Beauty tips for your 50s
Skin care: Vital oils
"Alipoid." That's what dermatologists call skin that is lacking in oil. Alipoid skin is common in one's 50s, when sebum production grinds to a near halt. Replacing that oil is vital, so you'll want to start carefully reading the ingredient panels on those bottles of moisturizers. You're looking for moisturizers with ingredients such as jojoba oil, evening primrose oil or even sesame oil. The consistency of the creams will also tip you off; you want thick, rich creams over milky lotions.
Makeup: Easy chic
Hopefully you've long banished shimmery shadows from your makeup kit, and it's time to go easy on face powder. Both exacerbate wrinkles. It's the more sophisticated matte- or satin-finish shadows for you. You'll also want to make eyeliner a makeup staple to give your eyes definition. Make the switch from powder to cream blushes, says Walmsley. And instead of dusting powder, try blotting films.
Eyeliner tip: Using a stiff angled brush and dark eye shadow, "apply a thin line of eyeliner right at the lash line," says Walmsley. Or try one of the new ultrathin micro-pencils.
Hair: Soft lines and colour
The old adage that hair has to go shorter is old hat. "Long hair to the collarbone, with texture and movement, embodies youth, exuberance and femininity," says Toronto hairstylist Jie Matar, owner of Salon Jie. Matar says the most popular cut among his fiftysomething clients is a "layered 'shattered' bob with volume and height on the crown, and side fringes to frame the face."
If you're covering grey, avoid harsh one-colour processing, "which emphasizes age spots and skin demarcations," says Matar. Instead, opt for soft highlights -- and try trendy shades such as caramel and butter-blond (for blonds); mocha and honey (for brunettes); and cinnamon and copper (for redheads).
Wardrobe: The real deal
You want to invest in quality pieces that take your wardrobe up a notch, says Karen Kwinter, whether it's a special bag, fabulous trench coat or real pearls. Choose accessories that make a statement and that are an expression of your self-confidence.
Life: Taking stock
Who am I? Where am I going now? These are the tough questions many fiftysomethings are asking. "The 50s are a time when your children are beginning to have lives of their own or are moving out of the house," says Rubin. "All of a sudden the pace slows and the focus turns inward." Be patient is Rubin's advice. "Change is a process, not an event. Embrace the unknown as you inch toward a new sense of self." She also tells clients to ask trusted friends to hold up a mirror. It's what they see that may be of value as you reassess and take stock.
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