Get Your Questions Answered! 10 Common Beauty Questions for Women Over 40

As a beauty aficionado and product junkie, I’m the friends & family Rosetta Stone for most of their common beauty questions.  “Why do I need Vitamin C serum?”  “What is the best hairdryer?” “How do I color my own roots?”  “Do I really need to double cleanse?”  Of course, since joining the Busbee team, the DMs, texts and emails come daily (and in bulk).  But I don’t mind one bit.  In fact, I love sharing helpful tips, tricks and product info!  So, I decided to compile a list of the top 10 most commonly asked beauty questions that I’ve received from women over 40.

If you’re looking for Erin’s master list of beauty tips to look younger, check out this post.

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#1 | How do I prevent make-up smudging on my mask?

If the goal is for your makeup to last all day (you’re going to work or running errands for the day) here’s something easy that really works.  All you need is a roundish, fluffy foundation brush (don’t use your beauty blender), loose powder and setting spray.

After doing your skincare, load your brush with a bit of your foundation and then spray the fibers with your setting spray. Apply the product but work fast – everything will dry pretty quickly.  Once your foundation is applied, use a bit of loose powder and setting spray.

If you’re just out and about walking the dog or getting coffee, leave the skin that’s covered by the mask bare.  Keep makeup to a minimum on the rest of your face and use a setting spray to prevent it from migrating.

Fenty Full-Bodied Foundation Brush
Hourglass Veil Setting Powder
Dior Backstage Airflash Radiance Mist Primer & Setting Spray (a splurge, but ideal for mature skin)

#2 | I haven’t used much of my makeup lately. How do I know if I need to toss it?

It sounds like it might be time for a spring cleaning.  I just went through my makeup drawer and ditched a ton of products that have been collecting dust and going rancid in the process.  (The picture above is the actual result.) Generally, anything powder based will last longer.  Here’s the scoop on how long your can keep makeup before it goes bad:

• Mascara – 3 months
• Face Makeup (foundation, blush) – 6 months for creams/liquids; 2 years for powders
• Eyeliner and eyeshadow – 3 months for liquid eyeliners; 6 months for cream eye shadows; 2 years for pencil eyeliners and powder eye shadows
• Lipsticks, liners and glosses – Hooray! These will last well over 2 years!

#3 | I love the look of volumizing mascara, but they flake off by the end of the day & bother my eyes. What’s a good alternative?

My guess is that you’re using a mascara that contain lash-lengthening fibers, which are inherently drier and tend to flake.  Either get the waterproof version of the formula you love, or try a tubing mascara.  Instead of coating your lashes with pigment, like regular mascaras, tubing mascaras wrap each lash in water-resistant, tube-like polymers.  That makes them much less prone to flaking or smudging.  Just beware of the weird spider-like legs that seem to dissolve when you wash your face.  (I literally thought all my eyelashes were falling off!)

Blinc Mascara
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara

#4 | I’m almost 60 and my eyelids are really drooping. Aside from surgery, what can I do?

There are some products that temporarily tighten the skin around your eyes, but the results aren’t worth mentioning.  High-frequency tools like the NuFace Trinity are said to help, though they need to be used daily and consistently to achieve any long-term benefits.  Honestly, your best bet may come in the form of injections, such as Botox and dermal fillers, which help to create the appearance of a skin lift without any surgery. 

#5 | I have acne scars from my early twenties. What’s the best product or treatment?

Not all types of acne scars are the same, and treating them also requires different approaches.  If they are red marks or dark spots, then it’s an issue of hyperpigmentation.  I wrote an entire post on hyperpigmentation that you can check out here.

Ice pick scars, on the other hand, show up as actual changes in the texture of the skin (think crevices and pits).  So, your goal should be about boosting collagen production.  At-home resurfacing treatments, products and peels really help.  I also wholeheartedly believe in at-home micro-needling.

#6 | My skin seems drier than ever. Any quick fixes?

Ok, a few quick things to try.  Drink more water.  Apply a hyaluronic acid on top of your moisturizer in the morning.  At night, add an oil then another application of hyaluronic acid.  A humidifier would also be a great investment.

Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
Juno Essential Oil
Objecto W7 Ultra Sonic Humidifier 

#7 | I’m considering microblading my eyebrows. What do you think?

I’ve never tried microblading – the tattooing technique in which a small handheld tool made of several tiny needles is used to add semi-permanent pigment to the skin.  But both my sister and best friend have, and LOVE the results.  It’s freed them from applying eyebrow pencil for nearly a year!  There is a small risk of infection, so it’s important to find a reputable med spa that has tons of experience. Erin got her brows microbladed a few years back but only did it once and decided not to continue. You can hear her thoughts about it in this video.

#8 | What’s your favorite beauty hack?

It’s not much of a hack, but at night I use Laneige Sleeping Lip Mask on my eyelashes and eyebrows. No idea how or why, but I swear my lashes and brows are thicker!

# 9 | What’s your holy grail beauty product?

There’s no way I can choose just one!  But if pressed, I’ll narrow it to three things – Neutrogena Sunscreen, prescription Retin-A and Biologique Recerche P50 Lotion.

#10 | I just turned 45 and I’m debating long vs. short hair. Does it matter?

Long, short, who cares!  We shouldn’t have rules for our hair length.  Personally, I like experimenting and will play around with different cuts and colors.  Just keep your hair healthy with clean eating, plenty of water and supplements if needed.

Do you have a beauty question?  Please share in the comments section below and I’ll do my best to answer!

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