It’s a perennial challenge for older women: How to look your best (and feel the confidence that goes along with that) without trying to look too young or foolish with too much makeup or too artificial an appearance. While many of us retain some sense of vanity no matter our age, we may also strive to look “natural”- just the best version of ourselves, not a comical version of our younger selves. But it’s not easy in this day and age. Especially with social media constantly throwing images of gorgeous older women our way, it’s hard to decipher who’s had work done and who hasn’t and what is “natural” for a woman of any particular age? There’s now a trend for older celebrities to post “no makeup selfies,” but who knows what fillers, incisions, or lifts they’ve had, even if their faces are bare-skinned on Instagram? Is a Kardashian without makeup “going natural?” It’s really hard to decipher how to age in a natural way, yet present to the world “your best face.” In fact, dermatologists and plastic surgeons report that as the population ages, they now see older women (and men) asking for “work” among patients in their 80s or 90s. As one dermatologist said, “Even though you’re older, it doesn’t mean you don’t care about your appearance.” So, as life expectancy increases, so too will the age of customers lining up for cosmetic procedures.

Speaking of such procedures, there’s something newly approved by the FDA that’s been cited as possibly a game-changer in this arena. You may or may not know that collagen is one of the key proteins in your system that keeps the “architecture” of your face and bones strong and supported. The problem is, beginning in your 20s, your body begins to lose collagen so that by age 45, you likely have lost about 25% of the collagen your body used to make (and thus you begin to see lines and wrinkles on your face). A topical application of collagen on your skin, or a supplement you swallow, is not likely to reverse that course.

However, the FDA has now approved an injectable called Sculptra to address your collagen loss and stimulate your body to produce new collagen. Once injected into your face, it triggers your body to slowly and naturally produce new collagen, which will hopefully lessen the appearance of those lines and wrinkles that adorn your face. It’s not an instantaneous process – and it doesn’t create a “new you”- but what it appears to do is reactivate your body’s collagen production over a couple of years and deliver a more youthful version of your face. It’s not magic- and it’s not infallible- but for some in search of a non-invasive way of putting your best face forward, it may be an option to consider. For more on this option, turn your attention here.

And for those of us who want an attractive appearance with maybe just a little skincare or makeup help? Dermatologists recommend products that contain sunscreen or retinoids (a vitamin A-derived product that boosts collagen production in the skin). For a range of recommended products that run the gamut from the shelves of CVS to the counters at Saks, click here. Products containing Vitamin C have also been touted for helping your skin maintain a more youthful appearance. You can read about the benefits and options for that class of products here. And if you’re looking for some basic foundation to blur some problem areas but still give you that “no-makeup look” take a look at this recent post from That’s Not My Age. Finally, for a new entry into the category of “makeup meant for more mature faces,” read all about Flyte.70, a new web-based direct-to-consumer makeup that’s aiming for an older demographic. As the founders of this new beauty brand make clear, “All of the formulas, finishes, and textures are targeted for the concerns of older women.”