Has anyone else found makeup 'ages' them as they get older?

[HepburnKNotA]

The obvious thing first: I have, and perhaps could even more, tweak my 'old' makeup. I have tried switching my old midnight-blue eyeliner and black mascara for browns. I've tried a different shade and format of blusher.

But these days when I put on makeup I feel I look older with it on, and not in a good way!

I'm 42 btw.

I have (and I'm not ashamed to say it, given the amount I've bloody spent on it in products and effort) really good skin for my age, very very few lines (apart from Number 11s) and since I gave up sugar (and started using Emma Hardie and Sunday Riley stuff) a couple of years ago my skin is smoother than it's ever been. I've never really needed any foundation, barely used tinted moisturiser and these days I don't wear any base at all, ever.

But I do like a bit of eye makeup (liner and mascara) on nights out etc and now I don't know what to try as whenever I put it on, I feel like I suddenly look haggard and over my real age instead of under it! And blusher used to 'freshen' me up, but now I don't know, it has the same ageing effect.

Still happy with my trusty nude lipsticks and glosses, tbf.

Should I just give up and at least enjoy the fact I have good skin (until inevitably that all falls off a cliff in a few years...)? Or should I keep trying different shades? Techniques? I spend all my 'beauty' money on bloody (admittedly amazing) Space NK products so don't have much left for experimenting with makeup if it's not going to work!

Does anyone else feel the same way and if so - did you give up on makeup and just go bare-faced? I feel it's not enough 'effort' for a night out! Though I've never been a big makeup person at all, really.

Although I'm 49 (eek!) I've still got quite good skin. I have noticed it getting drier in recent years so wear a more moisturising foundation, but the only real area I've found make up to be ageing is when it comes to the eyes. I used to love doing a full smokey eye with dramatic greyes and purples, but I can't get away with that anymore. I still wear eye makeup, just in more sudued colours and usually skip liner on the lower lash. However, I don't agree with a previous poster that black liner on the upper lid is a no-no for us older ladies. So long as you keep a slim line right on the lashes, and combine it with a more neutral toned shadow, it can look great.

I don’t recommend Trinny’s products. They were ok but nothing special and no different from other brands of a lower price. I would not repurchase.

Are they available in bricks and mortar outlets? I refuse to buy any make up unless I’ve seen it in the flesh.

Same here human

I like it all except the lipsticks, which is very drying.

The BFF cream suits my skin really well.

I use the Lip2Cheek in Pia and I do find it’s a bit meh on the lips on its own but I use the lip glow in Cordy over the top and that really makes a difference, really comfortable to wear.

I think the BFF and the highlighter are my favourite products.

Well I got chatted up by a very handsome younger bloke in a local shop this lunchtime. I’m concluding my make up must have been on point 🤭

No, if I don't conceal my dark shadows and add a bit of mascara, blusher and lip colour, I look washed out and tired = older.
I absolutely think less is more and you need gentle colours and creamier textures as you get older. I always use cream blusher now.
Eyeliner always looks harsh IMO.

Most older women - even very fair ones - develop a peachy down on their faces. I go to a regular meeting where I sit next to a very glamorous older lady, nicely made up, but I can't help noticing that all the powder is on top of a layer of facial hair.

I can feel my own face becoming a bit furry. I never wear make up on my skin (just eyes) but do other people remove it? Even if it's just a light down?

Dermaplaning will take care of the downy fuzz. You can do this at home rather than pay salon prices.

@IrmaFayLear I just shave it off. Do it every couple of weeks and works just fine using a good razor with 3 blades. Doesnt grow back stubbly.

I use wax strips on mine.

OP you should count yourself fortunate that you don’t need coverage for any skin issues, and you have only ever worn a small amount of blusher, eyeliner and mascara, I would be jumping for joy if in fact I looked better without the tiny amount of minimal make up you have been wearing and would not see that as a problem, quite the reverse in fact, just enjoy going make up free and looking young without it. I do have to break something to you though, 42 is very much middle aged!

@DefinatelyAWeeGobshite that’s what I use! IT Cosmetics has a lot of great items. I use their little tube of coverup too.

@DreamTheMoors I had a quick look at It Cosmetics in Boots today but didn’t get to properly rummage as the kids were waiting. I’m interested in the CC cream

What does that make me at 60 Betty?

