This post has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
Whether you’re nailing an anti-aging contour trick or pulling off the perfect lipstick color for your skin tone, there are so many ways utilizing makeup can transform your appearance and make you feel more confident—when used correctly, it can even take years off of your face!
However, just as the right products can make you look younger than ever, the wrong products could age you instantly. And if you want to avoid drawing attention to signs of aging, professional makeup artists say there are two types of makeup in particular you should avoid: anything shimmery, and under-eye concealers with lightening or highlighting effects.
To learn more about exactly why shimmery makeup should be avoided by women over 40 who want to look younger, we checked in with experts Sébastien Tardif, celebrity makeup artist from Veil Cosmetics and Vivi Mintara, makeup artist and founder of Eye Makeup Lab. They told us why you should steer clear of these products, and even provided some great alternatives.
Two Types Of Eye Makeup Products To Avoid To Look Younger:
1. Shimmery Products
While wearing shimmery or sparkly products may make you feel like you're returning to your youth, the unfortunate truth is that it can have the opposite effect on your appearance and instantly age you. This is because shimmer can attract light and draw attention to signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines.
"When a shimmer lands in the lines on your face, it can actually distort the wrinkles and make them appear much longer and deeper than they actually are, simply because of the way the light will catch on the shimmer," Mintara explains. Yikes! If you're trying to look younger, emphasizing your wrinkles is definitely the last thing you want your makeup to do—no matter how fun glitter can be.
"Shimmery makeup draws attention to fine lines and wrinkles, because it attracts light to those areas and this creates more emphasis on the areas of concern," Tardif agrees.
However, he adds that it isn't only wrinkles that these lustrous products can emphasize. You should also avoid shimmer if you struggle with any sort of acne: "The same applies to skin texture like acne or blemishes or any bumps on the skin," he says, summing it all up with the fact that "shimmer simply emphasizes all of that texture." We suppose we'll just have to leave the glittery eyeshadow and highlighter on the shelf, then.
2. Lightening Or Highlighting Concealer
If you're aiming to cover up dark spots or under-eye circles, Mintara stresses avoiding super light concealers as they can inadvertently draw attention to wrinkles— and not even provide enough coverage as it is.
"If you are putting concealer on dark spots and areas you want to cover up, you should avoid using concealers that have lightening or highlighting effects," she says.
This, she adds, is because these types of products are "designed to draw attention to specific areas of your face, which you may not want if you have dark spots."
If you find that your concealer isn’t "fully altering the appearance of dark spots," and especially those under your eyes, Mintara says you can use color correction underneath the concealer, and then "build your skin-tone-colored concealer" on top of this. "Yellow and orange color correctors are best for dark spots," she suggests.
Additionally, Mintara notes that applying too much concealer or coats that are too thick can emphasize wrinkles. "When it comes to applying the concealer, start with a thin layer. If this doesn’t fully cover the dark spots, then apply another layer, and keep building the color up," she recommends.
"Don’t immediately put a very thick layer of concealer on your face, because you may not need as much as you think, and also this will cause the makeup to ‘crack’ after a few hours," she points out.
Pro Tip: Try A Serum For An Alternative Glow
If you love a good, glowy look, don't fret! Giving up shimmery products doesn't mean you have to dull your shine at all. There are plenty of ways to find the luster you want without risking looking older.
For one great option, Mintara suggests applying a dewy face serum in place of your shimmer. "It will boost the appearance of glowing skin without highlighting any wrinkles," she explains. Perfect!
Not only will adding the right serum to your skincare routine allow you to avoid drawing attention to your fine lines, but it may also offer anti-aging benefits of its own and help to fade them. "Many dewy serums reduce the noticeability of aging skin," Mintara concludes. Sign us up!
