The Worst Makeup Mistakes for Women Over 50

The solution: Doing your brows doesn’t have to be the big drama-filled ritual influencers on social media claim to be essential. 

All you really need is a refined-tip pencil like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Ultra-Slim Precision Eyebrow Pencil in Taupe ($25, target.com) and/or a waterproof brow pen with tapered top like Maybelline New York Build-A-Brow 2-in-1 Brow Pen and Sealing Gel ($15, cvs.com) and the Urban Decay Cosmetics Brow Blade 2-in-1 Eyebrow Pen + Waterproof Pencil in Cool Cookie ($28, ulta.com). These let you draw individual hairs in light, believable upward strokes to quickly fill, extend and improve your brows, whatever their color, shape or density. My advice? Start with areas like the beginning of the brow near the nose or the outer tails, and then get to work filling in sparse spots. This prevents you from adding extra product where it’s unnecessary and makes shaping and correcting easier. Opt for cool or neutral/ashy brow shades rather than warm tones for maximum flattery.

4. The mistake: Skipping sunscreen when wearing makeup.

(From left) Olay Glow + Protect Sunscreen Stick SPF 50; RMS SunCoverup Super Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen; Tula Skincare Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Skin Tint SPF 30.

AARP (Walgreens, Ulta, Target)

Many women find the must-wear-sunscreen-daily rule (the only makeup must left) incompatible with their makeup. They say sunscreen makes their makeup pill, change color, streak, or go patchy and gooey. Some (more than you think!) skip the SPF altogether, figuring makeup will keep UV rays at bay. Well, it won’t. UV rays speed right on through.

The solution: Reapplication is the real problem here since it’s easy to include an SPF 30 in your a.m. moisturizer. One excellent solution is to wear a makeup/sunscreen hybrid like the RMS SunCoverup Super Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen ($49, ulta.com) and Tula Skincare Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Skin Tint SPF 30 ($21, target.com) and simply reapply as needed when outdoors. Or take advantage of the new category of sheer stick sunscreens like Olay Glow + Protect Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 ($20, walgreens.com) that glide right over any makeup. Just be sure to wipe the surface of the sunscreen after application for a clean start next time.

5. The mistake: Treating eyeliner as an option.

(From left) Clinique All About Shadow Primer for Eyes; Maybelline TattooStudio Sharpenable Gel Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner in Bold Brown; NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner in Black.

AARP (Ulta, Walgreens, Target)

Sure, shadows, mascara and false lashes are fun, but eyeliner is the most important makeup product for mature eyes. It’s the one cosmetic that instantly restores real shape and power to older eyes that are hooded, saggy, crepey or watery. Worn with a flash of mascara, it solves problems and provides a contemporary look along with plenty of definition, edge and glam. And it takes five minutes max.

The solution: Get yourself an eye primer, a gel pencil liner and a liquid pen liner. Primers like Clinique All About Shadow Primer for Eyes ($31, ulta.com) were designed to simplify shadow applications and prevent creasing, but they are remarkably useful as liner aids. Applying an eye primer smooths the surface for extra glide on loose, bumpy, creased or crinkled lids, minimizes tugging on dry lids, and keeps the line clean if your lids tend to go moist. 

Strong definition at the upper lash base and lighter lining beneath the lower lashes give eyes shape. Keep the line as thin and close as possible to the roots of the upper lashes. A pencil liner like Maybelline Tattoo Studio Sharpenable Gel Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner in Deep Onyx, Bold Brown, Striking Navy, Hunter Green, Rich Amethyst ($9, walgreens.com) or Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in Allure or Hypnotize ($24, sephora.com) can be worn alone or as a base and guideline for a topcoat of liquid pen liner. 

Pen liners like the NYX Professional Makeup Epic Ink Liner in Black or Milk Chocolate ($11, target.com) offer an intense, smudge-free frame for the very deepest eyes, anyone wanting a more emphatic look or a subtle cat-eye flick at the outer corner. Black and brown provide a classic defined look, but a hint of navy, deep green or violet can elevate liner to fashionable. Prevent the never-flattering ring-around-the-eye look by using a pencil liner with a lighter touch under the lower lashes (not liquid or gel) or by pairing the black liner above with a softer brown on the bottom.

