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.

DH who, post cataract and lens replacement surgery, has the best sight he's ever had, seems to think it's not overdone, and he is quick to scream if he thinks anything is too young. He'd say (baaaa) but I know Flo will react

I agree with brown mascara on a totally nude face with a nude lipstick.
That is the most youthful look for the day.

If I put on a base (and I like number seven lift and luminate serum, it's dewy but not ludicrously dewy), then I need to put the colour back on! I like the honey colour blush from number seven as well, it's very very subtle.

I'm 49 and I don't find this foundation ageing. I've thrown out a few foundations in the last few years as I thought they were doing me no favours but this is a smooth one

Thanks Hammock! Love the sound of brown mascara, nude lipstick, nothing else at all.

Any good brown mascara reccs? I like volumising ones... are most of them pretty dark brown? My eyelashes are pretty dark.

Yep, in my 50s and looking far better with very subtle glowy makeup.
Has anyone tried Boomsticks by Cindy Joseph? They look perfect but are really expensive www.boombycindyjoseph.com/products/boomstick-trio
I had decided to treat myself as I got a discount voucher but when I got to the checkout it added a shitload to the price for shipping from America, so it didn't by it!
I'm still lusting after it though- or a cheaper alternative if anyone's tried anything similar?

Brown mascara doesn’t work for me but grey does (blue eyes). The cataract point is an interesting one, I had surgery on both eyes in March and seeing my face properly for the first time in years was a hell of a shock. It prompted a change of foundation and a much lighter touch with the eyebrow pencil.

yes, I am an autumn with green eyes, so the brown shades work for me, even though, hmm, I don't really LOVE brown - but grey never looks subtle on me. I look odd with any grey make up. So probably a warm or cool thing.

Hot and Flashy on YouTube has some good tutorials with some good general advice, although these are aimed at a slightly older age group. Still some good advice.

I'm early 50s, and found that I needed to switch out from eyeliner to soft shimmery eye crayons like the ones from Laura Mercier.

I also mix foundation with my moisturiser to do a kind of tinted moisturiser unless I have to be super polished. But I do still need some moisturiser + foundation, brow pencil, a bit of shimmery eye crayon on my lid only, mascara, and a natural lipstick. Enough to define.

The Trinny products look lovely.

Omg yes! I can't work out what's going wrong but something is definitely not working for me! I turned 40 a few months ago and I just can't work out how to look decent anymore 😥

I use bare essentials foundation and powder and a bit of eyeliner and mascara and a bit of powder stuff on my brows.

Think I'm gonna need a visit to the make up ladies 😬 I don't like to wear brands that test on animals though and I know bare essentials don't, will have to research Bobbi Brown and others.

My skin has massively improved recently (thanks to the fantastic Skincare thread on here!) but I still need a base (uneven skin tone and very sallow) and a powder (oily skin), I’ve just managed to find ones finally that have that natural slightly glowy look without being shimmery or shiney.

I’m fine with black mascara as my lashes are black naturally, and the one I’m using now is pretty subtle/non-obvious.

I second Lisa Eldridge for make up tutorials, she’s definitely into less is more.

I'm 47 and I'm constantly told I look like I'm in my late 20s (yay), so I've not found that personally. I wear more now than I did when I was young, mainly because I know how to put it on better and more foundation shades are available now than before.

Everyday: primer, concealer, foundation, single eyeshadow (neutral), eyeliner, mascara, eyebrow pencil and lippie. In a rush I skip foundation but never my eye makeup!
Special: maybe add blush, if I can be bothered.

What I did think was ageing me a few years ago was overplucking my eyebrows. It's taken me a while but growing them back a bit thicker has def made me look younger naturally. Took years though, & lots of castor oil!

I am thinking I need to change my facepowder and definitely my blusher.

I am 55 and although I am always very happy with Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation the rest needs tweaking.

I may have my eyebrows done too. Pencilling them in isn't doing it any longer ...

I stopped wearing powder years ago as it just settles in the wrinkles and accentuates them.

This is such an interesting thread hearing everyone's experiences of the ageing process on our skins.

For me, early 50's, I'm wearing slightly more makeup and wearing it most days now. My previously dark eyes, lashes and brows have all lightened so wear mascara most of the time plus get brows tinted. Am currently using black mascara but may try brown. Maybe even try going without eyeliner maybe a step too far

I also wear foundation more regularly (skin pigmentation) but do prefer a light touch and am using a mineral powder which surprisingly doesn't settle in the cracks! YSL touche eclat tinted moisturiser was the best but have changed their colours/ingredients or something as last colour match wasn't so good.

After a terrible passport photo a couple of years ago, I went to Bobbi Brown for help with concealers etc and as the assistant was of a similar age, totally understood my needs. I must say I was impressed with the products so repeat buy.

Cataracts? Lordy I thought I had at least another decade before I needed to worry about them. Cheers for that Xing - I'm glad the unreconstructed MrXing has made a full recovery!

I may end up ditching everything but lipstick which would be a 360 degree turnaround as when I was young it was probably the only makeup I didn't use.

I feel the same!

Lipstick looks clownish on me and bleeds even if I use a liner. Blusher like a child has applied it. Eyeliner of any sort - pencil/liquid makes me look ill.
I rarely wear foundation but even a light one now extentuates pores and fine lines.

Yes I get the clownish look with lipstick too, I have full lips but they’re not well defined. I use balm stains that come in a chubby pencil, red lipstick looks dreadful on me but I can wear red in these as long as I blot well so it is just a stain.

yes yes, ive definitely found this. Im early 40s and ive stopped wearing foundation in the last year, and now im hardly wearing makeup at all. Maybe a little mascara and nude lipstick at most, and not every day. Every time ive worn full makeup like I used to, I think ive looked older.

I'm mid 50's and have ditched foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow and coloured lipsticks. Instead I use a cc cream to even out my skin tone thanks rosacea a little cream blush, fill in my brows and brush them thanks thyroid maybe some mascara on my top lashes and a nude lipstick that's got some slick to it, Matt ones are awful on older skin imo.

How to find out what suits though without spending a fortune? If you go to a make up counter they just showcase their brand.

The sheer of make up available these days has me in awe and fills me with terror at the same time.

All those lovely colours and products that just don't work now

I find this with lipstick. I love red lips but now have to just dot the lippy on and smudge it so it's just a stain.

I use tinted moisturiser instead of foundation so it's more subtle. I really need a makeover. Where is recommended? (I'm mid-40's)

I notice on some older women that they don’t change the way they apply makeup and it looks dated...... eye liner flicks, blue eye shadow, coloured mascara etc etc... all very dated.

I would go to a decent makeup counter in a good department store and spend an hour getting your makeup done to learn something new techniques.

MissKitty, you look utterly gorgeous!

I'm only 26 (but look about 32) and I already have to change my style. No more matte foundations/lipsticks and no under eye eyeliner. It's alright to be fair, saves me a good hour when getting ready for special occasions!