Makeup Tips that Won’t Age You

by Kerry Andersen  

If you’re a woman of a ‘certain’ age, go grab your trusty makeup bag and look inside. Are you seeing the same tried and true beauty products that have been your go-tos for years? If so, there’s a good chance your beauty routine is making you look older than you need to. Aging changes the texture of our skin, so beauty experts say our cosmetics need to change with time, too. The encouraging news is that as your skin has been clocking the effects of time, modern science has been infusing a new generation of beauty products with ingredients that do more than just add color; they fight the appearance of aging, too. Here are six things you can do TODAY to overhaul your beauty routine and take years off your face. 

Focus on skincare. 

The best beauty routine starts with great skin. As we age, our skin gets dry, and our makeup settles in fine lines and wrinkles. Beauty Pro Bobbi Brown teaches a Master Class on aging gracefully and recommends starting every makeup session by moisturizing your face, eyes, and neck. Look for products with hyaluronic acid that lock in moisture. Brown preaches that less is more for aging beauties and that starts with the best skin possible as a base for color. Pro tip: A blurring primer will smooth over surface wrinkles. 

Make the switch from powder to cream. 

If you make one change to your beauty routine as your birthdays stack up, switch from powder to cream-based products that won’t settle in your fine lines. Swap out your old-school translucent powder for a modern setting spray to lock in your makeup. Ditch powder blush for a pop of creamy rouge on the center of your cheekbone, then sweep upwards towards the hairline. Pro tip: Avoid any blush with glitter or shimmer and place it higher on the cheekbone for a visual lift. 

Create a glow. 

As we age, our skin loses luminosity. You can add back the glow with a sheer luminizer placed high on your cheekbones or brush a skin balm right on top of your makeup. More old habits to let go of now include heavy contouring and shading or using too much sparkly highlighter, especially on the brow bone.   

Conceal redness. 

Makeup should enhance, not disguise your natural skin. Instead of a full face of foundation, grab a brush or sponge and simply cover redness and age spots on your face, especially around the nose and mouth. Do the same for undereye darkness but dab concealer only on the inner corner of your eyes and blend outward to avoid ‘raccoon eyes’. Heavy foundation in a shade that’s too light is a common mistake that adds years to your face. Consider switching to a more sheer BB Cream or tinted moisturizer, but make sure to pick the right hue. Brands like IL Makiage offer an amazingly accurate quiz to help you choose foundation and concealer shades online with free returns until you get it right. Key takeaway: Update your foundation shade then use a brush or sponge like the pros for a flattering blended look.       

Bye-bye thin, dark brows. 

Nothing ages you faster than outdated thin, dark brows. Youthful brows are fluffy and gently shaped instead of harsh and drawn on. Switch out your old brow pencil for a lighter shade and avoid overplucking. Better yet, brush on a tinted brow gel using feathery strokes to fill in gaps and softly frame your face. While you’re at it, throw away those thick black eyeliners. Trading overdone, heavily lined eyes for a more subtle smudged brown or gray product will instantly update your look. Pro tip: Most makeup counters (MAC, Bobbi Brown, Sephora) offer a free brow consult. Let the experts help you choose a shade and shape that flatters your face and then replicate it at home with the products they recommend. 

Lighten your lips. 

Dark, matte lipstick shades can look harsh and creep into lip lines as we age. Swap them out for more neutral hydrating options or consider a brightly tinted lip balm instead. A lip brush will soften the application of any shade and gloss on top will keep you looking fresh (try Buxom Gloss or Marajuca Juicy Lip).