Women under 50 need not respond

[AnotheChinHair]

Sorry for such an ageist subject title, but I am often drawn to threads that ask for foundation, shampoo, etc. recommendations and then realise that the OP and respondents are in their 30s and feel like I need some discussion with women my age.

My hair has changed, my skin looks different, my body aches, my eyebrows are faint and full of greys... I was wondering if you're 50 or over, could you share your wisdom on how you've adapted your grooming?

I'd be particularly interested in hair products (my hair is fine, prone to frizz and def. thinning and receding), my skin is still combination I think, and I would like to find a long lasting oil free full/medium coverage foundation that doesn't look dry around my eyes (currently using ELDW), and also supplements that make you feel and look better.

I have a horrible carb face after the sugar excesses of Christmas, and I have stopped drinking alcohol as I clearly don't tolerate it anymore.

I should exercise more but my knee hurts.
Recently started hrt patches and that has helped with night sweats.

Hope others can share what's been helpful.

My hair has never been better. It's thicker and softer than in my 40s. That's because I stopped dying it. The first 4 months of transition was hard. Then I had a short cut and it took a year until I was fully happy with it. I wish I had known in my 40s that having the roots dyed every month was making it dry, thin and brittle.
I also take vitamin and mineral supplements, particularly 3,000 iu Vitamin D, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B complex.

Ah thank you everyone.
LobotheBotanist, 2 raisins in a bun, that is hilarious!!
I don't look good without make up on, I just need to adapt it.

vit D3 sublingual spray?? Never heard of that. What does it do?

Oh another thing. My eyes have become so sensitive. I need to find a mascara that won't irritate them. Would appreciate recommendations please.

I can second @ApolloandDaphne suggestion of Nioxin. I actually need to restock as I'd stopped using it for a while but definitely my hair looked fab when I was using it.

I'm 47 but I look rough after eating all the pies over Christmas

I'm almost 51. My hair can be a bit frizzy so I use bc Bonacure peptide repair rescue (bought from Amazon). I put it on towel dried damp hair.

I use Simple rich moisturiser every morning and evening. Simple gel hydrating gel cream is useful before you put makeup on if your skin is dry. I sometimes use it before applying the other moisturiser.

I am trying to get more sleep and drink more water.

Tubing mascaras work best for me.

I like Eyeko ones, I have really sensitive eyes (I rate their eye liner pens too)

This was interesting on thinning hair/hair loss (read through the comments too):

thatsnotmyage.com/health-wellbeing/our-top-10-products-for-thinning-hair/

Some interesting research on rosemary oil:

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319444#research

Haven't tried it yet but found these instructions:

Mix castor oil and coconut oil in a bowl. Heat the container until they are blended. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil to this blend. Massage your scalp and hair with this hot oil mixture for 5-10 minutes.

I should have mentioned, I don't leave it fully salt and pepper. I had fine highlights on the top section about 3 months ago and use a warm blonde wash in wash out toner occasionally. There are no roots, no demarcation.

What’s made the biggest difference to my hair and energy levels is levothyroxine. Definitely worth getting your thyroid levels checked if you’re experiencing the classic symptoms.

My eyebrows however are irredeemable so I paint them on using a rather sweet Bobby Brown eyebrow palette.

I find CC or BB cream more manageable than full-on foundation.

@XiCi

Hair - collagen powder. I have 2 tablespoons in my coffee every morning and I can't tell you the difference it has made. My hair was really thin, didn't grow past my shoulders without snapping and just looked a bit dull. Ive been taking collagen quite a few months now and my hairdresser thinks its some kind of miracle. Its thickened up and grown quite a few inches and just looks really healthy and shiny. Quite a few people have commented on it, even my dh has noticed . I think it helps with skin and nails too.

Aches and pains i all but eliminated with a low carb diet. Like you I've had a carb fest over Xmas and feel awful. Bloated, achey, quite a few pounds heavier. Low carb again from today and dry January I'm hoping will sort me out. Yoga also helps massively. Adriene starts a new 30 days of yoga today called Breath. Its free on you tube and would really recommend.

