Timeless beauty

Beauty in your 60s

Skin care: Try a brightener
As you lose melanocytes (the cells that give us colour), skin becomes mottled. You may even find that your complexion becomes slightly yellow or grey. Products containing hyraquinone (a bleaching ingredient) may help, but exercise caution; bleaching can be easily overdone, resulting in burned skin. Some skin-care lines use natural or holistic ingredients to inhibit melanin production and brighten. And don't forget good old vitamin C -- a natural lightener found in a variety of skin creams.

Makeup: Vibrant lipstick
"As hair and skin start to lose vibrancy, adding some punch with lip colour really lifts the face," says Walmsley. But be careful if using orange-based reds: "They can make teeth appear more yellow, so you might want to look into teeth whitening." Or opt for blue-based reds, plums or even bright pinks.

And because "lips gradually lose their shape as we age, and appear smaller," Walmsley recommends slightly overextending the natural lip line with a lip liner pencil (preferably in the same colour as your lips) to "cheat" fuller lips.

Liner tip: Start at the outer edge of the upper lip and pull the liner up toward the bow of the lip. Then trace a line from the middle of the lower lip toward the outside of the lip. Place the liner on the outer edges of the natural lip line to create the illusion of fullness.

Hair: Hooked on classics
For women in their 60s, Hillier says, "bobs or wedge cuts are the equivalent of a black cocktail dress. The look is timeless and elegant."

If you're grey and and not colouring your hair, ask your hairdresser about special brightening shampoos and conditioners for grey hair that neutralize yellow tones and add shine.

Wardrobe: Colour happy
Give your wardrobe a colour boost. Clear, bright hues will give your whitening hair and paling complexion a much-needed jolt. So pair those greys and browns with reds, pinks, blues or greens.

"I also tell clients to find their best feature and play it up," says Demarco. "So if you've got great legs, shorten those skirts to graze the knee."

Life: A new road
The ocean lies before you, but which way do you set sail? "Women in their 60s are often faced with the prospect of mapping out a new life," says Rubin. "They have largely been freed of responsibilities." For some, this is exhilarating; for others, daunting. In your 60s you may be dealing with the loss of a mate or kids that have moved away. "Facing life alone can be frightening," says Rubin. Join clubs, volunteer, find hobbies and make every effort to reach out to friends and family. "The 60s and 70s are also great decades for open-ended dreaming," adds Rubin. "Blue sky, visualize, allow yourself to get excited by possibilities."

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