Usually when I am consulting with a client and refer to her as mature, I am blessed with a smile and a modest thank you. I am speaking to my ladies fifty and over, and they usually appreciate the beauty diplomacy. By no means do I believe that beauty should ever take a holiday because of age; it only discriminates if you allow it. I have found that by adjusting a few simple steps, you can achieve a more healthy and youthful appearance without effort if you are someone who wants it.
Skin Preparation
The key to wearing makeup and looking younger is how well you prepare your skin. Mature skin is typically dry, so it needs to be extremely hydrated before makeup is applied. This can be done with nourishing primers, day creams, or serums that contain natural oils or collagen boosting hyaluronic acid. Both skin plumping features can be incredibly effective for topical hydration. They are great for temporarily smoothing out wrinkles, and creating a supple base for application of your foundation. The result is the makeup will have a more skin-like appearance and look more natural, as if you have a perfect complexion.
Foundation Base Texture
Powder foundations are the most widely used texture for balancing out the complexion and covering concerns. Why wouldn’t they be? A pressed powder is compact, portable, and the coverage can easily be adjusted. Unfortunately, it’s not the best for everyone. For anyone whose concerns include dry skin and fine lines, powder may accentuate the signs of aging. My hero and go-to texture for the mature woman is a hypo-allergenic liquid. Liquid foundation provides a flattering satin finish that mimics youthful skin. Most women fear this texture because it can look and feel heavy. I suggest finding the fullest coverage liquid available, but be wary of those which have self setting built in powders-you want a pure liquid. The point here is the fuller the coverage, the less you need to use to cover your concerns. And the less makeup used the more natural you look. You can set the makeup using a translucent setting powder free of talc. I recommend any with a high grade mineral, such as mica. Silica works well for the woman with fair to light skin, but for those who are medium to ebony, it may alter the makeup tone and look ashy.
Lift the Eyes
We all love our liners. If used correctly, it can lift the eyes. But if used incorrectly, it can shrink the eyes and make you look tired. If you are a mature woman, then wearing eye liner is more about comfort and habit than beauty, and it is a tough habit to break because many of you say you feel naked without it. Eyeliner frames and draws attention to your eyes-and that is great-but if you have wrinkles, puffiness or dark circles, do you want to show them off as well? I suggest applying the liner only on the top, either over the lash line or the inner rim. Refrain from applying liner or mascara on the bottom. What you will get is a doe eyed flirty look that appears lifted, drawing attention up, not down. If you’re completely in disagreement and do not want to let it go, then give it a try when you get home. Remove the bottom line of one eye with a Q-tip and makeup remover and wear it around for a few hours, you will be surprised with the comparison.
Follow my lead with these tips. In my experience, if you are comfortable with your routine it may take a few tries to break some habits, despite their unfavorable effects. Mature women make up the majority and the most favorite group of my clientele, so I know who I am talking to. You know what you love and you know what you want, but I also know you want to stay looking beautiful and vibrant, and it is fairly simple with some minimal cosmetic tweaking.