How to do Makeup for an over-forty face

Remember why little girls start wearing makeup to begin with? It makes them look older! If we are not meticulous with our choices and application, it can do the same for us over forty. I don't know about you, but I don't want that! Women over forty tend to do one of two things when they make up their face. They give up and don't bother with make-up anymore;they walk around like a pale-faced old lady. Or, they use the same makeup techniques and products they did as a younger lady. They look over-made up, harsh, and cheap. AND OLD! Women over 40 can look fabuluous! Let's just learn to present ourselves in the best light!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Assorted cosmetic items

1. Look at yourself as you go out the door in the morning. Look in nice clear sunlight....what does your face look like? really.....You spent all that time on makeup....do you actually look older?
   Look at yourself honestly in the middle of the day. Is your face fresh and beautiful or sweaty, swarmy, smeary, and orange?
   Pull out your makeup supplies....What do you have? Have you got drawers of stuff that you used when you were much younger? Do you have the latest colors and crazes from magazines that you should have left for your 16 year old daughter?
2. Get rid of anything that glitters! Be it lotion, powder, eyeshadow, lipstick or gloss.....
3. Next, get rid of any eyecolor that Big Bird or Miss Piggy could wear. That is what a woman of a certain age looks like in bright eyeshadows. Look for brown, pink, beige,plum or just more natural hues. There are some nice muted blue-greys that might be suitable on a very light scale. Use a light hand, so that your menopausal temperature gauge won't have eyeshadow smearing all around your eye-socket like a racoon.
4. Black Eyeliner, eye-pencils, eye-brow pencils or kits, and mascara are gone. One sure way to take years off your face is to get rid of all black. Brown looks much softer and more natural. Leave the long, black spider-webby lashes to the younger girls. If you don't believe me, try it and see. As you do your eyebrow, stay away from a skinny fake line..pencil in strokes or use powder and a brush in a light brown. Aloe vera gel works well on eyebrows to keep them in place. I have used aloe era gel and a little eyeshadow for color.
   
   What about liquid liner? Cat eyes are seen everywhere again... That "sixties eye" But remember the rule on fashion or makeup either. If you remember the trend last time, you are too old to wear it again. So use liquid eyeliner sparingly and close to the lash line. Again..natural is the look we are going for.
   
   And, if you have black hair, even if you are a nautral, black-haired beauty, you probably should consider lightening up a little as you age. Jet black hair , always is accused of adding years to an over-35 face, no matter what expert you consult.
   Black hair also ages you. Even if you are a natural dark black
5. Your blushers and cheek colors may be ok. It may be the application that is the problem. The old dark line of color shaping the hollow of the cheek, formerly a classic in makeup application, is no longer considered fresh. YOu just want to warm up the apple of your cheek with a natural color. Sometimes people use bronzer in a more liberal way to highlight cheeks, forehead, etc to fake a tan. But, generally speaking, the proper blush application for anyone, especially an older person is a light touch on the apple of the cheeks. Even lighter as you get older. WE have all seen those little old ladies with white skin and bright pink rouged cheeks.
6. Speaking of white skin...what should we do about foundation as we age. This is the most personally-adaptable part of the whole formula. WE all have different kinds of skin, but the point is that our skin may have changed and we are still wearing the makeup from our teens or twenties. Assess the oily or dry character of your skin and go from there. Trial and error here, probably, to get something that is natural and stays on. Many make-up artist are using a less is more approach to older skin. Concealer and a little powder alone. This may or may not work for you. Powder helps set your makeup, especialy against sweating, but extreme care must be used in selection of a finely-milled powder that will not settle in your lines, making you look older. Also, stay away from Pinky or organey foundation shades. You may not want to exactly match your skin at this stage in life. You may need a little hue to look healthy. But heavy orangey makeup adds about 15 years to your face! Go with the very least you can get by with.
   And as far as undereye concealer, avoid the caked racoon look. Keep experimenting till you find one that is awesome. Moisturizer underneath may be the key. Moisturizer underneath all your makeup will probably give you more of a glowing application that just makeup alone. Aloe vera gel or oil of olay lotion provide a nice base without adding a heavy, often sweat-provoking, cream.
7. LIPS> Throw out the RED lipstick. Most experts will say if you are 35, no red lips. I have read ocassionally about using a lighter pinker crimson for evenings on an older face. But, most of the time, the redder hues add years. (Madonna may be the exception....and yes she is over 35!) Also, avoid sticky glosses that look silly on you. And, if you hear nothing else I say.....AVOID AVOID AVOID LIP LINER. Nothing looks worse than an older woman with a dark lip liner ring around wrinkled lips and no lipstick because it has worn off! If you MUST use a lipliner, use a natural shade after you apply your lipstick...Yes after....just go around the edges lightly. Then apply in from the line, too so that as lipstick wears off, there is not a tell-tale line. This trick does help lipstick stay on longer. Just avoid the clown look...stay within your natural lines for lipstick or liner. Concealer around your lips in a light touch and color can help lipstick stay in place and avoid feathering.
   A light gloss can be atractive...just don't go with the lacquer lips!
   PS. Drinking from straws and smoking wlil make the puckered feathering worse.

Tips & Warnings

• Look carefully at women you know are older than 35 and see their makeup.You will notice that the ones who do not look their age have an over-all natural palette on their face and hair. Tones of tan and beige are very flattering and forgiving to our complexions.
• Avoid sun exposure when you can. Use sunscreen. USE VITAMIN E OIL..this is the one product that I have seen work. THe most amazing lady I have ever seen used this religiously and her face is just ....AMAZING>