The best kind of makeup advice comes from someone who really understands your skin and beauty goals—whether you want to open up the eyes with fluttery lashes, give makeup a smooth and radiant base, or test out one of spring 2025’s top beauty trends. That’s why, for Vogue’s guide to spring and summer beauty for the woman over 50, we went to the real experts on the subject: globally renowned makeup artists who are, themselves, aged 50 and above.

Vogue’s Favorite Summer Beauty Products for Women Over 50:

Ahead, get tips for every step of a woman over 50’s makeup routine straight from the greats. Iconic makeup artists (and their kits) are always on the move, but for this piece, Charlotte Tilbury, Laura Geller, Rose-Marie Swift, Lisa Eldridge, and others dropped everything to spill all their beauty secrets to fellow women of a certain age.

As Tilbury put it: “Darling, I have so many tips and tricks for achieving a radiant, smoother, blurred, plumped, and youth-boosted complexion no matter your age.” And she and her fellow beauty trailblazers wouldn’t dream of gatekeeping. Your straight-from-the-pros primer for glowing at any age lies ahead.

Step 1: Create a Smooth, Hydrated Base

Makeup artist and brand founder of her namesake company Charlotte Tilbury is adamant that “you cannot have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas.” “As we get older, signs of aging on the skin—like fine lines, wrinkles, and dehydration—can change the way makeup looks and applies.” But it doesn’t have to! Tilbury’s first tip? Keep skin smooth and glowing with complexion products, such as moisturizers and primers, that are loaded with “science-backed, skin-loving” ingredients. “Hydrating, smoothing, retexturizing, and reviving formulas are best for mature skin as you don’t want product to sit in fine lines and pores,” Tilbury instructs. “You always want a product that has instant and long-term effects.” She suggests applying moisturizing products in an “angel wing motion,” lifting the contours of the face as you smooth it on. And don’t forget to prime.
Laura Geller, makeup artist and the founder of Laura Geller Beauty and Laura Geller Makeup Studios, insists that a primer for mature skin is a “non-negotiable” underpinning for a mature woman’s beauty look. “It smooths skin texture and helps everything you apply stay put,” she says.

Step 2: Veil Imperfections With Creamy Coverage Options

When it comes to concealers for mature skin, Geller recommends using one with a creamy texture. “Especially for concealing the under-eyes, make sure the formula isn’t too thin—so it lasts and gives you solid coverage,” she says. For application, she recommends using the ring finger to press the concealer in gently— ”never rub!”—and to always apply it before foundation. Rose-Marie Swift, makeup artist and founder of RMS Beauty, emphasizes the importance of a light touch here. “Concealer can be a disaster if you overdo it, especially under the eyes,” she quips. “I always say: correct, don’t cover!”

Next up, foundation for mature skin—a step that can make some shudder. “Throughout my career, I have come across so many mature women who shy away from using foundation as they worry about it settling into fine lines or feeling heavy, oily, or cakey, which only makes them look older,” she says. But not all foundations are created equal, and Tilbury insists that the right one can make mature skin glow. She suggests seeking out a formula that has a smoothing, blurring effect—bonus points if it’s packed with hydrating ingredients. Geller puts in a word for her preference for mature skin: baked foundations. “They start as a cream, so they hold onto moisture, but they apply like a powder for a lightweight finish,” she says. “Mature skin tends to need balance—something that hydrates without feeling heavy or settling into fine lines.”

Step 3: Enliven Cheeks With Peachy Hues

With pastel hues ever so in season for spring 2025, Geller encourages mature women to play around with the soft, springy hues, particularly on the cheeks. “Warm pastels like apricot and peach are perfect for adding brightness and life to mature skin, which can become duller as you age,” she says. “Try a soft peach blush on the cheeks for a fresh glow.” For textures, Swift prefers cream or gel blushes for mature skin and says that they’re ideal for delivering diffused color that makes mature skin appear lit from within. But don’t count powders out. Though traditional wisdom says that those with textured skin should stay away from powdered blushes, Lisa Eldridge, makeup artist and brand founder, insists that modern powders layer beautifully with cream blush for a look that creates volume—an ideal scenario for the woman over 50.