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As a makeup artist, women in their forties and older often ask me for easy ways to look “put together” without spending much time or looking like they tried too hard.
We all have busy lives and schedules. Personally, I’d rather get a little extra sleep than spend a long time on my makeup.
Here are five simple steps for a fresh makeup look that won’t take a lot of time.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may receive small commissions that support this site. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Step One: Sunscreen That Looks Like Makeup
Don’t forget that sunscreen! Sun exposure not only can cause sun damage leading to those sun spots, but also can contribute to the breakdown of the skin’s firmness.
I love the CCC Cream from Cle Cosmetics because it has SPF 50 (SPF 30 in the two darkest shades), comes in 14 shades, has a dewy finish, and you can layer it and apply enough to truly get SPF coverage without looking cakey or made up. You can purchase samples if you’re unsure of your color match, and they offer light to medium coverage. I also love that I can use this product alone or with foundation for more coverage.
Another great option is Iris and Romeo, which comes in four shades, offers SPF 50 sun protection, and contains vitamin C, which aids in brighter skin, and niacinamide to even out the skin tone and smooth any texture issues.
For those who want a matte or natural skin finish, Drmtlgy has two universal shades: their original, which has a natural skin finish, and matte SPF 46, with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to hydrate, brighten, and offer UVA/UVB protection. Both shades work for all skin tones, help even out skin tone, and play well with all types of foundation.
If you don’t have very dark circles, any of these products can help with undereye issues.
Step Two: Brows That Frame the Face Without Looking Harsh
Brows shape your eyes and face. Define them, but avoid making them too dark, as that can look harsh or make you appear tired.
If your brows already have a good shape to them, invest in a brow gel to give them a bit of color and shape, and keep them in place all day. Brow gel helps sparse brows look defined rather than fake-looking, and helps thicker brows stay in place.
Brow gel
Essence has a great budget-friendly option that contains fibers to make sparse brows look fuller.
Kosas has a great clean beauty option with 10 colors containing hair growth encouraging ingredients, castor oil, biotin, and panthenol.
Brow foundation
If you need a brow base, Trio Beauty has a great kit with 12 stencils and 10 shades of pomade that is smudge-proof, waterproof, and looks natural.
If you prefer using powder, Senna Cosmetics is the GOAT of this category and one of the first items I bought for my professional kit. Three color kits, each containing four stencils and a dual-sided brush. These brows will survive the most trying hot flash!
Both are easy to use. Place the stencil over the end of your brow closest to your nose, line it up, and fill it in.
Step Three: Eyeliner That Brightens the Eyes
I’m a big fan of eyeliner. In my opinion, it’s a great way to brighten and add interest to the eyes without using eye shadow.
Eyeliner works for any eye shape. I love eyeliners that aren’t your typical black or brown because you can use a colored liner to enhance your eye color, or smudge them out for a soft shadow look. Dark blue eyeliner can give you the same intensity as a black liner, make the white of your eyes look brighter, without the harshness that black liner can have after a certain age.
I also like to use liner on the upper waterline to define the eyes and make lashes look fuller.
If you have hooded eyes or oily eyelids, I recommend sticking with waterproof pencils. For an oily eyelid, wipe it down before using a pencil, then dust with a setting powder or a neutral-colored shadow. The powder will help to absorb any excess oil on the lid and help your liner last.
I love the Victoria Beckham liners because they go on with ease, are smudge-proof and waterproof with an ample amount of time to be able to smudge them if you desire before they set. The non-glitter shades are shades for your waterline. There are 22 shades available, and none contain microplastics. And unlike many long-wear liners, they do not dry out quickly. You just need to keep those caps on.
I also adore the Moira Shimmer liners. Moira has a ton of liner options, but these are my favorites because of their versatility. They are waterproof, and there are 20 options to choose from.
If you prefer non-waterproof liners, my favorites are NYX and Wayne Goss. Both glide on smoothly without being too creamy, so they don’t smudge everywhere. They offer flattering colors, and even though NYX has fewer options now, both brands still have a nice range of shades and finishes.
Step Four: Lash Curling and Smudge-Proof Mascara
Many women skip lash curling, but it can open up your eyes and make lashes look longer, even without mascara. I love mascara, but don’t like waterproof formulas. Luckily, we have other options out there that are smudge-proof and easy to remove.
Lash Curling
I don’t have a budget-friendly option for eyelash curlers. I have tried many, and these are the ones I go back to: Shu Uemura and Surratt Beauty. Both are Japanese technology, curl lashes with ease, work on different eye shapes, and they do not pinch!
