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The search for a fountain of youth is a tale as old as time.
Many of us turn to makeup to cover up signs of aging. Unfortunately, the result can sometimes be the opposite of youthfulness. Foundation sinks into crease lines, powder highlights unwanted skin texture, and a smokey eyeshadow seems to drown out the eyes completely!
Whether you have mature skin or want a handful of makeup tips that can turn back the clock a few years, here are some of my most powerful makeup tricks to look younger.
Tip #1 – Skincare is Makeup
To really make the most of these makeup tricks to look younger, the health and beauty of your face have to be treated from within, at a cellular level.
Skincare is no longer an optional step to your makeup routine but a primary one. The benefits of a thorough and customized skincare routine are:
- Hydrate and heal dry skin
- Plumps and fills fine lines
- Corrects texture and hyperpigmentation
- Creates a smooth surface for makeup application
- Keeps skin healthy
- Creates a youthful glow from within
See Our Customized Anti-Aging Routines for Various Skin Types.
Not sure where to begin with your skincare routine? Start with a few basics:
Serum
Serums are often the most high-tech product in a skincare routine. It’s a highly concentrated formula that is packed with nutrients and skin-food for deep hydration. It’s often the first thing applied to a freshly washed face and can have the greatest impact on youthifying skin over time.
See our favorite serums.
Eye Cream
The skin around your eyes is delicate and more sensitive than the rest of your face. Yet, it’s responsible for supporting the most amount of makeup including liner, mascara, shadow, primer, concealer, and powder. A lightweight eye cream is an easy way to support all this heavy lifting while also smoothing crow’s feet.
Have a look at our favorite eye creams.
SPF
Sunspots, wrinkles, and dry patches are often the result of too much UV exposure. Beyond the known dangers of not protecting your skin, a lack of SPF on your face will speed up signs of aging.
We have a list of awesome tinted moisturizers – many of which contain sun protection.
Moisturizer
At the very least, use a high-quality moisturizer to lock water into your skin. Makeup is bound to dehydrate the face highlighting wrinkles and creases. With moisturizer, your skin can handle makeup better and leaves a smooth finish.
See our favorite moisturizers.
Tip #2 – Less is More
Now that your skin is prep, primed, and protected, let’s start with the most valuable makeup trick to look younger- Less Is More.
In an attempt to cover discoloration, wrinkles, or dry patches, you may actually be enhancing their appearance. When in doubt, never add another layer.
Tip #3 – Matte Vs. Dewy
Lipstick, eyeshadows, foundations and makeup setting spray all include a type a finish that falls somewhere between matte and dewy. Sometimes a matte finish can appear very chic and runway-esque. But as a makeup trick to look younger, a dewy or natural finish is your best bet.
Products that claim to have a matte finish are more likely to settle into fine lines making you look older. Powder has the same effect.
To maintain a natural or dewy finish ditch powder entirely. If your skin is oily-prone dust finishing powder at the very end but keep a light hand. Use a small, dense brush (similar to an eyeshadow packing brush) to sweep powder onto targetted oily areas instead of the entire face.
Face Makeup Tricks to Look Younger
Since the overall theme with using your makeup to create a younger appearance is that less is more, that rule will first be applied to face makeup. Face makeup refers to anything that is not applied to your eyes, lips, or brows–so foundation, concealer, blush, bronzer, and setting powder.
Following your skin care routine and lining up your dewy-finish products, you’ll want to spot conceal. This can be done with a lightweight, dewy finish foundation or concealer.
Never apply a product directly from the container onto your face. Instead, pump or swipe it onto the back of your hand or makeup tray. This allows for better control over how much and where the product is being applied.
Use a foundation brush, sponge, or your finger to dip into the liquid foundation/concealer and in a gentle circular motion, cover any targeted hyperpigmentation or blemishes. This is called spot concealing.
With spot concealing, you won’t have to add layers upon layers to cover problem areas with foundation. Only certain areas will have additional coverage instead of the entire face.
Tip #4 – Opt For Stick or Liquid Face Products
To keep the skin looking bright and hydrated, go for a stick blush and bronzer. Just like with the foundation and concealer, apply the product to the back of your hand then tap onto face in gentle, circular motions.
If you find you’ve applied too much blush or bronzer, take an unused sponge, brush, or finger and just blend it out. The applicator will soften the pigment as well as pick up some of the product off your skin.
See a list of our favorite cream blushes.
Youthful Eye Makeup
Younger looking eyes are usually synonymous with looking wide, open, awake, and refreshed. There are a few easy tips for creating youthful eyes.
- Using a brightening concealer or a light shimmer shade eyeshadow, highlight the inner corners of eyes near tear ducts.
- Instead of relying on dark eyeliners and dark shadow to shape your eyes, build up your lashes and define brows. Opt for a light-colored brown pencil and dark mascara for balanced shaping and definition.
- Use nude, earth-toned eyeshadow shades. To really make your eye color pop go for something opposite of your natural color. For blue eyes use brown, copper, or terracotta and for brown or green eyes use purples and blues. Apply a thin coat to lids only.
See our favorite eyeshadow palettes.
Make Your Lips Look Younger
As skin ages, it loses its ability to store fat and collagen. This often results in deflated, thin lips.
Here’s how to make your lips look 10 years younger!
- Prep and moisturize your lips by using a hydrating balm or chapstick that contains SPF.
- Exfoliate lips to remove dead skin cells and create a smooth surface before applying makeup. Learn how to make your own lip scrub.
- Avoid dark and nude shades.
- Natural pinks and berry shades will make the lips look vibrant and healthy.
- Overline lips but only slightly using a shade that matches the lipstick.
- Use plumping gloss.
- Avoid Matte liquid lipstick.
Makeup is for all ages and you’re always going to look as young as you feel. Even if your lips have thinned or your eyes have a few extra years behind them, you’re beautiful!
Enjoy playing with these makeup tricks to look younger but remember, it’s what’s inside that always shines through!
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