Fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and other imperfections are par for the course as you age. While they’re certainly not anything to be embarrassed about, there may be times when you simply want to minimize their appearance and look like your best self. Fortunately, there are plenty of makeup and skincare tips and tricks that you can adapt to your own routine, ranging from eye makeup tricks for older eyes to the right moisturizing routine.
Even if you’re not part of the mature demographic, these tips and best practices can be useful if you’re working in the cosmetology or skincare industry!
Embracing Your Age: The Power of Hydrated Skin
First and foremost, never underestimate the importance of starting your makeup routine with properly hydrated skin. If skin is dry, product will not apply smoothly and you will most likely end up with a cakey or flaky appearance. Not only does having hydrated skin allow makeup to apply and set better, but it can also give mature skin a healthier glow and more youthful appearance.
Importance of Hydration for Aging Skin
Hydration is especially important for aging skin, as the body’s natural production of sebum (a natural oil) begins to dry up over time. As a result, dry skin is an especially common issue for people as they age.
Unfortunately, dry skin also tends to accentuate the appearance of those imperfections, including fine lines and wrinkles. Applying makeup alone won’t hide these problem areas because products, such as concealer and foundation, will only sink into wrinkles and make them more obvious.
Best Hydrating Products for Mature Skin
The good news? There are plenty of excellent hydrating products on the market specifically designed for mature skin. Ideally, you should be looking for a facial moisturizer that contains plumping ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which will provide much-needed moisture to the skin while improving its appearance. Vitamin C is another essential ingredient to look for that can enhance hydration and give skin that healthy-looking glow.
As part of a makeup routine, moisturizer should always be applied first. It’s crucial to apply it not just to the face, but to the neck area as well for best results.
Primer: A Must-Have in Your Makeup Bag
Starting with a great moisturizer is always a good idea, especially for those with mature skin. The next step in a great makeup routine? A primer, which is formulated to smooth out the surface of the skin and prepare it for cosmetic products (such as foundation, concealer, setting powder, and the like).
Why Primers Are Essential for Older Women
A primer is important for ensuring that makeup lasts once it is applied. Without a primer, cosmetic products may not have as much staying power and may be more prone to smearing or smudging. Meanwhile, primer also plays an important role in smoothing out the surface of the skin in preparation for makeup application. This is especially important when it comes to skincare for mature skin, as it tends to have more imperfections.
Primer is also such a versatile product for mature skin, as it can be applied on its own or even combined with a few drops of foundation for a healthy-looking glow.
Top-Rated Primers for Mature Skin
So, what should you look for when you’re shopping for a primer that’s formulated for mature skin? Some primers contain hyaluronic acid for additional skin-plumping qualities. Others are also formulated with ingredients that can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while evening out skin tone. Ultimately, the best primer for mature skin will vary from one person the next depending on their unique skin type and problem areas.
Foundation: Choosing the Right One for You
Next, it’s time to move onto one of the most important cosmetic products for mature skin: foundation. This is what you apply to cover up imperfections, even out skin tone, and give skin that beautiful complexion you desire. Shopping for foundation for mature skin can present its own unique challenges, especially when there are so many different types available. From buildable-coverage and full-coverage to matte and dewy finishes, there’s a lot to keep in mind here.
Liquid Foundations vs. Powder Foundations
One of the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for foundation for mature skin is that liquid is almost always going to be a better option than powder. Although powder foundations tend to be easier and more convenient to apply, they also tend to settle into fine lines and wrinkles, causing these imperfections to be accentuated.
A liquid foundation, on the other hand, will be more forgiving despite taking a little extra effort to apply.
Best Foundations for Aging Skin
When shopping for a foundation for aging skin, it’s also best to steer away from full-coverage products, which tend to look less natural. Instead, a foundation with buildable coverage allows for a more customized application. Meanwhile, these will also tend to be less noticeable if settling into fine lines does occur. When choosing a shade of foundation for mature skin, it’s best to go with a shade slightly warmer than the natural tone. This can prevent skin from looking washed out while also achieving the appearance of more vibrant skin.
