It’s already fairly sickening when you see actresses like Cameron Diaz or Gwenyth Paltrow effortlessly float up and down the red carpet, looking stunning, but when you realise that they’re both in their 40s, you can’t help but think; “how do they do it?” Your 40s is the first time you really start to think about anti-ageing wellness, and the best place to start is with your skin.
The skin around the eyes is the first to show signs of ageing, but fortunately make-up can help your skin look younger and fresher. You may not have your own team of beauty experts like Cameron and Gwenyth, but you can still apply make-up in a way that makes the skin and features of your face appear more youthful. Remember, it all comes down to the selection of make-up cosmetics and appropriate colours, but here are a few extra tips to set you in the right direction.
1. Pluck superfluous hair around the eyebrows before you apply make-up, and use a light, moisturising lotion. Then use a concealer for obvious age spots or blemishes.
2. Light, matte, creamy foundations should become your new best friend, as your skin becomes drier with age. There’s a bit of a skill to applying foundation which comes with trial and error. First, apply a foundation which is lighter than your normal skin colour over any dark spots or patches. Then, put your main foundation over your whole face – the colour of the main foundation should be as close to your natural skin tone as possible.
3. Don’t overdo it with the loose powder, as powder tends to settle in the lines on the skin. You’re trying to achieve a softer look, so use some cotton wool to dust off excess powder.
4. Black can be a harsh colour on older skin, so soften up your look with brown eye pencils or liners, or try applying brown shadow over black eyeliner. Lighter, softer colours are crucial in maintaining a younger look.
5. For lips, avoid very light or very dark colours, and use a lip pencil in the same shade as your lipstick to give more regularity to your lips. Use the pencil first to redefine the shape of your lips, and then use a lipstick brush to fill in the colour.
