As we travel through midlife it can become harder to love what we see in the mirror. It’s a result of growing older…the natural aging process…and while our head says, “yes, I realize that I’m not getting any younger”, our heart says, “I just don’t feel attractive any more”.
But you know what, girlfriend? You don’t have to give up and decide to let nature take it’s course, throw away the curling iron, grab a box of donuts, and put on your stretchy pants. We are still beautiful. It’s a matter of recognizing and embracing it.
First, we know that self acceptance is the place to start when it comes to enhancing our natural beauty after 50, but we could benefit from stepping beyond that point. There are some actions we can take to ensure that our skin, hair, body, and outlook are in the best shape possible. We may not be able to stop time, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy it more than ever!
Here are 10 ways you can enhance your natural beauty after 50, after 60, and after 70 – because looking good has absolutely nothing to do with age!
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Enhance Your Natural Beauty
1 | Acceptance is the first step – you are beautiful just as you are!
This is so important I’m going to say it again: The first step in enhancing your natural beauty is accepting your appearance. No matter how old you are, it’s important to love yourself for who you are and live the best life possible.
For many of us this can be difficult because of unrealistic expectations about ourselves, or preconceived notions about how we’re supposed to look, or act, at a certain age.
It may seem like every young woman on TV is gorgeous, but there are plenty of women in their fifties, sixties, seventies and beyond who are attractive in their own unique ways. Maybe it’s not because of the firm, supple skin that is line and wrinkle-free, or the slim, firm body, but the sparkle in their eyes, the confidant way they walk, the color in their cheeks, the care with which they dress.
Work with what you have, today, and be willing to tweak a few things to look and feel your most attractive. Because, you are!
2 | Tweak the daily routine to improve your skin’s appearance
Your skin is a reflection of how healthy you are, so whether you’re over fifty or not, age cannot be used as an excuse to have poor skin. Is it more of a challenge to keep our skin looking fresh? Yep. Here are a few tips to help you protect your skin and give it a fresh, youthful look:
- Exfoliating on a regular basis will keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. Our skin naturally produces newer cells, and the old cells stay on top of the skin. That’s why we exfoliate.
- Use a gentle exfoliant, as harsh chemicals can damage the skin. Even if you have dry or sensitive skin, there are plenty of products available to keep your skin looking fresh and enhance your natural beauty.
- Moisturizer will be more effective on skin that is exfoliated regularly. And moisturized skin will have more of a natural glow!
If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of the best-selling exfoliators for mature skin:
3 | Careful Makeup application
There are no hard and fast rules about whether or not to use makeup as you get older. If you want to feel more attractive with make up, then go for it! It is possible to use makeup in a way that enhances your appearance without making you look like you’re trying too hard.
Be aware, though, that too much can lead to dryness, which could accelerate wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, cheeks, and forehead, not to mention it can make you look older and, well, harsher in appearance.
Here’s a Tip: Consider a simple tinted moisturizer. The moisturizing properties of it will hydrate your skin with light coverage so you won’t look made up. I love Pixi Beauty’s skin tint. It gives me just enough color without looking harsh, and because it’s a cream it doesn’t get stuck in the lines on my face. It’s one of my favorite cruelty-free makeup products.
Just remember to say this to yourself before applying your daily makeup: “less is more…more is not better” It is so true when it comes to putting makeup on a mature face.
My routine is about 4 minutes long when I do the ‘full face’. It may not work for you, but I find that it gives me just enough color and a healthy look:
- after applying moisturizer, I use either a tinted moisturizer or a light foundation
- under eye coverage
- a bit of blush
- some eyebrow color and brushing
- a small amount of mascara
- clear lip balm or a bit of color if I’m going out
There are not a lot of steps to this little routine, and I’ve never been one to use much in the way of shadows on my eyes or to “sculpt” my face. But that’s just me. I think it gives a more natural look when we keep things simple, particularly when our skin is maturing.
4 | Groom your eyebrows & enhance your eyelashes
The key to great looking brows is remaining well groomed. You may not want to tweeze or wax them quite so often if the skin around them is dry, but keeping unruly hairs in check takes very little effort and can provide a dramatic improvement in how your face looks.