Those who want an even more natural look may want to explore a tinted moisturizer instead of a “full” foundation. This can provide the benefits of a traditional moisturizer with a small amount of coverage (and possibly some built-in sun protection, too!).
Concealers: Your Secret Weapon Against Aging
Concealer can be a secret weapon when it comes to eye makeup tricks for older eyes. They can truly be your best friend when working to reduce the appearance of dark circles, age spots, and other unwanted blemishes. Typically, concealers are applied either immediately before or after applying foundation. However, it can take some time and experimentation to figure out what works best for you and your skin.
Understanding Different Types of Concealers
There are many different types of concealers on the market. Some are more general in nature and are meant to be applied anywhere on the face where you want to minimize the appearance of something. Others are specifically formulated for known problem areas, such as under the eyes or on uneven skin tones.
Ideally, you’ll want to have a go-to concealer for mature skin that can be used as an all-purpose concealer and one specifically for the more challenging areas underneath the eyes. Having a designated undereye concealer is especially important for mature skin because the skin underneath the eyes is more sensitive and tends to become thinner over time.
Best Concealers for Dark Circles and Wrinkles
There’s a lot to keep in mind when shopping for concealers, but it really boils down to your specific skin type and areas you are wanting to correct. Dark circles and wrinkles underneath the eyes are common issues that can be addressed with a great concealer. If this is the case, then you may want to look for an undereye concealer designed to cover dark circles and brighten the appearance of the eye area. You might be surprised at just how much more youthful and vibrant the entire face can look with just a small application of undereye concealer.
Color-correcting concealer is also a good product to have in your cosmetic bag, as it can be used to combat skin discoloration and create a more even skin tone.
The Art of Blending and Contouring
While blending and contouring techniques can get complex (and may be daunting to those who typically don’t wear a lot of makeup), there are some very basic methods available. These simple blending and contouring methods can be applied to mature skin and make a huge difference.
Techniques for Flawless Blending
Proper blending of cosmetic products is so important because it helps to create the most natural and polished look possible. For example, one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to skincare for mature skin is failing to blend foundation to the neck area. Unfortunately, this can create a very unnatural application that almost looks like a mask covering the face. With proper blending all the way to the neck area, it is possible to keep makeup looking natural and conspicuous.
Blending is also important when applying other cosmetic products to the face, including blush and eye shadow. Proper blending ensures smooth transitions and prevents harsh and visible application lines that can detract from the overall appearance.
There are many different types of blending tools available, ranging from synthetic brushes to cosmetic wedges and sponges. Ultimately, it’s all about finding the tool(s) that work best for your needs and goals.
Contouring for Mature Faces
Contouring, or the use of lighter and darker makeup shades to sculpt the face, is becoming increasingly popular for mature skin. While contouring does take a little trial and error to perfect, the right technique can really transform a person’s look. It ultimately highlights their best features and creates a more youthful appearance.
For mature skin, contouring can be used for a variety of purposes, such as enhancing the look of the eyes or even creating the appearance of higher cheekbones. One popular contouring technique to use on mature skin is to apply a darker contour to the crease of the eyes, as this can make the eyes appear larger and brighter. Darker contour can also be applied to the cheeks and even underneath the chin to reduce the appearance of sagging skin and create the illusion of more defined cheekbones.
Enhancing Your Eyes and Eyebrows
A lot of makeup for older women tend to focus primarily on the skin itself. Having said that, the reality is that accentuating your eyes and eyebrows can really take your makeup routine to the next level. Unfortunately, the eye area is the most prone to developing signs of aging over time. Not only does the skin underneath the eye area sag, but eyelashes may also lose density and eyelids may develop wrinkles.
Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks you can keep in mind to define and enhance the appearance of one of your best features.
