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Life & Culture

Getting older...still beautiful

Don't feel written off by a youth-obsessed culture, says our beauty columnist Viola Levy

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I’ve started learning Hebrew and the great thing about it is when I watch Israeli shows like Shtisel, I can occasionally pick up a handful of words in the dialogue. Every word or phrase I recognise is like getting a ‘1Up’ mushroom in Super Mario Land. One that I really love is the word for beautiful —yafé. I love the sound of it, it’s delicate, soft, almost ethereal.

In Season One the main character Akiva says it under his breath to his much older love interest Elisheva when she removes her wig and reveals her greying hair, trying to put him off (stating she is ‘done’ with relationships) but instead it entrances him all the more. For me, that scene is about how beauty is all about perspective and embracing who you are — grey hairs and all — rather than trying to conform to the narrow standards of a youth-obsessed culture. A culture that thankfully we’re starting to move away from.

You only need to look at the menopausal beauty market — which is now growing rapidly. Especially with older millennials starting to head into their 40s and several experiencing symptoms of perimenopause (with one in 100 even as young as their 30s). There’s Haoma’s menopausal Comfort Organic Deodorant (£20), Faace’s hydrating Menopause Treatment Mask (£29) and M&S and Prai Skincare’s MenoGlow skincare range, the latter created after research conducted by M&S found 77 per cent of their customers noticed their skin has changed because of hormonal ageing. While Willowberry Skincare have their #AgeWithoutApology pledge, to celebrate ageing rather than see it as something to fear and avoid (but obviously there’s nothing wrong with caring for your skin at the same time). Their Nutrient Boost Day Cream (£27.99) is my hero product as we start to head into the colder months — when the elements and skin-parching central heating do their worst, it mitigates their effects with nourishing rosehip and Vitamin E.

Similarly, a bold lipstick looks beautiful and dazzling at any age. It’s not my go-to, but when I find a good one, I occasionally wear it out to add some drama. In the past I’ve found reds to be either too drying (such as liquid lipsticks which feel like shrink wrap plastic when you apply them) or they slip and slide off so you’re left looking like The Joker. However all that changed when I tried the Matte Silk in Poppy Red from La Perla’s new range (yes the lingerie brand now do beauty). It’s pricey at £47 but you feel every penny of it on your lips, with its moisturising, pigment-packed formula which stays put. Poppy Red is a flame hue that would look beautiful on olive and warm-dark skin tones and could easily give iconic reds like MAC’s Ruby Woo and Rouge Dior’s 999 a run for their money. (The lace-pattern packaging is another bonus.) If you can’t stretch to a fancy new lingerie set, this is the next best thing. Yafé you might say.

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