What Happens to Your Face During and After Menopause: A Makeup Artists Guide to Navigating Midlife Beauty Challenges
What ages a woman faster than almost anything is losing the color that naturally disappears with age and never replacing it.
Every week I hear some version of the same story.
“Nancy, my face has changed.”
“My makeup doesn’t work anymore.”
“I don’t know what to do with my skin.”
“So I just stopped wearing makeup.”
As a makeup artist and esthetician, I understand why.
Your face changes during midlife and menopause.
Your skin becomes drier.
Your lips lose pigment.
Your eyebrows become sparse.
Your eyes soften.
Everything that once seemed effortless suddenly feels complicated. But here’s what I’ve learned after working with thousands of women:
Stopping makeup altogether will often age you faster than the wrinkles you’re worried about.
Not because makeup makes you look younger, but because aging naturally removes color from the face.
And color is what brings a face to life.
Where Did My Eyebrows Go?
One of the first things women notice is thinning brows.
Your eyebrows frame your eyes the same way a picture frame highlights a beautiful piece of artwork.
When brows become lighter, thinner, or disappear altogether, the face loses structure.
Suddenly the eyes don’t stand out the way they once did.
A softly defined brow restores balance and brings attention back to your eyes.
PRO TIP: If you are recreating a brow, use a pencil, powder or gel that is the COLOR of the darkest strand of your hair for a natural look.
Why Do I Look So Tired?
As skin becomes thinner, especially around the eyes, blue and purple undertones become more visible.
Many women tell me they look exhausted even when they’re well rested.
The problem isn’t always lack of sleep.
It’s lack of color.
When healthy color disappears from the cheeks and lips, those cool under-eye shadows become more noticeable.
Adding warmth and life back into the face helps create balance.
The Case of the Disappearing Lips
Can we talk about lips for a minute?
As we age, lips naturally lose volume, hydration, and pigment.
Many women joke that their lips are disappearing into their face.
I laugh because I know exactly what they mean.
The natural rosy color we once had begins to fade.
Without color, lips blend into the surrounding skin and the smile loses some of its definition.
The solution isn’t necessarily a dramatic lipstick.
It’s restoring natural-looking color.
The Eyes Aren’t Gone—They’re Just Hiding
Another concern I hear constantly:
“My eyes don’t stand out anymore.”
The eyes haven’t disappeared. The contrast around them has.
As we age, lashes become lighter, brows become softer, skin tone becomes less vibrant.
The sparkle is still there.
It simply needs a little help finding its spotlight again.
The right color around the eyes can instantly make them appear brighter, clearer, and more awake.
WATCH THIS VIDEO and/or Keep Reading to learn Why Color Matters More Now than Ever
Color Matters More Now Than Ever During Perimenopause and Menopause
When we’re younger, we can get away with almost anything.
Wrong lipstick. Wrong blush.
No blush. No lipstick.
No makeup at all.
Youth naturally provides contrast and color.
But after 50?
Color becomes one of our greatest beauty tools.
In fact, I often tell women:
Color matters more now than it ever has.
The right color can:
Brighten your eyes.
Warm your complexion.
Make your smile stand out.
Create a healthy glow.
Help you look rested.
Help you look vibrant.
Help you look like yourself again.
And no, pinching your cheeks and biting your lips isn’t a long-term beauty strategy.
Trust me.
Shown: Top – Scarlet, Ballerina. Bottom – Vermillion, Watermelon, Jam. Also available: Swept Away, Felicity & Harmony
My Simplest Solution: Glow Cream
That’s exactly why I created Glow Cream.
I wanted something simple and hydrating.
Something that worked with mature skin instead of fighting against it.
Glow Cream is made with nourishing oils that melt beautifully into dry skin.
The creamy texture adds softness and hydration while restoring the color that naturally fades with age.
And here’s my favorite part:
You don’t need brushes.
You don’t need special tools.
You don’t need professional makeup skills.
Just tap it onto your:
Cheeks.
Lips.
Eyelids.
That’s it.
Your fingers are actually the best applicators.
Within seconds, you’ve added life, glow, and brightness back to your face.
LEFT SIDE: BEFORE BROWS AND GLOW CREAM
RIGHT SIDE: AFTER BROWS AND GLOW CREAM (Lip, Cheek + Eye)
Photo: Glow Cream in Swept Away (a neutral peachy/pink). Visit Lipstick Boss Beauty and get your light back with Glow Creams.
Makeup Isn’t About Looking Younger
I don’t believe makeup should make you look younger.
I believe it should help you look brighter, fresh, healthy, and confident.
The goal isn’t to become the woman you were at 30.
The goal is to become the most radiant version of the woman you are RIGHT NOW.
And sometimes the fastest way to do that is simply bringing back the color that time quietly took away.
If this Midlife Menopause Makeup Guide was helpful, please let me know in the comments and read more about Choosing the Right Makeup Colors.
Thank you for visiting my blog where I love celebrating and supporting women through midlife and beyond. Before you go, if you haven’t already, grab the free resource below – it’s your first step to reclaiming your glow. I’ll also stay connected with you through my newsletter, sharing beauty tips, business wisdom, and faith-filled encouragement. Make it a beautiful day! Nancy (Lipstick Boss)
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