6. The mistake: Applying blush to the apples of your cheeks.

(From left) NUDESTIX Nudies Bloom All Over Face Dewy Color Blush in Sweet Peach Peony; Almay Color & Care Tint Stick in Rose Flush; Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush in Lusitano.

AARP (Target, CVS, Sephora)

Unless you’ve had a facelift, what was once a great makeup trick has passed its expiration date. Applying blush to the “apples” of your cheeks — the round full part that puffs up when you smile — worked for years. As we age, the loss of collagen causes the cheeks and their underlying fat pads to sag lower on the face. The minute you stop smiling, that blush drops lower, emphasizing the nasolabial crease running from your nose to mouth. Who needs that?

The solution: By moving blush application to the cheekbones, you restore a sense of bone structure and keep the focus higher up near the eyes. 

To find the new spot for blush, use your fingers to tap along your cheekbones and just over the edge. While you’re at it, be sure to also swap powder blush for one of the new creams in stick formulas like Almay Color & Care Tint Stick in Coral Flush, Rose Flush, Berry Flush or Nude Flush ($13, cvs.com), Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush in Le BonBon or Lusitano ($30, sephora.com) or Nudestix Nudies Bloom All Over Face Dewy Color Blush in Cherry Blossom Babe, Poppy Girl, Sweet Peach Peony or Sweet Cheeks ($35, target.com). Opt for a clear, vibrant shade of pink, coral, rose, berry or red (depending on your skin tone). Vividly colored in the stick, cream blush is sheer when applied, and the high-pigment hue goes glow-from-within realistic when blended. Those with ruddy skin can benefit, too, by skipping the reds and pinks and choosing a bronze shade instead, which will counteract red tones in the skin.

7. The mistake: Wearing lipstick that’s too nude or liner that’s too obvious.

(From left) Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Liquid Lip Kit in Charm; Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Bitch Perfect; Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Matte Lip Pencil in Pinky Brown.

AARP (Target, Ulta, Sephora)

I have nothing against a good neutral lipstick and liner (I’m a big fan, too!), but is it doing anything for your over-50 lips? Some lucky women still have the shapely lips they had at 25. Others are dealing with faded lip borders, diminished lip color and depleted volume … all normal but annoying. 

Some women say their lips disappear completely when they smile, giving the mouth a hard, tough look. Nude lipstick is great for a natural look (or if you like to give eye makeup center stage) and lip liner certainly can help restore definition, but the wrong one and an overzealous approach to lining can work the other way.

The solution: Updating your usual beige or tawny “nude” for a shade that’s a little rosier, pinkier or peachy can bring your lips back into focus. Adding a little more color also helps those with down-turned creases at lip corners or lines around the lips (often due to decades of smoking or drinking with straws) draw attention to lips and away from the problem.

Good examples of peppier nudes include Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Bitch Perfect, Penelope Pink or Icon Baby ($35, ulta.com) and Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Liquid Lip Kit in Posie K or Charm ($35, target.com). Stick with a natural-toned lip pencil like the Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 Automatic Matte Lip Pencil ($21, sephora.com) that matches your lip color. 

And here’s the biggest change of all: Instead of overdrawing your lip borders to fake a more generous size, apply lip liner to restore a faded lip shape and to correct asymmetries in the shape of your mouth. It quickly evens out a top lip line that is lower or less defined than the other side and helps shape a softly rounded bow.

8. The mistake: Thinking face primer is a gimmick.

(From left) Wet n Wild Prime Focus Primer Serum; No7 Lift & Luminate Primer; Stila All About The Blur Blurring & Smoothing Primer.

AARP (CVS, Walgreens, Ulta)

Any adult woman who has bought makeup after seeing it on Instagram or TikTok knows how seductive heavily promoted products can be. 

