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I turned 40 this year, and while I don't feel like I've changed all that much, I can see that my skin has. Until recently, my solution was MORE makeup, because clearly I needed to COVER ALL THIS OLDNESS UP, right? Wrong!
After 40, less is more, especially when we're talking about makeup.
Start with perfect skin. Swap your foundation for a tinted moisturizer; foundation will settle into the lines in your face and draw more attention to them, but a light moisturizer won't. If you have dark circles or blemishes, use concealer to hide them; finish with a light dusting of loose powder, or pressed powder applied with a big brush. If you must wear foundation, work your way out from the center of your face, and stay clear of your eyes.
Trade powder for cream. Cream blush is best for over-40 skin; it lasts longer on slightly drier cheeks. I use Clinique's Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy Blush; I rub it on my middle finger and then apply a sheer wash to the apple of my cheeks. It lasts all day and never looks heavy or makeup-y.
Keep eye makeup to a minimum. The first place most of us wrinkle is our eyes -- I have crows feet that stretch to my hair line. And you can call them laugh lines if you like, and tell me how they came from years of joyful living, but that doesn't change the fact that I have wrinkles around my eyes. Eh, whatever. They don't really bother me all that much, but that doesn't mean I want to draw attention to them. Heavy eye makeup -- particularly anything shimmery or shiny -- will do just that. Stick with subtle colors and apply with a light hand. Want to work a smoky eye? Focus on the lash line rather than piling the shadow all over your lid.
Skip lip liner. Lips are another wrinkle-prone spot and lip liner falls right into the wrinkles. If you need to anchor your lipstick, try Sally Hansen's invisible lip liner -- keeps your lipstick in place without creating a harsh line or seeping into wrinkles. Or, even better, trade your lipstick in for a moisturizing gloss.
Take good care of your skin. Wear sunscreen every day, and visit the dermatologist; even if you're not interested in any of the extreme treatments for older skin, like Botox, there are topical treatments that will help your skin renew itself faster and keep the lines at bay. I'm using a Retin A cream, in combination with a topical antibiotic, and my skin looks better than it ever has.
Finally, don't be afraid to look your age -- there's nothing wrong with being 40 (or 50 or 60 or ...). When you try too hard to look younger, you only wind up looking -- and feeling -- older.
Speaking of looking your age, Metalia has excellent advice about how to -- and how NOT to -- wear glitter.And Poppy has tips for making holiday-inspired makeup palettes work.
Finally, BlogHer member AnitaJ is looking for Michelle Obama's earrings. Can anyone help?
