When I decided to quit my job as editor-in-chief of Vogue, I was expecting all sorts of changes in my life. But what I never imagined was that I would become a late onset makeup addict. That possibility hadn’t occurred to me.
But now, in my 60s, after 25 years at Vogue and a decade in other magazines, I’ve become obsessed with makeup for the first time. Instagram posts and beauty vloggers, department store beauty salons and online makeup hubs – these call to me as persuasively as the sirens to those hapless sailors, tempting me into endless shopping, very often expectation triumphs over experience. But I’m not deterred.
For many women, this is not particularly unusual. You’ve always loved makeup. I even counted on it. However, until recently, I had never been interested in the wonderful world of makeup and skincare. I’ve also never had a cosmetic procedure, not even a drop of Botox, and watch with some curiosity as contemporaries try out various tweaks. Seeing my age has never been something that bothered me.
Alexandra Shulman explains how she found a new obsessive love for makeup in her 60s after stepping down as editor of British Vogue
Throughout my Vogue years, I’ve had access to all sections of the beauty closet, a treasure trove of products sent in to the department to try. But almost the only time I’ve looked at it was for a goodie bag for a goddaughter or Christmas stocking stuffer.
I have enjoyed working with the team on stories of beauty, but seldom have I used their immense knowledge for personal use.
It wasn’t because I disapproved of such trivial things or felt overdone. Far from it – I listened enthralled as Estée Lauder’s son Leonard extolled the merits of their new acquisition, Creme de la Mer; or Charlotte Tilbury explained her early plans for the makeup business that would make her a billionaire.
I loved commissioning stories about women who put hours and fortunes into their makeup and skincare, but I wasn’t one of them. Getting hair and makeup done professionally for photo shoots and public appearances was a chore, not a privilege.
Maybe my attitude had something to do with my age. The Dolly Birds of the 1960s, with their pancake foundation and block mascara and psychedelics painted faces, were about to be my time, and it was a few years later, as teenagers, a time when we were shaping much of our sense of style, that I found my tribe – the women I wanted to be.
These were the fresh-faced singer-songwriters of the day, including Carole King, Carly Simon and Joni Mitchell, the “natural born women” of the time, who performed without a shred of makeup, their long hair without a hairdryer, their tanned faces, the apparently have nothing but maybe a bit of mascara.
Of course, like many of my generation, I loved a deep berry Biba nail polish, and throughout the 1970s I also indulged in a bit of glittery glam rock eye makeup.
But basically I chose to spend all my money on clothes and records instead of makeup.
As I entered the professional world, I was continually amazed to find so many women who felt like they couldn’t start their day without a full face of makeup. And I was horrified when my teenage stepdaughter seemed unable to leave the house for school without a thick foundation on her already flawless skin.
The idea that one could feel insecure without make-up on was anathema to me.
However, now everything is different.
It would be easy to think that my newfound passion for makeup stems from the fact that as I get older I look worse without makeup. Or that I need props to boost my self-esteem.
But that would be wrong. It’s not about trust, it’s about pure enjoyment. And my late-set beauty addiction is pure pleasure. It might even have become a hobby.
Strange as it may seem, this obsession has taken hold during lockdown. Although I could only see my nearest and dearest, who I doubt would notice if I appeared in full RuPaul, it was during this time that the seeds took hold. With no real life and no personal connections, we all became Zoomers and had to engage with our own image on the screen more times than we otherwise wished.
I probably wasn’t the only person who needed a bit of help with the eye shadows, which I’m sure looked way worse on screen than in real life? There were those who spent the lockdown working out online or learning how to make sourdough or a crocheted hat. To me? I became obsessed with applying concealer.
I was mesmerized by the beauty tutorials that popped up on my Instagram feed, which I had previously quickly scrolled past.
THE BEST COSMETIC TUTORIALS FOR ADULTS
Inspirational: Trinny’s before and after videos on YouTube
Trinny Woodall’s YouTube channel (pictured) convinced Alexandra that Miracle Blur would “do something wonderful with my face”.