Among the trendiest right now are primers that promise everything from preventing makeup from fading, migrating or getting stuck in wrinkles and lines. 

Every woman I spoke to was intrigued but skeptical, thinking it was yet another marketing ploy. Well, it’s not, especially for warmer climates and big-deal events like weddings, job interviews and reunions when you want your makeup to stay put and not drift or melt.

The solution: “Try it, you’ll like it,” as the saying goes. Blurring and illuminating primers, as opposed to mattifying and pore-minimizing formulas, are the ones you want. 

Excellent for skin that’s dry and flaky or textured with sun damage, primers like No7 Lift & Luminate Primer ($14, walgreens.com), Wet n Wild Prime Focus Primer Serum ($8, cvs.com) and Stila All About The Blur Blurring & Smoothing Primer ($36, ulta.com) provide an extra invisible layer of resistance and hydration that creates a more plumped-up surface. To use a primer, cleanse and moisturize, wait a minute and then apply it. Let the primer set a minute or two before applying face makeup.

9. The mistake: Not cleaning makeup brushes and sponges.

(From left) CeraVe Hydrating Face Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin; EcoTools Fresh Face Everyday Makeup Brush Set; Beautyblender Original Beautyblender Makeup Sponge.

AARP (Walgreens, Target, Ulta)

It’s easy to apply a swipe here, a dab there and then zip all your makeup, brushes and sponges back in the case. But think about the residue that remains on them. Frequent use without cleaning creates a breeding ground for bacteria. You could end up with breakouts, styes, a rash, irritation or — worst-case scenario — even staph, E. coli and fungus thanks to the combo of oil, dead skin cells and leftover makeup grime.

The solution: A once-a-week cleaning will keep your makeup looking fresher, colors clearer and any brushes, sponges or applicators you use soft and hygienic. 

To clean brushes, create a warm-water lather with mild shampoo or face cleanser. Swish brushes using the palm of your hand to build up suds and remove makeup before running the bristles under clear water. Lay flat on a clean towel to air dry, making sure they are bone dry before using again. Toss any that are frayed or losing hair. 

Place dirty sponges in another bowl of soapy water and use fingers to squeeze makeup residue before doing the same rinse, repeat and air-dry procedure. Last, sanitize your makeup. Yup, double-dip cosmetics are also a breeding ground for all things nasty. Toss any expired makeup — especially liquid foundation, tinted moisturizer, cream blushes and shadows, lipsticks and mascara. Wipe down makeup and mouths of jars, nozzles and pumps and sharpeners with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and then sharpen all pencils before the next use.

10. The mistake: Avoiding wearing makeup altogether.

(From left) Dew-Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF50 in Medium; Physicians Formula Butter Glow Stick in Berry Tan; Maybelline New York Superfluff Brow in Blonde.

AARP (Ulta, CVS, Target)

Instead of the “no-makeup” makeup look, some women over 50 actually just decide to go bare-faced, claiming authenticity. Others bow out of the makeup game simply because they are overwhelmed by the volume of new makeup formulas, shades and brands. No judgment, but this might be a good time to rethink your options. 

Makeup is empowering, and like a bra, pants with stretch or a V-neck top, it offers basic trickery that’s practical magic. There’s a difference between self-acceptance, vanity and a face-positive attitude. The latter benefits from a little assistance. The good news is you need very few products to enhance your looks and still look “natural.”

The solution: The more lined, textured and dotted with discolorations your skin, the lighter and more hydrated your face makeup. All you need is a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen like Dew-Glow Tinted Moisturizer SPF50 ($23, ulta.com), a hydrating duo lip/blush stick like Physicians Formula Butter Glow Stick in Sunkissed Rose, Beachy Pink, Beach Bum Plum or Berry Tan ($17, cvs.com) to add warmth and a hint of color, and a tinted brow gel like Maybelline New York Superfluff Brow Mousse -in Blonde ($13, target.com) to groom hairs into place. And just like that bra, stretch in your pants and V neckline, no one but you will detect the hidden strategy.