Elon Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, says she has been wearing makeup since she was a “nerdy 15-year-old.” She started modeling in a period when thick, heavy eyelashes and theatrical eyeshadows were the styles. Maye was a fan of Twiggy, one of the ’60s icons. But her style changed along with them; as the business of beauty started leaning towards the no-make-up, fresh-faced look, she increasingly became the pared-down, natural face.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to change,'” she told Into The Gloss. Now, though, “There seems to be a lot of playfulness, and you can go from beautiful red lips and a stripe on the eye to soft eyes and big lips and vice versa,” she said in a 2018 chat with Elle. The options are endless.
The author and model has maintained a constant skincare routine throughout, which contributes to her young appearance and the fact that she doesn’t mind going bare-faced. When she flew on Air Force One with her tech millionaire son Elon in 2024, she boldly chose not to wear makeup.
During her book tour for her biography “A Woman Makes A Plan,” she also displayed her natural beauty in a series of bare-faced pictures, looking almost completely different. (This also applies to her old modeling photos.) In her interview with The New York Times, Maye admitted, “My face is pretty plain, so [wearing makeup] makes a huge difference for me.” “I am changed by makeup. When I walk my dog without makeup on, I feel like I’m wearing a disguise.” She also spilled tea on her secret beauty hacks.
A tip for women: For much of my modeling life, I had blonde hair. This meant coloring the roots every four weeks. So much pressure!! The first photo taken in Johannesburg, from the mid 80s, shows it’s due🥺
When I decided to go natural at 58, I discovered my hair is healthier and… pic.twitter.com/5TqqcThYZ3
— Maye Musk (@mayemusk) July 25, 2023
Irrespective of your politics, Maye Musk is certainly lovely, even without makeup. When she spoke about beauty and aging in an interview with Into The Gloss in 2018, she gave some of her skincare tips. Having a degree in dietetics, she knows that a healthy diet is key to having skin that is clear, glowing, and healthy-looking. She prefers to get her nutrition from food rather than supplements.
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“It’s just low-fat dairy, lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy oils,” she noted. She does, however, acknowledge that she has a sweet tooth, which she works hard to control. “What you eat will definitely affect your skin, so I really try to stay away from sweets,” she added.
#ThrowbackThursday #1963
My first makeup ad. 17 years old. #Pretoria #SouthAfrica
In those days, I did my own hair & makeup. The Twiggy look was in, so it was false eyelashes on top and single eyelashes under my eyes. It took me an hour🤪
My hair was mousy brown and I barely… pic.twitter.com/AALRps1Bd6
— Maye Musk (@mayemusk) February 1, 2024
Regarding her holy grails, Musk prefers to use the Dior Prestige La Creme Texture Essentielle as her go-to moisturizer in addition to the Dr. Barbara Sturm Cleanser. Ever since her aunt died from skin cancer in her 30s, she has made it a point to use SPF, so she isn’t fussy about sunscreen if she wears it. “I’ll never go outside without a hat, long-sleeved cotton shirt, and sunscreen. In 2020, she stated New Beauty, “I just take extra care now.”
Aside from her diet and skincare habits, Musk also makes regular visits to the dermatologist a top priority. “When you’re past 60, [it’s] important,” she said. “Fortunately, I am healthy, but I really blame it on eating well.” Even as she nears her 80s, she feels — and looks — fantastic. “I don’t think I’ve aged yet — I’ll let you know in 20 years.”
Take a look at Maye Musk’s latest images:
