Best make up for older women: The definitive guide to what should be in your make up bag

Make up is a tricky thing! It can take years off you, and make you look like a better version of yourself. Or, it can age you and make you look older. If you’re looking to revamp your make up bag, below you will find the best make up for older women to make you look great every day.

Do I need to wear make-up?

Of course not. I often go makeup less day-to-day. There will be days when you want to pop to the shop make-up free, and there will be days when you prefer to add some make up for a little more polish.

Why make up for older women is a balancing act

While make-up can make you look younger, it can also do the opposite. For instance, make-up can collect in fine lines and make them look more obvious. Powder can dry out your skin. Or, if you’ve had the same make-up for decades, the techniques and colors you use can age you.

See more things that can date you or make you look older.

What make up to choose

In order to ensure you get the effect you want – probably to look younger and healthier – make up choices must be made carefully when looking for the best make up for older women.

Below are the best options for more mature skin. Let me know in the comments at the bottom if I have missed any of your own make up essentials.

Mel (above) wears lovely, fresh pink shades which look perfect with her hair color.

1. Primer for your face

While you may think of foundation as, well, the foundation for your make-up, the key to a great, long-lasting, line-reducing look is actually primer.

A good primer is a little like taking a photo with a filter. It helps to fill fine lines and enlarged pores as well as improving the texture of your skin before you add your foundation.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

2. Don’t forget primer for your eyes

As you age, skin becomes thinner, particularly the skin around your eyes. As eyelids become thinner, they can also develop an uneven color.

Adding a primer can disguise fine lines, even out color and make your eye shadow appear more vibrant as well as lasting longer throughout the day. It’s best to use a specially formulated eye primer which isn’t too heavy for this delicate area.

Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion

3. Eyebrow kit or gel

Many women have over plucked their eyebrows over the years, particularly because eyebrow trends come and go – and thinner eyebrows were in style in decades gone by.

Now, thicker brows are definitely on-trend, and can help to make you look younger. However, a combination of over plucking and eyebrows naturally becoming sparser as we age can make them thinner than you would ideally like.

Using an eyebrow gel can help to make your brows appear fuller, fill in gaps and frame your face. Choose a shade closest to your natural color so it doesn’t look too harsh against your skin coloring.

Meta (above) looks gorgeous and glowy with a beautiful, natural make-up look.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade^® Waterproof Brow Color

4. Foundation

As your skin becomes more mature, you will want to look for a foundation which provides a dewy, plumping effect without settling into fine lines.

You can also take a look at our recommendations on the best foundations for mature skin.

Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Instant Wrinkle-Defying Foundation

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation Makeup

5. Concealer

Next, concealer. As you get older, your skin becomes thinner, which means the darker blood vessels under your skin become more obvious, leading to dark circles under your eyes.

Look out for a concealer which covers circles and hydrates.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Multi-Use Concealer

6. Cream blush

Using a powder blush can create dryness and make lines more obvious. For a more youthful look, opt for a cream blush which will give a more dewy finish.

Alison (above) chooses a make-up look which makes the most of her naturally youthful skin.

Clé de Peau Beauté Cream Blush

7. Thickening mascara

Don’t necessarily go for black as this can be aging. A natural brown shade may be a better option depending on the natural color of your eyelashes. Also take a look at the best mascaras in stores now.

Jane Iredale Longest Lash Thickening & Lengthening Mascara

8. Natural eye shadow

Bright eye shadow can also be aging because of the connotations of 1980s blue eyeshadow, but also because it can obviously settle into creases. A safer, softer option is to choose flattering natural shades.

Eileen (above) chooses natural browns which make her eye color pop.

MAC Times Nine Eyeshadow Palette

9. Lip liner

This is one to be careful with. A really obvious lip liner can be aging as this is a look which was on trend in the 80s.

However, the right lipliner can prevent your lipstick from bleeding into the fine lines around your lips. Choose a lipliner in the exact shade of your lipstick, or a colorless lipliner.

Maybelline New York Makeup Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner

10. Creme lipstick

A very shiny lipstick can have an aging effect, and a matte lipstick can dry out your lips and settle into lines. So what’s the answer? A great option is a creme effect lipstick which will be flattering, long-lasting and moisturizing.

CHANEL ROGUE COCO Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour

11. Gel eyeliner

As we age, applying eyeliner can be trickier because an eye pencil can drag across your skin, while a liquid eyeliner can settle into creases. A gel eyeliner can give a smoother finish.

Sandra (above) opts for a classic, classy combination of black eyeliner and red lipstick.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner

For more tips, take a look at how to apply eyeliner after 40.

12. Eyelash curlers

One of the best tips as you age is to think about defying gravity! Curling your eyelashes can make your eyes look more open and provide an uplifting effect for your face.

Brilliant Beauty Eyelash Curler

13. A great set of make-up brushes

You need the right tools to do a great job, so it’s definitely worth investing in a good set of make-up brushes and looking after them.

BESTOPE Makeup Brushes

14. A make-up mirror

To ensure you apply your make up properly, a good mirror is vital.

Simplehuman Mini Countertop Sensor Makeup Mirror

15. Setting spray

While you will have used primer at the start of your make-up regime, if you want it to last a full day, it can be a good idea to spray on a fixing spray as your final step.

Carolyn (above) wears a lovely soft pink lipstick.

Rimmel Stay Matte Fix & Go 2-in-1 Primer & Setting Spray

Where to keep your make-up

Just as with the clothes in your closet, you’ll want to make sure your make up is properly organized so you can easily find everything you need.

Make-up bag

One option is to choose a make-up bag large enough to fit all of your make-up brushes and tools in.

Relavel Travel Cosmetic Case Organizer

Make-up organizer

Another choice could be a small set of draws to fit on top of your dressing table.

Ikee Design Acrylic Cosmetic Storage Organizer

What are your own tips on the best make up for older women? What are the essentials in your make up bag?

Continue reading:

1. 8 Things That Date Us Or Make Us Look Older
2. What Is The Best Foundation For Mature Skin? Discover All The Best Foundations
3. The Best Mascara For Women Over 40 – Including The Best Drugstore Mascara

Like this post on the best make up for older women? Share it on Pinterest!

Feature image by Alison

Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.

You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.

Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!