A sudden 'it looks do dated' moment (make-up)

[diege]

So facing my 51st year in a few weeks and have been struggling this past year with menopausal symptoms (now on hrt patches) and generally feeling blergh about my looks. Anyway, its make-up that's currently occupying me as fancy splashing out a bit but don't want to waste my money if Im not putting it on right. Im happy in the main with products I use (though am open to suggestions- love new recommendations) and use Mac, Charlotte Tilbury, Rimmel, benefit. Its the look I have all wrong I think- eye liner esp. Is liner on upper lid still a thing? Blusher on apple of cheek still? Lipliner? 🤣 Thoughts welcome!

I’m wearing more make up now in my forties than I ever did. Not just because I’m getting older, but because I love love love messing about and trying different combinations.

If I have a look, I would say it’s really dark eyeshadow and fairly neutral everything else for balance.

The jury is out on here on Trinny London cosmetics - they are a bit hit and miss for the price - but I've found loads of great videos on their site about applying make up and it's all aimed at your (our!) age group.

Like blusher - not on the apples if you're older because you have less collagen so your apples 'droop' when you stop smiling! You want a c-shape. Imagine a line between the corner of your mouth and the tip of your ear - it should all be above that line. If you have a thin face you want to bring the C quite far into your face, if you're fuller faced keep it quite narrow.

Obviously they're only using Trinny products and there's a lot of puff about them, but if you can ignore that you'll pick up loads of tips.

After years of being brand faithful, I am now a complete tart and will mix and match loads of brands.

Estée Lauder foundation
Bare minerals powder
Smash box and fenty primers
Clinique blusher
Benefit and bare minerals bronzer
Soooooooooo many eyeshadows
Dior, Chanel, Sisley, loads of other products from brands mentioned above.

Try using sheerer formulations. As you get older a lighter foundation is far more flattering than a medium/heavy coverage foundation. When it comes to eyeliner, avoid liquid eyeliner and avoid black eyeliner. Instead try smudged pencil eyeliner/eyeshadow in brown/bronze.

Caroline Barnes is good for these kinds of makeup tips. If you have a spare 20 mins watch this video where she gives tips on how to 'lift' the face using makeup

I'm the same slattern, love experimenting but have small eyes and think I'm overdoing the eyeliner...Love a smoky eye though!

My links aren't working at the moment but look up the brilliant youtube video Make Up Mistakes To Avoid by Ali Andreea. She's a genius. When I follow her advice completely, I always get loads of compliments. When I don't, I don't . It's a bit time consuming but well worth it if you have a big night out planned.

Oooh thank you, lots of great tips! I love Trinny so will check out her site, plus the video referenced above.
Yep, my former 'chipmonk' cheeks are dropping, so will reassess blusher application. Ditto eye liner which is currently black! 🤦‍♀️

Hmm yes a more sheer foundation might be a good start. But then the effing age spots will show through...Feels like time is winning! 😫

sheer or light coverage foundation plus a bit of concealer where you feel you need it will give a fresher look than medium/heavier foundation all over.

serpenta thank you, that video is great!

Yes I loved that video too.... the light dark foundation trick and the powder in the centre, will also try the brow thing
V good

Have spent the past few hours watching Trinny videos/trying to figure out the match2me thingy on the website (are my eyes blue, grey or green, I really can't tell!) Thinking a splurge may be coming...

Spending a year on Teams calls has forced me to consider how I look. I'm a coupe of years older than you and I realised I needed more definition and more colour.
I've let my eyebrows grow out and thicken up, and I use a brow tint. I use more highlighter in my eye sockets, a soft brown eyeliner, and have changed lip colour.
I look (or at least feel) about 10 years younger.
Next is a ruthless review of my clothes

I think the age of matte matte matte has gone in favour of dewy and glossy formulas. Skin, lips, eyebrows, even eyeshadow the wet, healthy, hydrated, shiny look is very popular. I couldn’t get away with it but have seen some girls pull off a lid gloss very well.