I was basing it on Maths Tapas the average British woman lives to 82.9 years so to me it would seem correct that 42 is middle aged. To be fair to you and the OP middle age is generally considered 45-65 but I’m looking at it in the life expectancy sense.

That makes sense BettyBoo. At nearly 63 however, I am struggling to find my place. I am a little heavier than I've ever been, but reluctant to diet hard and go gaunt. I am fairly fit, supple and have good core strength, thanks to 15 years of exercise and dog owning, but the hardest transition is psychological. I feel about 35, maybe 40, which is younger than I was when I had my only child. Physically I can still manage it all, but my DH seems happier to age than I am. He is still working very hard though, and I'm not.

I am loving this thread! I feel I'm very much in a time warp make up wise, but don't know how to get out of it. I'm 51 with blotchy skin, with redness (rosacea) on one cheek. I do use niacinamide, retinol etc, and La Roche Posay to try and keep it under control.

My usual make up routine is moisturiser (The Ordinary), followed by rosehip oil. When that has been absorbed I try to cover my redness, with either La Roche Posay BB cream, Trinny concealer, and Laura Gellar powder. I always powder my eye brows, to make them look fuller although I tint them myself too.

My eyes are my biggest problem. They've always been small with sparse fair lashes. If I don't use the apparently awful crime of quite heavy eyeliner above and below my upper and lower lids (Bobby Brown eyeliner that you apply with a brush in a khaki colour) then i look like I have no eyes at all, especially in photos! It's depressing! I tend not to use an eyeshadow, but if i do i use a Trinny one. I use black mascara on both sets of lashes, but find the lower ones tricky as they are so sparse and fair.

I tend to smudge a bit of a Clinique chubby stick blusher below my cheekbones, which does seem to contour my chubby face a bit.

I wear a nude lipstick but it doesn't stay on long!

I look at the Duchess of Cambridge and think her eyeliner ages her, so I must look ancient!

What can I do differently?? I have been googling the Sensai bronzing gel. Which is the palest one?

Please help!!

The Sensai gel is numbered 1-3 with 1 being the lightest. IIRC Light bronze, bronze and dark bronze, but in winter you would have to be a WOC to buy the dark version. As a rough guide, if you are north European/Caucasion, buy the lightest. And be warned, it looks really dark as it comes out of the tube, but try it anyway. It is very very sheer and floats flatteringly on just about every skin. I gave it to my DM and DMIL, then 70 and 75; both finished the tube.

girl.

I once went skating with a school party make up free, and applied some in the loo (appalling lighting) once we'd finished. As I came out, a friend grabbed me, and asked what I had put on. I gave her the tube to try and she has worn it since. This might not be astonishing, but she was a big name character in several Bond movies, years ago, and she is exquisitely beautiful.

@DefinatelyAWeeGobshite I’ve never tried IT Cosmetics CC cream but I did try their makeup. It’s VERY THICK! Like very heavy. I’m currently using CoverGirl/Olay makeup (the swirled one). It’s light and they claim it “floats above your wrinkles”. I don’t know about that but I really like it. Do you have that in the UK? Pretty sure you can get it on Amazon in an array of shades. Mine matches my skin exactly and it’s $15 +/- compared to IT’s $50.

@DefinatelyAWeeGobshite I’ve never tried IT Cosmetics CC cream but I did try their makeup. It’s VERY THICK! Like very heavy. I’m currently using CoverGirl/Olay makeup (the swirled one). It’s light and they claim it “floats above your wrinkles”. I don’t know about that but I really like it. Do you have that in the UK? Pretty sure you can get it on Amazon in an array of shades. Mine matches my skin exactly and it’s $15 +/- compared to IT’s $50.

@DefinatelyAWeeGobshite the CoverGirl/Olay gives great coverage too.

@CitadelsofScience I’ve only used the IT Cosmetics pencil/stick but wow it makes a huge difference. One end is matte & the other end is luminous. I don’t remember how much it cost but it’ll last forever. I recommend trying any brand that won’t irritate your eyes.

I have the IT cosmetics CC cream, it’s nice and very blendable. You only need a small amount. I do find it’s better when I have a bit of a tan. It can be a little shiny on its own. Great if you have no blemishes. Which I don’t!