1. Hydrating Primer
A primer does for your skin what lingerie does for your figure – it smoothens, conceals, flatters, and holds things in place, so that everything you put on top of it looks even better. Whether you want to blur out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or minimize the appearance of pores or even out your skin tone, all you need is a good primer. Mature skin needs extra moisture and hydration to achieve a healthy-looking complexion. Expert Tip Make sure you prep your face before applying any makeup using either a hydrating primer or a balm – anything that soothes your skin. By doing so, you’ll have to use less makeup, and it’ll also blend far more seamlessly on well-hydrated skin. What We Recommend
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Korres Anti-Aging Primer Olay Anti-Wrinkle Firm and Lift 2-in-1 Moisturizer and Anti-Aging Primer
2. Foundation
It’s essential to use the right foundation as we age – it can take years off your face. Never settle for a foundation that settles into your wrinkles and fine lines. When it comes to mature skin, a foundation formula that is suitable for dry complexions and leaves skin even and supple without emphasizing fine lines is your holy grail. Learn to love a good luminous foundation for a lifting effect. If you’re worried about shine, simply powder your T-zone. Also, did you know that skin grows more pallid as you age? You can add life back into your skin with a slightly warmer tone of foundation (or mix an exact-match shade with the next darkest shade.) Expert Tip Blending is key – it’s the main secret to a flawless-looking base because there are no harsh lines that you’re left with. Also, less is more, and we can’t stress upon this one enough. Use a soft blender brush or a blender sponge to blend the product well into your skin. What We Recommend
La Mer The Treatment Creme Foundation Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Aging Perfector Estee Lauder Perfectionist Youth-Infusing Serum Makeup SPF 25 Real Technique or Pro art Blender Brushes or Huda Beauty Blender sponges
3. Concealer
The perfect concealer can have you looking like you had a full 8 hours of quality sleep. What you need to cover those dark circles, spots and blemishes is a creaseless concealer that lasts all day long. Since skin is much drier around the eyes in your 40s, it’s best to choose a concealer with a more liquidy consistency than a heavier stick or even a waterproof formula (these tend to settle and dehydrate your skin.) Expert Tip To keep your concealer from grabbing attention to wrinkles or crow’s feet, apply it only on the inner halves of your under-eye area to cover up the darkness. What We Recommend
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer + Treatment
4. Blush
Blush is essential for your beauty routine. Want to know why? It instantly adds a radiant, healthy glow in one quick sweep. When it comes to wearing blush – ditch anything that’s too frosty. Peachy/pink shades are perfect for all skin tones and can be worn day or night. Even if you like to keep your makeup routine to a minimal, skipping blush will wash you out and make you look older. On the other hand, a gentle sweep will add a warm, healthy glow and make a huge difference. Expert Tip A common mistake lot of us make is applying blush too low on the cheeks. Begin applying the product at the height of the apple of your cheek and blend it upwards and back to define and lift your features. Add some highlighter to your cheekbones and the tip of your nose for some definition. What We Recommend
Nars Orgasm Blush NYX Rouge Cream Blush Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks
5. Eyebrow Kit
As we age, our eyebrows tend to get sparse and lose their shape. It’s a fact that fuller, shaped brows give your face a more youthful look while giving it structure. Also, to make your eyes really stand out, you need to pay attention to those brows. A good eyebrow pomade or a pencil is the best thing to fill in gaps and make your sparse eyebrows appear fuller. Expert Tip First of all, put your tweezers away and invest in an eyebrow growth serum. Fill in your eyebrows with gentle hair-like strokes to fake naturally dense and balanced brows. Be careful to not overdo it with your eyebrow product and end up with cartoonish brows. What We Recommend
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil A.C Great Brows All-in-One Brow Kit Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper
6. Eyeliner, Eyeshadow, And Mascara
The right eye makeup techniques can make you look younger and take off years from your face. If you always look tired no matter how much sleep you get, use a double-duty concealer – choose a shade with yellow undertones to conceal dark circles and highlight the area. When it comes to eyeshadow hues, go for warm, matte tones – mocha bases and peachy oranges will create the illusion of being well-rested. A good gel eyeliner, with a line that’s drawn as close to your lashes as possible, helps create the illusion of a thicker, darker lash line. Finally, curling your lashes and applying mascara will create definition and add depth to your eyes. Expert Tip Stay away from shimmery eyeshadows and cool-toned browns and greys as these hues will make your eyes look tired. What We Recommend
Viseart Eyeshadow Palette 01: Neutral Matte Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner Jane Iredale Purelash Lengthening Mascara
7. Lipstick
Lipstick is the best way to finish off just about any look. One swipe of color can add so much life to your face and make you look polished. As we age, we tend to get lines around the mouth area, and you need to adopt a different lipstick application technique. Here’s how you can apply lipstick with perfection in your 40s: Expert Tip Don’t be afraid to try bold colors. Just because you’ve entered your 40s doesn’t mean you will need to stick to neutral shades. There’s a shade for everyone, and it all depends on your personal preferences. What We Recommend
Bobbi Brown Lip Color Lipstick Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick Clinique Long Last Lipstick
Tutorial: The Natural, Everyday Look
Now that you know what products you’ll need and how you can make the most of them, here’s a simple tutorial for an everyday look that you can pull off to enhance your best features.
1. Prep Your Skin
Moisturize your skin well with a hydrating, lightweight moisturizer. The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel is a wonderful option for a hydrating, non-greasy product. Add SPF to your routine for healthy skin and prime your face.
2. Apply Foundation
Use a brush or a beauty blender to apply your foundation formula. Blend it well until you don’t see any harsh lines or streaks for a flawless finish.
3. Time To Conceal
Use a luminizing concealer to cover dark circles. Focus on the inner corners since there’s more darkness in this area. Gently blend it with a blending sponge in the same motion you apply your eye cream – from the outer corner, working inward.
4. Do Your Eyeshadow
Choose a neutral eyeshadow palette and apply the hues using a flat eyeshadow brush. Pull the color towards the outer corner of the eye to lift it. Also, add a transition color to the crease line to give more definition to your eyes.
5. Add Some Color
Use a peachy or pink-toned cream blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend it out well for a soft, dewy effect.
6. Apply Lip Gloss
Apply a soft, sheer lip gloss to finish the look.
Should women over 40 wear liquid or powder foundation? It depends on the skin type. If you have oily skin, opt for powder foundation. You can also use a non-oil-based liquid foundation. For dry skin, use a hydrating powder, stick, or liquid foundation. Combination skin types can try a mix of both. Should you wear less makeup as you get older? As you age, you need to be careful with how you apply makeup. Instead of piling on product after product, only use the essentials. Opt for sheer formulations and pick products that are light on your skin. Use colors that bring warmth and color to your skin tone.
