The Beauty Things I Started Doing for Myself After 50—and Why I’m Glad I Did

I never used to be the woman who kept up with regular nail appointments, got her hair done on a schedule, or spent serious money on skincare. And I certainly wasn’t getting Botox or microneedling.

But here I am at 52, doing all of those things. And I love it.

It wasn’t some overnight decision to start spoiling myself. A few things changed along the way, and menopause was a pretty big one.

When Menopause Changed My Skin and Hair

When I was younger, I had kids to raise, bills to pay, and plenty of responsibilities. Money was a factor, but the truth is, beauty appointments just weren’t very important to me then. I also wasn’t thinking much about aging yet.

Then menopause came along. My skin got dry as hell. My hair started thinning. I noticed wrinkles and changes in my face that I hadn’t spent much time thinking about before.

And I didn’t like it.

The hair thinning was what drove me craziest at first. I started paying attention to my shampoo and hair products and made an appointment with a hairdresser. I wanted to take better care of it.

I also went to my gynecologist to discuss hormone replacement therapy. That deserves its own article, because there’s a lot more to that story. But after starting treatment and beginning to feel more like myself again, I wanted to feel better about how I looked, too.

The Little Appointments I Started Making Time For

I began getting regular manicures and keeping up with my hair appointments instead of fitting them in whenever I happened to get around to it.

I really enjoy those appointments. I like my nails looking nice, I like having my hair done, and I like spending that time on myself. When I was younger, those things weren’t priorities. Now they are.

I also became more consistent with my skincare. Washing my face every night became a habit, and I started looking more closely at what I was putting on it.

The Skincare Products I Tried Before Getting Treatments

For a couple of years, I tried all kinds of skincare. I used products from Bondi Sands, which most people probably know for self-tanner. I liked the skincare line, but I haven’t been able to find it available in the United States anymore. I tried The Ordinary and several other brands as well.

Some products were fine, but I was still looking for more noticeable changes in the texture, fine lines, wrinkles, and other things bothering me.

Eventually, I went to see Jessica, my aesthetic nurse practitioner. I’d already started getting Botox in my forehead and between my eyebrows, where those lovely 11 lines like to make themselves known.

At one of those appointments, Jessica asked if I’d ever considered microneedling. I had. I’d looked into it, but I hadn’t tried it.

We talked about what I hoped to improve, and she discussed SkinPen microneedling and laser treatment as possible options. I was also developing melasma, so she recommended Musely’s dark spot corrector, which I ordered.

There was a complication with the laser idea: I’d been using a tanning bed. Yes, I know that’s bad for my skin. Jessica told me she wasn’t going to do laser treatment while I had recent tanning exposure, and that we’d have to revisit it after I’d been out of the tanning bed for an appropriate period.

My SkinPen Experience: Three Appointments

We scheduled my first SkinPen microneedling appointment for January. I was interested, but I’d also imagined the recovery would be pretty terrible.

It wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. There was redness and healing, of course, but I found it manageable. It took roughly seven to ten days for my skin to feel completely settled after that first treatment.

And I was really impressed with what I saw. Enough that I went on to complete three treatments.

January: My First Treatment

I took these pictures because I wanted to remember what my skin looked like throughout the process, not just on a day when I’d done my hair and makeup.

March: My Second Treatment

I went back for a second SkinPen appointment in March. By then, I had a better idea of what to expect from the procedure and the days afterward.

Late April: My Third Treatment and Some Laser Work

My third SkinPen appointment was at the end of April. This was also the appointment when Jessica treated a small area on my cheek with a laser.

I’d had a couple of spots that looked like scars, and one in particular stood out to me whenever I looked in the mirror. Since that small laser treatment, I can barely see the spot that used to bother me so much.

Looking at my skin now, I genuinely see a difference compared with before I started all of this. I’m planning another round of SkinPen this winter because I’ve been so happy with my personal experience.

These photos show my own experience, not a controlled before-and-after comparison. The lighting and angles vary, and I’ve also used Botox, skincare products, and some laser treatment. I can’t attribute every change to SkinPen alone. Results and downtime vary, and professional procedures carry risks—especially when concerns like melasma and recent tanning are involved.

Two Skincare Products I’d Buy Again

I’ve kept experimenting with skincare along the way, and two products stand out: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum and Musely’s dark spot corrector.

That TNS serum is expensive. I’m not going to pretend it isn’t. But I genuinely feel it’s made a noticeable difference in my skin. I’ve also been happy with the dark spot corrector.

I can’t tell you exactly how much improvement came from either product versus the procedures or other changes in my routine. But I do know I like both enough that I’d pay full price for them again.

I’m Learning to Wear Makeup Differently

I still prefer wearing makeup. I’m not going to pretend I suddenly love going everywhere barefaced, because I don’t.

What has changed is how I approach it. I’m learning how to use makeup to enhance my features instead of simply trying to cover up everything I don’t like. I pay more attention to how products look on my skin now rather than assuming what worked years ago will work exactly the same way today.

I’m a homebody, but I still enjoy getting dressed, fixing my hair, putting on a pretty outfit, and going somewhere when I have the chance.

Yes, I Spend Money on Myself Now

Every once in a while, I still feel a little guilty about spending money on myself. But I’ve reached a point where I look at it differently.

I work hard for my money. I’m paying for the appointments and the treatments. If that’s how I choose to spend some of what I earn, I don’t owe anybody an explanation.

When I was younger, there were other things that were more important to me. Now I get to spoil myself a little. And I enjoy it.

I do notice that when I feel better about myself, I’m more motivated in other parts of life. But I don’t need to turn a manicure into a productivity strategy to justify it.

Sometimes I just want to look in the mirror and feel pretty.

And that’s enough.

What I’d Tell Another Woman Considering These Things

I’m not saying every woman should get Botox, buy expensive serum, or book microneedling appointments. Some women don’t want any of that, and that’s completely fine.

But if you’ve started noticing changes in your appearance and you’re curious about what you could do, I’d suggest starting with what actually matters to you, not what an ad or somebody on social media says you should fix.

• Keep up with basic skincare, including gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and daily sun protection, rather than expecting a procedure or one expensive product to do everything.
• Ask a qualified professional to evaluate your individual skin concerns and explain the potential benefits, risks, cost, and recovery before deciding on a procedure.
• If pigmentation or melasma is part of the picture, make sure that’s discussed specifically; not every laser treatment is appropriate for every type of discoloration.
• Spend within your means. You don’t need an appointment calendar full of treatments to take care of yourself.

I Like Feeling Pretty at 52

I’m not trying to look 25 again. I know I’m getting older. That doesn’t mean I have to love every single change that comes with it.

I like my hair and nails looking nice. I like taking care of my skin and seeing improvements. I like figuring out how to do my makeup so it flatters the face I have now.

Most of all, I like looking in the mirror and feeling good about what I see.

At 32, these things weren’t especially important to me. At 52, they are. And I’m perfectly comfortable with that.