Makeup that doesn’t make you look old

Yesterday I saw a dear sweet friend of mine that I hadn’t seen for years. She still looked the same….frozen in time actually. Though she does have a few more wrinkles today at the age of forty-seven than she did when I saw her last at the age of 40, the difference is minimal and she looks way younger than her years. Interestingly she was with another friend who at the age of thirty-seven looked way beyond her years. Truthfully it was not a chronological thing or an issue of genetics, the thirty-seven year old friend looked way older because of the way she was put together. Though stunningly pretty her friend seemed to be stuck in the same makeup routine that she had adopted in her days of clubbing all night. Dark red lips, shimmery eye shadow and thick dark liner graced her delicate features and made her look like a tired Michael Jackson backup dancer. It would have been fine for the stage but definitely not up close. So if you too are clinging to the same routine that your sported in your twenties it may be time to freshen up and shave off a few years in the process.

After thirty-five your makeup picks should be more about sheer textured formulas and applying them correctly. Foundations, concealers and tinted moisturizers should be creamy and lightweight, which by the way doesn’t mean that there is added oil but rather added moisture. Try Alison Raffaele’s Reality Base it’s oil free but loaded with anti-oxidants and gives a fresh looking medium coverage without parabens or icky stuff. alisonraffaele.com

Follow with a concealer under the eyes and on any blemishes or sun damaged areas. Be sure to blend carefully for a smooth finish. I adore Cle de Peau Beaute’ concealer it creamy and blendable and doesn’t get caught in fine lines. Neiman Marcus

Next, I am a true believer in cream blush, it imparts a fresh dewy glow to the skin and lasts all day long. If you really, really heart your powder blush you can apply a sheer layer after powder over your cream for extra oompf. Stila Convertible Color in Lillium or Peony look natural without being too bright. stilacosmetics.com

Set makeup with just a hint of powder to keep it lasting all day but skip powdering throughout the day which tends to look dry, pop some blotting tissues in your bag to keep the shines at bay.

For eyes skip any bright or glittery shadows (a hint of pearlized color is good but glitter is bad) and stick to soft neutrals and muted shades like browns, plums, peachy tones. And for eyeliner avoid harsh lines by blending with a soft tipped brush for a more sultry look. Dior makes incredible long wearing palettes for just about every complexion. Dillards

As for lips, toss away those dark matte colors that only add years to your look, instead switch to lighter shades with pink or peach tones for daytime and don’t forget to top it off with a bit of gloss in the center to give the illusion of a fuller pout. Becca makes gorgeous shades that moisturize the lips. Beccacosmetics.com