Hey there, gorgeous! As a makeup artist who’s worked with faces of all ages, I’ve seen how the right techniques can take years off your appearance. But after 50, some makeup habits that worked in your 30s might actually be aging you now. Let’s update your beauty routine with these game-changing tips to help you look fresh and fabulous!
1. Skipping Moisturizer Before Foundation
Mature skin craves hydration like a desert flower needs water! Applying foundation on dry skin creates a cakey, flaky mess that settles into fine lines. Always prep with a rich moisturizer at least five minutes before makeup application. Your foundation will glide on smoothly and your skin will thank you.
2. Heavy Foundation Coverage
Though you might be tempted to slather on thick foundation to hide imperfections, this approach backfires spectacularly. Heavy coverage emphasizes texture and settles into wrinkles. Instead, embrace lighter formulas or tinted moisturizers that enhance rather than mask. Remember, your skin’s character tells your beautiful story!
3. Using Powder Blush
If you’re still reaching for that powder blush compact, we need to talk! Powder formulas can look flat and chalky on mature skin that naturally produces less oil. Switch to cream or liquid blushes that melt into skin for a natural flush. Apply with fingertips and watch how it brings dimension and life back to your cheeks!
4. Neglecting Your Eyebrows
Honey, those forgotten eyebrows are framing your entire face! As we age, brows often become sparse, yet many women ignore this crucial feature. Fill those babies in with feathery strokes using a pencil slightly lighter than your hair color. Well-defined brows instantly lift your face and create structure where time has softened.
5. Harsh Eyeliner Application
Whoa there with that black liquid liner! Harsh, thick lines create a severe look that ages rather than enhances your beautiful eyes. Try smudged pencil liners in softer shades like plum, navy, or brown. Gently apply along the upper lash line and smudge with a small brush for a soft, sophisticated definition that opens up your eyes.
6. Forgetting Primer
Though it might seem like an unnecessary extra step, skipping primer is like painting a wall without prepping it first—disaster awaits! Primer creates the perfect canvas by filling fine lines and pores. It also helps your makeup stay put instead of migrating into creases throughout the day. Just a pea-sized amount makes all the difference!
7. Matte Everything
While matte finishes were the rage in our younger years, they’re now your skin’s worst enemy! Flat, matte products emphasize texture and drain the natural luminosity from mature skin. Embrace products with words like “luminous,” “radiant,” or “dewy” on the label. A touch of strategic glow brings dimension and youthfulness back to your gorgeous face.
8. Over-Powdering Your Face
Whenever I see a client dusting powder all over her face, I gently take the brush away! Excessive powder is the fastest way to make skin look dry and aged. If you must powder, apply only in the T-zone where needed. Better yet, try blotting papers for shine control or a hydrating setting spray that preserves your natural radiance.
9. Ignoring Changing Eye Shape
If you’re still applying eyeshadow the same way you did decades ago, we need an intervention! As eyelids become hooded with age, those old techniques no longer flatter. Focus color application above the crease where it’s visible with eyes open. Use light, matte shades to bring forward and darker tones to recede. This simple adjustment creates the illusion of lifted eyes.
10. Dark Lipstick Overload
Though that vampy burgundy lipstick might have been your signature in the ’90s, it’s likely doing you no favors now. Dark shades make lips appear thinner and can emphasize fine lines around the mouth. Brighten up with rose, peach, or soft berry tones that add fullness and vitality to your smile. Your lips—and your entire face—will look instantly refreshed!
11. Skipping Lip Liner
Where has your lip definition gone? As we age, the natural border of our lips becomes less defined, causing lipstick to feather and bleed. A good lip liner in a shade matching your natural lip color creates a barrier that prevents color migration. Bonus: it can also subtly reshape and define lips that have lost their youthful plumpness.
12. Glittery Eyeshadows
Oh honey, put down that disco ball eyeshadow! While glitter might seem festive, those chunky particles settle into fine lines and crow’s feet, highlighting exactly what you’re trying to minimize. Opt instead for satin or subtle shimmer finishes that reflect light without the texture issues. Your eyes will sparkle without looking like you’re stuck in a time warp!
13. Applying Concealer Too Thickly
I’ve seen countless women pile on thick concealer under their eyes, creating a reverse-raccoon effect that adds years! Heavy concealer creases and draws attention to the very area you’re trying to improve. Try using a peach-toned corrector first to neutralize darkness, then the thinnest layer of concealer possible. Blend with a damp sponge for an airbrushed finish.
14. Forgetting to Blend
Hard makeup lines are nobody’s friend, especially after 50! I’ve rescued many clients from visible foundation lines at the jawline or harshly delineated blush. Invest in good blending tools—beauty sponges and fluffy brushes are your best allies. Take the extra 30 seconds to blend until no harsh edges remain. Your makeup should melt into your skin, not sit on top.
15. Lining Only the Lower Lash Line
If you’re only lining your lower lashes, you’re dragging your whole face downward! This common mistake creates a droopy, tired appearance instead of the lift we’re all after. Focus liner on the top lash line to open and lift the eye. If you must line the bottom, use a lighter shade and keep it to the outer third only.
16. Ignoring Lip Hydration
Your gorgeous pout needs extra TLC now! Dehydrated lips make even the most expensive lipstick look crumbly and emphasize vertical lines. Start with a dedicated lip scrub twice weekly to remove flakes. Apply a hydrating lip mask nightly and always use a moisturizing lip primer before color. These simple steps create the perfect canvas for any lip product.
17. Too-Dark Brow Products
Whoa Nelly! Those harsh, dark eyebrows are giving serious villain vibes! As our hair lightens with age, many women make the mistake of using the same dark brow products they’ve always used. Choose a shade lighter than your hair color for a softer, more natural look. Focus on creating texture rather than solid blocks of color that scream “I drew these on!”
18. Setting Spray Sabotage
Are you skipping setting spray because you think it’s just for the young folks? Big mistake! Mature skin benefits tremendously from this final step. Choose hydrating formulas that lock makeup in place while adding a subtle dewiness. A few spritzes helps prevent makeup from settling into lines throughout the day and keeps everything looking freshly applied.
19. Overlooking Lip Volume Loss
Where did those plump lips of your youth disappear to? As collagen production decreases, lips naturally thin with age, yet many women don’t adjust their makeup accordingly. Create the illusion of fullness by slightly overlining the cupid’s bow and center of the lower lip with a neutral pencil. Follow with a touch of highlighter on the center of the lips over lipstick.
20. Wrong Foundation Shade
Oh dear, that yellowy foundation isn’t fooling anyone! Our skin tone often changes as we age, becoming more neutral or cool-toned, yet many women stick with their warm-toned foundation from decades past. Reassess your shade annually in natural lighting. The perfect match should disappear when blended on your jawline, not leave a mask-like line or odd color cast.
21. Neglecting the Neck
Your face looks fabulous, but what about that forgotten neck? Nothing screams “amateur makeup application” like a perfectly made-up face that abruptly stops at the jawline. Always blend foundation down onto your neck for a seamless transition. Consider products specifically designed for the neck area to address texture and tone differences between face and décolletage.