Welcome to the Fierce Aging Series! In this episode, we're joined by the wonderful Peggy, who is 75 years young and truly embracing life with grace. Peggy spends her days golfing, going on quilting retreats, and living life to the fullest. Today, we're giving her a beautiful makeover using Nikol Beauty products and showcasing a trending eyeliner look that's stunning on women of all ages.
Key Takeaways
- Proper skin hydration is key before applying makeup, especially around the eyes.
- Brow stencils can be a game-changer for defining brows, even if you have very little hair.
- Using softer eyeliner colors like dark chocolate and plum can be more flattering for mature eyes than harsh black.
- Press-on lashes can add definition without feeling heavy or noticeable.
- Color correcting is an effective way to neutralize redness and darkness before applying foundation or BB cream.
- Embrace makeup trends and techniques that make you feel good, regardless of age.
Embracing Aging With Grace
Peggy, who will be 76 in November, shared her passion for quilting. These retreats are a fun way for 50-60 women to gather for several days of sewing, learning from each other, and working on projects. While she used to make large quilts, she now prefers double-sized ones. Peggy's sewing journey started in home economics class in eighth grade and continued with making clothes for her children. She's also an avid golfer, finding that it helps her reach her daily step goals and provides a great social outlet.
When asked for advice on aging, Peggy emphasizes staying calm and finding that calmness from within. She believes in taking life as it comes and suggests that learning this in your 30s makes it much easier as you get older. She also mentioned that she wished she had started taking better care of her skin earlier, noting sunspots and wrinkles, but acknowledges that filling in wrinkles completely is a tall order. She even tried Botox once with no noticeable results.
Creating a Flawless Base
We started by hydrating Peggy's under-eyes using an eye cream and the reusable "Bags Are Designer" tools, which help push the product into the skin for maximum hydration. This step is crucial before applying concealer or color corrector. Next, the face was hydrated with a light emulsion to avoid a heavy application. For primer, we used a "fiercely smooth" face primer to create a nice base for the BB cream. Lips were prepped with a rose lip balm to ensure they were hydrated for lipstick later.
Defining The Brows
For brows, we used Nikol Beauty stencils, choosing a "slim arch" for Peggy. The clear stencils allow for precise placement. We used a skinny brow pencil in taupe, marking the start, arch, and end points based on facial structure. The stencil was placed, and the brow was lightly filled in with wispy strokes, then blended with a spoolie for a natural look. The key takeaway here is that brows are not twins but more like distant cousins; aiming for symmetry rather than exact duplication is important due to our asymmetrical faces.
Eye Makeup Magic
An eye primer was applied to neutralize the eyelid, ensuring eyeshadow colors appear true and last all day. This step helps cover redness, blues, and pinks. We then used the "Naughty Nancy" eyeshadow palette, which is talc-free and gluten-free. The middle shade was applied as a wash of color, and the first color was used as a highlight. The darkest shade was used with a smudge brush to add subtle contour at the outer corner of the eye. The emphasis was on using what makes you feel good, not adhering to strict age-based rules.
For eyeliner, instead of black, we opted for a dark chocolate pencil, which is softer and defines the eyes without dragging them down. A touch of plum was added on top for dimension. The liner was applied very close to the lash line to create definition. A smudge brush was used to soften the line and blend it, creating a beautiful, diffused look. The plum shade was layered over the dark chocolate for added depth.
To balance the eyes, the dark chocolate liner was applied to the lower lash line and gently smudged. Mascara was applied using a "volume up" mascara designed for mature lashes, which grabs and coats every lash, making them appear fuller. We then tried press-on lashes, which are applied underneath the natural lashes. These added significant definition and thickness without feeling heavy or noticeable. A subtle trick was used to connect the waterline with the lashes for a seamless look.
Complexion Perfection
To neutralize any redness, especially on Peggy's nose and cheeks, a green color corrector was applied strategically. Then, a "just peachy" color corrector was used under the eyes and on any pigmented areas to cancel out blues and grays. These were blended into the skin using a foundation buffing brush. A light BB cream was then applied using the same buffing motion for a seamless, buildable coverage. Concealer in "fair" and "light" shades was applied precisely to brighten and lift the under-eye area, followed by a brightening powder to set it without adding heaviness.
Finishing Touches
For the lips, a "Rosé All Day" waterproof lip liner was used to outline them, followed by the "Actually, I Can" lipstick, chosen for its beautiful color and high shine, perfect for mature lips. A creamy blush in "St. Barths" was applied to the cheeks, focusing on lifting the face upwards. Finally, a touch of "Champs" lip gloss was added to the center of the lips for a fresh finish. The look was set with a hydrating rose setting spray.
Peggy was thrilled with the results, especially her new eyebrows and lashes, noting that she couldn't feel the lashes but could see them. This makeover proves that age is just a number when it comes to embracing beauty and experimenting with makeup trends.
