Article

Anti-Aging Is a Scam: Makeup Tips for Older Women

By Carol Troy Thursday, June 26, 2014 26 Comments Share This:

Andrea Robinson has always been a straight-talker when it comes to style and beauty. In the 70s, when she was a fashion editor at Mademoiselle, I interviewed her for our book “Cheap Chic”; She told us how to spend pennies to dye men’s white cotton T-shirts to create incredibly chic tops for summer. Now, after a career as Vogue’s beauty editor, marketing head at Estee Lauder, president of Tom Ford Cosmetics and a consultant for several luxury brands, she’s written “Toss the Gloss: Beauty Tips, Tricks and Truths for Women 50+.”

And she’s still telling it like it is.

Besides offering a ton of great tips for older women, Robinson is loud and clear on four big points: The makeup tricks we learned in our 20s and 30s don’t work for us any more; you don’t need more than six essential makeup items; you can buy quality products on a budget; and “anti-aging” is a scam.

“Look in the mirror, and embrace the lines on your face,” Robinson says in her book. “Those lines are years of pleasure, tears, madness and happiness. You have lived it and earned them.”

Robinson believes in a simple makeup routine that makes dull, older skin look fresher and plays down the age spots and lines; her book’s practical advice can help us figure out how to create and use a new, age-friendly makeup kit on a budget. Reading it gave me the energy and enthusiasm to toss out all the old stuff and start experimenting with the newer, more neutral and definitely un-glittery cosmetics that are out there today.

“You can check out your experiments quite simply by using your cellphone camera,” Andrea says. “It’s a great device for seeing how you actually look.”

I only wish I’d read “Toss the Gloss” before I ran out to buy makeup for a mini-reunion in Manhattan. I would have saved $68 by avoiding the “self-adjusting” shade of foundation (one of her no-no’s), testing the “bb cream” on my hand to discover the too-bright glimmer of “complexion brighteners” and noting that my new powder blush is no longer flattering! Now I’m back to the drawing table. And I’m happier for it.

Andrea talked to us over lunch and then by phone from her apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Andrea, what are some of the positive changes in ourselves that women in their 60s can take advantage of today?

The thing that is marvelous is how much we know about ourselves. How much we know about our style. And by now, we know enough about our lifestyle to create a very simple way of addressing our beauty routines.

Of course, there are now ingredients to keep our skin looking fresh. Both the sun protection of SPF, and hyaluronic acid (which attracts up to one thousand times its weight in moisture) – these were things our mothers didn’t have available and which I recommend. And then you have the alpha-hydroxy acids, which slough the skin, helping it look fresh. And the antioxidants, which attack on a cell turnover level.

In your book, you talk about getting rid of old makeup. Why, and how old is “old”?

Natural beauty products have a shorter shelf life because those parabens you’ve been avoiding – chemicals found in breast tumors that mimic estrogen – were developed to prohibit bacterial growth. Basically, when you open that package, the clock starts ticking. It’s every three months for mascara. Every six months for blush.

Today, I went out to a cosmetic lab in New Jersey and spent the day with their scientists. I was showing them a product that a friend of mine had brought back from Europe about a year ago. The scientist took a look at it, looked up at me and said “it’s rancid!”

What’s your response to all the expensive “anti-aging” products on the market today?

The expensive anti-aging products in the department store are usually not going to move the needle on your face. If you have access to one, a good cosmetic dermatologist can prescribe a retinoid cream at a much more effective level of strength than a luxury product. Retinoids quickly smooth fine lines, fade dark spots, even tighten pores. The overall effect is that your skin looks fresher.

Getting a simple, quick new makeup routine – and keeping your skin in great shape with exercise – will also show actual results.

Get down to the six bare necessities: tinted moisturizer or foundation, cheek color, lip liner and lipstick, mascara and eyeliner. It should all fit in a small makeup bag. I believe in “keep it simple.”

What’s your secret as a beauty industry insider to hunting down the best makeup at the lowest price?

Here’s what I do: Proctor & Gamble and L’Oreal, for instance, are two huge international cosmetics manufacturers. I go to the corporate site and see which of their brands are the luxury brands and which are the drug store brands. [To find a corporate site, simply search for brand+corporate site; for example: L’Oreal+corporate site brings you L’Oreal USA.]

Chances are, many of those products are manufactured in the same factories. But in the drug store, they will be found at a very diminished price point!

