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.

I've just watched the eyelining and tightlining video, I'm going to try it because Nadine Baggett looked absolute fantastic with the technique she showed!

If you wear a decent primer which suits your skin and you might have to try a lot, then your foundation and or powder will not settle in pores, lines, wrinkles etc.

I just use a slight dusting of mineral powder (tinted), I need blusher otherwise I look like a corpse!

My lashes are 50% white, so I get them tinted. Eyebrows dyed and threaded (to tidy round the edges, so a small not too hd). I tend to use a dark purple eyeshadow as liner, not too much and very smudged.

ITs harsh lines and black which age the most.

I don’t wear lipstick - just pixi unique pink lip moisturizer.

I desperately tried to embrace the grey but there is still a lot of natural colour round the back so I just ended up patchy. The grey that has come through is fab but, for the moment anyway, I still have to endure a half head of highlights.
I have grey hair envy - there are so many fabulously stylish older women looking even more gorgeous with their grey. A good grey/silver looks so elegant if it is beautifully maintained.

@*OverTheWeather this thread.

@OverTheWeather

Makeup that is constantly reviewed and applied in an age and skin appropriate way is not aging. Makeup that is trowelled on is aging.

One reason wearing no makeup is aging is that we all get redness, age spots and generally uneven complexion that is part of what makes us look old. Evening this up rejuvenated us. We also lose colour in our face. Adding back a little fresh colour is youthful looking.

Not wearing any makeup as we age also makes some women look tired, drawn and as if they have given up. That is very aging!

I have to agree with you @poopypants. My MIL is a lovely person but she stopped tinting her hair and wearing make up a few years ago. She just looks so faded and drained of life all the time, exactly like she has 'given up' and is just slowly fading away. She mooches around in the same few tired outfits and the same nasty anorak. She is only 68 but could easily pass for 80+.

My Mum still has her hair professionally tinted and always wears subtle make up but a bright lipstick. She is part French and so always wears her clothes well and likes to update her look for each season. She is actually older than my MIL but looks young enough to be her daughter.

And I notice that strangers treat them very differently because of their appearance.

Good grief, I have just scrolled through Annika Vonholdst IG and I'm obsessed. She is incredible looking, is she even human???

What colour eyeliner are you using? Personally I find black too overbearing for my face so I use brown with nude eyeshadow and rosy lipstick

Makeup definitely ages me. And I would say I'm quite youthful for my age too but it makes lines appear that I didn't even know I had.

I'm 33 and since turning 30 my makeup routine has struggled until recently. Too much makeup is something you can get away with in your 20s and that's it.

But recently I've discovered Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser and OMG even my mom told me how youthful my makeup made me look last week lol.

All I need with that is mascara and blusher and I'm good to go it's amazing

I've just faithfully recreated that Nadine Baggot look with a dark brown eyeliner and black tightlining and there's no denying it's impressive. Even teen DS remarked that I looked good

But I ditched the blusher and just used a very light touch of Benefit Hula bronzer. I look much, much better.

Jade218 you are still so very youthful. Your only 33.

@Milliy I guess so but the things I did with my routine in my 20s make me look more like 40. So I've had to change my routine to look my age or slightly younger

I also find dark coloured lipstick make me look waaaaay older. So I stick to nudes now