Makeup should enhance your natural beauty, not add years to your face. As we mature, our skin changes and so should our makeup routine. The techniques and products that worked in our twenties might not be the best choices decades later. Here’s a guide to help you avoid common makeup missteps that could be making you look older than you are.
1. Cakey Foundation Overload
Heavy foundation settles into fine lines, emphasizing wrinkles instead of concealing them. A thick layer creates an artificial mask-like appearance that adds years instantly.
Opt for lightweight, hydrating formulas applied with a damp sponge. Less is more when it comes to foundation after 40!
2. Powder Overuse Disaster
Excessive powder zaps all natural dewiness from mature skin, creating a flat, lifeless appearance. The formula clings to dry patches and accentuates texture problems.
Reserve powder for specific areas like the T-zone. Your cheeks will thank you for letting them maintain their natural glow!
3. Disappearing Eyebrows Syndrome
Pencil-thin brows were trendy decades ago but now date your look significantly. Sparse, overplucked eyebrows create a perpetually surprised expression and add years instantly.
Fuller brows frame your face and create a more youthful appearance. Put down those tweezers and invest in a good brow pencil!
4. Raccoon-Eye Liner Situation
Harsh black liner completely encircling the eyes creates a severe, dated look. This technique makes eyes appear smaller and draws attention to any droopiness in the eye area.
Soften your approach with brown or plum shades, focusing on the upper lash line. Your eyes will appear larger and more lifted!
5. Frosted Eyeshadow Flashback
Shimmery, frosted eyeshadows highlight crepey eyelids and emphasize texture issues. Those metallic blues and silvers popular in the 80s now make you look stuck in a time warp.
Matte or subtly satin finishes create a more modern, flattering look. Save the high-shine for special occasions and apply sparingly!
6. Concealer Creasing Crisis
Thick concealer under the eyes creates noticeable creases and highlights fine lines. The heavy product settles into wrinkles throughout the day, drawing unwanted attention.
Choose lightweight, hydrating formulas and apply sparingly with a damp sponge. Setting with minimal powder prevents the dreaded concealer canyon effect!
7. Blush Placement Blunder
Applying blush directly on the apples of cheeks drags the face downward visually. This traditional technique actually emphasizes jowls and lower face sagging.
Sweep blush slightly higher on the cheekbones for an instant lift. The higher placement creates a subtle facelift effect without surgery!
8. Matte Lipstick Mishap
Super-matte lipsticks highlight every lip line and can make lips appear shrunken and dry. The flat finish draws attention to lip thinning that naturally occurs with age.
Creamy, satin formulas with hydrating ingredients plump lips visually. A touch of gloss in the center creates dimension without looking teen-like!
9. Dark Lipstick Disaster
Extremely dark lipstick makes lips appear smaller and can emphasize any unevenness in lip borders. Deep burgundies and browns often create a harsh, aging effect.
Softer, medium-toned shades complement mature faces beautifully. Think rose, mauve, or soft coral to brighten your entire complexion!
10. Contour Overload Catastrophe
Heavy contouring creates harsh shadows that can make faces appear gaunt and skeletal. Those dramatic cheekbone hollows might look great on 20-somethings but age mature faces dramatically.
Opt for subtle sculpting with cream products blended thoroughly. Light-handed application prevents the dreaded muddy stripes effect!
11. Skipping Primer Slip-up
Applying foundation directly to mature skin without primer leads to product settling into lines and pores. Makeup slides around and disappears by lunchtime without this crucial step.
Primer creates a smooth canvas and extends wear time significantly. Choose formulas with hydrating or blurring properties depending on your skin’s needs!
12. Neglected Lip Lines Nightmare
Ignoring the fine lines around your mouth allows lipstick to feather and bleed beyond your lip border. Those tiny vertical lines become more pronounced when product migrates into them.
A clear lip liner creates an invisible barrier preventing color migration. This simple step takes seconds but keeps your lipstick precisely where you want it!
13. Glitter Eyeshadow Gaffe
Chunky glitter particles emphasize crepey eyelids and can look childish on mature skin. The reflective pieces settle into fine lines, creating an unflattering disco-ball effect.
Subtle shimmer (not glitter) applied just to the center of lids adds dimension appropriately. This targeted application brightens eyes without overwhelming them!
14. Spider Lash Situation
Clumpy, spidery mascara creates a harsh, dated look that ages eyes instantly. Multiple coats of thick formula weigh down lashes and can make eyes appear smaller.
Clean, separated lashes open up the eyes beautifully. Comb through with a clean spoolie between coats for a fluttery, youthful effect!
15. Unblended Eyeshadow Upset
Harsh eyeshadow transitions with visible lines of demarcation create a dated, amateur look. Block-like application techniques popular decades ago now appear harsh and aging.
Soft blending is key for a modern eye look. Take the extra minute with a clean brush to diffuse edges for a professional, flattering finish!
16. Forgotten Neck Fiasco
Applying foundation only to your face creates an obvious line of demarcation at the jawline. This mask-like effect instantly signals an outdated makeup application.
Always blend foundation down onto your neck for a seamless transition. Your face and neck should match in color and texture for a natural, youthful appearance!
17. Lip Liner Legacy Problem
Dark lip liner with lighter lipstick creates that infamous 90s “ring around the lips” look. This dated technique emphasizes lip thinning and can look harsh on mature faces.
Choose liner shades that match your lipstick or natural lip color. Blend the line inward slightly for a seamless transition that makes lips appear fuller!
18. Skipping Blush Setback
Forgetting blush leaves mature skin looking flat and one-dimensional. As we age, natural color diminishes from our faces, making blush more essential than ever.
A touch of cream blush instantly revitalizes your complexion. This simple step brings back the youthful flush that naturally fades over time!