Self-care for ageless beauty

In an era when self-care and wellness are at the centre of young people’s minds, thanks to social media, why not ensure that older people are prioritising these just as much? It’s well known that spending an extra 10 minutes in the morning getting ready, or indulging oneself with a DIY facial at home, can prompt feelings of being more relaxed and more confident within oneself. It’s time that the over-60s also take a little time for themselves and indulge in self-love, helping to strengthen their overall body and soul. Here, we look at some beauty and self-care practices to suggest to senior customers and boost their overall wellness.

Simple skin care for seniors 

As we age, our skin care regime will change, so it’s important that those entering their 60s and 70s look into the products and practices they’re using and consider what steps in their routine they might adjust to improve or maintain optimal skin care. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, these can include:¹

• Using fragrance-free products to ensure skin isn’t irritated.
• Using warm – not hot – water to help rid the skin of its natural oils.
• Using a soft cloth on the skin when cleansing, rather than one that may have a rough or irritating surface.
• Leaving a little water on the skin when patting the face dry, to help moisturiser seep into the skin and hydrate it more.
• Applying a creamy moisturiser within minutes of stepping out of the shower, to help maintain or restore the skin’s protective barrier.

Makeup tips 

Makeup artist Sandy Linter recently supplied Vogue with some of her favourite makeup tips for seniors.² These include:

• Cover up minimally. It can be tempting to cover every little blemish or discoloration, but the more you pack on, the less natural it looks. Makeup artists suggest being conservative with the foundation to ensure it doesn’t look too cakey.
• Choose a warmer foundation. It may feel appropriate to use a foundation of the exact same shade as one’s skin, but it’s advisable to pick one a shade warmer, to ensure there’s colour in the face and it doesn’t look washed out.
• Accentuate the eyes. Try to keep the eyes as wide as possible, by curling and lifting lashes and using a brighter colour on the middle of the eyelid. Generally speaking, it’s best to use the lightest colour on the middle of the lid, but as you get older, you may wish to reverse this and make the eyes ‘pop’.
• Keep brows natural. With age comes hair loss, and that’s no different for eyebrows. Makeup artists suggest trimming the brows rather than plucking them, and using small, hair-like strokes with a pencil to fill them in.
• Balance lips with lip liner. Naturally, as we age, our lips become asymmetrical. Sandy Linter says the mouth can be balanced out by using a lip pencil as close to your natural lip shade as possible. She also suggests drawing on four separate strokes, always starting from each of the four outer corners and drawing inwards to the Cupid’s bow.

A little self-love goes a long way

As a pharmacy assistant, if you’re dealing with a customer in their 60s or 70s who wants to lift their self-care game, don’t be afraid to show them face mask ranges, and even fragrances. A little self-love goes a long way. If they appear at their best, often they may feel their best. Plenty of products in a pharmacy are available to help them treat themselves with something a little extra.

References 

1. American Academy of Dermatology Association, 2021. ‘How to care for your skin in your 60s and 70s’. org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/skin-care-in-your-60s-and-70s
2. Valenti L, 2023. ‘A guide to ageless makeup for women over 50, according to a professional makeup artist’. com/article/makeup-skincare-tips-tricks-techniques-mature-skin-women-over-50-eyes-brows-lips-cheeks