Most Useable Makeup Tricks That Always Work

 When it comes to the Insta-trend world of make-up, there’s safety and comfort in knowing what really works – and what’s just hype, media, and marketing. As a beauty editor who has spent decades on photo shoots with top make-up artists and A-list celebrities, I’ve learned the top 10 tried-and-tested tips for women over 50. Despite new brands, formulas, and technologies, you can rely on these insider secrets for your DIY routine.

Freshness

Successful make-up must be applied immediately after washing, exfoliating, and moisturizing the face. The combination of warm water, facial massage, and a cream, oil, or serum of your choice get things going by plumping up wrinkles, cushioning away flaky skin, and hydrating dry or post-menopausal skin. This means there are absolutely no gaps between cleansing, moisturizing and make-up application. To be clear, you cannot wash your face, eat, check your messages, shop online or make a phone call and then pick up where you left off.

Do Eye Make-Up Before Face Make-Up

This is the smart order without the mess. You no longer have to worry about powder shadow falling on your cheeks or liner smudging under your eyes, causing foundation, blush, or concealer to become ‘dirty’ and need to be reapplied. Prepping your eyelids with a foundation or cream eye shadow first will keep your eye make-up fresh and make it easier to apply evenly.

Brown Or Black Gel Pencil That Emphasises The Eyes

More pigmented than typical eyeliner pencils, less messy than gel with brushes, and more flattering than sharp liquids or highlighters, these waterproof liners add firmness and definition to the eyes. Prop your elbow on a table to have a steady hand. Look in the mirror, lift your chin and outline the base of the upper lid in small back and forth movements. Start at the very outside of the eye and work your way towards the tear duct, finishing three-quarters of the way in. Get as close to the base of the lashes as possible to fill in gaps thoroughly. Dense pigmentation (not line thickness) provides a strong edge. Reinforce the shape of the eye by “tightening” the waterline under the upper lashes. Press lightly on the brow bone to expose the underside of the lash line and draw the line. For more drama (especially with deep-set or hooded eyes), you can draw the waterline on the lower lid instead.

Invest In A Curling Iron, But Save On Black Mascara

A high-quality eyelash curler – e.g. from Kevyn Aucoin, Shiseido, or Bobbi Brown – will not pinch, curl or break thin, dry lashes and can last for years. It all depends on the shape, the joint, and the padding. Position the open lash curler close to the base of the lashes, close slowly, and hold for 30 seconds. Use simple, inexpensive mascara in black from the drugstore like the pros – you don’t need to spend more as you renew it every three months. Slowly roll the mascara wand in a zigzag motion from the base of the lashes to the tips, so that the highest concentration of product is at the base of the lashes, where it thickens them.

Use Neutral Eye Shadows To Accentuate The Eyes

Natural shades – warm tones for dark eyes, cool tones for light eyes – always go. There’s no need to do the whole contour thing. But a bright, shimmery eyeshadow can brighten tired eyes, a medium shade in the crease and just above can even out a fleshy overhang and make eyes look bigger, and the darkest browns and charcoals work as a smoky topcoat for your gel eyeliner to soften the look or conceal squiggles.

Do Your Brows

Make the effort to fill them in, lengthen and groom them (even if you wear fringes or glasses), because brows are the key to your facial expression. Keep it natural. Use an eyebrow pencil and draw it in short, feathery strokes in the direction of the hair growth. Then, if necessary, fill in sparse areas with powder that adheres to the base of the pencil. Use a spiral brush or a clean old mascara pencil to blend.

Value Shine And Brightness, Not Opacity

Face make-up gives the skin new radiance and a healthy look. Choose a shade warmer or more golden as the perfect color to combat sallow, pasty, or ashy skin and neutralize redness or rosacea. Next, choose a foundation with the word ‘luminous’ in the product name to ensure light-reflecting technology that gives your complexion a glowing glow – as if you’ve swallowed a light bulb. Finally, opt for a dewy and sheer but highly pigmented foundation for adults so you don’t have to apply any more make-up. Good-looking skin is your greatest beauty feature. And all those matte, powdery, highly pigmented, full coverage, or long-wearing face products? Forget about them forever.

Use Make-Up Brushes

Mature skin is textured with expression lines, tiny eye wrinkles, and brown, red, or blue discoloration – and that’s all fine. Even celebrities have them – what do you think Photoshop is for? Heavy coverage doesn’t fool anyone; in real life, it just looks fake and faked. Silky synthetic brushes ensure that make-up looks skin-tight and authentic. A foundation brush prevents make-up from settling in crevices and corners. Start in the center of your face and apply foundation outwards, blending towards the jawline and hairline. Make circular motions and sweep over the nostrils, under the nose, around the lips, and in the creases between the nose and mouth where excess make-up tends to settle. Use a smaller concealer brush to apply camouflage under the eyes, in the inner corner of the eye next to the nose, and on certain brown spots, broken capillaries, or blemishes that bother you.

Blend Light Cream Blush High On Cheekbones

It gives life and energy to your face, blending with your skin for a natural look. It draws attention to the eyes and distracts from anything that might interfere with a fabulous look. Choose a bold and clear shade of pink, rose, apricot, or red depending on your skin tone. What looks amazing at first will fade as you blend and blend seamlessly with your skin. Leave out the powder blush.

Change Your Lipliner And Lipstick

Match the lip liner to your natural lip tone. Sketch the edges, but correct a faded, asymmetrical, or thin upper lip line by rounding the curve slightly rather than drawing two new points. Then fill in the entire mouth using the liner as a base to prevent the lipstick from migrating into the lines. Choose a creamy lipstick – not a gloss. If you prefer nude shades, skip pale shades and choose one that matches your lip color and liner. Dare to try a new shade like peachy pink, rose, or red to accentuate your whitened teeth and bright smile.