Update Your Makeup Look Over 50, Instantly originally appeared on Parade.
This makeup look is counterintuitive, but also chic and empowering, and if it works for you, it will also save you time. And you don’t have to buy anything new, because with this trend, you’re subtracting not adding.
The trend has been around since at least 2018, when Beyoncé started showing us all how to do it. Now it’s less avant garde — established enough that it doesn’t make a bold statement— it just looks modern, fresh and youthful.
Related: What Is the Skin Barrier and How Does It Change Over 50?
The No Mascara Trend—And Why It’s Perfect for Women Over 50
The look? No mascara paired with a bold lip. You can also do a neutral lip for a truly pared-down look that emphasizes cheekbones, eyebrows and beautiful skin, but the bold lip really emphasizes the naked lashes.
Summertime is a great season to try out this trend, since it can be tough to get mascara to stay put in the hot, humid weather anyway.
“I think the no-mascara trend speaks to a broader shift we’re seeing in beauty—more minimalism, less structure and a focus on individuality,” celebrity makeup artistNikki DeRoest told Who What Wear.
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Professional makeup artist Jeannie Giannone recommends a fluffy, natural looking brow and natural but even skin. You could use a skin tint, light concealer just where you need it or tinted SPF, depending on your needs.
Related: 5 Habits of French Women Over 50 Who Look Ageless
Blush should be a liquid or cream formula, which is better for mature skin anyway, to give a natural flush. “Lots of blush—especially in soft, diffused tones—keeps the look fresh and youthful,” DeRoest said.
Makeup artist House of Rouge also recommends curling the lashes so your eyes still look bright and awake.
The trend was an established look at the Met Gala this year, where Sarah Snook and others chose to emphasize the lip and brow instead. Hailey Bieber is a big fan of the trend, and regularly wears it.
But that doesn’t mean that mature women can’t pull it off. In fact, Tracee Ellis Ross has been doing it for ages.
You may feel a bit naked the first time you try it, but once you embrace your cheek and lip color instead, it may shift your focus.
Related: The One Thing Dermatologists Want You to Know About Toner—Especially After 50
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Update Your Makeup Look Over 50, Instantly first appeared on Parade on Aug 2, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