My eyebrows have definitely thinned out as I’ve gotten older, so using a filler pencil with a finishing brush makes a world of difference.
Give them a little bit of help by filling in with a natural-looking eyebrow pencil. If you feel like your brows could do with a bit of tweaking before you leave the house, then simply shift them up and out a little to instantly give your face a lift and enhance your eyes.
enhance your eyelashes
Not everyone is blessed with long, dark lashes! But there are tricks to enhance what you have. If you have shorter lashes, or have found them thinning as you get older, add a couple of coats of lengthening mascara and/or use an eyelash curler to help open up your eyes. This is a little makeup tool that hasn’t been in my bag for years, I have to admit.
But I think that it’s going to make an appearance and become a part of my daily makeup routine, with a gentle hand to protect my lashes. I’ve noticed that my eyelashes are thinning as I get older, have you?
That said, there are two actions I’m taking to help these thin little lashes:
- First, I’m using City Lash faithfully again. It’s easy to apply, and helps revitalize those small hairs at their root for stronger, thicker lashes.
- Then, I’m going to start carefully curling my lashes with a highly rated eyelash curler that won’t damage them.
You might feel that doing both is too much – it’s not for everyone. But consider one or the other, along with the other tips for using makeup on mature skin. You might be surprised at the results!
5 | Put some color on your cheeks
Many women who are over fifty have pale or hollow-looking cheeks. There are numerous ways that you can enhance your natural beauty by simply applying a little blush .
Choose a blush that’s flattering to your skin tone, and follow the natural contour of the cheekbone. Remember what I said about more not being better a little earlier? It is so true with putting blush on those cheeks!
As we age, we have to adjust what we may have done in the past when applying makeup, and blush is no exception. Here is a very helpful, short video that will show you exactly how to apply blush to your over-50 skin. It’s worth a look:
6 | Take good care of your hair
Many women complain about thinning hair. If you have locks that are looking a little lifeless, there are many ways to improve their appearance without having to resort to dye or chemical treatments.
It’s best to choose products that are natural and contain ingredients that are good for the hair, such as Shea butter or aloe vera. These ingredients will nourish the hair and give it a natural shine without making it look dull or dirty.
Here are some natural hair products to consider:
Another good reminder is about how often to wash your hair. Most experts agree (and I’m not an expert but I give a thumbs up, too) that it’s not necessary to wash your hair every day. Try going a little longer between washes, and use a dry shampoo in between. It might take a little experimenting to find one that works best on your hair.
Consider letting your hair go to it’s natural gray.
Many women are opting for this look because it is easy to maintain – never worry about those roots again – and it can make you look years younger.
I colored my hair in some way for many years, probably since I was 16 years old with a spray bottle of Sun-In in my hand. I gradually shifted to an auburn color that looked good with my skin tones and I wore it that color – out of a box – for many years. But a couple of years ago I decided to return to my natural, now many shades of gray, color.
There are different methods to approaching this change, and being the type of person who wants to solve a problem now, find the answer now, and make the decision now…I decided to go gray quickly…in one afternoon.
I worked with a very competent stylist to prepare for that day, and I’ve never gone back! Read more about going gray quickly.
Update your hairstyle
If you look in the mirror and think, “yep, there’s the same old me. Nothing’s changed. Gettin’ older every day”, maybe it’s time to take charge and make something happen.
A new hairstyle can do wonders for your self confidence, self image, frame your face attractively, and enhance your natural beauty.
Yes, it might be a little bit risky, will cost a few dollars, and require that you step out of your comfort zone. But, why not? Just make sure that your stylist is competent and understands your particular type of hair. Doing some research ahead of time and having an idea of what you want done (find a picture of the style) can help things turn out more successful.
As you can see, I am not one to keep the same style for a long time. Not sure whether that’s a good thing or not!
My natural hair is curly, but I usually straighten it out.
So if you’ve worn the same style for a long time, try something new! It will always grow out if you don’t like it.
7 | Drink lots of water!
Your body, including your skin, needs plenty of hydration in order to stay healthy. Water also helps flush out toxins that can cause weight gain or water retention. If you stop drinking the recommended daily amount of water, your skin will start to lose its natural glow.
