Bobbi Brown’s Best Beauty Tips for Women Over 50

3. Update neutral makeup with shimmer and a pop of color.

Brown is known to favor a neutral palette of makeup — browns, grays, beiges for eyes, realistic toned bronzers and of course a wide range of “nude” lips. They do work, which is why women have relied on them for decades. However, she now suggests powering up these dependable products.

“Don’t shy away from adding a little sparkle and color to your face as you age,” she says. “Pink is my favorite color — it works on everyone while still looking natural. My general rule of thumb is to choose two places to add sparkle, shimmer or shine and a pop of color. For example, you might try a touch of shimmery brown on your eyes and rosy, pink cheeks or some glossy color on your lips. The key is to stick with shades you like, but ones that complement your skin tone and enhance it without looking garish or washed out.”

4. Eat well to look better and keep the fridge healthy.

While Brown is not a nutritionist, she is a certified health coach and takes a wellness approach to beauty. “If you eat well and stay hydrated your skin will look better … and you’ll need less makeup,” she says.

 “Watch what you eat,” she continues. “I depend on a combination of proteins, fats and fiber, drink lots of water — hydration is key — and rely on foods that are super-quick, filling, healthy and require nearly no preparation. For example, I have the nutritional supplement AG 1 in a shake every morning and keeping Brodo Broth bone broth, sliced cucumbers, carrots and Good Culture Cottage Cheese on hand solves my what-to-eat solution when the fridge is stuffed with leftovers and still there’s nothing to eat! I’ve stopped struggling with sweets by nibbling on salted black licorice after dinner which seems to satisfy my sweet tooth; I never want more than two pieces.”

(Left to right) Rogaine Women’s 5% Minoxidil Foam for Hair Regrowth ($33, cvs.com); Color Wow Root Cover Up ($35, colorwowhair.com)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: CVS; Color Wow)

5. Find your hair-color comfort zone, touch up roots with eye shadow.

Brown is honest about her hair issues and has some very relatable takes on everything from color to root touch-ups, thinning and styling. “My hair has gotten thinner as I’ve gotten older and after trying lots of different products and supplements what’s worked for me is [topical hair-loss treatment] minoxidil,” she explains. “It’s been a game changer for my hair and even my brows are growing in much thicker.”

Hair color can work as a cosmetic but deciding on a color is purely personal. “I love gorgeous gray hair on other women, but not on me,” she says. “My hair is 100 percent white and has been gray since I was 25. I like the way I look with dark hair and that’s why I color it. Go with what you love on yourself not what your best friend or stylist say. My best hair tip is to use eye shadow or a powder root touch-up like Color Wow Brow Powder — I use Dark Brown — to make visible roots disappear fast. If you are comfortable with doing your makeup, powder is a nonmessy fix.”

And, she adds, “I am terrible at blow-drying my own hair so I either let it air-dry, which seems to look better the next day, or I treat myself to a quick salon blowout.”

6. Find a fun, doable fitness routine.

Committing to a rigorous gym workout or regimen like Pilates or Spinning can be pricey and daunting. “During my freelance career I worked with every supermodel and actress and would try to understand why they looked so good,” she says. “Yes, it was partly makeup, but the women who ate well and exercised always looked especially good. Every woman 50-plus needs a doable fitness routine. It enhances circulation and makes your skin look healthy. I love to dance to hip-hop and made that my big fitness workout after taking classes with Lloyd Pearson, now Live with Lloyd. Find something that works for you.”

And when nobody is looking, Brown is a dancing machine. “I turn on the playlist of my favorite music and dance around my house to torch calories or pop in my AirPods and listen to it when I walk on weekends.”

(Left to right) J. Crew Women Garcon Classic Shirt in Cotton Poplin in White ($98, jcrew.com); CottonCitizen Standard Tee in White ($80, cottoncitizen.com); Boden Women’s Marylebone Cord Blazer in Cherries Jubilee ($180, bodenusa.com)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: J.Crew; Cotton Citizen; Boden USA)

7. Brighten up in white tops, sparkly cardigans and a pink blazer.

Those of us not in the beauty business may find fashion interesting but a little intimidating, especially on a budget.

“I love clothes but I’m not a fashionista,” Brown shares. “To be honest, as a freelance makeup artist, the fashion world I was once part of used to stress me out. My solution was — and still is — a comfy but stylish ‘uniform’ of basics in neutral colors that can be dressed up or down as needed and looks pulled-together. No matter what I’m doing, a white T-shirt or button-down is always part of my outfit and adds a face-brightening benefit to my jeans, black leggings, navy or charcoal sweaters and blazer.” Staples include J.Crew button-downs and CottonCitizen tees.

Spending time in Florida has inspired Brown to add a pop of color to her sea of neutrals. “Now I have a blush-colored blazer that I love. It adds a cosmetic-like pop of color! Another trick I depend on is to pick up individual ‘dressy’ pieces like a long slip skirt, tuxedo pants and cropped cardigans with sparkles whenever I see them. It takes the stress out of dressing for last minute invitations, parties and big events.”