Makeup artist Laura Geller has built a career creating makeup that works for real, mature women. For her, pro-ageing beauty is about helping women understand how to look and feel their best at every stage of life.
As skin texture, tone and elasticity change, the same makeup techniques that worked in your 30s and 40s may stop giving the same results. That does not mean it is time to give up makeup. It simply means choosing products and techniques that work with changing skin rather than highlighting every fine line.
1. Don’t be afraid of color
Bold, bright shades often feel easy in younger years, yet many women become more cautious with colour over time. Geller encourages doing the opposite.
“A lot of women are afraid to put colour on, but we lose melanin in our skin. We lose pigment,” she explains. That loss of natural warmth is exactly why a soft hit of colour becomes more important, not less. She particularly loves “mauves and pinks and roses” to bring life back to the face without looking harsh.
You do not need a full face of makeup to look polished. A touch of warmth in the right place can lift the whole complexion and counteract dullness:
- Try a sheer cream or baked powder blush in rose or soft berry
- Tap a little onto the high point of the cheeks, then blend towards the temples
- If time is short, use the same shade lightly on lips for a pulled-together look
The aim is a natural flush that mimics how skin looks after a brisk walk, not strong stripes of colour. A small amount, blended well, can instantly make skin over 60 look fresher, brighter and more awake
2. Put the focus back on your eyes
Hooded lids can appear at any age, but they are especially common later in life. They can change how eye makeup looks, yet skipping eyeliner altogether is a mistake, says Laura Geller.
“That’s when you need eyeliner the most,” she explains, sharing her philosophy of the “Three Es”–eyebrow, eye line and eyelash. “It’s what sculpts and shapes your eye. It’s so important because everything softens as we get older to put back the shape in your face, in your eyes and your lips.”
A simple eye routine can make features look sharper and more awake:
- Use a soft brow pencil or tinted gel to gently fill and lift the brows
- Trace a thin line of waterproof gel or pencil liner along the upper lashes, keeping it slightly thicker at the outer third
- Finish with a volumising mascara to open up the eyes
Adding a matching lip liner helps define the mouth and stop colour from feathering. Top it with a creamy, hydrating lipstick or balm in a soft rose or neutral tone for a smooth, plumped effect.
3. Match your makeup to your skin now
Changing skin texture can make old favourite formulas look flat or cakey. Foundation and powder are usually the first products that need a rethink.
“I think one of the biggest problems I see is that women over a certain age are putting powders on because they’re easy to use,” Geller says. “But they’re very drying, and they look drying on the skin.”
Her core advice: “You have to meet your skin where you’re at.”
As skin becomes drier or more delicate, heavy matte bases and powder foundations can emphasise fine lines. Geller suggests:
- Choosing a lightweight, hydrating liquid or cream base that adds subtle glow
- Looking for formulas with moisturising ingredients if skin feels dehydrated
- Applying foundation sparingly, only where needed, then blending well with fingers or a damp sponge
A smoothing primer can help these bases sit better by adding an extra layer of hydration and softening the look of fine lines and uneven texture.
For Geller, makeup at 60 and beyond is not about hiding anything. It is about choosing textures and tones that support the skin you have now and highlight the features you love, so your face still looks like you, just fresher and more defined.
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