For as long as I can remember, my daily makeup routine has leaned into the comfortably minimal: a sheer base that shows off natural skin texture while subtly blending away pigmentation, a cream blush for a healthy pop of colour, lip balm or a nude lip, a brow gel, and depending on the day, a coat of black mascara or clear mascara.
And I’ve realised that as I’ve entered my fifites, that “less is more” approach has evolved into something deeper than just a makeup choice. It’s become a bit of a reflection of where I am in life. I find myself wearing less makeup because firstly, I have nothing to prove to anyone - as long as I am happy with how I look - but also, I’ve become really turned off by how midlife is performed online. Social media has become so shouty with smug “This is what [insert age here] looks like” posts and passive-aggressive humblebrags. I used to think being vocal about aging was empowering, but now? I just want the quiet ease of living it without shouting about it.
Which brings me to back to how I’ve been wearing blue eyeliner lately (my current fav is Victoria Beckham Beauty Satin Kajal Eyeliner in Denim 👖). Wearing it makes me think of Princess Diana in the eighties. When she wore that flash of blue on her waterline, I like to think it wasn’t a calculated trend or experiment to invite newspaper commentary. It was just a quiet, playful quirk - a hint of her mischievous side maybe?
I’ve been wearing just a quick stroke along my upper lash line. It isn’t loud. It’s smudge-y and subtle. It doesn’t scream for a reaction. But it does brighten the whites of my eyes, and gives me a little lift every time I look in the mirror…