I truly think less is more when it comes to makeup but I'm not great at applying the stuff.

Got distracted on the Look Fantastic website and bought some much needed Kerastase products for my hair....oh and a Dandelion benefit blusher 🤣 so making inroads. Going to go with the 'less is more' philosophy I think, and definitely ditch the black eyeliner.

I wear less make up now, similar age, I wear max factor face finity, blusher, natural lipstick/balm, mascara. I don’t apply eyeshadow or eye liner, unless I am going out out, and that doesn’t happen often COVID or not!

I've found Boot Hydraluminous foundation is excellent. Clarins concealer in the little tube is great. Your skin tone lightens as you get older so things like black eyeliner and mascara can look too harsh - depending on your hair and eye colours, dark brown or grey can work better and using eyeshadow applied with a fine brush instead can be more flattering. Looking on Insta, darker lipliner than lipstick seems to be back in again, but it's not a look I like.

Thanks for the tips - I'll check out foundation motherofgod.
Contemplating binning the eyeliner and going for a smudgy application of something like Trinny's eye2eye shade.
Aldo need to address my eyebrow as they are far too dark and dare I say a touch 'scousebrow' 🤦‍♀️

I’ve recently started using eye liner, only because my mouth is covered up with a mask quite a lot. My eyes are grey blue, and I don’t use black as that’s quite harsh on my skin but I use greys and a grey/purple one. I also smudge them a bit. I also use a concealer and tinted moisturiser for daytime rather than a foundation.

My natural hair colour was very dark brown. I'm now grey but my eyebrows aren't. I use a brown automatic eyebrow pencil to fill in my brows, but I go easy on it to avoid over darkening them. Eyeshadow or a brow powder can give a more natural look.

One thing I always do to stop make up settling in the crease of my lower eyelid is run a cotton bud under my lower lashes to remove any concealer or foundation.

I adore By Terry make up. It’s a french brand, absolutely beautiful formulations. Very little powder, maybe some on the forehead. I use a cream blush applied with a brush, (Nars multiple) a Chanel creme bronzer, (the best ever) always cream shadow, by terry in a flattering bronze moon shade with (sometimes) Chanel Sphinx creme shadow. on top. By terry rose lip balm, Lancôme hypnose mascara, benefit gimme brow. This is my holy grail, so natural and flattering. I am obsessed with make up, if you can watch Lisa Eldridge on YouTube she has some brilliant tutorials. I am sorry but I love trinity for her fashion advice but her makeup is nothing to write home about.

I've switched from pencil and liquid eyeliners to a No 7 one which is a dark powder with a tiny sponge tipped applicator, you dot the tip along as close to the lash line as you can get, it gets right into the roots and gives a lovely smudgy look. I mainly use it on the top lid but sometimes do the lower one as well. I use a dark brown one.

@Mellonsprite

I’ve recently started using eye liner, only because my mouth is covered up with a mask quite a lot. My eyes are grey blue, and I don’t use black as that’s quite harsh on my skin but I use greys and a grey/purple one. I also smudge them a bit. I also use a concealer and tinted moisturiser for daytime rather than a foundation.

Mellon my eyes are like yours ... can you recommend some good brands for those eyeliners or specific products? I'm 40* and still haven't mastered eye shadow so rely on a smudgy liner instead on my upper lash line. Unfortunately as I've got droopy lids I soon end up with panda eyes.

BTW OP, excellent thread - thanks 😁

I hate to say it but ditch the dandelion - the powder formula will sit in any creases on your skin and the sparkles will emphasise them. Try a sheer cream blush instead - glossier do a brilliant one.

I’m following the adage that ‘skincare is the new make up’, and have invested in a fuck ton of fancy new skincare, and I have to say at nearly 40 my skin is the best it’s ever been.

Also, SPF every day, no matter the weather.