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.

Can wisely ones critique mine please
Double wear base
Kick of mascara
No eyeshadow
No blush /bronzer (have rosecea , so red comes through a bit
Plumb mate 💄

Do I need primer, highlighter , bronzer?
Scares me , the amount of time , precision my DD 21 spends on hers. I'm cak handed but would like to look up to date, fresh at least.

Maybe we could all suggest some reds @millythepink?

Holi I have rosacea and used to use DW but I switched to a primer and BB cream instead with a touch of cream blush on the apples only, then a swirl of powder and a swish of bronzer strategically placed. It took bloody years off me.

Years CitadelsofScience ? Now your talking. What brands please. I'm guessing being a Rosey, you're fair? What shades?

I'd tried cream blush before. I think it caked.Maybe cream blush has moved on- unlike me.Dreaming now of fittume looking in 30s like my head is .

fitty

I read through this nodding a lot a few days back. It resonated as the last few weeks I have really been feeling my decade-long probably longer love affair with a swoosh of liquid eyeliner, with a flick was dying. It just look try-too-hard - or something. And this thread made me realise it was yep, making me look older.
Led me to a quick google about tightlining. Which led me to this. Game changer! Easy to do. Have done it the last 3 mornings and yes! Quick, easy eye definition but softer as well. Using a fine line of shadow on the top lid, plus tightlining. Really lovely effect.

I'm very open to suggestions @alsohuman ,

Thank you to the posters who added photos of those gorgeous silver haired ladies in red lippy. I have never, ever, suited red lippy. I'm sitting here hoping that as my hair turns silver, I can finally have some fun, because those women look incredible. I wanna play too!!!!

@millythepink, here are some of my favourites, ie I’ve bought them more than once:

Burberry Rosy Red
Maybelline Sexy Siren
Mina 123
Revolution Catwalk
Dolce et Gabbana Devil

BettyBoo they look old because they are old. But they look fabulously old. Not croney old granny looking.

@TwentyChews I just watched that and tried it. I'm 49 and have never mastered eyeliner. Can't believe the difference it has made! I just used what I already had in my make up bag. Thank you!

TwentyChews
That video is brilliant.
I'm chucking away my eyeliners now

I’ve just watched it too ( old gimmer here), thank you, will attempt it ! Nadine looks fab

I’ve just watched it too and will give it a go tomorrow. Looks very easy! I don’t think I have an angled brush but will try with a normal brush.

Nadine is already very good-looking though and her face looks firm. Got side-tracked to this video which shows a more realistic older woman. It's quite a "done-up" or expensive professional look but there might be something useful here? Looks like quite a lot of work to me though.

I've signed up to YouTube today and started to subscribe to an channel that has Joan Severance on it doing makeup, she's a former actress and model now aged 60.

I can see me whiling my days away watching videos on there and getting nothing else done 😂

TwentyChews I'll watch the tightlining video later

i'm ok generally with tinted moisturiser, but I have found that pore minimiser stuff makes me look olde.

Aslo I'm much better with a few pounds on (my body suffers, but that's the price.

I've totally decided to dye my hair grey some time soon. It's dark brown and with no (or a very few) grey hairs, but I don't want to do that whole witchy thing and have started following various grey people on insta. I think it can look amazing -eg annika von holdt Of course I'll look just like her. (she's 51!).

I can't wear lipstick for this reason, it really ages me. I just use those chubby sticks now anything more pigmented just makes me look angry.

Anna I'm in my 50's and my hair is naturally dark with the odd grey. I've gone for a T highlights thing in a dark blonde to disguise the grey at the temples and the one or two that just poke upright on the top of my head. It's really transformed my face. I'd been home dying but all of a sudden last year I got the witchy look.

Really useful, thank you @alsohuman

According to my hairdresser, hair fades to grey away from the face, so the back of your head is always likely to be darker than the front. It's true for me, as I'm silvering around my face. It becomes more flattering as the white/silver/grey intensifies and the complexion pales, but it means a person needs to think and rethink make up more than once or twice a year. I think/hope I am not looking ridiculous as I make the transition from ageing to elderly, which is where I am headed.

My only make up worries as I age are, foundation and concealer seeping into lines and wrinkles and shimmer eyeshadow making my eye lids look crepy. Nothing else really. I won't stop using what I like and I have enough skill to adapt it and look good, or be ignorant to the fact I look stupid!

Thank you OP for starting this post. I’ve been reading with interest as at the age of 54 I’m really struggling with makeup. I’ve worn foundation for decades but recently nothing ‘sits’ right on my skin.
I’ve tried a few tinted moisturisers which are either too light/dark/greasy/patchy. I recently splashed out on Origins Vita Zing which was recommended elsewhere on MN and I’m really pleased with it. It’s spf40 and has a very subtle tint but gives a nice glow. I add a little concealer, then fine powder on my t section and sometimes blusher. For me, I look and feel like I’ve ‘put my face on’ without being overdone. My skin isn’t dry so I just use serum and eye cream first.

I kind of think the opposite. I think a full face with blusher and eye shadow looks ageing on younger women and I've always favoured 'natural look' foundation, mascara and nude lipstick, but now in my 40s am thinking of learning how to use blusher and strong eye shadow.

One thing that happens of course it that our skin tends to get drier so you may need to use different things for that reason to avoid your concealer or whatever caking or getting into the fine lines.

Over the last few years my skin has changed, so I've also ramped up my skincare regime which has naturally led to my adoption of a more natural makeup look. Most days this is just serum foundation by the ordinary (which is so so beautiful and a bargain at £6) either a coral, orange or pink cream sheer blush, eyebrows filled using powder & tinted eyegel and mascara and usually a bright red, purple or orange lipstick.

Ladies don't shy away from the bold lipstick it lifts and brightens your entire face.

I follow the makeup and skincare advice of the following professionals:
Lisa Eldridge for makeup
Nadine Baggot for affordable skincare
Wayne Goss for new makeup launches & makeup trends

Lisa Eldridge did a series on makeup for mature women on her YouTube channel, if I can find a link I'll come back and post the video.