Makeup For Mature Skin-Do's & Dont's

Applying makeup to mature skin doesn’t have to — and shouldn’t! — mean dark colors or heavy finishes. Tweak your routine to reveal a radiant, beautiful complexion. These little changes in your beauty routine can make a huge difference in your appearance.

The foundation

As skin ages it usually gets drier and starts to sag. In addition, how you treated your skin in the past becomes etched on your face in the form of fine lines, freckles and ages spots. To mask these imperfections, your instinct is probably to apply heavy foundation. However, thick, matte foundation only accentuates dryness and wrinkles.

Bring out the best in mature skin by using three products, including concealer, light-reflecting foundation and oil-free loose powder, to enhance your features.

• What to do

• Start with concealer on trouble spots (like under the eyes) or to cover hyperpigmentation.

• Using a sponge, apply a light-reflecting foundation. Blend carefully along the hair and jaw line to ensure even, flawless coverage. Light-reflectors add luminosity to your skin and soften the look of fine lines. For dry skin, consider a moisturizing foundation with vitamins.

• Dust on loose powder with a large powder brush for light coverage. The result will be healthy, vibrant skin.

• What to avoid

• Matte formulas. These can cause skin to look dull or dry.

• Too much foundation. Apply foundation only on areas that need coverage.

• Unflattering colors for your skin tone. For the best match, test at least three foundation shades and examine them in natural sunlight.

Blush

Young skin is effortlessly luminous and radiant, especially evident on those vibrant, rosy cheeks. Unfortunately, as we age, our natural skin tone fades, leaving the complexion pale and lifeless. To compensate, many women take a heavy-handed approach when applying blush or choose colors that are way too dark.

• What to do

• Try and mimic your skin’s own natural hue. When you blush, are your cheeks very pink or a deep rose? Choose colors that most closely resemble this shade, which helps you achieve a natural radiance. If you’d like more impact, apply a highlighter directly over blush, on the cheekbones.

• Keep the blush on the apples of your cheeks, and build color slowly. Swirl your blush brush over the blush cake. Then, apply it in a circular motion onto the skin, blending up and out towards the hairline. This technique will ensure that your blush looks pretty, not streaky.

• Give gel or cream blush a whirl. As you age, you’ve probably noticed some moisture loss. Are your cheeks dry and flaky? Gel and cream blushes are ideal for mature skin, because they’re more moisturizing than powder blush.

• What to avoid

• Dark shades. These colors rarely mimic your natural flush and can look severe.

• Contoured cheeks. Contouring makes you look gaunt and also draws attention to the natural collagen loss that occurs with age, Brown tells Prevention.

• Streaky application. A circular brushing motion will look more natural.

Eyes

Aptly called the windows to the soul, eyes are a focal point. Because your windows tend to sag and develop fine lines as you age, you might opt to close the curtains, piling on loads of bright shadows to mask mature skin. Instead, adopt the motto that less is more and focus on blending several shades for a more natural, beautiful look.

• What to do

• Apply a highlighter shade underneath the brow to brighten the eye area. Use cream, white, pale pink or sand shades.

• Brush a neutral, matte shadow over the entire eyelid.

• Give eyes some depth and intensity by applying a deeper shadow in the crease with a crease brush.

• Forgo pencil eyeliner and instead, use a gel or cream liner for a smooth, even application. These revolutionary formulas last all day, won’t smudge or smear and ensure a natural look. To apply a thin line, use a flat eyeliner brush.

• Finish with dark brown or black mascara, depending on your hair color. Apply two coats to the top lashes only, and clean up any mistakes with a cotton swab dipped in eye makeup remover.

• What to avoid

• Overdone eye shadow. This looks harsh and can make you look older.

• Frosted or glittery eye shadow. It can settle into fine lines and isn’t age-appropriate.

• Heavy eyeliner. A heavy application of liner actually makes your eyes seem droopy and tired. .

Lips

Experimenting with lip color is one of the easiest and most fun ways to change up your look. But there are several key tips to keep in mind.

• What to do

• Combat lip color feathering or bleeding by applying lipstick with a lip brush for precise coverage.

• Consider using lipstick primer before applying color, which will “grab” onto lipstick and hold it in place.

• Choose hydrating formulas whenever possible to keep lips from drying out.

• Dab gloss in the center of your bottom lip for extra fullness. .

• What to avoid

• Harsh lip pencil It creates an unflattering line and can seep its way “into wrinkles around your mouth.

• Dark, matte lipsticks. Because lip color changes with age, a darker lipstick might not match your current com