If your head has been in Paris the last week or so watching the Olympics, you may have been on the lookout for some French fashion and beauty advice, as French women are known worldwide for setting trends in those areas. In particular, French women are known for their minimalist approach to beauty, relying on simple, frequently inexpensive skin care products and often minimalist makeup. If you’re wondering how to get your hands on some of those items (and wondering if you can afford them), then we have good news for you: Many of the most popular French beauty products can be found for reasonable prices in pharmacies in France, and now, many of those items are available beyond the boundaries of France, including on Amazon in the US. So, for example, a recent article in the British publication The Telegraph mentioned such French products as A313 Retinol Pommade Anti Aging Night Cream, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5, Healing Ointment and Bisou Balm – Bisou Balm Lipstick, all items popular in France and available in French pharmacies- and now easily available to US customers by going to Amazon. And if you’re looking for some high quality, reasonably priced products available in US drugstores, take a look at this recent set of recommendations from The NY TIme’s Wirecutter. The Washington Post also just published a list of drugstore moisturizers on par with the more pricey brands.

AARP recently set out a list of the best makeup products for women over 50 but many older women wonder whether they should keep wearing makeup at all and if so, how much is “appropriate.” According to 74-year-old British makeup “legend” Trish McEvoy, there’s no reason to “tone it down” just because you’re an older woman. Instead, what matters is, “When you look in the mirror ask yourself how you feel.” McEvoy goes on to give some expert tips about applying and using makeup as an older person, including pinpointing your concealer to those spots that need coverup rather than covering your full face with foundation, using colors to bring some vibrancy to your skin, such as pinks and peaches, and defining your features that may have receded as you age, such as your brows, your lips, and your eyes.

If you’re on the lookout for makeup that’s specifically focused on the needs of older women with mature skin, then we also have some new brands for you to consider (that are also on the more expensive end of the cosmetic spectrum). First is the brand Merit, which launched 3 years ago intending to develop a “clean” set of skincare and makeup products for older women on the luxury end of the industry. The sales of Merit cosmetics reached $100 million in 2023, so clearly many women are buying this trend. And to help solidify and promote their desire to meet the needs of older women, the brand recently recruited 83-year-old former Vogue Creative Director Grace Coddington to be the new face for their new lipstick shades. You can read more about the brand and its approach here.

Finally, another new cosmetics brand aimed at older women and positioned in the luxury market is Sarah Creal Beauty. This brand was developed by Sarah Creal, one of the most respected product developers in the cosmetics industry who helped launch such beauty brands as Prada and Victoria Beckham Beauty. The 54-year-old Creal hopes to position her new brand as luxury skincare and cosmetics, to focus on moisture, repair, and the complex beauty challenges of older women. You can read about her brand launch and her insights about the needs of older skincare and beauty clients by clicking here.