How can I avoid dated looking make up?

[Oblongbluebell]

I’ve recently got back into wearing make up. I feel like I do a semi-reasonable job of applying it, but I can’t help wondering if it looks a bit 90s/early 2000s. What should I do/use so that my make up looks current? What shouldn’t I do/use to avoid looking like I’m in a time warp?

Any advice/suggestions welcome. Thank you.

@FlappyValley ·
I loved heavy black eyeliner back in the 90s/00s and occasionally wear it now when the mood strikes, but I’m pretty sure this is “dated”.
You’ll pry it from my cold, dead hands, though.

Same here! I need the tightlining thing to define my eyes. I also need a bit of eye liner on my lid. I really need some definition!

Watching 😊

I would suggest the following!

• perfect the base. Find the right moisturiser and SPF to wear underneath that suits your skin best, consult a local facialist if you're not sure lots offer consultations if you don't want to splash on a treatment to help you find the right homecare products!

• tinted moisturiser or tinted SPF. One that provides some coverage but still let's your skin shine through slightly, as we age makeup can start to sit in fine lines and creases so keeping it light to avoid a cakey look is best.

• a strobe cream placed on cheekbones, Cupid bow, just under eyebrows (on the bone) provides a dewy look in the right places! Mac strobe cream is great.

• a cream or liquid blush also looks great, benetint from benefit is a great option and they have different shades.

• only power areas that really need it! E.g t zone, under eyes, smile line area.

• don't go heavy on the mascara, top lashes only and focus on length as opposed to clumpy short lashes, curling your eyelashes or getting an LVL treatment goes a long way as lifting the lashes really opens the eyes. Mascara on downward pointing lashes can close the eyes and can give a dragging the face down appearance!

• a neutral lip colour, if you don't want to use a lipstick then a nice alternative is a neutral lip liner similar to your lip colour with a really hydrating balm e.g dr lipp nipple balm (there's a mini version to use on lips - I use this in my skin clinic all the time! Super hydrating)

Hope some of those tips help!

Wear what suits your face. Not what is in fashion.

Watching for tips and product suggestions for the dewy skin look.

Is the trinny london stuff good?

Have a look at glossier, lots of very light products, dewy fresh finish, buildable cream blush (cloud paint) lip balm (balm.com), boy brow to keep brows in check and define, stretch concealer gives good coverage without being powdery, their mascara is too subtle for me but good for day to day. I use a bb cream or tinted moisturiser I've not tried their foundation. I was bought cloud paint and balm.com as a gift and love the products so have gradually expanded from their. I don't work for them I promise! If you're in London they have a shop near covent garden now if not it's all online

*there

People have been saying for years not to put make up on lower lid.

Trouble is l look like a frog without anything.

That's making a comeback apparently.

How do you get the dewy look without looking overly shiny? I moisturize a lot due to naturally dry skin, so without a bit of powder it can look much more oily than dewy. Any tips?

also @ArseInTheCoOpWindow I definitely agree you should try plum/wine/raisin shades for green eyes. Just ensure it’s a dark enough colour. I bought a lovely crayon type eyeshadow in a plum shade, but it’s just a bit lighter than I expected and I look quite unwell in it. Another suggestion is a dark khaki eyeliner -it really enhances my green eyes

If you are needing some tips this is a very down to earth and realistic site. Ive bought several of their products.

beautyandtheboutique.com/blogs/news/how-to-look-rested-and-youthful

Really thick, spidery mascara looks awful on older women I think, as does mascara on the lower lashes. Also any lipstick or eyeshadow that's pearly or too shimmery.

I'm 50 and like to keep my makeup natural looking and concentrate on looking after my skin. I think looking like you're trying too hard with lots of obvious makeup is unattractive on all but the very youthful. Better to give the impression you're comfortable with your natural face than still insecure in middle age I think.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I don't believe in hard and fast rules. For some people putting mascara on lower lashes is too much, but for others of us (I am extremely pale with pale lashes) it looks a bit odd if we have brown eyelashes on the top and nothing on the bottom. All of these are ideas to adapt and experiment with, there's so many variations in colouring and eye shape, so I think you've just got to try it and see what works for you.

I'm a big believer that clothes and make-up are there to make you feel more you- so if you like something, even if it is decreed as 'dated', but you feel like you, stride confidently and can face the world in it, then it works for you! Example, I don't feel great in flats (nice trainer fine) so however much everyone tells me flats are in, I'll always prefer a boot with a slightly chunky heel. If things give you confidence, do them.

Solidarity op. I'm firmly stuck in 2007 except my eyebrows are a bit thicker. And it all sort of sits in my lines now. And that's if i can even find my makeup. Usually its been pinched by my 15 year old.

I don't follow make-up trends, I just go for a look that makes me look fresh faced and more youthful. I would go and talk to someone at Bobbi Brown or Hourglass, they have beautiful natural looking make-up there. Don't go for anything too heavy. Some older women love to use certain powders and eyeliners that set in the wrinkles and make eyes look droopy and older so aim for light and fresh. Hourglass do incredible light diffusing powders that are invisible but have a wonderful glowing, blurring effect on pores etc.

Help for hooded eyes which are becoming more hooded and puffier with age every day please!

I saw a pp recommend eyelash curlers - can anyone suggest one for a novice to use? I'm so clumsy and have always been too scared to use one for the risk of actually hurting myself

I'm 47 with only slight crows feet. What suited my face 20 years ago doesn't suit now.

With my older skin, I've found that I need to keep it well moisturised to get a good base. Then let your foundation dry for 15/20 mins. If you powder right away it'll all stick to the wet foundation but less will stick when it's set and dried so you'll keep some of the dewyness but won't be sticky. I use translucent powder sparingly but add a bit of a dewy look back in with a little bit of bronzer and the tiniest amount Laura Mercier illuminating powder.

To help disguise the slight hooding, I go pale cream eyeshadow on the lid, then a darker beige on the hooded area which helps it look a bit more receded than it is. That might work for another year or two.

I'm in love with Victoria Beckham's Kajal liner. I've it in Ash and in Cocoa. I'm very fair and my eyelashes aren't thick so I loved a small sweep of liquid liner to give the impression of more eyelashes, but it looked quite harsh or stark on my eyes. But now I do a smudged version with the VB liner like this (not my eyes, obviously!) and it's soft focus seems to suit my older eyes more.

@Luckingfovely i use the tweezerman one and its quite easy to use

Hourglass mineral veil primer is the bomb! Gives a fantastic base to apply make up or even just not bother. I never bothered with primer, this was recommended on a video (I'm a sucker) and it really is amazing stuff.

I've just bought a 10ml of the Hourglass to try @Highdaysandholidays1

My dd borrowed it off me and didn't give it back, I had a big version as well! I need to get more myself, Feb is a tight month, so perhaps March's present to myself...be interested to see what you think (the recommendation was from Andreea Ali just to be transparent).

Caramac555: I like Trinny London, it’s quick to apply and the colours are beautiful.

Soft lighting and cigarettes!

@Highdaysandholidays1 is this like a moisturiser or on top of a moisturiser? How does it make you look?

It's a primer, so it smooths everything out. I use it after a shower, so instead of moisturiser and then shove some foundation on top (only a tiny bit). I'm sure someone who knows more would have better advice, I don't use too many products though as I find it too claggy on the skin.