Lancome, for instance, is a luxury brand. But the same company makes Garnier, L’Oreal Paris and Maybelline for the drug stores.

[We did some checking, and found that P&G, for instance, had the luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana, and in the drug stores, CoverGirl and Olay.]

I loved your description of the glamorous Mrs. X, an older woman who knew how to make her eyes the center of attention and used some very subtle tricks to create an “up and out” look. How have you adapted the lessons she gave you, which are spelled out in your book?

The simple version of her “up and out” idea is something that I do every day. I take a black eyeliner pencil that I love (Armani, in this case) – it’s very, very soft – and line across the top eyelid near the lashes. I make the line fairly thick and then I smudge it. I do the same across the bottom lashes, smudging it into the roots of my lashes. And then I bring it out and up for a little bit of “doe eye.” With either a brush or a pointed Q-Tip, I smudge it on the outer corners to get that slight movement upward.

And what you use on your skin to even out the skin tone?

First of all, you need a very good concealer. If you have age spots, you will want a concealer with a drier consistency, so that it stays in place. But the main thing is that you have your concealer the same color as your foundation to avoid that “racoon” look – when women have lighter circles under their eyes.

You can experiment applying concealer either under your foundation or over your foundation. Or you may choose a lighter tinted moisturizer. I like the tinted moisturizer, and if I want a little more coverage for something special, I mix it with a little cream foundation.

The answer to everything is “less is more.”

Finally, what does “aging with attitude” mean to you?

Aging with attitude is being positive about your age and realizing the benefits of knowing who you are and the confidence that it gives you. We all need to see the glass as half full. We now know our style and how we want to live.

Andrea’s tips

Skincare ingredients There are two that Andrea absolutely swears by in makeup: SPF and hyaluronic acid – the former to protect from the sun and the latter as a world-class skin plumper and total moisture magnet. Plump, moist and sun-protected equals gorgeous skin, Andrea says.
Blush You are likely to find the same bestselling cheek shades from Maybelline and L’Oreal as you might from a higher-end manufacturer like Lancome. Many of the finely milled powders are sourced from the same place!
Eye Shadow Many drugstore brands use the same outside vendors for their eye shadows as do the luxury brands, so check to see if you can find your favorite shade, with the same ingredients, but in a much less expensive package.
Undereye concealer A best bet that really works: Maybelline New York Cover Stick. It must be the same color as your foundation, liquid or creamy, and applied with a light hand all the way down to your cheekbones. You may then want to apply a bit more foundation on top and pat, pat, pat.
Concealer in a pot works best for hiding brown spots. After applying, reapply a thin layer of foundation. Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage is a best bet here.
Highlighters are best with a very low level of shimmer and in a natural tone – they’ll provide a nice healthy shine and glow where we need it now.
Foundation shifting toward a gold-based foundation and away from the pinks helps banish paleness and neutralizes redness, and makes you look instantly healthier. Tinted moisturizer is best. Go for one with an SPF of at least 15. It helps with dry skin, is much sheerer than traditional foundation and can be used all over the face without an aging effect. One Best Bet: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer Tinted Moisturizer, SPF 20.

Toss the Gloss is available on Amazon.com and at other booksellers in Kindle and hardcover editions.

What’s in your makeup bag that needs tossing?

COMMENTS

26 responses to “Anti-Aging Is a Scam: Makeup Tips for Older Women”

Ankita:

Monday, June 18, 2018 at 1:03am

I also have crazy dry skin and perpetually chapped lips. I actually ended up getting a prescription moisturizer for my face (which did wonders) but I found the best OTC option for chapped lips is Paula’s Choice lip balm. I’ve tried almost every chapstick/balm out there and Paula’s Choice is the only one that didn’t leave me dry/peeling.

Reply to Ankita
Shar roon:

Monday, February 12, 2018 at 1:12am

I think lip gloss is far better than lipstick for a youthful look. Try a lighter colour too. Too many women wear dark lipstick and dry chalky foundation. Moisturise and massage your liquid foundation into your face.

Reply to Shar roon
Neenah:

Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 4:56am

It’s so hypocritical how so many women speak on make up that does no testing on animals which L’real and make up from Proctor and Gamble, do. But look how much these companies are worth so someone is buying and a lot of them are the hypocrites who say they would not buy or use animal tested make up. There are some women that really would not use it but the billions that these companies are worth say ” Liars ” it says they really don’t give two shits if they are tested on animals or not or rather not research it, ignorance is bliss for them I guess.