The best way to curl lashes is to put a mirror below and look down because this naturally brings the lashes up. Curl and pump a few times, and voila, you have lifted lashes.
Mascara
I love tubing mascaras. If you aren’t familiar with them, they’re a newer technology where the mascara wraps around the lashes. These mascaras don’t smudge and come off with warm water. You’re not going to get flaking or gooey mess that doesn’t dry down or become clumpy.
Here are four mascaras I’ve used and recommend because they work. They all come in black and brown:
Milani, both lifts and curls. Plus, this mascara lasts more than 16 hours.
Tarte, also comes in four additional shades. This mascara lifts, curls, and lasts over 16 hours.
Victoria Beckham, also comes in two additional shades. This plant-based mascara is more of a lengthening option than a volumizing one.
Westman Atelier, builds very well and is also completely plant-based.
Step Five: Multi-Use Blush for Cheeks and Lips
I love multi-use products, and I think cream and liquid blushes look the most natural. As we get older, our cheeks and lips lose some of their natural color, so these products help bring back that youthful glow.
The multi-stick products, which also work on the lips, look effortlessly chic as lip enhancers, in my opinion.
Cle Cosmetics has an innovative powder-to-tint lip powder that turns into a liquid tint when you touch it to your lips or cheeks. Whether you get a sheer wash or a bolder color depends on how much you apply. Available in 6 shades, individually or in a mini try me set.
Milk Makeup offers 12 cream lip and cheek sticks in a variety of shades and finishes. These sticks pack a pop of color, so a little goes a long way!
If you prefer a liquid tint that glows on the cheeks and looks like gloss on the lips, you will love the Caliray Social Superbloom Lip & Cheek Tint. It’s buildable, long-wearing, and transfer-proof; available in four universally flattering shades.
I like to apply blush right off the center of the apples of the cheeks and blend up along the top of the cheekbone towards the temple for a youthful, lifting look.
Bonus Step: Color Correcting for a Natural Finish
I confess my routine is more of a 6-step one because I have some hyperpigmentation above my top lip, a few sun spots, and darkness under the eyes.
I use a color corrector instead of a concealer to neutralize dark areas and still keep a natural look.
I also prefer color-correcting products with light-reflecting or brightening effects so they melt into my tinted sunscreen.
Drmtlgy, e.l.f., and Becca color correctors all come in a range from light to deep, so there are options for all skin tones. The Drmtlgy product offers sunscreen and skincare, including niacinamide, which helps brighten dark areas.
Yes, even though these products are labeled for the under eyes, I use them anywhere on my face that needs neutralizing or color correction.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may receive small commissions that support this site. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Links to Products Featured
Step One: Sunscreen
Cle Cosmetics CCC Cream
Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin
Drmtlgy Universal Tinted Sunscreen
Step Two: Brows
Essence Make Me Brow Gel
Kosas Air Brow Gel
Brow Trio Stencil Kit
Senna Form-a-Brow
Step Three: Eyeliner
Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner
Moira Statement Shimmer Liner
NYX Slim Eye Pencil
Wayne Goss Essential Kohl Eye Pencil
Step Four: Lash Curling and Mascara
Shu Uemura Lash Curler
Surratt Lash Curler
Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Mascara
Tarte Tartlette Tubing Mascara
Victoria Beckham Future Lash Mascara
Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara
Step Five: MultiUse Blush for Cheeks and Lips
Cle Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder
Milk Makeup Lip and Cheek
Caliray Social Superbloom Lip and Cheek Tint
Bonus: Color Correcters
Drmtlgy Luminous Eye Corrector SPF41
e.l.f. Putty Color- Correcting Eye Brightener
Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector
Perimenopause can feel like the great unknown. It is a phase every woman expects but few note as it arrives, partly because it can sneak up on you. Gradually, everyday changes that seem unrelated at first become persistent issues. Sleep becomes restless, moods fluctuate, and weight shifts unexpectedly. What makes this time especially difficult is how little it’s been talked about openly, leaving many women unprepared for the twists and turns ahead.
You might have heard the word mentioned in passing, or been half-heartedly handed a pamphlet and a sympathetic nod. You may begin to notice changes in how you feel, experience more anxiety, fatigue, or a sense that you aren’t quite yourself. You’re often told it’s stress, or aging, or something you just have to power through. Rarely does someone say, “This could be perimenopause. Let’s talk about it.” What you likely didn’t get is a clear, compassionate, and practical guide to what it means to live through perimenopause and come out the other side with your sanity mostly intact.
The good news is that’s changing. The perimenopause and menopause space has been growing rapidly in the last few years. There are books, movies, discussion panels, experts and social media influencers focused on how little of this process is common knowledge, and the importance of bringing it into the open.