Skin - I find i really need to keep up a heavy duty routine now - what works best for me is a combination of acids, retinols, serums and light moisturizers and always sunscreen!

What collagen? Has it changed your skin too? I'm 53 and my hair's OK but I accidentally turned on the camera on my phone just now and I look a hundred years old!

On foundation, I've just tried Trinny's BFF which is a sort of CC cream and I like it ( haven't got it on today but about to apply with a trowel).

52 in February here. Hair was really thinning during my late 40's but I stopped colouring it at 48 and let the grey grow and my hair thickened up.again - it's very fine though so majority of shampoos/conditioners weigh it down so I use Elemis - expensive at over £20 each but a bottle lasts me around 5 months. Currently using Glossier skin tint and stretch concealer - lovely lightweight sheer coverage but the concealer is amazing and just disappears into your skin!

@AnotheChinHair

Ah thank you everyone. LobotheBotanist, 2 raisins in a bun, that is hilarious!! I don't look good without make up on, I just need to adapt it. vit D3 sublingual spray?? Never heard of that. What does it do?

It’s a better way of taking vitamin D - good for bones, immune system and all kinds of things. I take this one Vit D3 Spray

@AnotheChinHair for mascara as a PP said; tubing mascara is your friend.
I alternate between the Estée Lauder and the Clinique ones although the original (blinc) is good and the eyeko ones as well. I didn't get on with the Boots version but you might.
One tip though. If your lashes are sparse using an ordinary thickening mascara coated with a tubing one, looks amazing without irritation or smudging.
And lash serum at night.

I think you have to be really careful with brows. Particularly if you are blonde moving to grey/white, with highlights - like me! I have slightly darker brows, which is fine, and have to be really light with any enhancement.

I have a couple of friends who have gone the full thick enhanced rebrow effort. It is so sad, because they think they look great, and actually it just looks ridiculous, doesn't match the rest of them at all. You have to be so careful what you do and use a lighter and lighter touch as you get older.

Name changed and might share a birthday photo (just took one and I look very ‘eyey’
Lots of water, no alcohol and staying not heavy (I hate diet talk and have dds so don’t have a target weight or rules but realised I accidentally do 16:8)
Roots and home cut as I’m waiting til lockdown is properly over before I go back to amazing £££ hairdresser I found here as wfh for the foreseeable.

@dingledongle
I have tried the "noo poo method"😂😂 😂

Another vote for tubing mascaras - I've also got really sensitive eyes and the best mascara for me is Clinique Lash Power, comes off with hot water so no need for make up removed (which also irritates my eyes..)

@AnotheChinHair same here ! I wonder why? The minute I put mascara on my eyes start streaming.

Ooh I'm at work but this is definitely a thread for me! 54, been peri for a while but no periods for 4 months this time. Tempted to look into hrt. I'll join in later.

Magnesium supplement for the knee joint pain.

@Hollybutnoivy

Me too, my hair is very thin now, frizzy too. I'm using caffeine shampoo, conditioner, leave in conditioner, anything to keep it curly rather than frizz and add volume. It's also going grey but not worrying about that as dp doesn't care and it's been 9 months since we socialised!

64. I tried upping my skincare game in my 50s and introduced a load of new products. It was a disaster and I've had sensitive skin ever since (plus a deep mistrust of the skincare industry). I now stick to as few products and as few ingredients as I can, plus sunscreen. The advice I would take from that is to make any changes to your regime one at a time.

I haven't got many hair care tips I'm afraid. My hair's a lot thinner but I'm lucky in that a) it was very thick to begin with and b) I have a good hairdresser who understands me (and how lazy I am) as well as my hair.

I take more care of my health now, eat more carefully, don't drink much alcohol and make more effort to exercise regularly. I've started taking a calcium supplement (cos I dislike milk) and also Vitamin D.

I can’t do mascara as my eyes have got sensitive. I do go and get my lashes dyed every month (when I can!) and it makes a massive difference and looks great as I am pale and very blond (white blonde now)

Sorry meant to add, my main exercise is walking - 30-60 minutes every day (well almost ) I can tell the difference when I don't.