Actor Helen Mirren once told People magazine that she thinks aging and all the changes that come with it are something to embrace rather than try to hide: “I think women were just so terrified of having white or gray hair because it immediately puts them into a different category. And of course, you are in that age group. I’m sorry, but you are! So, why not just embrace it, go along with it, and welcome it? Make it a positive thing as opposed to a negative thing.”

For some, it’s a tough pill to swallow, but aging is inevitable and happens to all of us. Throughout our lives, we evolve with socially constructed beauty standards that try to dictate what we’re supposed to look like at every decade. That may lead to using hair rollers daily for perfectly bouncy curls, waxing your body monthly, or indulging in new makeup trends.

But it’s not unusual to come to a point where you don’t want to deal with the upkeep, and you simply don’t care about investing so much time and money in your appearance. This can mean letting go of decades-long rituals and routines that used to boost your confidence or even feel like a necessity — and it’s incredibly freeing.

We spoke with six women over 50 who shared the things they just don’t care about anymore and why it’s liberating.

At 50, Lisa Richards let go of almost every beauty routine she once felt committed to. “And it’s been incredibly freeing,” she said.

In her younger years, she felt like she had to do it all, including a full face of makeup, styled hair and constant upkeep. “There was this unspoken pressure to always look ‘done.’ Now, I’ve completely stepped away from that mindset,” Richards explained, adding that what changed for her is how she defines beauty. “It’s no longer about effort or perfection, it’s about ease and confidence. Letting go of all the ‘extras’ has given me my time, energy and a sense of authenticity I didn’t have before.”

For Richards, the most liberating part of getting older is that she feels prettier now at 50 than she ever did when her beauty routine was lengthy. “There’s something really powerful about no longer feeling like you have to do anything to be enough.”

Sheree Edwards, 56, is currently battling cancer and has shifted her perspective on beauty and the routines she keeps. “I’ve found myself moving away from some of the more time-intensive or ‘extra’ rituals that I used to prioritize,” she said. “I don’t bounce back the way I once did, so spending two-plus hours on manicures and pedicures, or even the physical toll of things like dyeing my hair, just isn’t something I do as often anymore.”

Her approach to makeup has evolved as well: “I used to do a full face every day, but now I focus on simplicity — if I don’t have the time or energy, I make sure I at least have my signature red lipstick on, which still makes me feel like myself. I’ve learned to embrace a little imperfection because, honestly, what’s a few extra hairs here and there?”

Karine Kazarian, 65, had always done electrolysis for hair removal; however, this is something she’s stopped as she’s gotten older. “My Armenian roots have resisted all kinds of hair removal, so I’ve surrendered and no longer care,” she explained.

She’s also moved away from heavy foundation in favor of tinted serums. In the ’90s, she would go to work with a full face of makeup, but in 2026, she prefers a fresh face with limited products.

“I’ve learned to embrace aging in a way that feels honest to me. I’m not interested in face-lifts or fillers. I believe in taking care of my skin and letting it reflect a life well lived,” Kazarian explained. “Beauty, to me, is about feeling confident in your own skin.”

Roxie Robinson, 66, no longer straightens or flat-irons her hair daily. “Aside from the damage that comes with constant heat, I’ve really learned to embrace my natural curls,” she said.

“Curly hair definitely comes with its own challenges — mainly finding the right products,” she noted. “I rotate between three different product lines depending on how my hair is behaving, and every couple of months, my stylist helps reset things with deep conditioning treatments, especially when I’m coloring.”

A few years ago, Robinson experienced significant hair loss after surgery, and her hair hasn’t been the same since: “It’s not as thick, and my curl pattern changed — but I’ve found a new appreciation for it. The ease of a wash-and-go routine, the time saved, and just letting my hair be what it is … it’s been freeing.”

As Kim Ressler, 54, has gotten older, she’s learned that letting her gray hair grow out is surprisingly empowering. “For me, it’s less about ‘giving up’ and more about simplifying and embracing what feels natural at this stage. I decided to cut my hair shorter to make the transition easier and more intentional. It takes the pressure off trying to blend everything perfectly and instead makes it feel like a style choice,” she said. “It’s been a shift in how I define beauty for myself. Less about maintenance and more about confidence.”

Sandra Davidoff, 71, had a mother who embodied the glamour of the 1950s her entire life. She had her hair done, a full face of makeup, and perfect nails. “It wasn’t vanity. It was discipline. It was who she was,” she explained. “As an only child, I watched, I learned, and I leaned in hard.”

Growing up, Davidoff believed that showing up polished every single day mattered. She knew this required a lot of work and time, but she loved every minute of it. But as she’s gotten older, the routine has scaled back a bit. “The lashes go on. The makeup gets done. But I no longer stress if I skip a day,” she said. “Less is more now. Not because I’ve let go of myself, but because I’ve grown into myself.”

And she’s proud of the natural aging on her skin because it shows just how much she has lived, which is a liberating realization that’s only grown: “Yes, I have wrinkles. I’ve lived. I’ve laughed. I’ve loved. I’ve stressed, survived, and laughed again. Every line on my face tells a story. And I love that.”

Recent HuffPost reporting revealed that readers are interested in addressing a lesser-discussed phenomenon that happens to our bodies as Father Time ticks on: “old person smell.”

Also called nonenal odors, experts have previously told us that this type of smell is different from regular BO and tends to have a mild to moderate organic or musty smell that varies from person to person.

“It typically develops as we age through the breakdown of fatty acids in skin lipids, and its production increases in both men and women starting around age 40,” said Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Maryam Safaee.

Nonenal emissions can be significantly reduced by using soaps and other skin care topicals that contain tannins (though large randomized trials are lacking to fully prove this, according to previous guidance from experts).

″[Tannins] neutralize the odor molecule after it’s already formed, block the skin process that creates it in the first place, reduce the oily secretions that fuel it, and kill the bacteria that make it worse,” Safaee said.

According to our experts and other reputable sources, tannins and tannic acid can be derived from a few different ingredients, such as willow bark, witch hazel, green tea extract, and, the one we’re most familiar with, persimmon. In fact, we’ve been documenting the popularity of one highly rated Japanese persimmon soap that claims to be formulated just for this purpose.

According to Safaee, the back of the neck is a particularly high-output area for nonenal odors due to its concentration of skin glands, so she suggests taking extra care to apply and use your desired product in that area.

You can learn more about this bar soap below, as well as other tannin-containing body and skin care products recommended by Safaee and our ingredient list-scouring team.

The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.