May 2007
Dear Paula,
I bet this is a question that you have never been asked. I am 63 and have noticed I am getting more and more fine blonde facial hair. What is the best foundation to use to get to the skin and what would you recommend for removing facial hair without damaging the skin? I have sensitive skin and don't want to do anything to make matters worse. I find so many of the foundations I've tried are too thick, and with all that peach fuzz just doesn't blend. Please help me if you can.

Sandy, via email

Dear Sandy,
You're right, this question is a first, but it also is completely reasonable. When it comes to dealing with fine facial hair and applying foundation, your best bet is a lightweight liquid foundation that offers a soft, silky finish. Cream, cream-to-powder, stick, and pressed-powder foundations contain ingredients that tend to grab onto the tiny hairs and make them look coated, magnifying their appearance. Liquid foundations applied with a sponge, not your fingers, blending in a downward direction with the hair growth (not against the hair growth) should get you the results you're looking for. Avoiding pressed powder altogether may be a good idea, but you can experiment by applying a sheer dusting after knocking the excess off your brush before you touch it to your face.
Liquid foundations to consider are Lancome Color Ideal Precise Match Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 15, Cover Girl TruBlend Makeup, Stila Perfecting Foundation, L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup SPF 17, and Almay Nearly Naked Liquid Makeup SPF 15. It may be worth the expense to have a professional makeup artist teach you some application techniques.
In terms of removing unwanted facial hair, there are limited options, which include depilatories, waxing, electrolysis, or laser hair removal. (I do not recommend shaving because you'll be dealing with grow-out and the daily stubble that goes with it.) Laser treatments are the most effective and offer the longest-lasting results, but they are also the most expensive. In addition, lasers aren't as adept at removing light-colored, fine hairs, which is what you're dealing with. You may want to begin with a gentle depilatory--though “gentle” is a relative term because the active ingredients in these products aren't particularly mild--such as Nair Face Cream. But be sure to test it on a small area first to be confident your facial skin can tolerate it. If that proves unsatisfactory, have an aesthetician try facial waxing on a small patch of skin to see how you tolerate that procedure. If it works, you can consider ongoing treatments coupled with a prescription for Vaniqa, a topical lotion whose active ingredient (eflornithine HCl) is designed to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair. Results vary, but you won't know how well it works for you until you try it for a few months.