Reconciling Beauty With The Midlife Beast

Since I crossed into age 50 twelve years ago I have turned time and again to four different books about beauty, fashion and style for midlife and beyond. Honestly, I have read many more than the four. But those four are the ones which resonate and draw me back for refresher reads.

One of those is the book Forever Chic, Frenchwomen’s Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style, and Substance by Tish Jett. *affiliate link* Her in-depth reporting as a journalist captivated me with the beauty tips information she provides and the sources she interviewed.

I would like to briefly share with you what I have taken away from the book as far as beauty goes. Yes, the book is written for women of a certain age… because in France they have an allure about them and are treasured. She writes, “Self-respect and pleasure have everything to do with it.” Which reminds us that confidence is both, attractive and powerful. The over 50 woman in France seems to have a confidence level many American women still seek.

When writing about a beauty regimen, Jett presents a country where the dermatologist is more important than the makeup artist. This makes perfect sense. The quality of the foundation is critical for any artist to create something special and personal. At 50, I did not understand the importance of exfoliation, or microdermabrasion, or really any skincare past a washcloth and soap. One of Jett’s sources was shocked “to meet mothers outside of France who were encouraging daughters to use cover-up products instead of making appointments with dermatologists to solve simple skin problems.”

She reminds us how heavy makeup sinks into wrinkles and pores and can be aging. “Frenchwomen know that modern makeup is not created to hide lines; its function is to help us look fresh and glow with the appearance of good health. My friends and acquaintances, including my doctors never obsess over wrinkles.” She quotes one doctor who believes it is simply not natural not to have them or to try and hide them.

Here are a few key points:

1. Foundations should be light and have key light reflecting properties.
2. Place your warm hands on your face and lightly press where makeup has been applied. It is now perfectly set and immaculately au naturel.
3. Light powder is acceptable and most Frenchwomen wear it.
4. Use a primer. It provides radiance in a flash
5. Frenchwomen most often ask for samples at the beauty counter before purchasing and test drive the products to see if they are for them.
6. To erase fatigue, put highlighter on the corners of the nose and lips. “Lips tend to turn down over time; light lifts them up.”

I am obviously leaving out a lot of information, I couldn’t possibly include it all! But you can tell, I truly do recommend this book. My copy has been underlined and highlighted repeatedly.

Would you like to share one of you beauty secrets? Do you believe women in France are more confident than American women? Let’s discuss all of this in the comments.

And as always, thanks for stopping by!