Simple Makeup Tips for Mature Skin From A Makeup Artist

Have you found that your makeup routine just isn’t working for your skin as you age? It’s easy to stick to products you’ve been using out of habit for years, but as we age our skin changes which means you might need to make some changes to the products and techniques you are using in your beauty routine. That sounds overwhelming right? But it doesn’t need to be! In this blog post, I’m going to be sharing my top simple tips for makeup on mature skin types.

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What happens to our skin as it ages?

From an aesthetic point of view, as we age a few different things can happen to our skin. Our collagen production slows down (this actually starts slowing down from your mid 20s), meaning the skin can start to look less plump. Most people will also find their skin starts to get drier as they age (although this doesn’t apply to everyone). Wrinkles will start to appear or become more prominent, which can be caused by the lack of collagen in your skin, sun exposure and just the general repetitive movements your face makes in everyday life. All of this happens at different rates for everyone, and are all affected by your genetics and lifestyle. I also want to note that none of these things are anything to be ashamed of, they are totally normal and in my opinion aging is a privilege. But what do I do about it? I hear you ask!

Prep your skin before applying makeup

Skin prep is super important before applying makeup at all ages, but it becomes more essential as we age. There is no one size fits all for prep, so it will vary from person to person BUT the main thing when prepping mature skin for makeup is hydration. If you skin is dry or dehydrated, your makeup is never going to sit as nicely - your skin might actually try to absorb all the moisture out of your makeup and make it look patchy. Start your makeup with a clean face, and apply a hydrating serum, moisturiser or primer before applying any makeup. You probably don’t need all three, but some people like layering products in their skincare and if you do that’s fine! Here are some of my favourite products I use for skin prep -

For combination-oily skin types - The Inkey List Omega Water Cream (use code LFTFVICKIJ for up to 20% off).

For normal to dry skin types - Weleda Skin Food Light

Less is more for mature makeup

Now I’m not going to sit here and tell you that you can’t look glam if you’re past a certain age, because you certainly can! However if you’re worried about making wrinkles and lines more visible, caking on heavy makeup all over your face might not be the most flattering look. You CANNOT cover wrinkles with makeup, in fact the more makeup you put on an area of the face with lines often the more noticeable those lines and wrinkles will look when the makeup starts to settle into them. Start with a thin layer of whatever product it is that you’re applying, and build it up gradually until you are happy with the finish - often you don’t need that much makeup at all to make a big impact!

Mature skin loves creamy makeup products

I’m a huge fan of cream formulas when it to comes to makeup for all ages, but it especially comes into its own on mature skin types. As mature skin types tend to be drier, the hydrating nature of a cream product works so much better with this skin type. The beauty of a cream product is that is can be buffed and worked into the skin, so it becomes one with the skin instead of sitting on top of it and they are not going to exacerbate any dry areas on the skin. Eyeshadows, blushers, bronzers and concealers are some of my favourite types of cream makeup products, but there are so many of them available on the market now - the world is your oyster!

Your face is gorgeous, don’t try to fight it!

I meet a lot of women of all ages who are self conscious about their appearance, but the 50+ category of my clients do tend to be especially hard on themselves when to comes to their faces. Yes your face might not look like it did when you were 20 (nobodies does), but that doesn’t mean you are ugly or worth any less! Instead of fighting what we’ve got, try out makeup techniques that work with your features how they are. For example, if you have hooded eyes perhaps try a soft, diffused eyeliner instead of a harsh winged liner. Or perhaps play around with your blush placement - apply it on the apples of the cheeks if you want them to look fuller, or higher on the cheek if you want a slimmer appearance.

Finding the right routine and products for you can be a challenge at any age, and it does take a lot of trial and error. If you’re finding it all a bit overwhelming and would like me to do the hard work for you, you can find out more about my 1:1 makeup lessons here. If you’re looking for a makeup artist for your wedding or event who can work with ALL skin types, you can read more about my services here.