Reply to Neenah
Marilyn Todd:

Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 9:56pm

I have used Paula’so Choice for years and I’m very happy with it. They do not test on animals. I will be 69 next month and my husband says my skin looks good.

Reply to Marilyn Todd
Cindy Robertson:

Sunday, February 5, 2017 at 12:51pm

I am 66 years old and looking for makeup that provides “age appropriate coverage”. I have very few lines around my eyes but do have lines around upper and lower lip.
My skin tone is probably light medium to medium. What color tinted moisturizer or foundation should I use?
I have Auburn hair. What color eye shadow , blush, lipstick is best for me . I have thinning auburn eyebrows. I have extreme difficulty finding eyebrow pencils/powders/gels to match. Any suggestions?

Reply to Cindy Robertson
1. Susan Finnegan:
  
  Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 1:06pm
  
  Hi Cindy!
  Go to Thrivecausemetics.com. Their specialists will help you find your colors and for every product you purchase a woman who is afflicted with cancer gets that same product free! It’s a win-win situation for sure and you will be one happy customer for life with thrivecausemetics.com. Have fun shopping Cindy
  
  Susan Finnegan
  Londonderry, NH
  
  Reply to Susan Finnegan
Kathy M.:

Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 1:42pm

I use only cruelty free products. It was disappointing to see Procter and Gamble’s name in this article, as well as L’Oreal.

Reply to Kathy M.
1. Susan:
  
  Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 7:19pm
  
  Kathy M.
  Sounds as though Thrivecausemetics.com is right up your alley! All Cruelty Free Products and whatever you purchase, One Beautiful Woman With Cancer will get the exact same product that you purchased for Free! Have Fun Shopping
  
  Susan Finnegan
  Londonderry, NH
  
  Reply to Susan
2. Kay:
  
  Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 10:35am
  
  I agree Kathy M. I was directed to this site after entering “cruelty free”, why I do not know. The companies I saw mentioned all test on animals, or at least ingredients in the products are. No help here. Thanks Susan and Marilyn for the info. Bland, ????
  
  Reply to Kay
Chris:

Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 3:55pm

Although I am not a devote of Suzanne Sommers, she has an excellent video on her site showing how she applies make up. Of course, she uses her whole arsenal of products, but you don’t have to use that much. She shows you how to use concealers, for instance, to their best advantage. Very good information. FYI.

Reply to Chris
Martha:

Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 9:41pm

Check out Boomsticks by Cindy Joseph. Her line is all about pro ageism not anti age. Her makeup line consists of 3 products and is all about looking fresh and natural. No testing on animals. I love her beliefs on aging. Very positive. Her products are awesome!

Reply to Martha
Alena:

Saturday, October 8, 2016 at 5:50pm

I find the title “anti-aging is a scam” totally inappropriate in today’s society. There is great technology today. Essential oils for one is amazing. There are products we can use to rejuvenate the skin and rebuild collagen and elastin. That has a lot to do with the aging process and image.

To read some of these comments is equally as meaningless, talking about extra martial lovers. For goodness sakes, how is that healthy or inspiring? Suze Orman, for one, says without honesty, there is no foundation for success in one’s life. Dishonesty, esp in marriage, is nothing to brag about. All of this, my opinion, of course.

Reply to Alena
Bland:

Monday, September 26, 2016 at 10:32am

I’m seventy and look forty because I keep slim, clean and most important, DENTAL care–nice even white teeth are necessary. Bi monthly manicures and pedicures are important too. Oh, I am happy to report that so many YOUNGER women have awful feet! I see them perched next to me in the pedicure chairs. Long stringy toes are abundant among the young.

I work at home so I wear comfortable sweat suits around the house and I wear Hillary pantsuits or easy jackets with always basic slacks for shopping, lunches out with husband, dinners out with my two lovers husband doesn’t know about, and for solitary trips to bars for my vodka delights.

I have two uniforms to wear out to evening dinners–one basic dress, jacket, and a dress pantsuit. Who needs a lot of clothes? I swim twice a week, yoga twice a week and I walk to the local shopping center. Exercise keeps the blood flowing, depresses appetite and tightens butts. One final thing, don’t EVER reveal your age to anyone. I shave off ten years if anybody asks. Life is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest!

