Are you looking for quick and easy tricks to perfect your makeup look and to go from so-so to big-time glow? Some makeup hacks are going to be dependent on the specific look you’re trying to create and your individual features. But there are a number of universally flattering makeup hacks that work for many women over 50, regardless of your style or the occasion.
These 12 makeup tips are great for everyday wear and evening. They share on thing in common: they’ll help make women over 50 look and feel their best.
Choose Creamy Foundation Over Matte Formulas
Matte foundations might have looked stunning at one point in life, but when your skin begins to gather all of the texture that it rightfully earned, including fine lines and wrinkles, a matte formula will exaggerate lines more and seep into them. Choosing a creamy foundation instead provides more moisture and this can make your skin look more hydrated and youthful.
Opt for Color Correctors
Concealer serves a purpose, but it’s not the answer to all of your color and tone-correcting needs. In fact, if your concealer isn’t doing everything you feel like it should be, the problem could be that you should actually be using a color corrector. A green color corrector can neutralize redness, peachy and orange correctors can tackle purple and blue tones in under-eye circles, and purple correctors are great for improving the look of sallow skin.
Primer
Primer is no longer a nice-to-have makeup item — it’s an essential, especially for mature skin. A primer helps your makeup last longer and look more pigmented and rich. If you choose one with hyaluronic acid it can also add moisture to dry skin. Apply primer about 10 minutes after your skincare and then wait a few minutes to let it absorb before applying foundation, Don’t forget to add a layer of primer to your eyelids, too.
Swap Black Eyeliner for Gray or Brown
Black eyeliner can appear harsh on mature eyes, especially during the day and especially if you’re used to lining the top and bottom lashes. By making a simple switch — swapping black liner for gray or brown — you can lighten your look considerably, while keeping the drama.
Fill in the Tails of Your Brows
Already taking care of your brows because you know how important they are to frame the face? Perfect — but now take things one step further by remember not to neglect your brow tails. Many of us simply forget the tail and concentrate on the inner corners and arches of our brows, but a too-thin tail can be aging.
Set Makeup With Setting Spray
If you’re used to setting your makeup with powder, you may find the effect ultra drying as you age and your skin gets drier. And if you’ve never set your makeup before, this is the tip that will help you finally keep it from streaking. Swap powder for a quality setting spray that contains good-for-your-skin ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
Place Blush Higher on Your Face
Higher blush placement — higher than may feel comfortable at first — can create a more lifted look. If you’re used to applying blush to the apples of your cheeks or slightly below them, move your blush an inch or two higher.
Be Conservative With Powder
If you choose to set your makeup with powder instead of setting spray, be conservative. It doesn’t take a lot of powder to help your foundation and concealer stay put, but overdoing it can make pores look larger and emphasize fine lines.
Choose Makeup Products With Hydrating Ingredients
Read makeup product labels and choose foundations, concealers, blush, and even powders that contain ingredients that will correspond to your skin’s needs. This means: if your skin is dry, products with hyaluronic and green tea can be nourishing. If your skin is oily, products that contain salicylic acid can help control acne. Think of makeup as an extension of your skincare.
Moisture Before Makeup
Your makeup routine actually starts with your skincare routine. If you’re applying foundation and concealer over dry skin, it’s likely to settle into texture and put the spotlight on dry patches. Always moisturize as your last step in your skincare regimen and allow your skin to absorb the product and dry (10 minutes should suffice) before applying primer, foundation, and the rest of your makeup.
Don’t Be Afraid of Shine
Even if you spent your teens and twenties trying everything you can to eliminate shine from your face, the truth is: a little bit of shine means a little bit of a glow — and the effect can be youthful and radiant. Avoiding matte makeup is a great first step. Not blotting all of your shine is another.
Apply Eyeliner Between Lashes
If you have hooded eyes and are finding it impossible to apply eyeliner to your top lid without making your eye look more closed try this instead: using an angled liner brush and a gel eyeliner, dot the liner between your lashes. This will darken your lash line without closing your lid.
