The makeup I used only a few years ago in my late 30’s is already not working for my mid 40’s skin. I have had to completely rethink my makeup routine and find products that address my changing skin. Even the traditional makeup techniques and application tips that I have used for so many years can emphasize texture, dryness and fine lines. I’ve had to switch up my application process and the products that I use in order to work with my now perimenopausal skin. If you are feeling stuck with your makeup routine and nothing seems to be looking the same, here is a guide on how to choose the right products and tips for how to apply them on mature skin.
Read these blog posts for more mature skin recommendations:
Best Drugstore Makeup For Mature Skin
A Beauty Brand Designed For Women Over 40
6 Best Makeup Tips For Mature Skin
Mature skin has unique and different needs compared to more youthful skin. The skin changes so much as we age especially as it relates to hydration, elasticity, texture and pigmentation. Implementing incorrect techniques or makeup formulas not suited for mature skin can definitely make the skin look older. Understanding which products and techniques are better suited for mature skin will help your makeup look better by brightening the complexion, softening fine lines and creating a natural lifted look.
Does Your Skin Change As You Age?
Everyone’s skin does change as they age but it happens gradually rather than all at once. Because of this, we may not even realize the makeup we used years ago no longer suits our current skin. It’s important to have your makeup (and skincare) routine evolve over time to suit your changing skin.
How Does Aging Affect the Skin?
Decreased collagen and elastin leading to sagging and fine lines
A loss of volume in the face as we age is completely normal especially in the cheek and eye area. Using the correct products along with proper placement can really help you keep your makeup looking fresh without highlighting these changes.
Slower cell turnover causing dullness
A reduction in cellular turnover is one of the main reasons that it’s recommended to add a retinol into your skincare routine. This helps to speed up cellular turnover and bright back that healthy glow that younger skin naturally has. Other than retinol, using certain luminous and glow-enhancing makeup products can help to counteract that dullness almost immediately.
Reduced oil production resulting in dryness and flakiness
This isn’t the case for everyone, but oil production does usually go down as we age so the skin naturally becomes drier and sometimes flaky. There are tons of great makeup formulas that help keep the skin looking radiant, while certain techniques can minimize additional flakiness on the skin.
Increased uneven tone, dark spots and redness
If you don’t notice any dark spots or uneven skin tone as a child, it doesn’t mean it won’t show up when you are an adult. That is why it’s so important to wear sunscreen as early in life as possible because prolonged sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer as well as age spots, dark spots, etc. Most sun damage can begin to appear when you hit middle age but with a combination of great skincare and the right complexion products, you can help to minimize its appearance on the skin.
Normal Skin Changes With Aging
- Creasing around the eyes and lips
- Makeup settling into expression lines
- Increased dryness around cheeks and under eyes
- Loss of natural glow
How To Apply Makeup on Mature Skin
Always start with hydrated skin using moisturizer and/or primer
Well prepped skin is the key to having your makeup look great as you age.
Apply foundation sparingly and build coverage only where needed
Start light and build up as needed when applying concealer or foundation. Less is more on mature skin.
Use damp sponges instead of dense brushes to prevent texture emphasis
The added moisture of a damp sponge will help to sheer out any complexion products as you apply them.
Press products into the skin rather than dragging
Because mature skin is more textured, a dragging or pulling motion on the skin will not easily glide therefore increasing the chance that your makeup will look patchy. Be sure to use buffing or dabbing motions with your sponges and/or brushes.
Set makeup strategically instead of powdering the entire face
If you want to set your makeup with powder, only dust it on the parts of your face that get the most shiny. This is the best setting powder for mature skin that I’ve tried.
Emphasize light layers, skin-like finishes and precision application
Use less products and try to find formulas that have a skin-like finish. Apply them only where you need rather than blending all over. Spot treat any dark spots/age spots/liver spots/etc, noticeable blood vessels, redness or any area that is uneven.
What Is the Best Makeup For Mature Skin?
Lightweight, hydrating foundations/skin tints with satin or radiant finishes
Less is more when it comes to foundations on mature skin. Look for tinted sunscreens, skin tints or complexion products with skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. Satin, dewy or more radiant finishes are also best on mature skin because they give a glow and help to counteract any dullness.
Here are 5 of my favorite complexion products for mature skin: Trinny London BFF De-Stress Serum, Colorscience Face Shield Flex SPF 50, L’oreal True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum, Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation and Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42
Cream blushes and bronzers instead of powders
Powder cheek products can emphasize texture and end up making the skin look drier. Opt for cream blushes and bronzers as they blend easier and the added moisture will look more natural on mature skin.
These are the cream/liquid blushes I recommend for mature skin: Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush, Rhode Pocket Blush, Armani Cheek Tint and Pixi On-the-Glow Tinted Moisture Stick
And here are the cream/liquid bronzers I recommend for mature skin: Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer, Makeup by Mario Bronzing Serum, Westman Atelier Bronzing Drops and Sarah Creal Cream Bronzer
Cream or liquid eyeshadows with subtle sheen
As soon as I hit my mid 40’s, all my powder eyeshadows didn’t look as nice anymore as they did 10 years ago. I slowly began to switch to cream or liquid formulas since they look so much better on the lids. While a matte finish is fine, I prefer a soft satin finish with a subtle sheen on mature eyes.
Here are the cream/liquid eyeshadows I love for mature skin: Jones Road Just a Sec Eyeshadows, Armani Eye Tints, L’oreal Le Shadow Sticks and Trinny London Eye2Eye shadows
Soft, creamy pencils for the eyes
I rarely if ever wear eye liner anymore because I find it looks too harsh as I get older, but if you do still prefer to wear liner – it’s best to go with an easy to blend formula. Try to gently smudge it along the lashes rather than drawing a harsh line.
Here are some top selling eye liners with great reviews for mature skin: Sarah Creal Longwear Eyeliner and Hung Vanngo Longwear Gel Eyeliner
Hydrating concealers with flexible formulas
Concealer is going to crease no matter what formula you buy. Our eyes have lines and product will move regardless of all the precautions taken. Worry less about this and more about finding a formula that looks smooth and won’t dry out throughout the day. Once again, less is more and try to prep the eye area very well with intensely hydrating eye serums.
Here are my personal favorite concealers for mature skin: Natasha Denona HyGlam Concealer, RMS Beauty Revitalize Hydra Concealer (discount code: Maree-15), MAKE Beauty Skin Mimetic Concealer and Sarah Creal Face Flex Concealer
Nourishing lip colors and creamy lip liners
I NEVER used lip liner when I was younger but it’s become a necessity now because my lip line is slowing fading away. LOL But the key is to find something creamy and then smudge it out lightly with your finger or a brush. Don’t leave a harsh line drawn around the lips. When it comes to lip colors, be sure you add a bit of moisture to your daily lip look either with a lip oil or hydrating lip gloss.
These are the lip liners I LOVE for mature lips: Rhode Peptide Lip Shapes, Westman Atelier Lip Shape Lip Pencil and Ilia Beauty Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon
Here are my personal favorite lip products for mature skin: Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lip Gloss, Hourglass Volumizing Glossy Balm, Sarah Creal Peptide Lip Gloss and Saie Glossybounce Lip Oil
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