“I’ve learned to see beauty where I never saw it before. But only because my expectations are more realistic. My favorite part of my body is my eyes. Not because of their color… but because of what they see.” ~Diane Keaton

This nugget is from Academy Award winner and bestselling author, Diane Keaton’s, book entitled, “Let’s Just Say It Wasn’t Pretty.” This candid and funny book covers aging, laughing, loving and living in a world obsessed with beauty.

Keaton, who has battled skin cancer twice, swears by SPF and wide-brimmed hats as her top beauty tips, telling Refinery29, “You’ve got to have some sort [of sunscreen], end of discussion. I think that covers everything — that’s most important.”

Advice on Beauty & Aging

Since I myself was diagnosed with melanoma many years ago, I agree that the importance of using an effective sunscreen can’t be understated. Do it every day, rain or shine!

Another woman whose advice on beauty and aging I admire and respect is cosmetics industry icon, Bobbi Brown. In 2007, on the eve of her 50th birthday, she released a book called “Living Beauty,” a guide to how skincare and makeup can instantly make one look fresher and better.

Brown tells High50.com that one of the biggest beauty mistakes women after 50 make is not choosing the right shade of foundation. Her advice? “When testing a new foundation, apply a little on your forehead where your skin tone is the most even. If possible, check your reflection in natural light and go with the shade that perfectly matches the color of your skin.”

Another makeup guru turned author is Andrea Robinson, whose career included serving as the chief marketing officer of Estée Lauder, president of Tom Ford Beauty, beauty editor of Vogue, and president of Ralph Lauren Fragrances.

In her book, “Toss the Gloss: Beauty Tips, Tricks & Truths for Women 50+,” she shares a host of beauty tips, including my favorite, how to recognize the seduction of beauty-industry tactics designed to get you to spend more money than you need to.

Here are a few key takeaways from Robinson’s book from my friends at Grand Magazine:

• Blush. You are likely to find the same bestselling cheek shades from Maybelline and L’Oreal as you might from a higher-end manufacturer like Lancome. Many of the finely milled powders are sourced from the same place!
• Eye Shadow. Many drugstore brands use the same outside vendors for their eyeshadows as do the luxury brands, so check to see if you can find your favorite shade, with the same ingredients, but in a much less expensive package.
• Under-Eye Concealer. A best bet that really works: Maybelline New York Cover Stick, $4.99, here. It must be the same color as your foundation, liquid or creamy, and applied with a light hand all the way down to your cheekbones. You may then want to apply a bit more foundation on top and pat, pat, pat.

I leave you, darlings, with this final thought on beauty from Ms. Keaton herself…

“My face identifies who I am inside. It shows feelings I can’t put into words. And that is a miracle, an extraordinarily ordinary miracle, one I’ll think twice about before I change.”

Are You Embracing the Beauty of Being You?

What’s your tried and true beauty advice? How do you feel about yourself as time marches on? I would so love to hear from you on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or in the comments section below.

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