I have been wearing and loving makeup for as long as I can remember starting with Clinique in my early twenties. In fact, my list of New Year’s Resolutions each year would begin with “buy less makeup”. As with most resolutions, that one has gone unheeded!
My twin sister Jill and I would hang out at the Bobbi Brown, Chanel and Laura Mercier counters and try on all the latest lip colors and eyeshadows. My mom would join us for makeovers. I miss my makeup partners in crime!
But honestly, as we age, we need to wear less makeup to look good and focus on certain areas. What are those areas?
- Get Even: Starting with skin that is uniform and even makes you appear polished and put together. “A great foundation is the makeup equivalent of the perfect bra”.*. If you wear foundation or a tinted moisturizer, and use the right color, texture and technique, you are going to look much younger. We are going for a fresh, dewy look; no need to paper over all the cracks. Foundation can give you a healthier looking skin and minimize the look of sun damage in minutes. Use a primer first to minimize pores and wrinkles and to help your makeup stay on all day.
- Brighten Up: We all fade with age. The idea is to restore the color in our cheeks we used to have. Dab a pink or peach cream blush high on your cheekbones to draw attention to your eyes.Powder blush can be drying and settle into fine lines and wrinkles. Blush makes you glow and is the ultimate mood booster in your makeup bag.
- Intensify Your Gaze: We need to define our eyes, but subtly, with no harsh lines. Use neutral or earthy tones rather than going for a smokey eye which can make your eyes look small and droopy. Choose cream eyeshadows that can be applied with fingers and melt into the eyelid. Dot brown eye pencil along the upper lash line with a few coats of mascara on upper lashes. This will give subtle definition to your eyes. Well groomed brows add a nice frame to the face as well!
- Youthful Lips: Bad news, my friends. Your lips have deflated and shrunk in size so that a change in our lipstick choice is needed. Let’s use a neutral lipliner to give us back our definition, with a sheer lipstick or colored gloss in soft pink, mauve,rose and berry shades. Dark matte or opaque lipsticks make our lips look even thinner. So retire that matte fuchsia lipstick and the glittery teal eyeshadow and your colored mascaras. Refuse those inappropriate trends of our younger years and embrace the new, polished beautiful you!
Let me know how you feel about this post and about makeup in general. Is it part of your daily routine, or only for date nights? Let’s talk next week. XOXO Penny.
Resources
Makeup Wakeup, Revitalizing Your Look At Any Age, Lois Joy Johnson and Sandy Linter
Toss the Gloss, Beauty Tips and Tricks and Truths for Women 50+, Andrea Robinson
I really learned a lot from your post😀
I’m so glad you found the post to be informative. I hope you continue to follow me! XO Penny
Good advice. I subcribe to the less makeup! I rarely wear anything except lipstick nowadays. I do miss makeup shopping with you! I remember when we went to Macy’s in the mall and had facials and did a Dior makeup session. Those were the good old days.
Thanks for sharing. I miss the good old days too! XO Penny
Exactly my routine these days. I gave up eyeshadow/liner about two years ago. My go to is “Boom Glimmer, Glo and Color” by Cindy Joseph. All creams and that’s all you need plus mascara! I love it.
I remember the facials and make-up sessions with you! Always learned something. And here we are…learning how to look lovely with you, again!
Love this blog!
Thanks Shellie. No wonder you are looking so good! You are doing all the right things! The next blog is all about sunscreens. I learned a lot about the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreens. Thanks for being part of my audience.
I love it/////////