I'm over 50 and never had Botox. This is the makeup I can't live without

CNN

11-04-2025

Makeup for people over 50 quick picks
Skin prep: Lawless Forget the Filler Perfecting Cream
Cheeks: Laura Geller Serum Blush
Eyes: Kosas Soulgazer Intensifying Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel
Lips: Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Gloss Turning 50 wasn't just a Hallmark birthday for me; it was a time to start reevaluating my style, my fitness and my beauty routine — especially how I wear my makeup. Just a few years ago, I was still applying dark winged eyeliner, bright lipstick and shimmery eye shadows. But these days, I save the bold lips and eyes for special occasions and tend to gravitate toward a more muted look.
Of course, nothing changed overnight. But as we age, many of us start thinking about how we want to present ourselves to the world. For me, that meant toning things down. 'I believe that makeup, like our clothing, is one of the most accessible and increasingly inclusive tools we have available to express ourselves,' award-winning makeup artist and educator Natalie Setareh says. 'And as we enter our 50s, we have the privilege to use makeup in ways to achieve whatever it is we want.'
Though a ton of my friends were heading for Botox shots, I made a pointed decision to hold off. I don't judge; I'm just not ready. So, to address my biggest concerns and get a better picture of how to choose the right cosmetics after 50, I went straight to the experts. 'The biggest things to consider are hydration, texture and finish,' says Azra Red, a celebrity hair and makeup artist. 'As skin matures, it tends to lose moisture and elasticity, so opting for creamy, hydrating formulas — whether it's foundation, blush or lipstick — helps maintain a fresh and radiant look.'
Skin prepLawless Forget The Filler Perfecting Cream
As makeup artist Lisa Aharon says, 'Great makeup starts with great skin, and that means hydration is key, especially as skin gets drier over time.' That's why I slather this luxurious, clinical-grade smoothing cream on my face every morning. It's fragrance-free and oil-free, and I can also use it at night as a deep moisturizer before bed.
Tatcha Liquid Silk Canvas
Chosen as the best primer for mature skin in our testing, this lightweight, velvety liquid smoothes my fine lines and helps control oil all day long. It also helps minimize my giant pores, which is always a plus. Read our review
Clarins Extra-Firming Neck and Décolleté
My neck has been my biggest worry since I turned 50, and I'm constantly trying to find something to help smooth it out and lift it up. This neck cream is plant-based and luxurious, and I smear it on my neck and chest every morning.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion With SPF 30
Azra Red suggests wearing sunscreen every day, even when it's cloudy out. This featherlight SPF 30 lotion is best for those on a budget, and it also happens to be Setareh's all-time favorite daily sunscreen. FaceJones Road The Neutralizer Pencil
Some of my biggest pet peeves, and something that's gotten more pronounced as I get older, are the dark circles under my eyes. Ladies going through menopause understand the general lack of sleep, and this chubby, creamy concealer pencil helps brighten and color-correct the physical remnants of my nighttime struggles.
Caliray Hideaway Color Corrector Concealer
This Caliray under-eye concealer is one of my favorite products, and I simply cannot live without it. Lightweight enough that it doesn't sit in my fine lines, this hydrating serum-like formula is easy to smooth over the Neutralizer Pencil to both brighten and illuminate. I have it in two colors so I can use it during any season.
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Awakening Concealer
I use this classic concealer pen from YSL to touch up areas of my face that need a little help. I tend to use it around my nose and on any small blemishes that pop up. I like it because it doesn't congeal and looks natural, all while giving a little glow as it does its thing.
Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40
I found this tinted serum during Covid-19 when I needed a boost before I got on my morning Zoom call — and I never looked back. Azra Red also counts Ilia as one of her favorite brands, and this lightweight serum is an almost magical combination of SPF 40 and dewy coverage. I use it because it reduces the look of wrinkles, tones down redness and generally smooths out my complexion.
Jones Road Miracle Balm
Jones Road is Bobbi Brown's newest venture and the line was created with mature skin in mind. Miracle Balm is my favorite product. Like, ever. It's a multipurpose moisturizing balm that you can use all over your face, as a blush or a highlighter, and it even works as a quick fix on your lips and eyelids. It's creamy, it reflects light and it's like an eraser for my fine lines. I have it in five different colors, I use it nearly every single day, and quite frankly, it's just plain addictive. CheeksLaura Geller Serum Blush
Setareh is a fan of cream- and liquid-based makeup products, like this serum blush from Laura Geller. 'Not only do these products blend more easily into the skin, they last longer and look more natural,' she says. I like this one because it's easy to dab on to layer color from a light flush to a more pigmented look for evening.
Caliray Blurry Blush Pore-Minimizing Cream Blush
I especially like this liquid blush because I only need to tap a tiny bit on my cheeks and it stays on all day long.
Haus Labs Color Fuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick
Given Haus Labs was founded by Lady Gaga, it should be no surprise that it is a clean, vegan makeup brand. And this creamy stick is like a cross between blush and highlighter. It's rich, it glides on smoothly and it seems to help plump up my cheeks when I put it on.
Maybelline Cheek Heat Gel-Cream Blush
A great budget pick, this gel blush is easy to apply, blends naturally into my cheeks and can be built up for more color. EyesKosas Soulgazer Intensifying Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
