A Pro MUA Over 40 Shows The ‘Dated’ Makeup Techniques That Do The ‘Most Damage,’ And The ‘Updated’ Tips To Look Younger
March 22, 2025 by Mariam Qayum
Makeup can be a powerful tool for enhancing your features and achieving a youthful look, but not all makeup techniques are created equal. While some traditional methods may have worked in the past, they can sometimes age you or highlight fine lines and wrinkles. On the other hand, updated makeup techniques can help you look fresher, more vibrant, and even younger by focusing on techniques that enhance natural beauty and minimize signs of aging. Knowing which methods to embrace and which to leave behind is key to achieving a youthful appearance with makeup.
Erica Taylor, a makeup artist & educator with 25+ years of experience, recently shared five “outdated” techniques that do the “most damage” when trying to create a youthful look and the “updated” ones to switch to instead.
1. Outdated: Too light foundation or too matte
Using too light of a foundation or opting for an overly matte finish can make you look outdated because it often creates a flat, lifeless appearance, which can emphasize signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
Updated: Erika says to start "matching the shade or going a little bit darker." This helps to look “refreshed.”
"Basically, if you have to run and put blush and bronzer on, it’s too light," she warns.
2. Outdated: thin, arched brow
Thin, overly arched brows are “dated and aged," she says. Erika says a “brow is not a solid block,” and when you draw it down, “your whole face is going [down] with it.”
Updated: For a “fluffier, fuller brow, you would [apply] with a mascara or a brow pencil to feather through to keep the brow softer and fluffier instead of hard and dated," she notes.
3. Outdated: Lip liner all the way to the corner of the mouth
If you draw lip liner all the way to the corner of the mouth, “it will feather and run.” When the liner extends too far, it can create a "mask-like" effect, making the lips look unnatural and less youthful. As we age, the natural definition of the lips may diminish, and over-lining with a dark liner can accentuate this loss of fullness.
Updated: Cut it off before the corner. “I clip it before the corner, and I go on the outer edge of the lip with a nude pencil, not a dark pencil, to catch the light and give more lift," she says.
4. Outdated: Blush too low
Blush applied too low on the cheeks can make you look outdated because it emphasizes the natural downward pull of the face as you age, accentuating sagging skin and making you appear tired or older.
Updated: Instead, Erika says to "place blush higher on the cheekbone." This technique helps lift the face, brightens the complexion, and gives you a more radiant, energized look.
5. Outdated: Too light concealer
Using too light concealer can make you look outdated, tired, or aged because it can create a stark contrast between your skin tone and the concealer, drawing attention to dark circles or wrinkles. When concealer is too light, it can settle into fine lines, making them more noticeable and emphasizing areas that you might want to downplay.
She adds, “If your concealer is too light, your under eye will look more tired and more puffy.”
Updated: For a more youthful, refreshed look, it’s best to choose a concealer that matches your skin tone or is just one shade lighter, blending it well to avoid harsh lines and create a more seamless, natural appearance.