How Tricia Cusden's Look Fabulous Forever is Revolutionising Makeup for Older Women
Hello and welcome to this week's episode of "Retirement Rebel". I'm Siobhan Daniels, and I'm thrilled to have you join me on this journey as we redefine what it means to embrace life after 60. Together, we'll explore the vibrant possibilities that life still holds for us, breaking away from the traditional expectations of retirement.
In today's episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tricia Cusden, an inspiring woman who launched her own makeup range, Look Fabulous Forever, at the age of 65. This episode is especially relevant for you if you're at a point where you're questioning your purpose and direction post-retirement. Tricia candidly shares her own existential crisis and how it led her to pursue a passion that not only fills her life with purpose but also empowers other older women to embrace their beauty with confidence.
We dive into the challenges and triumphs that come with ageing, offering insight into how important it is to remain curious and passionate about life. For anyone who's felt marginalised or voiceless as they approach their sixties, our conversation offers a fresh perspective on how to reclaim your narrative and see ageing as a time of potential rather than limitation. It's all about living boldly, cherishing our laughter lines, and defying societal expectations.
So, as you listen, think about how you can apply these empowering messages to your own life. Let Tricia's story inspire you to seize new opportunities and explore passions you may have set aside. Thank you for being a part of our rebellious tribe, and I hope you enjoy this enlightening episode. Let’s get started on redefining what retirement looks like for you.
Key Points:
00:00 - Embracing Entrepreneurship at 65 In this episode of "Retirement Rebel," I'm chatting with Tricia Cusden, a remarkable woman who decided to redefine her life by launching her own makeup range, Look Fabulous Forever, at the age of 65. We dive into her journey, discussing the existential crisis she faced in her sixties and how it led her to create a successful business.
01:43 - Empowering Older Women Tricia shares her passion for empowering older women. Through her makeup and skincare range, she addresses the lack of suitable products for mature skin, shifting the narrative from anti-ageing to embracing our years with pride. We discuss her distaste for the beauty industry's focus on youth and how she's challenging those norms.
03:39 - Finding a New Purpose in Life As women often experience existential questions in their sixties, Tricia reflects on how she navigated this phase. She talks about her leap into the business world from a background in management training and coaching, driven by her love for makeup and entrepreneurial spirit.
10:04 - Celebrating Pro-Ageing A significant part of our conversation centres around Tricia’s pro-ageing philosophy. She passionately advocates for celebrating laughter lines and wisdom gained over the years, rather than succumbing to societal pressures to remain perpetually youthful.
16:44 - Challenging Ageism and Finding Voice We explore how Tricia navigated potential age-related challenges when starting her business. Her story serves as an empowering example of how age can be a strength rather than a barrier, providing reassurance to many who feel sidelined as they grow older.
27:58 - The Joy of Lifelong Learning Tricia's zest for life doesn't stop at business. She shares her dedication to staying mentally and physically active by learning new skills and embracing travel. Her stories of solo adventures and newfound hobbies offer inspiration for leading a vibrant life post-60.
35:41 - Staying Curious and Engaged The conversation highlights the importance of staying curious about the world. Tricia explains how keeping her brain active through learning and exploration plays a crucial role in her continued vitality.
45:59 - Inspirational Takeaways Wrapping up, I emphasise the key lessons from our talk with Tricia, including breaking ageist stereotypes and pursuing passions irrespective of age. This conversation is a compelling reminder that life after sixty can be just the beginning of new and exciting chapters.
Guest info
Tricia Cusden is a remarkable example of reinvention and growth, showcasing a dynamic approach to balancing various roles throughout her life. Initially, she focused on raising her two daughters, later pursuing a degree as a mature student at the age of 38. This marked the beginning of her professional journey, which started with a career as a management training consultant. She eventually founded her own consultancy, Tricia Cusden Consultancy, which she ran for 16 years until 2012.
At the age of 65, Tricia embarked on a new venture, driven by her frustration with the beauty industry's lack of focus on mature women. She launched Look Fabulous Forever, a makeup brand specifically designed for women over 55, in 2013. This business not only addressed a gap in the market but also allowed her to combine her passion for makeup with her entrepreneurial spirit. Tricia's journey is a testament to the idea that it's never too late to start anew and pursue one's passions, inspiring many with her resilience and adaptability. Today, Look Fabulous Forever is a successful brand, run alongside her daughters, and has become a leading voice in the mature beauty market.
Links and Resources
- Look Fabulous Forever
- Younger (film)
- Chanel
- Creative Cosmetics
- Tricia's Super Troopers
- Tricia Cusden Instagram
Quotes
How Menopause Impacts Your Skin:
"So you go through the menopause, you lose oestrogen. Even if you have a bit of HRT, that will help, but you're still losing collagen; you're losing elastin..."
Breaking Age Barriers in Business:
"I get invited on quite a lot of platforms to speak, and I'm often speaking to younger people. In fact, I'm always the oldest person in the room because, you know, it's a business context, so they don't expect people, you know, I'm now 76, so they don't expect people of my age to actually be in a room talking about business. And I get a lot of women come up to me afterwards and say, God, this is so inspirational."
The Importance of Curiosity:
"If you stay open and curious and you you look at something in the world that you don't understand, you go, well, I don't understand this, but I could find out about it."
Website: www.retirementrebel.co.uk
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Copyright 2025 Siobhan Daniels
Mentioned in this episode:
Partnering to Challenge Ageism Together
We’re thrilled to partner with the Centre for Ageing Better to support their Age Without Limits campaign. This inspiring initiative challenges stereotypes and champions the idea that ageing should be celebrated, not limited by societal views. Discover more and join the movement at agewithoutlimits.org.
