Who doesn’t want to “glow?” A glow is that mysterious descriptive term used to describe gorgeous skin and it usually refers to skin that looks clear and bright. A solid skincare routine is step one toward achieving a glow, but great makeup doesn’t hurt. If you’re over a certain age, you may also notice that getting this glowing makeup just right is more of a challenge. As Makeup Expert Lisa Monique explains in this video, one makeup mistake mature women make is assuming they shouldn’t wear a lot of makeup and actually not wearing enough:
Here are her best steps — and they’re all easy, to boot — that you can take to get glowing, gorgeous skin at any age.
Prep The Skin
You must — must — prep your skin for flawless makeup, Monique stresses. Always apply moisturizer before applying any makeup and give it a few minutes to absorb. This helps your makeup set more naturally. Monique is a fan of Embriolysse Lait Creme Concentrate, which she describes as an industry standard, though she also loves a more affordable option — Elf Cosmetics Holy Hydration Face Cream — and a luxury option: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream.
You can start working on your eyes first to give your skin time to dry.
Fill In Your Brows
Even if your brows are on the thicker side, there are likely spots that are not filled in. Always make it a priority to fill in your brows to frame your face. Brush your brows up and fill in gaps with a natural-looking brow pencil. Seal them with a brow gel to keep them in place.
Prep Or Prime Your Eyelids
Our lids change as we age. We may have more purple tones, redness, or oiliness (which causes eyeshadow to smear and shift). Even if you’re not wearing shadow, Monique recommends priming your lids with a concealer that doesn’t require a setting powder. Monique says she loves Elf Hydrating Camo Concealer — you can use your fingers or sponge to blend it in.
Apply Eyeshadow High Enough
Anyone with naturally hooded eyes may already be an expert at applying shadow to the orbital bone, but if your eyes have gradually become more hooded with age, you may only be applying makeup to your lower lid, where it can disappear. Shift your shadow up higher and blend it out to make your eyes pop.
Blend Out Your Eyeliner
Don’t forget to blend out your eyeliner, especially as we age and lashes can get thinner and sparser. Monique says she won’t tell any woman not to apply liner under the eyes (a no-no according to some makeup artists), but whether your liner is placed on top, on the bottom, or both, be sure you blend it out with a brush or beauty blender sponge. Harsh lines can be aging, she stresses.
Apply Mascara
Mascara is a game-changer, especially when lashes get thinner and shorter. Monique says she uses a lash serum at night to maintain length and then follows up with a lash curler and volumizing mascara.
Correct Discoloration On Your Face
Discoloration happens to the best of us, whether it’s in the form of broken capillaries and redness or brown spots. You don’t need a full face of makeup to address this — just apply a color corrector that suits your issue or a concealer that matches your skin tone. As long as your color matches well, you don’t need to follow up with foundation unless you want to wear it. Be sure to set your makeup with setting powder.
Apply Blush — And Apply It Higher
Forget what you’ve been told about applying blush to the apples of your cheeks — applying it a bit higher up on your cheeks is key to making your face look more lifted and youthful.
Swap Matte Lipsticks For Glossy Or Semi-Gloss Formulas
If your lip volume has decreased over the years, swapping a matte lipstick for a gloss or semi-gloss can make your lips look more plumped and healthy.
Getting a glowing makeup look can sometimes require adding just a little more makeup (not less) — but the key is applying it in a way that respects your face and features and provides the lift you want.
