Don’t Let Your Makeup Age You

As you begin the process of aging gracefully, many things in your daily routine may need some tweaking — your skin-care regimen, your health habits, and even the makeup you wear. As you head into your forties, fifties and beyond, often it becomes more and more difficult to pull off the makeup trends you loved when you were in your twenties. But more importantly, it’s more difficult to continue looking as young as you once did when your makeup products haven’t changed over a 20-year time span. However, if you switch up your routine just a tad, you may find you look just as fabulous as you did in your youth.

No matter what type of makeup you use, the most important factor for younger looking skin is to provide a good, clean canvas to start with. This means ensuring you have a good skin care routine in place before makeup even makes it into the picture. You should be using an anti aging skin cream — as well as an anti aging moisturizer — daily to keep skin looking firm and full. You may also need an eye wrinkle cream or other anti wrinkle products to keep fine lines and crow’s feet from taking center stage.

Once you’ve got your face cleansed, moisturized and primed, you can apply your makeup. The key is to apply with a light hand, so wrinkles and lines aren’t emphasized. Too much foundation or powder can settle into creases in the skin, making them look more pronounced — absolutely the opposite effect of what you want! If you must use foundation, use a light tinted moisturizer that matches or is one shade warmer than your natural skin tone; going lighter can make your skin look dull. Use powder sparingly as well.

If you’ve always stuck to beiges when it comes to your eye makeup, it may be time to start using warmer colors like browns, light purples and taupes. Beige can emphasize dry and crepey skin. In addition, glitter and shimmer products should be retired as the skin matures. Apply your eye shadow and mascara to the top lashes and lids only; applying to the lower lashes can emphasize dark circles and crow’s feet.

Bright lip color works for everyone, but be wary of darker colors; not only do they make you look older and out of date, but they can make your smile appear more yellow. Also, it is more obvious if it feathers outside your lip line. More natural shades of pink are a better bet; if you are concerned about your lipstick going beyond the edges of your grin, you can use a lip pencil in the same color as your lipstick, and it will keep the color contained. A gloss formula of your chosen color will also soften the look.

Keeping your look natural and fresh is the best way how to age gracefully and get younger looking skin.