Today’s post is about makeup hacks for aging skin. If you are a woman of certain age, 40 and above (or mid-30s if you already exhibit premature signs of aging), you understand that the makeup techniques you are accustomed to when you were doing your makeup when you were a lot younger somehow no longer applies. Hence, our never-ending search for makeups intended for aging skin. But it just doesn’t end there because you need to understand the anatomical changes happening in your face: loss of elasticity and re-distribution of fat pad in your under-eyes down to your lower face, (hello gravity, ugh!) drooping eyelids, vertical lip lines, among others. Today I am sharing very simple makeup hacks to help make you look youthful, rejuvenated and most important of all, fabulous!
Moisturization is the backbone of looking youthful (read skincare for all ages). Regardless of your skin type, a well moisturized face prepares your skin for seamless makeup application. In fact, you can skip primer unless you have pores you are trying to minimize (aging accentuates those). If you have normal, oily or combination skin, opt for water-based moisturizer (how to know: if water/aqua is listed first in the list of ingredients, it is water-based). If you have dry skin, you may benefit more from beauty oils. Remember, a well-moisturized skin makes you glow from within.
Sometimes under eye concealer isn’t cutting it so you need to be creative. Stay away from matte or has thick coverage because it will emphasize crepey under-eyes. Take out your BB or CC cream and favorite moisturizer, squeeze 1:1 ratio, mix, then dab under the eyes using a beauty sponge.
Set your under-eye concealer or foundation lightly using a fan brush but skip if you have extremely dry skin. Why a fan brush? it picks up little powder enough to set your makeup but won’t make it look cakey.
Lift droopy eyelids through your eyebrows. Blame gravity again but as we age, the brow area depress which can contribute to appearance of droopy eyelids. While injecting few units of Botox in the outer tail of the eyebrow or injecting filler below the eyebrow can definitely rejuvenate your eye area, sometimes a simple makeup technique can help! Fill your eyebrow as you normally would but form a soft lift towards the outer one third (see photo below). And remember, fuller brows make you look youthful too so thin brows are totally out of the equation.
Go easy with highlighting. Not everything you see on Youtube and Instagram is applicable to you, especially if you have seen the technique from someone who is in her 20s. Anything you highlight will stand out so if you have obvious vertical lip lines (smoker’s line), highlighting the cupids bow will make it even more noticeable. Correct placement is key. To lift depressed brows, follow the technique I mentioned above and swish very very minimal highlighter towards the tail end of your eyebrow (not under the eyebrow if you have droopy eyelids).
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These are great tips – thanks for sharing!
Excellent tips for us over 40's. Thank you. 😀
These are all great tips! I needed to know them. Thank you so much. The fan brush for setting powder especially.
Yass girl, moisturizing and going easy on the under eye, more hydration less powder!
Thanks! We loved matte when we were a lot younger, now it is all about dewy
Great tips!!!
Excellent tips! I used concealer under my eyes recently and was horrified at the effect it had on my skin!
That was my problem in the past so I mixed moisturizer with concealer
I have been trying to just highlight at the outer edge of my browbone and now I know why!
I actually never use highliters haha. I mess it up every time.
Awesome tips! I'd love to see these in action or maybe a side by side of "how people do it wrong" vs "doing it right" so we can see. I'm such a visual person that tutorials are my jam! 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion. I will keep this in mind for future videos. I will focus on my own techniques though because at the end of the day, it's just makeup
Awesome tips! I like that your first tip was about moisturizing and skin care, it's really the best for maintaining healthy looking skin!
Thank you, it makes such a great difference
Thanks for these great tips! I really have to buy a good fan brush.
Ohh I'm going to try the fan brush to set my undereye concealer!
Thank you for the tips, I will keep the concealer trick in mind next time I do makeup for my mom or MIL. I am always so nervous because I never have any idea what I'm doing 🙂
I go with these tips!! Well, I will confess, I do have a love-fest with highlighting (light-handed, though).
I didn't even think about how eyebrows can cause a "lift". Great tips!
Fantastic tips, Kath@ I would only add that a high SPF goes a long way for the prevention of premature aging and damage.
Thanks twinsy. Yes, I have discussed sunscreen and expounded every bit of it in all my skincare posts
Such great tips! I love the one about using a fan brush.
Great tip about the eyebrow highlighter. I need a fan brush.
Fantastic post, some really great tips x
I have hooded eyes and my lids are drooping towards the sides already. It is very hard to lift that area. Sometimes it's so frustrating that I would think I should just get eyelid surgery. It's that bad. Good thing I saw your post. I'm going to try drawing fuller brows with a little highlight above and towards the end. That might help.
Let me know how it turned out. Btw, if droopiness affects your eyesight, it may qualify as medical (vs aesthetic) so if you live in the US, your insurance may cover it.