It Sneaks Up On You
Menopause advocate and author Tamsen Fadal has been candid about how little she knew before perimenopause hit. “I had no idea what was happening to me,” she shared. “I thought I was losing my mind. No one told me this was normal.”
Fadal’s book, “How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better than Before,” dives deep into her personal experience with perimenopause and menopause and offers insights on navigating the challenges of this phase with honesty and grace.
The Symptoms Are More Than Hot Flashes
Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an OB-GYN and menopause educator, has worked tirelessly to reframe how we talk about this phase in women’s lives. “Perimenopause is a hormonal transition. It’s not just about your period ending. It affects your brain, your gut, your mood, your metabolism.”
The list of symptoms is long and often minimized:
- Sleep disruptions
- Weight changes
- Mood swings
- Anxiety or depression
- Brain fog
- Dry skin and thinning hair
- Joint pain
You may experience some or all of these. What matters is being believed when you bring these issues up, and having access to support that goes beyond a dismissive “That’s normal.”
It’s Not a One-Size-Fits-All Experience
There’s no universal timeline. Some women spend five to ten years in perimenopause. Some women feel almost nothing, and others feel like they’re unraveling on an hourly basis. Hormone levels fluctuate, and your sense of normal changes with them. Finding a support network and a plan that works for you helps smooth the transition. Dr. Haver’s message resonates: “You deserve evidence-based care. You deserve answers. And you’re not alone.”
The Emotional Side Doesn’t Get Enough Attention
Perimenopause isn’t just a physical adjustment. It also affects your sense of self and relationships. “I started to doubt myself at work and at home,” said Fadal. “I was afraid to speak up. I second-guessed every decision.”
This internal loss of confidence is a rarely acknowledged part of a perimenopause journey. You’re still expected to show up, perform, and smile, but something feels off. For too long, women have been left to guess what’s going on inside their own bodies, while facing a societal expectation to keep these changes and concerns to themselves.
You Might Grieve. And That’s Okay
For many, perimenopause represents the closing of a door. You may not have wanted children, or you may have been childfree by choice or circumstance. The biological end to standard childbearing years can carry an emotional weight.
That’s where voices like Instagram’s Melani Sanders, aka @justbeingmelani, matter. Her series “The We Do Not Care” club” offers a refreshing, hilarious, and empowering take on aging, hormones, and living fully. Her message? You’re allowed to care deeply. You’re also allowed not to.
This phase can come with both grief and relief. You can let go of some expectations and still feel sadness for what never was. One emotion doesn’t necessarily cancel out the other.
Your Body May Feel Foreign
Dr. Haver talks often about the physical shift in body composition. “You’re not doing anything wrong. Your hormones are changing, and that has real effects on fat distribution, metabolism, and muscle mass.”
Knowing this doesn’t make it easy, but it offers a path forward. Nutrition adjustments, strength training, and sleep support can help, along with changing the narrative. This is not personal failure; it’s biology.
There Are Tools. Use Them
One of the most frustrating parts of perimenopause is how often women feel like they have to figure it out on their own. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), supplements, lifestyle changes, and community support can all be part of your strategy.
As Fadal puts it, “We’re done whispering.” More women are sharing what works. Podcasts, books, and Instagram accounts are offering space for honesty and humor. Whether it’s tracking your symptoms with an app or joining a virtual support group, your care plan can be as personal as your experience.
You’re Not Alone
You don’t need to suffer quietly, in the way your mother or grandmother did. The silence around perimenopause is being shattered by women who are done waiting for permission to speak up. From advocates like Tamsen Fadal and Dr. Mary Claire Haver to creatives like @justbeingmelani, the message is: Talk about it. Ask questions and push back. This season of change can be both challenging and freeing.
There is a Better Path
I was among the many who felt perimenopause happening before I understood what it was. The confusion was enormous. Over time I found it helped me most to:
- Take a daily walk without distractions
- Follow experts like @drmaryclaire and @tamsenfadal
- Keep up with group chats with friends in the same phase
- Replace guilt with curiosity
- Say no without apology
None of this fixed everything, but it gave me back a sense of control.
Perimenopause isn’t a weakness; it’s a transition that deserves language, resources, and real conversation around the changes it brings to our lives.
References
- Fadal, Tamsen. Interview on The Today Show, 2023.
- Haver, Dr. Mary Claire. Menopause Matters podcast, 2022.
- Fadal, Tamsen. Instagram post, 2023.
- Instagram: @justbeingmelani, “The We Do Not Care Club” series, 2025.
- Fadal, Tamsen. How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even Better than Before. Harper Collins, 2025
