You don’t need Botox to look great at 60—but you might need to ditch that matte foundation.
Graceful aging has less to do with “looking young” and more to do with not getting in your own way.
After 50, the habits that once felt neutral can suddenly make every birthday show up in high-definition.
The good news? A few small course-corrections pay off fast—and don’t require a surgeon or a second mortgage.
Below are nine grooming missteps I see most often (several of which I’ve committed myself). Skip them, and the mirror starts feeling like an ally again.
1. Skipping sunscreen
Ask any dermatologist what ages skin the fastest and they’ll point to the sun, not your candles-on-the-cake count.
As Dr. Anthony Rossi notes, “Mineral sunscreens are naturally broad spectrum, meaning they offer protection against UVA and UVB rays as a baseline.”
Translation: a morning SPF habit is non-negotiable—yes, even on cloudy Tuesdays or when you’re just driving the grandkids to soccer.
I keep a lightweight SPF 30 by the front door; keys and sunscreen go on together. It’s the cheapest anti-aging product I own, and it covers the easy-to-forget spots—the neck, ears, and the backs of hands—where sun damage shows up first.
2. Over-exfoliating
I once fell down the seven-step K-beauty rabbit hole—until my skin turned the color of a ripe tomato. Lesson learned: more scrubbing does not equal more glow.
Dermatologist Leslie Baumann puts it plainly: “Avoid over-exfoliating; it can harm your skin’s natural barrier.”
Limit chemical or physical exfoliation to once or twice a week, follow with a calming moisturizer, and skip it entirely if your face feels tight or looks shiny-but-parched.
Your skin barrier repairs itself at night; don’t keep tearing down what it builds.
3. Going too dark with hair dye
A pitch-black box color promises “youthful shine” but often lands in shoe-polish territory.
Celebrity colorist Louis Licari warns that ink-dark hair “will also zap life and color from your face” and make regrowth scream for attention.
A shade softer (or some strategic highlights) adds dimension and flatters changing skin tones.
If you’re coloring at home, buy a box one shade lighter than your goal and set a timer. Better yet, book a pro who can blend grays without flattening everything else.
4. Keeping the same haircut for decades
Still rocking the layered shag you loved in ’95? Hair texture, density, and even part lines evolve with hormones.
A modern cut—think movement around the face, lighter layers, and a bit of lift at the crown—restores proportion and draws eyes upward.
I ask my stylist one simple question: “What would make this cut easier to air-dry?” Low-maintenance shapes almost always look fresher than high-maintenance relics.
5. Ignoring the neck and chest
Face creams rarely travel south, yet the neck and décolletage betray age faster than crow’s-feet.
Whatever goes on your cheeks—cleanser, antioxidant serum, moisturizer, SPF—should glide down to the collarbone.
I’ve mentioned this before but it bears repeating: swap perfume spritzes for lotion in that zone; alcohol can dry and crease delicate skin.
6. Caking on matte foundation
Zoom meetings taught me that full-coverage, powder-set base looks flawless… until you move.
Heavy formulas settle into every expression line, exaggerating texture the camera (and real life) never missed.
Trade mattes for breathable foundations or sheer skin tints, then spot-conceal where needed. A damp sponge can erase years by sheer diffusion—literally.
7. Neglecting brows and lashes
Hair thins everywhere, including above the eyes. Sparse brows and faded lashes shrink facial features, throwing off balance.
A quick brow tint or swipe of tinted gel adds instant structure; a lash curler restores openness.
No need for the Instagram “brow-on-fleek” thing—just aim for the shade you had in your 30s. Subtle framing beats painted-on arches every time.
8. Overloading fragrance
On a layover in Paris I watched a traveler douse himself in cologne, gas-station-bathroom style. The scent hit the cabin before he did—and not in a good way.
Olfactory receptors dull with age, tempting us to over-apply.
One spritz on a moisturized pulse point is plenty. Better yet, switch to an eau de toilette or a solid fragrance that sits closer to the skin.
You’ll smell expensive, not overpowering.
9. Forgetting the “detail” hairs
Stray ear fuzz, nose sprouts, and rogue eyebrows grow faster after 50.
They’re tiny but broadcast neglect.
A quick once-over with a battery trimmer—ears, nostrils, between the brows—belongs in the weekly routine right next to clipping nails.
For men with beards, crisp cheek and neck lines make the difference between “distinguished” and “disheveled.” Women can benefit from the same perimeter check around the jawline and chin.
Small fixes, big payoff.
Most of these tweaks cost less than a streaming subscription and take under five minutes.
Pick one to start—maybe leaving SPF next to your coffee mug or booking that haircut update—and momentum will handle the rest.
Your future self (and every candid photo) will thank you.
What’s Your Plant-Powered Archetype?
Ever wonder what your everyday habits say about your deeper purpose—and how they ripple out to impact the planet?
This 90-second quiz reveals the plant-powered role you’re here to play, and the tiny shift that makes it even more powerful.
12 fun questions. Instant results. Surprisingly accurate.