Eye Makeup Techniques for Older Women
Rather than applying heavy eyeliner to the top and bottom eyelids, older women are encouraged to utilize a “less is more” technique by applying just a small amount of eyeliner to the upper and lower lash lines. In some cases, it may even be better to skip the black eyeliner and instead opt for a more natural-looking brown. For mature skin, applying eyeliner with a gel-based product, rather than an eyeliner pencil, is also recommended for smoother application.
To brighten the appearance of the eyes, the right eye shadow can also make all the difference. Generally, brighter and lighter colors are preferable to darker shades. These will appear more natural and will also be less noticeable if they settle into fine lines and wrinkles on the eyelids.
Brow Shaping and Filling Tips
When it comes to eye makeup, never underestimate the power of great eyebrows! Well defined eyebrows can really take your makeup routine up a notch while achieving a more youthful appearance. The key, of course, is to keep things looking natural, which can sometimes be easier said than done.
There are many types of products available for filling in eyebrows, which tend to thin out over age. A brow pencil tends to be easiest to apply, especially for those with less experience shaping brows. However, gels and sticks can also be used. When using any product to fill in and shape brows, always use lighter and thin strokes to create the most natural look possible. From there, going over brows with a spooled brush can help blend them while mimicking the look of real brow hairs.
Lip Care: More Than Just Lipstick
When it comes to skincare for mature skin, don’t forget the lips! Over time, mature skin on the lips tends to become more prone to thinning and cracking, so keeping your lips properly moisturized is so essential before you even think about applying a bold lip color.
Lip Hydration and Plumping Techniques
What should you be looking for when shopping for lip products for mature skin? Start with hydrating products that have such ingredients as Shea butter and jojoba oil, which can provide long-lasting moisture with added plumping benefits.
From there, you can also try exfoliating your lips to help them better accept color. There are lip scrubs specifically formulated for this purpose, but you can even use something as simple as a soft toothbrush to get the job done. Ideally, it’s best to exfoliate lips before applying a hydrating lip balm or similar product.
When choosing color for lips, tinted lip balms and lip crayons tend to apply more smoothly (and look more natural) than lip pencils or stains. These kinds of products will also be more forgiving if they settle into lines on the lips, which is why they are recommended for mature skin.
How Important Is Sun Protection in Makeup for Older Women?
As helpful as these makeup tips for mature skin can be, perhaps nothing is more important than simply taking care of aging skin with the right amount of sun protection. Ideally, you should be applying a moisturizer with built-in SPF as the first step in your makeup routine, as this will provide hydration benefits with added protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Some other cosmetic products (such as foundation) may also contain SPF.
At the end of the day, protecting your skin from the sun is the best way to prevent early signs of aging and sun damage. At the same time, you can achieve a sun-kissed glow by using a small amount of bronzer or even mixing in a few drops of sunless tanner into your everyday moisturizer. Your skin will thank you!
Learn More About Makeup, Cosmetology, and More
Growing older is all about learning to feel confident in your own skin and embracing those so-called “imperfections.” At the same time, being able to draw attention to your best features and improve the appearance of some of those fine lines and blemishes can help you feel like the absolute best version of yourself.
Fascinated by makeup and cosmetics? You could be as little as 12 months away from a cosmetology diploma from Florida Technical College. This program (also available in Spanish) is specifically designed to prepare students for their Florida cosmetology licenses with a solid foundation in hair, skin, and nail care. Get in touch to learn more or get started with your online application today!
These examples are intended to serve only as a general guide of possible employment opportunities. There are many factors that determine the job an individual may obtain and Florida Technical College cannot guarantee its graduates any particular job. Some positions may require license or other certifications. We encourage you to research the requirements for the particular position you desire.
Sources
https://www.ftccollege.edu/program/diploma/cosmetology-diploma-english/
https://www.ftccollege.edu/program/diploma/cosmetology-diploma-spanish/
https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/style-trends/info-2020/eye-makeup-tips.html
https://www.ipsy.com/blog/makeup-for-older-women
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/
https://drhegedosh.com/blog/anti-aging/the-importance-of-skin-hydration-to-prevent-wrinkles-aging-skin