Reply to Bland
Sandra Peters:

Sunday, July 31, 2016 at 1:22pm

I’m 70* I don’t wear foundation, I like a moisturizing cream with SPF. I would like a moisturizing cream with a tint. I also do not use products that are tested on animals

Reply to Sandra Peters
1. Kaitte:
  
  Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 3:31pm
  
  Hi Sandra, I’m Kaitte and 64. If you cant find a tint you like, I have created my own tint, using an spf moisturizer and my favorite foundation, worked out great. You do a 50/50 mix. Odd as it sounds, for those of us on a budget like ssi, I also use as an emollient as soon as i bathe, my skin is dry, that my skin loves is mothers belly butterit feeds the skin while keeping it soft. From Natural grocer or any health food store, no matter what brand they carry. Hope this helps.
  
  Reply to Kaitte
2. Kathy M.:
  
  Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at 1:46pm
  
  I agree totally about the not using products that test on animals. Even some test the ingredients on animals, but lie by saying they are cruelty free on the actual product because IT isn’t tested on animals. Thanks!
  
  Reply to Kathy M.
3. Diane D:
  
  Friday, January 20, 2017 at 1:37pm
  
  I am 72 and have been using Bobby Brown SPF 25 tinted moisturizing balm for about 4 years. It gives quite good coverage and can be layered. It does not settle into wrinkles and even with my dry skin I use Physicians Formula cover tox ten face powder. It is absolutely the only powder that I have ever used that does not settle into my wrinkles. The Bobby Brown is a bit pricey, but because it lasts for months and months I feel that I can splurge on it.
  
  Reply to Diane D
lu:

Friday, April 1, 2016 at 8:23pm

thank you for information but I use Mary kay but not helping older skin there catalogs only show younger women faces so help

Reply to lu
Barb:

Sunday, March 27, 2016 at 12:42pm

Try Paula’s Choice,
Check out these two links
[hotlinks removed by editor]

Reply to Barb
Robin Holbrook:

Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 3:57pm

I am 70 yrs old and have silver hair. I’d like to simplify my makeup routine and toss what is no longer appropriate for me. I have enjoyed several of your makeup videos. However, like some other commenters, I do NOT use anything tested on animals! I prefer going by PETA’s recommendations. I no longer use MAC or Burts Bees because they were bought by companies that DO animal testing. Therefore, could you get a fine makeup artist to show us older ladies how to refresh our looks for day and night using JUST makeup that is NOT tested on animals nor OWNED by a company that tests on animals? That would be so amazing for a lot of us who are ONLY interested in CRUELTY FREE makeup.

Thank you!!

Robin

Reply to Robin Holbrook
Emily Scott:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 5:10pm

L’Oreal is a vast company,all over the world. It says it does not do animal testing, but this is not true. Check their site.

Reply to Emily Scott
msmonty:

Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 10:06am

After retiring I’ve had more time to read, surf the internet etc. I’ve read many articles about makeup research. It’s made me aware that a lot of companies test on animals without regard to the well being of the animals. I understand L’Oreal is one of those companies. When you recommend thing do you take that into consideration?
This has really become a concern for me. Thanks for taking the time to listen. C. Montgomery

Reply to msmonty
1. Emily Scott:
  
  Thursday, July 3, 2014 at 4:55pm
  
  For several years I have been an animal activist, protesting the culling of tame park deer, in freezing weather; marching with banners and clown make-up, protesting the treatment of circus animals when Barnum, (forget other name), etc. are in town, and marching around the K.U. Medical center with its secret lab where inhumane testing continues on imprisoned gorillas. I have handed out many copies of ‘animal safe’ cosmetic companies. People care, but the pubic is busy and progress is very slow.
  
  Reply to Emily Scott
Emily Scott:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 10:09pm

do you think multi peptides and products with hydroquinones are worth trying?

Reply to Emily Scott
Wendl in Manhattan:

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 3:46pm

I avoid buying any product that is labeled “Anti-aging” or “anti-wrinkle”. Besides the claims being baloney, it implies there is something wrong or ugly about faces reflecting the gift of many years of life. In my book, that’s ageist. I just wish it was easier to find products that don’t have such negative messages in their names.

Reply to Wendl in Manhattan
Ingrid Schmidt:

Friday, June 27, 2014 at 4:32pm

Great article – great recommendations!

Reply to Ingrid Schmidt