I’m a model in my 60s

A grey-haired model in her 60s has revealed the secret to her youthful appearance.

She was in her mid-30s when she first noticed fine lines on her skin and began to change her skincare routine.

Hilary Bitar (@silverstorm777), 62, is a Miami-based professional model with approximately 60,000 followers on Instagram.

In an interview with The Sun, she revealed that focusing on skin health has helped her slow the signs of ageing.

Simple Skin Care

Throughout her 20s, Bitar had little knowledge of skin care and wore heavy makeup.

She recalls using Clinique products after reading about them in a glossy magazine.

“My skin was a lot oilier than it used to be, and I was worried about hormonal breakouts,” she says.

“One thing I’ve always done is never go to bed with my make-up on.

“But other than that, I didn’t put much effort into skincare. It was very simple and I didn’t have the options that I have now.”

After her son was born, she lived in Europe, where the approach to skin care is “very different” than in the U.S.

“There was no advertising for Botox or fillers,” she says.

“If you go to a dermatologist, they’ll probably tell you to start using a thicker moisturizer, regardless of whether you have oily skin or not.

“Getting rid of wrinkles and signs of aging has never been a priority for me.

“I’ve always wanted glowing, hydrated skin.”

Natural wonders

Bitar said she continues to avoid cosmetics marketed specifically for anti-aging purposes.

She prefers using natural ingredients that are formulated for hydration and “hydrated, glowing skin.”

“I don’t use any retinol because it’s too harsh on the skin,” she says.

“It’s not going to change my wrinkles.

“Your skin is your skin. That doesn’t mean you can’t make it look its best, but it’s not my goal to make it disappear.”

You should use a lighter moisturizer under your makeup than if you were just going to sleep in.

Hilary Bittard

“Brands that support the anti-aging movement tend to be more natural.

“It’s based on herbs, flowers and honey and focuses on giving you the hydration you need on the outside.

“There are no side effects.

“You don’t want to put something on your skin that’s going to sting for the first few days and then feel better after that. That’s not good.”

Clever cosmetics

Her nightly skincare routine consists of a gentle cleanser and an alcohol-free toner.

Follow with a rich moisturizer, eye cream and eyelash serum.

“At night, I like to use a quartz roller or gua sha,” she says.

“I don’t use it every night, but sometimes with a serum to improve circulation.

“I like things that feel good to use.”

In the morning, Vitale applies a tinted moisturizer with SPF.

“This is the only thing I use to wash my face in the morning because I don’t have to overwash because I washed my face the night before,” she said.

“It’s a really simple routine.”

Bitar said she isn’t “loyal” to any particular brand as her skin concerns change with the weather throughout the year.

“Sometimes you want something a little heavier, and sometimes you want something a little lighter,” she said.

“You have to use a lighter moisturizer under your makeup than you would if you were just going to sleep.”

Beauty Basics

While invasive cosmetic treatments are becoming popular, Bitar said he would not recommend mature women undergo such treatments.

“A lot of people get really red skin after micro-peeling, but that’s not for me,” she says.

“I recently tried red light therapy, which is done by wearing a mask. It’s completely non-invasive and I used it for a few months.

“I don’t know if it will help, but I think it will.”

I didn’t think of it as synonymous with getting older, just getting gray hair.

Hilary Bittard

She also recommends teeth whitening, noting that “as we age, our teeth tend to get duller and a bright smile always looks more youthful.”

“Lash and brow serums are effective at maintaining your natural features. As we age, eyelashes tend to become sparser,” she said.

The only facials and beauty treatments she recommends involve steaming and cleansing to hydrate the skin.

She said treatments to eliminate wrinkles can be pointless because they leave signs of ageing in other parts of the body.

Hair Heroes

Bitar has had grey hair since his early 30s and has never dyed it.

But she believes the key to maintaining a youthful appearance is a haircare routine that works for you.

“I never associated it with getting older, I just thought my hair was going grey,” she says.

“It was a different colour and I got negative comments from women about how awful it was and I went through hell a lot.

“I’ve always wanted to be an advocate that says gray hair is just a choice.”

She also pointed out that once women reach a certain age, there are “rules” regarding hairstyles.

“It doesn’t have to be a certain length, it doesn’t have to be gray, it should just be gray,” she said.

“You have to find what works for you, because we’re all so different.”

“It’s time to break some of the stereotypes and rules about what we should do.

“One thing is for sure, as we get older, our hair becomes more brittle, which is why I say don’t go against your natural hair.”

“All these products and hot tools can be very damaging to your hair, putting it at risk of breakage and hair loss.

“A quick blow dry and quick styling with a curling iron is much more effective than applying one treatment after the other.”

Minimalist Makeup

When she was younger, Bitar wore a full face of makeup every day.

But she is gradually getting used to not wearing makeup.

“A lot of women seem to think, ‘Oh, I can’t go out without this,’ and that’s a big mistake,” she said.

“I love tinted moisturizers, a little bit of bronzing powder, lipstick, gloss, etc.

“I think it’s good to see real skin.

“I don’t have to wear as many layers. It’s a big change for me as a model.”

“When I’m in front of the camera, of course I wear heavier makeup, but when the makeup gets heavier, I often want to wipe it off right away.

“That’s not like me. I don’t like to cover up too much skin.”

“As we age, dirt tends to get trapped in our pores and cracks, which is not a good thing.”

Inner beauty

Bitar wants to reassure women that there’s nothing bad about ageing.

She said it’s impossible to look the same as you did 40 years ago.

“The more you accept yourself, the better you feel about yourself,” she said.

“I think women who spend too much time on their face neglect the rest of their body and how they feel on the inside.”

She wants women to “stop worrying about a few wrinkles.”

“I hope that in the future we will see more models, celebrities and influencers embracing natural aging, because it’s so hard to take that step if you don’t have someone to look up to,” she said.

Clients who book appointments with her are looking for women who haven’t had injections to feature in their campaigns.

She also got in touch with women on social media who were thrilled with her “minimally” retouched photos.

She believes society would be better for women if more people embraced their natural look as they aged.

“If you start with Botox, fillers and heavy makeup, it becomes a never-ending process,” she says.

“You can have a perfect face, your dermatologist can work miracles, and it will show on your neck.

“In my arms, in my hands, and in this [your face] It’s perfect, but the rest isn’t.

“And I see that my friends are also very happy with all the surgeries they’ve had.

“But they’re like, wow, you know, do I want to hide my breasts or do I want to hide my hands? What do I do? I can’t resist that.”

“There are many things that can be strengthened naturally.

“Get a great haircut, be happy with your body no matter what size it is, and be happy with the way you move and the energy you exude.”

Bitar said “you’re the only one” looking at laugh lines and whether the skin on your face is tightened.

“They either think everyone is watching or they’re trying to be more attractive to men,” she says.

“Men really appreciate natural beauty.

“There’s a certain confidence that shines through in them that attracts people.

“I understand this isn’t for everyone, but it’s a small change.

“Maybe it’s a good idea to wear less makeup each day, dropping the base and just wearing eye makeup, or slowly reducing your eye makeup and leaving just your lipstick.

“What’s surprising is that with each passing day, I feel a little better.

“Otherwise you’ll always be hiding and afraid that someone will see something.”