Your face changes over time, and a few small changes to your makeup routine can make a surprisingly big difference.
The heavy base
Slathering foundation all over every area, line, and freckle can actually backfire. Foundations with heavier textures can sink into fine lines and emphasize texture. Opting for a sheer, buildable foundation that is only applied where coverage is necessary often gives a more natural, fresh-faced result.
Too much powder
Powder helps control shine; however, if you press it all over your face with a heavy hand, dry skin or skin with texture can appear flat. It can also settle into fine lines as the day progresses. Apply a small amount where you really need it, which is typically the nose, chin, or forehead, to maintain some dimension in your skin.
Stuck in the past
That killer makeup look you rocked in 1995 does not have to follow you forever. Eyebrows change shape, and lip colors and application methods evolve. But most importantly, faces change as time goes by. Making slight tweaks to one or two features can give you a modern update without trying to follow every trend.
The dark outline
Extremely dark lip liner with a lipstick a few shades lighter can create a harsh-looking mouth that looks outdated. Choosing a liner that is close to your natural lip color or lipstick shade will provide less contrast. You can still subtly define your lip line; it shouldn’t be the first thing you notice.
Drawing them back on
Years of tweezing can cause brows to thin out. Replacing all that is lost with one dark pencil line tends to look fake. Brows aren’t perfectly even in color or thickness, so short, feathery strokes can better mimic hairs. Some definition can frame your face without taking over.
Going too dark
Eyeliner drawn around the entire eye can sometimes have the effect of making the eyes look smaller, especially if the line is thick and very defined. Softer brown or charcoal or other flattering colors can create definition without making such a hard line. Defining closest to the upper lashes will also create more of an open-eye effect.
Forgetting the prep
Foundation, powder, and other makeup products work on dry or dehydrated skin differently. Applying makeup too soon after moisturizing can cause patchiness and highlight the areas you want to de-focus. Sometimes just moisturizing (and sunscreen in the daytime) can enhance your end makeup look more than another layer of beauty products.
The wrong kind of glow
A little glow can be gorgeous, but heavily frosted/glittery products accentuate texture when layered over wrinkles. That doesn’t mean women over 50 have to swear off shimmer forever. Finer, softer finishes applied strategically can provide glow without highlighting every tiny wrinkle.
Blush in the old spot
Applying blush where you have always applied it automatically may not give you the look you desire anymore. Trying a placement just a bit higher up on the cheek can brighten up and open up your look. You will notice a subtle, yet drastic change by simply switching up where you apply your blush.
Trying to erase every year
One mistake people make is thinking of makeup as age camouflage. Using heavy concealer, foundation, contour, and powder to try to hide every wrinkle can actually make your face look heavier, instead of lighter and younger. Often, makeup can look freshest when it accentuates healthy-looking skin, eyes, and lips, rather than trying to recreate the face you once had at age 25.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
14 things women find unattractive in men over 50
Despite what you might’ve heard, getting older isn’t actually a huge deal for many women, but they’re usually turned off by the guys who declare war on aging or completely surrender to it.
