You’ve heard the old adage “less is more.” It’s a phrase that is said numerous times, in reference to a variety of issues, and it’s one often used when talking about makeup, especially if the client has mature skin.
If you’ve ever been excited about purchasing just the right concealer or foundation, in the best possible shade for your skin, only to bring it home, apply it, and find that hours later it has seeped into your pores, fine lines, and wrinkles and is only accentuating texture, this adage may start to make more sense. Mature skin that is showing signs of aging may feel like it needs more makeup — and more and more makeup after that layer or two. But makeup experts say the opposite is true: less is more when it comes to concealer and foundation on mature skin.
Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why less really is more and you should be using fewer spots of makeup on your skin so that it looks its best.
Foundation and Concealer Accentuate Fine Lines
Here’s the paradox: even though concealer and foundation make your skin look more even in tone, they will always (always) bring out fine lines and wrinkles. The nature of these products is that they are thick in consistency — concealer more than foundation. If you applied them to half of your face and stood back, that half will look more even. But up close, that side will also show the texture in your skin more than the makeup-less side.
It can feel like a battle you can’t win. You want even-toned skin, but you don’t want your fine lines to be highlighted. The only viable solution here is to apply much less makeup.
Too Much Concealer Around the Eyes
According to Makeup Artist Wayne Goss, most people get darkness under their eyes along the inner corner of the eye, and rarely does someone have darkness or extreme darkness ringing their entire under-eye area. Yet, if you watch many makeup tutorials you’ll see examples of concealer being applied all along the under-eye area and as far as the outer corner of the brow.
This is simply too much concealer for an area of the face that has a lot of little fine lines and crinkles and creases easily.
Even if your under-eye concealer looks amazing after you’ve applied it all over, it could be because you are staring at your face in the mirror while it is frozen in one expression. The moment you begin smiling your cheeks bunch up and the area around the middle and outer corners of the lower eyelids crease. The only area of your under-eye that doesn’t crease is the inner corner. This is where most people have the majority of discoloration and it’s where Goss says you should focus your concealer application.
If you happen to have discoloration all along the lower lid, Goss says you have to weigh the pros and cons of placing concealer in that area. It may lighten your discoloration, but there is no way around the fact that it will highlight creases.
Another issue you may encounter when you apply too much concealer under the eye is that it will lighten the entire under-eye area, which means it will also highlight under-eye bags. You may then feel the need to apply a second product, like a bronzing powder, to cancel out this highlight. Of course, the more makeup you apply here, the more texture you reveal, and the cycle repeats.
If you’re interested in seeing whether less is more for your skin, try applying a small dot on concealer to the inner corner of your eye and blending it well with a concealer brush and your finger. Set it with powder. Then go about your day and see if, at the end of it all, you are finding fewer creases and a makeup look that stays put and brightens the eye.
