SheFinds emphasizes that this review is not monetized, compensated, or sponsored in any way. This evaluation of the product is strictly based on the expertise of a beauty industry expert.
This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
Do you miss playing with and having fun with makeup? This fall brings many gorgeous beauty looks that provide the perfect excuse to try something new. From monochrome eyes, cheeks, and lips in warm, toasty shades that will remind you of your favorite Starbucks drinks to frost-bitten lips to major eyeliner, you can paint the town by painting literally every feature on your face (or choose one and let it stand out).
Best of all: there are plenty of fall makeup looks that work for all ages and look especially flattering on women over 40. Ready to get started? Here are five that you’ll love.
5 Makeup Trends That Look So Chic On Mature Beauties
1. Winged, Lifted Liner
This fall, you can feel free to be as extreme with your eyeliner as you wish. And if you have a look at the graphic eyeliner on runways, you’ll see that makeup artists really took this advice to heart. Of course, you may also want to tone things down for work or dinner out. A more extreme winged eyeliner look can have the effect of lifting your eye and your entire face. It can instantly make you look more youthful, too.
Be sure to tilt your eyeliner pen or pencil upward at the corner of the eye so that your wing gives you that lift you’re after. Don’t forget to curl your lashes and add two coats of volumizing mascara to complete the drama.
2. Berry-Stained Lips
A dark matte lip can appear a little harsh and even aging. That’s why fall’s lipstick solution is so perfect: instead of highly pigmented lips, you can rock a berry-stained lip that provides enough color to brighten up your skin, but looks a little bit like you’ve been wearing it all day, so it’s softer and more wearable for daytime.
Look for lip glosses and lipsticks in shades of berry (cool or warm, depending on what works best for your skin tone). Formulas that are buildable, like Glossier Ultralip in Cranberry, start off lighter and you can have more creative control in how dark or intense you go with them.
3. Latte Makeup
Latte makeup has been holding court for a few months now and it isn’t going anywhere just yet. This soft, warm makeup look is defined by eye makeup, blush, and lipsticks that come in shades you’d find in your favorite café beverage. To give you some example of the kinds of colors and textures that make this look pop, Armani Beauty suggests these gorgeous makeup products that are perfect for latte looks:
Eyes: “Get the perfect pumpkin eye by buffing Armani beauty’s Eye Tint Long-Lasting Liquid Eye Shadow in shade 30 into the crease for a smokey latte look. Follow up with shade 26 across the lid for a rich burnt orange shimmer.”
Face: Armani beauty’s Luminous Silk Glow Liquid Bronzer can be applied onto the hollows of the cheeks, jaw, and temples. Follow up with Armani beauty’s Limited-Edition Luminous Silk Golden Glow Highlighter on the top of the cheekbones.
Lips: Check out Armani beauty’s Lip Power Matte in shade 117, a rich lip color that feels like dessert.
4. Satin-Finish Eyeshadows
When it comes to the type of shadow to look out for, satin finish eyeshadows boast a subtle hint of radiance, lending a dimension that is neither completely flat like matte nor too flashy like shimmer. As a result, they are an excellent choice for women above the age of 40, who desire a moisturized and smooth appearance.
Oscar Velasquez, professional makeup artist and beauty expert, tells SheFinds that when it comes to eyeshadow colors for mature beauties, looking at your natural eye color and then finding "shades on the opposite side of the color wheel" is a great place to start.
As Kerrin Jackson, celebrity, film and television makeup artist and creator of The Makeup Refinery blog also told us, skipping red colors and anything that is too shimmery is essential, as these could inadvertently highlight wrinkles and fine lines.
5. Neutral Matte Eyeshadows
Since metallic or sparkly shadows can "cause lines and wrinkles to look more pronounced" than they actually are, Jackson says that the best bet for mature beauties is to "avoid these products and stick with neutral colors and matte eyeshadow types instead."
"If you must use a shimmer eye shadow, try a cream-based product that you can blend in softly," she advises. This will be "far more flattering and flexible on your skin" than a powdery metallic or shimmery eyeshadow.
The Bottom Line
Before even applying eyeshadow or any makeup at all, Gargi Patel, celebrity makeup artist at Vashanti Cosmetics, tells us that it is essential to use a primer on your eyelids. This, she says, will prevent smudging and smearing throughout the day as primers are designed to lock in your eyeliner in place. "The goal is to always keep the eyeliner in places you want it to stay," she says.
In order to prevent looking older with a smudged look, Patel stresses that you should always "start with preparation of the eye area." Using a good primer "suitable for the eye area," she explains, will "help to keep not only your eyeliner in place, but also your eyeshadow." She shares that your primer "should also hydrate the eye area so liquid eyeliners will not dry out, causing pieces to land in places that will not give a clean look."
