Welcome to Gen X Beauty Review! I’m Holly, and this site is all about makeup and skincare for beauty enthusiasts 45 and up. My site emphasizes science-based research to help you get the best value for your money. You can expect to find dupes of luxury products, including dupes of 1980s classics. I’ll cover trends too, because looking on point is important at any age. While I post affiliate links and I sometimes make a commission on sales, I will never recommend a product that does not work for me!
I was born in 1966. Ten years ago, about the time menopause decided to get really serious with me, my skin started to change. I struggled with dryness so uncomfortable my skin felt tight after splashing my face with water. I approached skin care with a little dread. Moisturizers seemed to help, but only for a short time. Dramatic changes happened to my eye area. My dark circles got darker, crow’s feet appeared, so did age spots. The skin under my eyes was delicate and crepey. For the first time I felt I was in a cycle of expensive product trials, and most of the products disappointed me.
Cosmetics were no different. I found my mineral foundation settled into fine lines and wrinkles. For the first time since my teens I had no idea how to look and feel my best. I turned to the Internet. Influencers repeatedly used words like “lifted” to describe looks curated for “older” people. Frequently, those influencers appeared to be twenty-something with no lines, wrinkles, or texture anywhere. I thought I saw a frequent subtext concerning color trends as well: the target “older” person in need of a makeup mentor was to step away from colorful choices. After a decade of beige and taupe eyeshadows, vibrant shades are back, but, influencers suggested, I needed to hang onto one trio of browns. If anyone knows how to use a rainbow of eye products, it’s someone who came of age in the 1980s. Influencer-chosen blush selections emphasized bronzer and “natural” shades of pink and rose, but the trend is currently blinding blush in some fun colors I wore 40 years ago.
So, get comfortable, grab a cold beverage, and let’s do makeup!
