Pressed powder in your fifties

[pussinboots61]

When I was in my thirties and early forties I gave up on foundation and just used pressed powder over moisturiser, as did my Mum as she decided she didn't want foundation anymore, she had beautiful skin.

Since hitting my fifties I've bought so many foundations and tinted moisturisers that slide off when I have hot flushes and end up fiddling about trying to find the right colour match that I'm tempted to go back to the No7 creme touch powder I used for years and had no problems with. But now I am in my fifties I wonder if it might make me look older, though it never had that effect on my Mum. I guess I tend to read more into articles that go on about old ladies and their powder puffs and it sitting in wrinkles.

Does anyone here of my age group still use pressed powder?

I think if your skin is well moisturised you might get away with it. Use a very light hand.
Alternatively you might get along with one of the mineral powers. The one I use , Laura Mercier tends to blur out imperfections rather than highlight wrinkles. Use over a primer for best effect, or moisturiser if your skin can be dry .

I do. I use Max Factor's Creme Puff - cheap and reliable. I just press the puffy thing into the powder and then press it in my face though - it's not lose and powdery but just stops that slightly sticky feeling and, sort of, sets the face. I do check in a magnifying mirror to check there's no sitting in wrinkles. I do use either a light foundation or tinted moisturiser,

Hmm... well, I'm 48, but I use a mineral powder over a moisturiser. I can't bear foundation.

I don't think it settles in my wrinkles, but I buff furiously to ensure it doesn't.

Thanks for your replies. Is loose powder messy to apply?

I'm 50 and I use a transparent pressed powder, but only over my chin and nose, as both still (annoyingly) get very oily. I use it on top of a very light application of well colour-matched foundation.

If you go for a loose powder I would buff it into the skin using a brush and apply it before you get dressed as it probably will get on your top a little. Have you looked at the hourglass powders? They have light reflecting powders in to add a glow to the skin.

Newer powders do exactly what pressed powder does but without looking cakey at all.

ByTerry HD powder is bloody amazing. It's white. You buff it on with a brush and it gives amazing coverage and stops shine.
It matches your natural skin tone exactly.
It's 42 quid but it lasts forever and it's worth it to me.
I also use erborian CC creme which is amazing too.
Both from SpaceNK.
Sali Hughes is raving about erborian in her latest coloumn but I've been using it for about a year and it really is good.

I use both and am 49.
I use Clinique pressed (And it's something I repurchase over and over) and also a Clinique loose. Obviously not both at the same time!
Be careful with mineral stuff, IME you need to be very good at applying it, lost count of how many orange cakey Barbara Cartland faces I've seen! As pp have said buff, buff and buff or it's a horror show. I gave up on it because am too lazy!

I'm in my 50s and I use clinique loose powder on my t zone only. When I'm out, I touch up with Chanel les Beiges. I use it very sparingly and it's fine.

Mac has a pressed powder thats designed not to cake no matter how much you pile on. Its called Mineralise SkinFinish Natural and it really does look natural. I'm not really sure how they've managed it, tbh but its very popular with brides and with makeup artists who do a lot of photographic work. It comes in loads of shades.

I also would recommend applying with a stipple brush (the ones with black-and-white bristles) as they give a sheerer application than conventional powder brushes. Avoid sponges at all costs!