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Need advice re: skin illuminaters/brighteners
  • bluecatbaby

    My mom is 70, and her skin is very fair and, to me, dull. She doesn't use concealer or foundation, because her skin tone is so even (due to always wearing sunscreen and hats). She does use a cream blush. And, she's always willing to try something new when I bring it around to her house.


    I would like to give her a drugstore-priced product to liven up her complexion, but I don't know anything about those products. Can anyone tell me if a lotion or cream or powder is best? Or recommend a specific product? I don't think she would want a glittery, shiny product.

  • Right BrainRight Brain
    Olay Definity has some real science behind it that suggests it could really help. I'd give that a try.
  • georgia
    If your mom has dry skin, look for creams. If oily, then a powder. Does your mom exfoliate? If not, that would help to explain why her skin looks dull.
  • lindygirl1960
    If your mom doesn't exfoliate then perhaps an AHA product would help. Alpha Hydrox makes an inexpensive line that gets good reviews. Considering she is 70 you would want to do some research as to how often she should be using it though. She might have to use it just a couple of times a week instead of each and every night. Many times the older you get the thinner the skin becomes.

    AHA's should only be used at night, by the way. They do increase your sensitivity to the sun so a good sunscreen, which you indicate she already does (YAY!!), is a MUST. AHA's should never be used with retinol products either. AHA's and retinols tend to cancel each other's effectiveness out.
  • sarahf
    By any chance does she use mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide)?  It can cause the skin to look dull while you have it on your face (i.e., not permanently).  I use mineral sunscreens and I have to be careful because it can give me the pasty white, overly matte look.  I have to choose my mineral sunscreen products carefully.
  • lindygirl1960
    Good point Sarah. I didn't think of that! 
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    Titanium dioxide sunscreen or makeup can also make your face look really white when your picture is taken with flash photography. 

  • sarahf

    True, and in my experience, it can also cause liquid makeup applied over it to look flaky or crackly.  Fortunately, I don't prefer to wear liquid makeup.

  • sarahf
    One trick I use with my mineral makeup--I use a yellow-based powder over it.  It helps counteract the violet tint you get with mineral makeups and keeps my face color more natural.  [I tend to like subtly yellow-based makeup lines anyway.  My skin tone is neutral, but peach toned makeup looks wrong on me.]
  • bluecatbaby

    Thank you for all of these ideas. I know my mother uses Paula's Choice Resist AHA because I gave it to her, and she loves it. I don't know if she uses a mineral sunscreen, I have to ask about that. I'll look at the Definity products, because a tinted moisturizer may work well.


    I know all about photos and mineral sunscreen, which I was wearing when I had my updated driver's license picture taken. With the bright straight-on flash I look like an alien. When I show my license to a cashier I put my finger over the picture.

  • sarahf
    Sorry, I said "mineral makeup" when I meant "mineral sunscreen."  Whoops.
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