From her role at the helm of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics to her latest endeavor with Jones Road Beauty, Bobbi Brown has established herself as a world-class beauty mogul. At 66 years old, the makeup artist and brand leader looks as radiant as ever, and has become one of the hottest sources for tips and tricks in regards to makeup and skin-care on maturing skin. Just last week, Brown took to Good Morning America to showcase her top makeup tips for individuals with gray hair.
Before getting into her makeup hacks, the MUA urges older individuals to focus on keeping the skin hydrated with lots of water as well moisturizer and eye cream in the morning and at night. “Keeping your skin well-hydrated and drinking lots of water is the first, and most important step,” she says, “Put [moisturizer and eye cream] on as the first step in your makeup routine and reapply it before you go to bed.” She also emphasizes the importance of exfoliating once a week to prevent skin from getting dull.
Shadow School
Moving on to makeup, Brown’s first tip for clients with gray hair is to always have a brown eyeshadow to fill in sparse areas of the brows, as one of the main issues people face when growing out their grays is looking washed out. “When our hair goes gray, the eyebrows don’t always follow suit,” she says, while demonstrating how to groom the brows with a spoolie before filling in the brows using short, gentle strokes with an eyebrow pencil that closely matches your natural hair color.
Lip Service
Continuing on with the importance of not letting yourself look washed out, Brown explains that neutral colors on your lips and cheeks might not work as well with gray hair. “You need pops of color, there’s no question,” she says. “Pink is my favorite color because it truly works on everyone, and it adds the perfect pop of color while still looking natural—as if you’ve just come from a brisk walk outside.” If you’re unsure what shade of pink is right for you, Brown says to lightly pinch your cheek and choose a color that matches the shade your skin produces.
Eyes on the Prize
We all know the eyes say so much, and Brown holds dear the importance of making your eyes stand out with a liner color that best suits your features. For people with gray hair and blue eyes, she recommends navy. For those with medium skin tones and gray hair, she tends to opt for dark brown eyeliner. Finally, for individuals with dark skin and gray hair, black eyeliner is your best bet for bringing out your eyes.
Time to Shine
Color palettes aside, Brown’s final piece of advice for nailing your makeup is to not be afraid of a little sparkle. No matter your age, Brown is a firm believer that a little sparkle can make you look and feel better. “My general rule of thumb is to choose two places on your face to add sparkle to, and it will add just the right amount of shimmer to complete any makeup look,” she explains.
