skin.You need to have a light hand and look for a cream foundation and cream blush. If you really feel more comfortable with powder go lightly when applying. Find a really good night cream. Each person’s skin is different to test a few. Many companies do home parties where you can try product on.Make up counters in the major department stores will be more than happy to have you try their product. Merle Norman still does testing, trying and application. I love the Mary Kay Night Emollient Cream. It’s quite heavy but I swear it’s fighting wrinkles for me. I use it on my face and neck. Do not forget your neck. A good cream on your lips and around your lips is important. Avoid smoking. This will cause lip and facial wrinkles. Easy on the wine too.
Hands: Age spots occur and there are treatments for that. The crepe skin on the hands can be treated with a good hand cream and a pair of gloves at night. Some spas or nail places will do this for you with a warming glove to help the cream absorb. I’ve had this done. My hands still show my age but I figure it still is good to take care of them the best I can. This works on feet as well. You can also purchase little items like the Ped Egg to shave the rough skin off your heels and toes and then apply a rich cream. I use the Night Emollient Cream for this as well. Or, go to your nail place and have them take care of you with a nice manicure and pedicure. You’ve earned it.
Sunscreen is always of great importance no matter what your age.The younger you start using it the better. Use a foundation with a decent SPF. Apply a higher SPF then you think you need since most people don’t apply enough or don’t apply often enough. Start with at least a 30. Wear a hat or visor in the sun and wear sunglasses that are large enough to protect the skin around your eyes. Make sure your sunglasses have UVB protection.
Hair: Have you seen a picture of Ginger Rogers in her old age? Her “do” hasn’t changed since her early movies. It’s frightening. Nor has her make up. Nothing is more aging than a cute , long wavy hair do and heavy make up. Now check out Barbara Walters. She has a perfect look for her age.
If you’re dying your Grey do not go Black. If your hair is thinning do not tease and poof it. Scalp will still show. Go to a stylist and have them work with you. There are wonderful hair additions that you can use. Thinner hair is better shorter.Hair thats sprayed until it doesn’t move is bizarre looking. If you’re sleeping with toilet paper wrapped around curlers find another look. Long hair on most older women looks awful. There are a handful that can pull it off, not many. A shorter more classic look works so much better.
Clothing: You just cannot wear mini’s no matter how good your legs are. The look just clashes with your face. Shorts are tricky. Take a good hard look at your legs and be honest with yourself. A little length is usually better and any age can wear classic Bermuda shorts.You can find lovely tops that will cover your arms and , suits and dresses that stop at the knee. Arms, especially upper arms, tend to show age quite early. Creepy arms and chests are not something you want to flaunt. Pants do not need to have elastic waists and crazy prints. You can get pants with elastic inserts in part of the waist so you are still comfortable but those fully elastic waists add too much fabric. Tailored simple straight leg pants or capris in smaller prints or solids with a nice crisp blouse or classic collared golf style shirt look good. Check out Chico’s or Ann Taylor , even if you can’t afford their line it gives you an idea of what looks good. Very few women over 50 can get away with those string straps or strapless tops. Refer to crepe again. T shirts with sayings look silly. Yes, we know you like cats but you don’t have to have that emblazoned on your chest.
Lips: Lip color can be aging or not. Do not draw on Clara Bow lips or Lucille Ball for that matter. Try to work with your lip line. Even if you think you need fuller lips anyone looking at you can see if you stayed in the lines. I happen to love lip color on any woman. I love red lipstick, warm pinks and a lot of the stronger colors. That’s because when I put them on I seem to make people laugh. They don’t work on me but I think an older woman’s face is brightened up with some lipstick. Whatever color makes you happy is great..
Shoes: Well, I go for comfort but if you can still walk in high heels more power to you. There’s nothing bad about that look. This is more of a comfort thing. There are great sneakers, slip ons and walking shoes. You don’t want something you are going to fall out of or break you neck in.
Perfume: I thought I ‘d just touch on perfume. It’s not about age it’s about drenching yourself. My Mom was hot and heavy over L’Heure Bleu and Shalimar as well as Joy. All extremely potent. I’m not sure if all women have this problem but when you wear a perfume some women seem to build up an immunity to the scent and overdo. Try to keep in mind a little goes a long way. No one wants to be knocked over by your scent.
Well, go take a good look in the mirror and see if any of this applies. Check your wardrobe. Re evaluate and step out looking 100 per cent better.
