After four and a half years of writing the Better Not Younger column, beauty columnist Hannah Betts has shared her key learnings and top five must-haves for women over 50. The column, which appears in Inspire Magazine, has come to a close, but Betts reassures readers that beauty coverage will continue in a reinvented form.
Betts highlights the booming beauty industry, noting that the British Beauty Council's latest report shows its contribution to the UK's GDP reached £30.4bn in 2024, outpacing the wider economy. Consumer spending on beauty grew 8% to £32.4bn, and the sector employs 496,000 workers, making it larger than the sports, amusement, and recreation sector. The 'silver pound' from those aged 40-plus is a significant part of this spend.
Betts advocates for a high-low approach, spending on key items like excellent SPF, incredible foundation, and sublime scent, while economising on cleanser, lip balm, and body products. Her skincare routine is low-key: she cleanses religiously with micellar, oil, and milk, and is obsessive about SPF, layering face oil underneath for suppleness. She recommends Hello Sunday The Everyday One SPF 50, but is not a fan of Vitamin C or retinol, preferring any decent serum at night from brands like The Ordinary or Sisley.
For make-up, Betts wears less but applies it more judiciously as she approaches 55. She focuses on making her complexion glow with foundation, then frames features with subtle brow lift, lip liner, and cheek and jaw contour, adding a touch of colour. She advises flattering your colouring by checking wrist veins: blue for cool, green for warm, neutral if neither.
Betts emphasises the importance of looking current without following every trend, suggesting that Gen Z trends can teach older generations. She is constantly updating her base products and is unashamed of her 'foundation wardrobe', believing that resplendent-looking skin is key to feeling confident and youthful.
