RHONY star Jenna Lyons loves these beauty picks — and they’re great for women over 50
A few weeks ago, The Real Housewives of New York Star Jenna Lyons appeared in a simple, direct-to-camera film TikTok video outlines her current daily beauty routine. Obviously, celebrities hawking skincare products is nothing new, but something about this particular clip stopped me in my tracks. On the one hand, all the items came from the popular brand merit, A high-end/mid-price line that beauty editors are raving about. But what made Lyons’ video even more compelling (and made me want all of the products) was the subject matter itself. Lyons had been an influential tastemaker long before RHONY. She is a Generation X fashion rebel who dared Wear a denim jacket to the Met Galaa former J.Crew president who somehow also made guest appearances on HBO Girl – Her insider status alone is enough to make you pause at a TikTok cosmetics tutorial or click on a memorized headline like “Jenna Lyons’ beauty tips.” Below are her favorites – all great for women over 50.
Sephora
For those who don’t know, Lyons began her career at J.Crew in the early ’90s when she was just 21 years old. Over the next 27 years, she reinvigorated the famously preppy catalog brand by combining bold patterns with classic silhouettes. Pushing statement costume jewelry onto 2010s consumers as if we were all Betty Draper at a cocktail party in 1959. Lyons is the reason why you owned a sweatshirt with sequins on it in 2008, and she also helped shape some of Michelle Obama’s most famous looks (The former First Lady was an outspoken J.Crew fan by the time). Since leaving J.Crew in 2017, Lyons has held various gigs as a fashion consultant and created her own line of false eyelashes – LoveSeen – and finally ended up at RHONYwhere she was an unlikely and seemingly somewhat hesitant breakout star, with a new level of fame and celebrity success.
LOVED
Lyons developed Loveseen’s high-quality, reusable eyelashes to address a personal need: She suffers from a rare genetic disorder – incontinentia pigmenti – which left her without her own natural eyelashes.
Lyons is now 55, more influential and arguably more stylish than ever. While she doesn’t look “young” (and, refreshingly, not like she’s trying to look young), her skin is beautiful and her makeup always looks natural and fresh. She regularly recommends skin care and cosmetic products 700,000 Instagram followers and shares tips on social media through collaborations with brands like Merit. What I like about her approach to beauty is the simplicity, the haphazard, plain, beauty-forgoing feel of it all. I suspect many women over 40 can relate to this ignoble approach to beauty, an ungirly way of putting it some Effort, but not a ton.
The great thing about the beauty routine Lyons describes here is that it requires little technical skill and only takes a few minutes. The Merit products she uses are high quality, slightly more expensive than drugstore brands but still affordable. The picks—and the routine itself—seem tailored to the needs of aging skin: They’re highly hydrating, scent-free, and offer generous coverage that feels great on your face. The concealer stick works without clumping or creasing, and the blush leaves a warm, subtle glow.
Merit
This lightweight serum is packed with skin-nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and cocoa seed extract. It’s fragrance-free, moisturizes without being greasy, and unlike many (many) serums I’ve tried, the texture isn’t sticky, making it a perfect daytime product to layer under sunscreen and makeup .
Sephora
As our skin ages, it can become increasingly difficult to find a concealer that provides both good coverage and doesn’t accentuate fine lines or wrinkles and doesn’t settle into wrinkles. Then the Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and the Concealer Stick are used, which provide the desired concealment of the eye areas, skin blemishes and age spots, but can also be applied super smoothly and restore moisture to the skin. This product is ace.
Sephora
A portable, easy-to-apply color stick that leaves a subtle, non-clownish glow, even if you don’t (and never knew) how to apply blush. Basically a blush pencil for “mature” beginners.
Sephora
In her TikTok video tutorial, Lyons says something special about the “Vachetta” shade (shown here) is that it’s like the special leather on the handle of a bag that costs more than my first car. I don’t know, but this is a good, long-wearing cream eyeshadow that’s easy to apply with a brush or even your finger and comes in a selection of natural and smoky shades to suit every taste.
Lyons includes Merit’s makeup brushes in her tutorial, but they didn’t seem – in my opinion – as much of a must-have as the other products (i.e. you can use the ones you already have and they’ll work well). She also gives a tip on how navy blue eyeliner is particularly suitable for highlighting brown eyes. She’s right, although this tried-and-true makeup artist trick works on anyone, with any eye color, and you don’t need an expensive eye pencil to pull it off.
NYX
After watching the first Merit TikTok video, I went down a Jenna Lyons Beauty Essentials rabbit hole. Here are some favorite products she has recommended over the years.
Shinier
“A great, moisturizing cheek thing” Lyons told Allure. The pigmented gel applies smoothly and transparently, blends easily and leaves a natural-looking blush without makeup.
OUAI
Saie
Cle
“Like a powder, but when you apply it it melts.” [into your lips]Lyons explained. “It’s kind of amazing.”
NuFace
Wundertal
Lyons is such a big fan of this rich, earthy, subtly scented body oil that she buys it in bulk to give as gifts, they say Fashion.
Coola