The Best of 2022: Beauty, Life, and Style for The Over 50 Woman

2022 was a year of quietly cherished moments.  It was a recalibration of sorts—after a couple of years of laying low and not getting out very much, I hoped 2022 would be a year of more travel and adventure.  It wasn’t.

It ended up being a year to re-prioritize and find joy in small things.  Spending quality time with family, basking in nature on long walks, and a few one-tank trips made 2022 memorable for me.  It was less about buying things, and more about enjoying experiences with friends and family.  My favorite days were spent outdoors, enjoying soft warm breezes wearing a cotton sundress and straw hat.  

As the months of 2022 have gone by, I felt a strong desire to let go of “stuff” and worked on a continuous clean out of my home and closet.  I prioritized clothing that I could wear around the house and still look “put together” but looked forward to date nights and outings with Roger or friends so I could get dolled up a bit.

I looked for skin care and wardrobe picks that would do double duty, and paired down routines in 2022.

Skin Care for the Over-50 Minimalist

When it comes to skincare, I paired my routine way down.  I have the opportunity to try lots of new products, but find the simpler the routine, the more likely I am to keep it up.

Night Time:  I do the “double wash” with Farmacy’s Green Clean makeup remover, followed by drugstore cleanser, and Photozyme GFS Plus Night Serum with 1% Retinol. This product has vitamin C and DNA-repairing peptides. I used the .5% to start and had no problem with the Retinol.

Day Time: Photozyme BEYOND Block ChemFree Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Tinted sunscreen This product is both sunscreen and skin care rolled into one. It works well with my makeup–I use it as a primer. I love that it works well with my makeup. I have never asked to be an affiliate but this was one brand I am excited enough about to ask to be an affiliate. If you would like to save 20% use the code 20NINA

Favorite Scents 2022:

For the past several years I have enjoyed Guerlain Mon perfume, so much so that I am on my third bottle. I also have body wash and lotion. I am very selective when it comes to fragrance, so it is very rare for me to go all in on a fragrance like that. I wasn’t looking to add to my collection but I chose a few scents to try from one of Sephora’s free sample offers and fell in love with Marc Jacob’s Perfect. It is a warm floral perfect for spring and summer days in Florida.

Makeup Favorites 2022:

When it comes to makeup, I wear it most days and tend to go for the tried and true.  In 2022, I had the bug to try some new foundations, and here are a few favorites. Foundation is tricky for older women, I think. While I like the idea light weight products like tinted moisturizers, I need medium coverage. The foundation must stay put, and not be too heavy or cakey. A tall order, I know.

Armani Beauty: I tried a number of Armani’s offerings this year, and found several products that I reach for time and time again. The Luminous Silk Foundation is a lightweight, medium-coverage “your skin but better” foundation. It stayed put all day and gives me a natural, polished look. It didn’t settle into lines and wrinkles and worked well with both my sunscreen and the primer I use.

RMS Beauty: It was time for me to replace my powder blush and unfortunately the blush I loved from Charlotte Tilbury had been discontinued, so I tried a few blushes before settling on RMS Beauty ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush. RMS is a clean brand which is always a plus.

Read More Here: My Armani Beauty Favorites, 10 Things You Need In Your Makeup Bag If You Are 50+

My daughter Brooke joined Sharing A Journey and shared her clean makeup favorites.  Some of them made their way into my makeup kit as well.

Ilia Foundation is Brooke’s Favorite, It provides light to medium coverage, and requires light touch-up with powder on humid days. If you are looking for something lightweight, with light to medium coverage and a “clean” product, Ilia may be the perfect choice for you. Kosas vs. Ilia Foundation and Skin Tints-Showdown!

Read More Here: A Review of Every Ilia Cosmetic I’ve Ever Tried

What I wore most in 2022

When it comes to clothing, I have gone back to an intentional curation of my wardrobe, buying fewer pieces and then styling them to create several looks rather than buying piles of new things I end up getting rid of pretty quickly. 

The sundress:

J. Crew turned out to be my go-to for sun dresses in 2022, I bought three and ended up wearing them non-stop from spring well into fall.  I love dresses in the warm months—they are a one-and-done way to make a style statement.  All you need is a great pair of shoes, a cute straw bag, and comfortable shoes.  They look great with sneakers, but I prefer a wedge or heel.

Faux Leather Jeans:

My faux leather jeans from Spanx are a favorite during the cooler months.  I love their edgy change of pace and the cool girl vibes they give off.  I have been wearing them for a couple of winters now and still really love them.  Spanx holds me in and washes well.  

Veronica Beard Beverly Jeans:  

I love the fit of these jeans!  Sometimes friends will say “You are so lucky to be tall, everything looks good on you.”  This isn’t true though.  Most chain stores calibrate their clothing to a 5’ 4” woman, I am 5’7”—which means that often the rise and length aren’t right for me.  Veronica Beard clothing seems to fit me like a glove—so if you are taller this line may be perfect for you—but the Beverly Jeans are so great I purchased them in blue and white.

To learn more about styling jeans check out this post: 4 Modern Classic Designers Women Over 50 Should Shop Now

Joggers and flairs: 

At home, you will often find me in a pair of joggers with a cute sweater or a pair of pull-on flairs. I find they are super comfortable, and great for lounging, doing chores around the house, and running errands. 

For more about workout wear, check out this post: Complete Guide to Workout Clothes For Women Over 50

Two Piece Sets:  

Matching two-piece sets began to make the scene in 2020, mainly in the loungewear category, but also made their way into skirts and tops.  Cami NYC created a number of sets with interchangeable tops allowing the shopper to create her own sets.  I thought this was genius, and though the trend has died down a bit—I still keep my eye out for them.

I purchased a beautiful two-piece set from CamiNYC—it was a bit of a splurge, but I absolutely love it and wear the pieces multiple ways throughout the year.  I am currently on the lookout for more as they are so versatile.  

Books, Films, and TV Series I loved:

If you haven’t seen The Extraordinary Woo Young Woo on Netflix, you are missing out.  Woo Young Woo is a gifted attorney with autism.  She navigates tricky social and complicated legal and political situations with the help of her father and co-workers who aren’t always comfortable with Woo’s behavior and quirks.  In the end, her good-hearted nature and thinking outside-the-box strategies wins the day and lifted my spirit.

One of the most beautiful books I purchased this year was An American in Provence written by photographer Jamie Beck.  I became acquainted with Jamie through an interview she did with James Nord on YouTube a few years back.   I immediately looked her up on Instagram and began to follow her.  I got to know Jamie through her beautifully curated feed and her tender Instagram stories.  I always find them compelling.  In late 2022, her book came out and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.  The photography in the book is beautiful, and the story of her finding her way to Provance and building a beautiful life for herself and her family is so inspiring.  It’s just plain gorgeous and I’d love to book a trip to Provance right now.

The movies Elvis and Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris were fun flicks we enjoyed at CineBistro our favorite place to take in movies in 2022.  We love the vibe of the place, having a nice meal or dessert, and seeing a movie in big comfortable chairs.  It’s one of our date night favorites.

Around Florida:

As an almost native Floridian (I’ve lived in Florida for 40 years) I am surprised by the many things to do and see in this state.  Most people focus on Orlando the home of Disney World and Universal, but there are so many other places to visit.  In 2022, we decided to do a bunch of small one-tank trips.  We created so many great memories:  The Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora, enjoying the shops and restaurants in Winter Park, and several trips to Bok Tower—we went so often that we decided to sign up for a membership this year.

My friends, Suzanne, Andy, and Julie have also put together posts on their favorites of 2022. I hope you’ll stop by their blogs and Instagram accounts to check them out.