90-year-olds go to makeup class: "Will be beautiful even when 100 years old"

(Dan Tri) - Many elderly people in Japan are still very active, going out with friends and dating, so they want to dress up and wear makeup. Understanding this need, many companies have organized free makeup courses.

Yoshiko Abe is about to turn 89, but age can't stop her from going to the gym every day and trying out a free makeup course under her apartment in Tokyo, Japan.

“It really helps,” she said, smiling brightly after applying foundation and pink lipstick, something she hadn’t done in years.

Japan is the world's fastest-aging country, with more than a quarter of its population aged 65 or older, or 36 million people. In about a decade, that proportion will rise to a third.

It is no surprise that "young at heart" people like Ms. Abe are potential customers for Japanese companies.

Ms. Yoshiko Abe applies pink lipstick at a makeup class on February 14 (Photo: AP).

The senior market is estimated to grow to more than 100 trillion yen this year, according to a study by Mizuho Bank.

Businesses are not just about medicine and nursing homes, but also tapping into the need for sustainable consumption. The development of artificial intelligence and robotics also promises to bring services and devices to support the elderly.

Akira Shimizu, a business professor at Keio University, calls the older people who still keep up with trends "stylish grandpas and cute grandmas."

“They think about clothes and makeup as a way to express their style,” Mr. Shimizu said.

According to the professor, companies are taking advantage of the growing needs of older people, such as luxury cruises or rock concerts. Older people are still very active, going out with friends and dating, so they want to dress up and wear makeup.

Taking care of your appearance is also a form of physical exercise, according to Miwa Hiraku, a makeup instructor at Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido.

For example, opening a cosmetic tube and drawing eyebrows requires hand flexibility, while massaging the face stimulates the salivary glands.

Grandmothers try on makeup products at a special class (Photo: AP).

Hiraku said that makeup is not only good for physical health but also good for the soul. The company has organized free makeup courses for seniors across the country.

"Makeup is like a switch that turns on your energy when you start your day. It's not just about looking good, it's about living a long, healthy life," said Hiraku, who said she would wear makeup even when she was 100.

Yoshihiko Hotta, 85, the only man in the class of about 30, did not try on blush but happily applied hand lotion and did all the exercises.

While admitting to feeling some of the effects of aging, such as sore feet, he declared: "I don't think age is a relevant issue."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/an-sinh/cac-cu-u90-di-hoc-trang-diem-se-lam-dep-ngay-ca-khi-100-tuoi-20250221185115729.htm