1. Using Drying Foundations
As skin ages, it loses moisture, elasticity, and collagen, making it more prone to dryness. When a foundation lacks hydrating ingredients or has a matte, powdery finish, it settles into creases, making wrinkles appear deeper.
“Regarding foundation mistakes that make people look older,” Brice says, “I would say that the main issue is when people use foundation that is drying like powder, or even liquid.” She notes that skin with texture, like aging skin, works “best with a cream or serum foundation, as anything drying can accentuate wrinkles.”
An additional tip Brice shares is that not everyone may need powder after applying foundation. “Many people are in the habit of using powder as a last step, and they may not need it. Our skin produces less moisture as we age, so we may not need powder to mattify and set anymore. This could be unnecessarily applying it and again accentuating wrinkles,” she adds. They also emphasize the importance of using clean sponges and brushes, as dirty ones will "lead to breakouts."
2. Using The Wrong Shade
Not only does using the wrong foundation make you look unnatural, but it can also actually add years to your face!
Brice notes that the “wrong color” of foundation can also make someone look “older” than they are, so making sure that it matches can help as well. Dennis agrees, saying something to be careful with is choosing a foundation that doesn’t match the rest of your body, apart from your face. Dennis says that those who only match their shade to their face can look like a "floating head" because of the disconnect from the face and the body.
“The solution is to match your foundation to your neck, or if your body is drastically a different color, then match to your body and blend the foundation onto the neck,” she advises. If you don’t know where to begin, Dennis says she likes to take 3 shades—warm, cool, and neutral—and put them along the jawline. Then, blend them to see which one melts into the skin. The one that "disappears" the most, she says, is the match!