Not Another Anti-Aging Post
As I expressed earlier this year in Episode 39 of my podcast, I am not focused on anti-aging. In fact, I proposed in that episode that we be “anti” anti-aging. Time passes at the same rate for everyone, and the years inevitably show on our faces and our bodies. No one escapes aging. Now that I’m fifty, I want to look and feel my best, period. That’s what this blog post is focused on.
As I said in my May blog post, which focused on “aging” clothing, don’t take the list below as gospel. Instead, reflect on my advice and, if needed, make a few tweaks to keep your makeup modern and fresh. The goal isn’t to look younger but simply our best. Most of the time, that means doing things a little differently than we did them 10+ years ago.
Aging Offenders
There are exceptions to all of these mishaps, and sometimes I completely break them, especially for evening events! That said, here are the top offenders.
Applying with a heavy hand
Walk into any store with a makeup counter, and you’ll see pretty saleswomen wearing lots of gorgeous makeup. They’re selling makeup, after all. In real life, heavy makeup does not translate well. In the last few years, I have been learning to wear less makeup even though I’ve worn a full face of makeup for decades. As I’m seeing more wrinkles and less elasticity in my skin, I’m realizing less is more. I want to glow, and heavy makeup covers the glow. Besides, it settles into creases and it’s distracting.
As Bobbi Brown says in her book, Bobbi Brown Beauty, her beauty style is “modern, pared-down and realistic.” Her makeup philosophy is about a face “that is pretty not because it is perfectly painted… but because it is smooth, natural and healthy looking.”
The Solution: try a skin tint or a lighter foundation. My favorite foundation product right now is Dr. Jart’s BB cream. It is full coverage, but it leaves the skin glowing. It is skin care and foundation in one. Supply is low at Sephora, so I suggest buying directly from Dr. Jart’s website. He has two BB creams, one with SPF 30 here and another with SPF 40 here. I also love Glossier’s skin tint (photo above). To cover spots around your eyes, nose and other areas, I recommend a concealer pencil over foundation like this one by NYX. Apply only where you need it and pat into the skin to blend.
Metallic and colored eye shadows
Guilty! Do you know how difficult it is to find non-metallic eye shadows? Oh, brother! As we age, metallic shadows emphasize the creases around our eyes and on our eye lids. Colored eye shadow can look harsh against aging skin, and sometimes it looks like we got stuck back in time. It’s best to stick with neutral colors.
The Solution: matte neutral eye shadows. I love the NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette in Warm Neutrals. There are three matte neutrals on the second row that are perfect for daytime makeup.
Black eyeliner
Black is a wonderful liner for evening and dramatic looks. However, it is harsh on aging faces. Most of the time, black eye liner detracts from the natural beauty of your face.
The Solution: try black/brown eyeliner. Black/brown creates a softer impact and allows your eyes to stand out. One of my favorites is L’Oreal Infallible Pencil Eyeliner.
Skipping bronzer or blush
Aging skin often loses its natural color and vitality. Therefore, it becomes more important to add a little bit of color on your cheeks, even if you have never worn cheek color before. No need to apply with a heavy hand. A little bit goes a long way. Be sure to blend it so we don’t see harsh lines.
The Solution: add a bronzer or blush to the apples of your cheeks. I recommend a blush color that is close to the natural color of your lips. This bronzer by Jane Iredale has several color options. Cream blush is nice on aging skin that tends to be dry. Try this one by Ilia in one of the radiant finishes. The one I’m using now is the Miracle Balm by Jones Road Beauty (photo above). The color I’m using is bronze. Tawny is another nice color, as well as dusty rose and golden hour. I dab it onto my cheeks with my fingers and layer the color as needed for more depth. I love it on my lips, too.
Too much powder
Guilty, once again. I used to wear my makeup very matte by covering my foundation with lots of loose powder. Dry skin looks older. Dewy skin appears more vibrant and youthful.
The Solution: strategically place powder around your face like the sides of your nose, under your eyes and along your jawline. The goal is to allow your skin to glow with a small amount of powder to keep makeup in place. I like Glossier’s Wowder (photo above). If you need a nice brush to apply it, I recommend Glossier’s wowder duo.
Not filling in your eyebrows
Eyebrows become less dense over time. Think of them as face accessories. Eyebrows frame your face, and they draw focus to your face, giving it balance. A younger-looking face has full eyebrows.
The Solution: follow the natural shape of your brow to fill in sparse areas. I worked with a makeup artist to show me how to properly draw in my eyebrows. I highly recommend it! Plus, she told me about my new favorite brow pencil by Wet n Wild. I am using Ash Brown per her recommendation, and I love it.
Dark lipstick
I love a statement lip! But, once again, I am learning I appear my best in softer lip shades. As we age, we lose volume in our face, and this includes our lips. Dark lipsticks makes lips appear thinner. Lips appear most full when their color is close to the natural lip color.
The Solution: wear a color that blends nicely with your face and body colors. Fill in lips with a natural lip pencil and cover with a soft lip color for long-staying power. Glossier’s Generation G is a sheer matte lipstick that won’t appear too saturated or dark.
Not prepping your skin
It goes without saying that if you aren’t taking good care of your skin, makeup will not look as natural and beautiful on your face. As I mentioned above with blush and bronzer, a little bit goes a long way with skincare.
The solution: adopt a simple skincare routine. There are many brands out there. If you’d like a few names, check out my blog post about my skincare routine here. The routine I recommend is a gentle cleanser, a toner, a serum, and sunscreen for day. Apply a moisturizer suitable for your skin type after serum at night. That’s it. Click the links to see product recommendations. Once you’re used to a simple skincare routine, it will become second nature. Your skin will thank you!
I’m Here to Help
As always, I can assist you! My philosophy as an image consultant and style coach is I want people to notice you and appreciate who you are just as you are. I’m not in the business of changing people or their style. I am a guide in your journey to greater personal style and increased confidence with your image. If you’d like assistance with skincare, makeup or anything related to your image, message me here. I’d be delighted to assist you in all your image needs!
Affiliated Links
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