This gel eyeliner can be easily smudged and blurred for a less severe line. I also dig its built-in sharpener, which makes it great for travel.
By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eye Shadow
I have this creamy eye shadow stick in the coppery-brown Matte Latte shade. I like to smooth on the long-lasting and slightly illuminating formula for a natural, daytime look.
Wet N Wild Mega Length Waterproof Mascara
We ranked this our best-tested drugstore mascara, as the formula lengthens lashes without all the goop and clumps. And for under $5, it's a heck of a bargain.Read our review
All Golden 360-Degree Firming Eye Patches
Red loves these cooling, hydrating under-eye patches, and I agree. They feel heavenly on your eyes and are the perfect depuffer. Leave them on for about 15 minutes and watch the magic happen. EyebrowsAnastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel
Here's another annoying thing nobody tells you: Your eyebrows thin out as you get older. That's why I like using this mascara-like brow gel to fill them in. It's so easy to swipe on, and it stays put all day long.
Maybelline Express Brow Ultra-Slim Pencil
This small yet mighty pencil is one of our favorite eyebrow pencils and packs a ton of pigment into its slim form. We also love that it includes a stiff, easy-to-maneuver brush, so we can simply style our brows after we color them in.Read our review
Glossier Boy Brow
Setareh's favorite brow product was created to mimic mustache pomade, and it both shapes and thickens your brows.
RMS Beauty Back2Brow Powder
This subtle brow powder defines your brows more naturally than a gel. And if you want more drama, you can use a wet brush for extra pigment.
Thrive Causemetics Liquid Brow
This clear, waterproof gel swipes on cleanly and holds your brows in place for 24 hours. I particularly appreciate its precise, neat brush that helps separate and style brows for a more sculpted look. LipsLawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Gloss
Another excellent product in Lawless' Forget the Filler line, this thick yet hydrating gloss makes my lips tingle (in a good way) while adding some volume and toning down the lines in my lips.
Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit
This duo of Lip Cheat liner and lipstick is my dream team. Not only is the pinky nude Pillow Talk color a favorite of Setareh but I use it obsessively when I want a natural pout. The lip liner is so smooth, I like to use it all over my lips before I add the slightly matte lipstick.
Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm
Sometimes you just need a product that goes everywhere with you. And this low-cost tinted lip balm not only keeps my lips soft and moisturized but adds a slight pop of color.
Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in 54 Iconic Red
So simple, so sexy and so iconic, this little bottle of nourishing lip oil in a glassy, translucent red can be worn by itself or smoothed over another color. I love its high-gloss sheen as much as I adore how long it lasts — which is not something you'll easily find in a lip gloss. Though there are no rules when it comes to applying makeup at any age, our experts did have a few tips to share for those over 50. 'The goal isn't to cover up; it's to enhance what you've got in the most natural, effortless way,' Aharon says. 'When it comes to foundation, lighter is better. Heavy powders can make skin look dry, so go for a hydrating foundation or tinted moisturizer with skin care benefits.'
Azra Red likes adding broad-spectrum sunscreen for her 50+ clients (and everyone else, for that matter) and thinks skin prep shouldn't stop at your neck. 'Using body cream, sunscreen and hand cream daily is what I always suggest.' She also believes that massaging your face before you apply makeup can improve your skin and its texture. According to Medical News Today, studies have shown that this can also help with blood flow and plumping the skin.
When it comes to eyes, Aharon likes using a soft pencil or shadow eyeliner, which tends to be more flattering than the harsh liquid liner I used to favor, and Azra Red thinks eyebrow pencil can help fill out and frame your eyes.
As for lips? 'Stay away from matte or drying lipsticks, which can emphasize lines, and stick to satin, creamy lipsticks or even tinted balms,' Aharon says. Lip moisturizer with color is also a simple and easy way to keep your lips from drying out and showing their age.
And for those of us who need a little boost to our self-esteem, Setareh is all about understanding the concept of highlighting and shading for mature skin. She suggests finding at least one feature you love about yourself, then accentuating (or highlighting) it. 'By doing this, we naturally draw the attention away from, perhaps, the features we don't love so much about ourselves or don't want to bring more attention to — and this is how I like to think of shading,' she says.
No matter how we decide to use makeup, it's important to celebrate our beauty, confidence and power as we age. 'I'd love to shift the conversation around aging and beauty. Instead of calling smile and joy lines 'crow's feet' or focusing on erasing wrinkles, we should embrace them as signs of a life well lived,' Azra Red says. 'It's time for a new approach, one that celebrates the beauty of aging rather than trying to fight it.'
I may not be 100% there yet, but I'm working on it.
A post shared by CNN Underscored (@cnnunderscored) For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights on the best makeup for people over 50.
Lisa Aharon, makeup artist at The Wall Group
Azra Red, makeup artist at Exclusive Artists Management
Natalie Setareh, award-winning makeup artist and educator
CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and that products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when appropriate to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. Health, fitness and food editor Tobey Grumet Segal has been reporting on, writing about and reviewing products for over 20 years, and as a mature woman, she personally tested these products and interviewed professional makeup artists.