After four and a half years writing the Better Not Younger column, beauty columnist Hannah Betts shares her key learnings and top five must-haves for women over 50. Betts emphasises that the beauty industry is thriving, with the British Beauty Council reporting a £30.4bn contribution to GDP in 2024 and consumer spending reaching £32.4bn. The sector employs 496,000 workers, outpacing the sports and recreation industry.
Betts advocates a low-maintenance skincare routine, focusing on thorough cleansing and diligent SPF application. She recommends Hello Sunday The Everyday One SPF 50 for protection. While she uses serums from affordable brands like The Ordinary and luxury lines like Sisley, she avoids daily Vitamin C or retinol, believing a simple routine can be effective without sensitising the skin.
For makeup, Betts applies foundation sparingly to achieve a glowing complexion, then frames features with subtle brow lift, lip liner, and contour. She stresses the importance of flattering one's colouring, suggesting the vein test on wrists to determine cool, warm, or neutral undertones. Betts also embraces trends like black lip gloss and lilac eyeshadow, noting that looking current helps maintain an ageless appearance.
Her top five must-haves include an excellent SPF, a high-quality foundation, a sublime scent, a reliable cleanser, and a good lip balm. She advises shopping high/low, spending where it matters and economising on basics. Betts concludes that the best beauty products are not always the most expensive, and a bankrupting 12-step routine is unnecessary for perfect skin.
