You can always rely on a bit of makeup to help revive your complexion and give your face a slight lift and some radiance. Here are my handy makeup tips and techniques for all you beautiful women with mature skin remember, the fundamental aim is to draw attention to your best features and minimise the appearance of those tell-tale signs of ageing.
The Right Foundation
Your skin changes as you get older, and so too should your foundation. Do not be tempted to apply a heavy coverage foundation in an attempt to hide the signs of ageing, because it will only accentuate them. Instead, opt for a formula that will allow your natural skin to show through and not blanket it. A sheer or satin-finish liquid foundation is your best choice, satin finish gives a smooth, natural dewy sheen without the absence of shimmer and is not as drying as matte, which can cake in fine lines. Sheer finish always looks natural on the skin and feels ultra-lightweight and will even out minor imperfections. Start applying at the centre of your face and blend outwards towards your hair and jawline. Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation, Nars Luminous Weightless Foundation, L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation and IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC + Illumination Cream are some of my favourites. If there are areas that require a little extra help, such as dark under-eye circles, blemishes or pigmentation use a fluid concealer. And remember, exfoliate weekly as regularly sloughing off the outer layer of dead skin means the foundation will go on more smoothly, so you’ll need to use less and look more fresh-faced.
Pop of Blush
Over time our skin loses luminosity, and while you might be a powder blush gal, changing to a cream or liquid formulation is the most natural way to create a healthy, youthful glow that doesn’t fold into lines or creases. The secret to avoiding resembling Coco the Clown is to opt for a soft peachy shade or warm pinks which will work with most skin tones to create a pretty lit from within look. Easy to blend and long-lasting, they are pretty much foolproof to apply. Simply smile and add sparingly to the apples of your cheeks and blend. And of course, most cream blushers can double up as a lip tint too, making them a great beauty buy. Clinique Chubby Stick, Revlon Photoready Insta-Blush, and MAC Cream Colour Base are simple to use and come in some great shades.
Easy on The Powder
While oilier skin may need a dusting of powder after you’ve finished your base, applying too much powder will make skin look instantly older and wrinkles will stand out more. The caked-on look is one we’re trying to avoid, so when it comes to powder, stick to your T-Zone only and apply with caution i.e. less is definitely more here! While the pressed powder is more convenient and there are some great finely milled ones out there, loose powder is a lot lighter and more natural looking. Whichever you choose, look for one that won’t dry out the skin and has a very fine texture. Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder is so finely milled it creates a beautiful airbrushed finish on the skin, while the diamond particles in it blur any imperfections. A recent find for me that I love is L’Oréal Infallible Magic Loose Powder which is specially formulated with blue-toned light diffusing technology to brighten your complexion and help keep makeup looking fresh all day long.
Brow Lift
Eyebrows frame and balance the face, and a well-groomed pair can make your eyes appear larger and give you a mini facelift! As we get older, our brows can get thinner, wiry and shapeless so creating a full, good brow can take years off any woman. Lift your brows by applying a powder or brow pencil to gently fill in any sparse areas with fine feathery strokes from the inner eyebrow outwards, through the arch, and then the tail. Step back, look and assess. Then using the spoolie end of a brow pencil brush upwards to blend the colour and restore the shape for a soft but defined look. Try Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long Wear Brow Pencil which has a slanted tip making it easy to be ultra-precise when you apply. If there is little or no eyebrow hair, another option is to have them professionally Microbladed and I have seen some fantastic results on those who have opted for this treatment.
Big Eyes
As we age, our eyes can change shape and our eyelashes get thinner. Hooded eyelids and more wrinkled skin can make applying eye makeup a real challenge. Used sparingly a little bit of soft shimmer is flattering as you get older because it brings light to the face. Stay clear of dark heavy colours which can make hooded eyes appear darker and smaller. To keep everything in place Flormar Eye Perfection Primer is great for camouflaging any eye imperfections and enhancing the durability of your eye makeup. All you need is a wash of natural, light-coloured shadow on the eyelid, a little eyeliner to the top lash line (a soft eye pencil makes for easy application) and a coat or two of black lengthening mascara – as opposed to a thickening one which is heavy and can flatten thinner lashes. Also, look for mascaras with thin wands so they can easily coat each lash. Lancôme Définicils High Definition Mascara will have your peepers popping. And if you have eyelash curlers, use them, as this will make your eyes look even bigger.
Fuller Lips
A youthful-looking lip is full, and plump with a healthy hint of colour. Unfortunately, when we get older, lips can lose volume. Applying a good lip balm before lipstick will not only stop lips from drying out but will make them look softer and fuller. Avoid matte lipsticks as these tend to be drying. MAC Cremesheen Lipsticks are a super balmy, buildable formula and have a comfortable feel with medium coverage and a semi-glossy finish. The most flattering lipstick shade for a more mature lip is one shade darker than your natural tone but if you love a bright, bold lip colour then go for it. Don’t forget liner, this will define lips, give your lipstick extra staying power and prevent lip colour from feathering. Also check out Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector and bareMinerals GEN NUDE Buttercream Lip gloss, an ultra-creamy, a moisturising gloss that’s non-sticky and plumps lips without the tingle.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Sherna x