Magic: Lisa does Victoria Beckham at lisaeldridge.com
Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge (pictured left), who did the makeup of Best Actress Joanna Scanlan for the Baftas, has become Alexandra’s favourite
But then I discovered the calming, escapist quality of watching a woman with a blotchy face transform into a radiant goddess through the application of moisturizer, serum, primer, foundation, concealer and blush. The pandemic may fizzle out, but not my love affair with makeup.
Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge, who did best actress Joanna Scanlan’s makeup for the Baftas, has become a favorite and just yesterday I spent an entertaining half hour watching her do it Used 30 different products for what she calls her ‘patchwork’ technique. ,
Trinny Woodall’s slightly wacky smoky delivery as she sells her Trinny London brand convinced me that her Miracle Blur would do something wonderful with my face.
And if I’m feeling a bit floored, Donna Francis @thebeautyed’s tutorials are gleefully inspirational as I watch her slap this and that onto her suntanned face.
As someone who has had access to professional makeup artists over the years, I had gathered quite a bit of information and advice. I know how to mix serums and foundations and BB creams and concealers to get the right coverage for me.
I’ve learned tricks to blur those pesky cracks on the side of my mouth that the wrong lipstick seems to accentuate.
But knowing this doesn’t stop me from being captivated by these videos, which entertain me as much as others might see Nigella doing clever things with Marmite.
Over the years I’ve learned what suits me, but the mantra “Don’t get stuck in a rut” rings in my head. This is very useful as it justifies endless new purchases. Just as I envision a new life with every new piece of clothing I buy, so every brand new, immaculate lipstick offers nirvana for a short time.
Of course, I know that once I’ve used it and found that life hasn’t changed and my skin looks paler, there’s a good chance it will be lurking around in my lipstick graveyard. But the expectation that is invested in a new make-up is not rational – or in my case it is not.
So much makeup, so little time. In the past few weeks I’ve discovered a new lip color from Chanel that looks pretty good: not too dense, or matte or shiny.
I’ve fallen in love with almost the entire new Jones Road range from makeup queen Bobbi Brown and have mastered her Miracle Balm, which adds a touch of summer color to skin.
I’ve bought several of Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal Liners because she’s such a great seller on Instagram and says they’re the perfect one stop eyeliner, but I wish they didn’t run.
And I’m really trying to learn to love moisturizer, which still seems like the boring part of the whole thing.
But how do I use a concealer to get rid of those dark potholes in the corners of my eyes? This ability remains elusive.
No matter how many beauty instructors I’ve watched rubbing pale potions into the area, I haven’t found a product that makes a difference. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
MY FIVE NEWFOUND OBSESSIONS
The pen is ideal for dabbing on small skin imperfections and for brushing over redness without covering it up too much. And it is easy to take with you in your handbag.
Sparkle Wash is an eye color that you apply to your lids to add a subtle touch of glitter. It looks good on its own, or I wear it over a darker shade of eyeshadow in the evenings.
jonesroadbeauty.com
shopping 
That wakes me up in the morning. It smells heavenly and since I can’t remove make-up so well at night, I start the day clean. It’s a thick, waxy potion that you remove with a warm cloth and never leaves your skin dry.
demamiel.com
shopping 
These are just great colors at a great price. I like the deep shade of purple, but there are plenty of more neutral colors to choose from.
boots.com
shopping 
I find intense lip color doesn’t do me any good, so a more translucent balm is far more flattering, although it does require more reapply than a matte one. I would like to be a person who can wear a deep red but it adds about 20 years to my face. This series has excellent shades of pink and coral.
chanel.com
shopping 
This cream from Ainsworths, the homeopathic pharmacy, is quite magical. If you have dry skin or small blisters or wounds, it is of great help. I don’t use it every day, but when I do, it does business.
ainsworths.com
shopping