So how much water should you drink? You can get the correct amount by simply checking the color of your urine – if it’s clear or light yellow then you’re doing well! If you’re currently not drinking enough, try gradually increasing your intake until your body is used to it.
If you don’t care to check the color of your pee (I get it), stick with the general recommendation of 8, 8 ounce glasses of water per day.
That may sound like a lot of liquid, and many trips to the bathroom, so if you can’t quite get there, do the best you can. Water benefits us in so many ways it is worth the extra effort, my friend.
And, it affects us even more as we get older. Researchers tell us that we need to drink more water as we age to compensate for changes in our body temperature regulation.
If we’re dehydrated is can lead to muscle pain, fatigue, and heat exhaustion. The top tip here? Drink water even when you’re not thirsty.
8 | Exercise regularly
Women over 50 have been bombarded with messages about how important exercise is, so you probably already know that being active is good for you! You’ll find exercise and fitness discussed over and over on this site, because it’s that essential to our overall health.
And, maintaining a fit body, inside and out, will only enhance the natural beauty that we possess.
Regular exercise will help in other ways, too:
- reduces your risk of heart disease,
- helps you maintain a healthy weight
- and strengthens muscles
- when done in a healthy manner it can also increase your energy levels
- and, make you feel happier (yay for those endorphins)!
If regular exercise is something new for you, start small by taking a ten minute walk every day, indoors or out. But if you do decide to go for a longer workout, be sure to take plenty of breaks in order to avoid injury. Do what feels comfortable for you – if that means walking or swimming then that’s great, but you could also try cycling, dancing or yoga. Whatever gets your heart pumping and makes you feel good about yourself.
What better natural glow can we sport than the fresh look of an outdoor activity?
Don’t forget about exercising the muscles in your face!
A regular facial yoga session will make you look younger and more refreshed. Not sure where to start? See what I’ve been doing for almost 4 years with Facia Magic.
My mid 60s face is far from perfect, but I’ve been able to counteract the effects of gravity with regular facial exercises. Those tender little muscles will respond to exercise just like the muscles in our body.
Curious? Learn more about Facial Magic and why I think it’s the best way to keep our face looking younger.
9 | Enhance your natural beauty with healthy eating
Good nutrition is always something you should focus on at any age, so it’s never too soon to start improving your diet if you’re not getting all the nutrients that are essential to your overall health.
Even if you normally eat healthy it’s important to be aware of certain foods that can cause inflammation in the body, such as gluten and dairy products. You may not realize that what you’re putting into your body is making you feel sluggish or tired!
Eat plenty of anti-inflammatory foods like green leafy vegetables, berries, oily fish and flax seeds. By maintaining a healthy intake of these foods you’ll feel great both physically and mentally!
- Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals that are vital for your glowing skin
- Dark orange foods high in beta carotene can warm your complexion. Winter is a great time for sweet potatoes and butternut squash.
- Having enough sulfur in your body keeps your hair and skin soft and smooth. Eggs, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, and radishes are healthy sources of sulfur.
Be mindful of what you drink, too
Excessive alcohol and smoking cause your skin to become drier as they are made of toxic substances. It can also make your eyes look puffy and red.
If you drink beverages that make you dehydrated, such as coffee and alcohol, hydrate before and after to negate the effects. Challenge yourself to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, reward yourself with a tasty cup of joe.
10. Get plenty of sleep
In general, we should be getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Your needs might be different, but if you’re not getting rest it will eventually show up on your face.
Better sleep helps you to look better, really. Your body repairs itself and recovers while you’re sleeping, and can result in:
- a complexion that glows
- less wrinkles
- eyes that aren’t as puffy
- healthier hair
- an overall healthier appearance
Here are some practical and helpful tips to help you sleep better at night, naturally.
Conclusion: Enhancing the Natural Beauty Within You
Are we all beautiful? Yes, I believe we are.
Do we have the option of enhancing what we have to look and feel our best? Again, I believe we do. It’s up to you, my friend. No matter your age, you can take care of yourself inside and out, and confidently be your unique, beautiful self.
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Candi thank you for the post. I needed it
Thanks for sharing that, Susan. It is much appreciated.
You are gorgeous! Thankyou for the tips 😃
Thank you, Dee!