After years behind the makeup chair AND in front of the mirror myself, I’ve learned this: the best beauty secrets and advice for women as they age aren’t louder — they’re smarter.
They’re about glow over glitter, confidence over contour, and knowing exactly which habits, mindsets, and products actually make you look lifted, radiant, and pulled together in real life.
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
Consider this your hype-girl-approved cheat sheet for the beginning of 2026! I want to share my “Top 10 Underrated Makeup Advice” and tips that truly make a difference for me. And a few of these I’ll pair with real product recommendations that work beautifully on mature skin. You can also check out my previous post about highly underrated makeup products that more people should be talking about here!
So if you’re ready to feel invigorated, inspired, fresher, and more confident without overcomplicating the way you feel about your daily beauty routine, let’s get into it…
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Underrated Beauty Advice
Reinvention
- You can reinvent your “look” as many times as you want to. Maybe you feel like you should have a “signature look” or repeat the same makeup routine over and over again because it’s comfortable. That’s fine, unless it’s not. Don’t be scared to step out of the box in makeup and in your style. Some of the best results happen because of experimentation.
No Age Limitations
2. Stop telling yourself “I can’t wear that because I’m _____ years old.” You’re right on time. It’s a complaint as old as time. Sadly, I see other women comment these types of things on others’ social media that they are “too old” to wear X-Y- or Z. Or I hear my own friends say this type of thing when they see me sport a fake strip lash or bold eyeshadow, that they “could never!”
Confidence
3. Your age has nothing to do with it. Your makeup will work, IF you own it. Refer back to my point #2. If you want to wear a screaming hot pink lip, do it with confidence and hold that head up high!
High & Low
4. Mix high and low. Pricier skin care + drugstore makeup can totally work and vice versa! Currently using the Clarins Multi-Active Day Moisturizer for Lines, Pores, Glow with Niacinamide, $68, along with my trusty Maybelline 4 in 1 glow perfector, $14, before adding in any foundation and concealer. It is a beautiful testament of the combination of drugstore and high-end working together.
Red Lipstick
5. Own at least one red lipstick. It’s an instant mood when you apply it – bold, alive, fearless. I say go for it with an opaque satin or matte red. Matte red looks very old Hollywood and sophisticated. Try a vibrant blue-red like this one from Anastasia Beverly Hills full pigment velvet lipstick in “Royal Red,” $26. And don’t forget this post I did a couple of weeks back was giving high praise to this exact brand!
Experiment
6. Stuck in a makeup rut? Experiment. You’ll never know if something new works for you until you try it. Especially going back to #4 if you don’t already have red lipstick in your makeup arsenal. I remember when I bought this Nouveau palette, $55, with all the strange colors. I wasn’t sure how I could make it work, but after playing around, I mixed around 7 of these colors in one eye look, and I love it!
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Smile
7. Your makeup will ALWAYS look better if you’re smiling. How can we forget Marilyn Monroe’s famous quote, “A smile is the best makeup a girl could wear!” Just don’t forget to get those teeth as white as possible. Try an LED mouthguard whitening kit, $48, to make getting whiter teeth a breeze without going to spend a fortune in the dentist’s office!
No Judgement
8. A truly confident female will NEVER judge another woman for wearing too much OR too little makeup. Ever. Point blank. Just leaving this very obvious point about being a good human right here. The picture of Beth and me above is one of my faves doing our makeup together – we both have different makeup styles, and that’s OK!
Quality Products
9. Invest in good-quality makeup brushes. They’ll last you a very long time if you take care of them and wash them. You long-time readers already know that I highly suggest and am a loyal fan of the BK Beauty brand of brushes. And if you need new eye brushes, they’re 30% off right now through 2/16, so take advantage. And here’s a mega cute brush holder on Amazon, $18, you could store them in!
No Comparison
10. Admire someone else’s beauty without questioning your own. I didn’t come up with this one, but it has been a piece of advice I’ve always subscribed to. Especially reminding my teen daughter, Vivian, of this since she’s subjected to so much social media and seeing other girls/women that she might compare herself to.
Closing Thoughts – Beauty Tips for Mature Women
If you’re reading this on Valentine’s Day and need some romantic makeup ideas, check out last week’s tutorial post on quick ideas of how to get the look!
Now I’d love to hear which one of these really resonates with you? Or do you have one piece of beauty advice you abide by – I’d love to hear!
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All good advice! I did add a red lipstick last year and it’s so fun. Also, I live by the high-low philosophy- if a product works the way you need it to, then the cost is not the deciding factor (within some reason🙃). Finally, Vivian is beautiful! She will be the girl others compare themselves to.
Glad to hear you’ve given the red lip a try Susy! And I appreciate the kind words about my girl – I think she’s pretty special 🙂
Hi Jennifer. Your daughter is naturally lovely, so congrats on producing her… it was very clever of you! I have started to go through your ‘back issues’, and have picked up several tips, and products to buy, as well as some tops to copy, including the latest grey one with the colourful sleeves, as well as the blouse with different prints on left and right sides! You and Beth are both right. One needs a bright colour now and again – even if it’s in a bag or a lipstick (or a bright pink stripe in a jersey?! Lol).
You’re so sweet Marlette to say that about my Vivian! I think she’s beautiful inside and out! Love to hear that you’ve been going thru back posts and finding some useful tips/tricks/products – that’s what I write for!!