Some beauty tips are ageless. Whether you're 19 or 90, you should heed the wise advice to always wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, never smoke and exercise regularly if you want to keep your skin looking its best.
Not all beauty tips are so long-lasting, though. Just as your face and body change with age, acquiring wrinkles and age spots, so too should your cosmetics routine. The products you revered in your 20s or 30s may not work anymore—after all, how many things from your 20s still work? Let's dig into some makeup and beauty tips that will help you put your best face forward.
5: Cover dark circles
Dark circles under your eyes used to be a sign of an all-nighter studying or a late night party, but as you age, it can seem like these marks of exhaustion never go away, even when you're well-rested. During the aging process, the already thin skin under your eyes becomes even thinner, exposing the blood vessels beneath and leading to dark circles.
The answer isn't to simply apply too much concealer; if you apply too much makeup in this area, it will look cakey. Instead, use a light foundation (lighter than the tone of the rest of your face) or foundation on the dark areas under your eyes. Use powder to blend and set it.
Aging causes water retention in the under-eye area, much like sleep deprivation and allergies did in your youth. To prevent dark circles from becoming more prominent with puffy eyes, get plenty of sleep and invest in a firming eye cream at night.
We're not done with these windows to the soul yet.
4: Define eyelashes and eyebrows
People often say that the first thing you notice about another person is their eyes. There are several cosmetic changes you can make as you age that will help you make your first impression always the best one. When it comes to lashes and eyebrows, you may need to do more with less, as both lashes and eyebrows become thinner with age. Brows should be kept well-defined, because with less hair, stray hairs become easier to see. Next, use a pencil to further define them and fill in any gaps. As for lashes, a good volumizing mascara will fill them in and draw attention to the eye.
You may be used to using eyeshadow and eyeliner to draw attention to your eyes, but mascara will prove to be a more useful tool as you age. Although all skin becomes sagging and wrinkled with age, this phenomenon is particularly noticeable on the eyelids because the skin is already so thin. These wrinkled eyelids make it difficult for older women to use shimmers or metallic shades on their eyes, as these products can draw attention to wrinkles. Similarly, it's best to find an alternative to liquid eyeliner, which also has a tendency to collect wrinkles on the eyes.
3: Take care of fine hair and find a hairstyle appropriate for your age
Men are often considered more attractive as their hair turns gray, but finding those first grays can send a woman running for hair dye. The key to coloring aging hair is to stick to an age-appropriate shade, because research has shown that people can accurately guess age regardless of hair color. That means, instead of going for an all-over blonde that looks artificial (a common mistake older women make), look for ways to provide subtle, flattering contrast. For example, dark caramel-colored highlights would be appropriate for aging blondes, while lighter highlights can help raven-haired beauties age gracefully.
Hair dye can be a contentious topic among women, so even though you're happy to embrace your natural grays, that doesn't mean you're worry-free when it comes to hair care. All women face the threat of their hair becoming duller, thinner, and prone to breakage over time. To counteract hair loss, try a volumizing shampoo and avoid hairstyles that strain your hair, including overly tight ponytails and chemical treatments. Your hair is also a barometer of what's going on in your body, so a healthy diet combined with your favorite soothers can do wonders for your mane. If you're losing a lot of hair, you should see a doctor. Some conditions, such as female pattern hair loss or alopecia, have genetic and hormonal causes.
As for the cut, aging is no reason to immediately cut off all your hair. The shape of your face can give you a clue as to what length is best for you; for example, round faces lend themselves to shorter cuts. The volume of your locks will also help define your hairstyle, as lots of layers won't work with very fine hair.
2: Use less foundation
If you're concerned about fine lines and wrinkles on your face, you might be tempted to apply a lot of foundation and concealer. However, this has the unfortunate effect of highlighting precisely those features. All that excess makeup collects in the creases and draws the eye to the spot you're trying to conceal.
To avoid the equivalent of drawing an arrow straight at your wrinkles, take a less-is-more approach. Moisturizer is always a must because it evens out skin tone, but afterward, channel your inner Caravaggio: Like the chiaroscuro art movement, it's time to assess the light and dark spots on your face. Instead of just applying foundation all over your face, use concealer first to eliminate shadows and harsh lines and hide brown spots. Afterward, you can set the look with translucent powder all over your face.
1: Lighten those thin lips
In a survey conducted by cosmetics company Ultima II, women over 45 revealed that lipstick was the one beauty product they couldn’t leave the house without. However, makeup experts are divided in their opinions on the best way to apply this product. The central issue is the fact that a person’s lips become thinner over time. Some professionals think that lip liner should always be applied before lipstick, to give them a little more definition. Others consider lip liner to be unnecessary, arguing that such a product will only create a very harsh line that won’t do your increasingly thinning lips any favors.
Whether you decide lip liner is essential or not, you need to reevaluate the type of products you apply to your lips. Lip glosses will tend to fade now that lips are thinner, and even if you've loved dark shades your whole life, it may be time to lighten them up. Those darker palettes will only look harsher with age; going a few shades lighter will make a big difference.
