Now I’m 70

I bet that in all your born days you never imagined what it would like to be 70 years old.

• 50th birthday was a big milestone and maybe a yearning for lost opportunities. Gradual changes in appearance.
• 60th birthday was a reality check. “Yes, I am an older lady now.” Quite dramatic changes in appearance.
• 70th birthday. A realisation that the last stage of the journey is beginning. Very noticeable changes in appearance and strength.
• Whilst we cannot look young anymore, if we take the trouble, we can still look beautiful. Knowing that we look attractive will give us added confidence.

The fashion and beauty industry is, at long last, becoming aware of the increasing and lucrative mature-age market. Former models and celebrities are coming out of retirement to show-off fashions especially designed to suit us.

• Gorgeous eyewear a-la Iris Apfels.
• Sparkly dress-rings photographed on the hand of a 78-year-old model.
• Charlotte Rampling is now the face of Nars.
• Mature models are showing dresses and tops WITH SLEEVES.

How inspiring to see women who look like us wearing the styles that look good on them, so we know that those styles will suit us too. Apparently, some of the reactions to these advertising campaigns have been profound. “Thank you for showing us and making us visible.” The beauty and fashion industry have finally realised that using mature women to model will give their brand credibility. It is becoming easier and easier for older women to look their best.

The L’Oreal company of hair and beauty products fame, recently launched a promotion using models aged from 42 to 58. With a bit of luck, they will cotton-on to the fact that including the 60 and 70 plus market, where the need for specific products is even greater, might sell even more products.

Catering by the fashion and beauty empires to an older age range than previously will help change attitudes until beauty at all ages, including 60’s, 70’s and 80’s will be the norm.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES AT 70

• Exercise regularly – say 20 minutes each day to maintain flexibility, body firmness and a slim figure. Exercising can be fun and relaxing.
• Attend to grooming details and have a regular manicure and pedicure.
• Remember to wear your jewellery and use your perfume.
• Give the nod to edgy and sharp, but don’t go the full monty.
• When thinking beauty and style, always have femininity uppermost in your mind.

YOUR FACE AT 70

• Use a wax-based wrinkle-blurring product. Press on to wrinkles, don’t wipe or rub. Use before powdering. I have just begun using this product and am a big fan.
• Have a skin needling treatment to stimulate collagen and elastin production – an extreme treatment, but really makes a difference. You will be so surprised at how plump and smooth your skin becomes. Have just had my annual skin needling treatment and am feeling good about my complexion.
• Try a Botox eye lift. Botox is injected into the brows to lift slightly and smooth creases in the eyelids and between the eyes. Opens up the eye area beautifully and naturally. My next appointment is early March.
• If necessary, fade pigmentation with a yearly I.P.L treatment. Your face and back of hands will look amazing.
• Keep prominent and neat eyebrows. My hairdresser dyes mine black during regular appointments – gives me something to follow with the brow make-up tools.
• Blink down on to the mascara wand to prevent smudging the eyelid. A tip from my 16-year-old granddaughter.
• Experiment with lip stain products to give long lasting colour; only need to touch-up with lip gloss now and again during the day.

YOUR HAIR AT 70

Around 70, most of us will have grey or white hair, probably lots thinner than we’d like. There is a raft of choices out there to help.

• Will I colour? Be brave and have fun with colour.
• Will I go extra short? Try a geometric style.
• Will I grow it? Maybe an elegant upswept style.
• Can I make it appear thicker? Use a volumizing product to add thickness and use velcro curlers, size to suit hair length. Backcomb and use a coloured volumising powder to finish.

If you are at the end of your tether, investigate wigs. My own hairdresser Lisa, (early 60’s) and a good looking girl, has such rapidly thinning hair, that she has invested in a wig. It looks excellent and is totally age-appropriate; very natural, very flattering. She is in seventh heaven with her new glam appearance. Lisa bought mid-range at around three and a half thousand, plus about two and a half thousand for a partial hair piece that she can use to cover the worst patches and then work what’s left of her own hair in with the partial hair piece to create an upswept style. Easy for a hairdresser – perhaps harder for you and me.

Our attitude to our appearance doesn’t change when we become older. We continue to be interested in fashion, style and beauty. We continue to see and be seen; we continue to work, run businesses, travel and socialise. It is common knowledge that the best years of your life are between 70 and 80, so I am planning to live my next five years to the max.

When I turned 70, I was still running a business and putting together notes for my book. Sold the business to our children, wrote the book and was invited to write articles for various publications including Starts At 60; I have been going at full pelt for the last five years. Considering that when I began working in the late 1950’s, women retired at 60, at 75 I am now calling it a day and look forward to living life to a more relaxed maximum.

Many thanks to all who have purchased my book, Health & Beauty Tips for Women Aged between 60 & 80 – hardly any left now.

A toast to health and beauty.

“May good health and beauty last a lifetime. Goodbye and good luck.”

A big thank you from all of us at Starts at 60 for all of Margaret’s articles over the years.  We will miss you and best of luck in the next chapter in your life.

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