Doing my 99 year old abuelitas makeup!

There's something incredibly special about spending time with loved ones, and for me, making my 99-year-old abuelita feel pampered is pure joy. Watching her face light up with every stroke of the brush, especially for a fun Christmas party, truly makes my heart smile. Doing makeup for elderly women isn't just about covering imperfections; it's about enhancing natural beauty, boosting confidence, and creating a moment of pure delight. From my experience, the key to successful makeup on mature skin, whether it's for a 100-year-old or someone younger, starts with hydration. Before anything else, I made sure to add extra hydration to her skin. A good, rich moisturizer followed by a hydrating primer creates a smooth canvas, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and ensuring makeup doesn't settle into creases. This step is crucial for achieving that fresh, youthful glow. My abuelita loved how soft her skin felt even before the makeup went on! Next, for the base, I opted for lightweight, dewy formulas. Heavy foundations can often look cakey on mature skin. Instead, I focused on spot-concealing with something like the Huda Beauty concealers we used, which offer good coverage without feeling thick. The goal is an even skin tone, not a mask. Blending is your best friend here, using soft brushes (like those from SIGMA) or a damp beauty sponge to press the product into the skin for a seamless finish. We want to enhance her beautiful features, not hide them! For her eyes, my abuelita requested pink eyeshadow, and it was a fantastic choice! Soft, warm tones can brighten the eyes beautifully. I kept the application light and blended well to avoid harsh lines. A little trick I learned is to use a cream shadow or an eyeshadow primer to prevent creasing throughout the day. And don't forget the brows – a subtle fill with a soft pencil or powder can frame the face and lift the eyes. My sister even gave her a fabulous blowout, which perfectly complemented her glam look! When it came to cheeks, my abuelita apparently can't live without bronzer and blush, and I totally get it! A touch of bronzer, applied lightly to the high points of the face where the sun would naturally hit, adds warmth and definition. Then, a pop of blush on the apples of her cheeks brings a youthful flush. For mature skin, cream or liquid blushes often look more natural than powder, but a finely milled powder blush (like those we used with VOLUTION tools) works wonderfully when applied with a light hand. The key is to blend upwards to give a lifting effect. Finally, a light dusting of setting powder, primarily in the T-zone, helps everything stay in place without making the skin look dry. The most important part of this whole routine, beyond any specific product or technique, is the joy it brings. Seeing her smile, feeling confident and beautiful at her age, is truly priceless. It's a reminder that makeup is a tool for self-expression and happiness at any stage of life. She looked absolutely fabulous heading to the office party, and her smile was the prettiest accessory of all. If you have an abuelita or a loved one who deserves some pampering, I highly recommend a makeup session – it's more than just cosmetics; it's a memory you'll both cherish.