Make up ages me....am I doing it wrong

[NotOldYet]

Over the last year or so I've noticed that make up ages me. Quite considerably IMO. It makes me look rubbish.

I don't do anything different to what I've done forever, which is probably the problem. But I don't really know how to do it any other way.

I don't look horrendous without make up, but am very aware that people around me look well made up, and would like to be able to look like I've made an effort at least when I'm out.

I'm 43. Quite fair with lots of freckles this time of year.

Is this a known thing? Or just me? Should I change my make up routine now I'm older?

Less is more as you get older

I think less is more now I’m 41. No foundation, only concealer if needed. I make more effort with skin care and spf moisturiser.

I've give up with eyeliner/eyeshadow/anything sparkly/lip liner and lipstick - it looks silly on me.

Still very attached to my mascara and blusher and I contour if I can be bothered.

What part of your make-up doesn't seem to look young?
Would a more natural look work?

Yes I think its time for a) some new products and b) a new routine.

What is your current routine?

I like to do good skin care - then a serum - then a moisturiser - then a touch of cover up under eyes - mascara and a touch of liner on the top only - young girls don't wear black eyeliner anymore do they, its all about lashes - then one of the cream blushers and that's it really.

Have a nice upgrade, it will be great. Oh I think also blush goes on the upsides of the eyes and top of cheeks now doesn't it, not on the apples...

I found CC cream (Erborian is my favourite), cream blusher instead of powder, and a lighter eyeliner (Urban Decay Stash is a good one) helped me with this issue.

Sometimes I do wear darker eyeliner (old habits die hard) but only on the top lid these days.

You’re doing it wrong.

There’s no reason makeup needs to make you look older, in fact you should be aiming for glowing and youthful.

Things like dry, matte foundation will be ageing, often lower eyeliner drags the eyes down, make sure your skin is well moisturised and go for very light coverage.

I found the same, I’m 42. I used to wear a full coverage matte foundation along with everything else. The only thing I have changed is I now wear a lighter coverage foundation that’s gives a glowy/dewy finish and looks less caked on/doesn’t settle into any lines or wrinkles. Haus labs or vieve are my go to
i also think skin prep is key. My skin is in the best condition it’s ever been and having a good base makes makeup sit better

I wear far less foundation now and when I do wear foundations it’s much less heavy than the ones I used to wear.

What are you using?

Same here, I’m 42 this year and liquid foundations and cream concealers just sit in lines and make me look cakey.
Absolutely invest in good skincare, I apply serums and spf. I use a base primer and Laura Gellar mineral foundation with a kabuki brush. Bit of blush, touch up the eyebrows, mascara and lipgloss. Less is definitely more!

Go to a counter, they will show you how to apply it usually for free.

This and have a look on you tube etc

Bobbi Brown do v good (free for one feature) counter makeovers if you’re anywhere near one.

Yes, I'm in my early 50s and recently ditched foundation in favour of Elf Halo Glow. I think you need something more sheer as your skin ages.

Im the same age as you op and have noticed the same thing...quite rare for me to wear a full face anymore and when I do I do think I look older

My under eye on one eye is so dark and I find concealer just ages me now. I definitely want to cover it but have thrown money at many different concealers and it all just cakes. I miss being young sometimes!

I've always gone quite basic/natural anyway, which is why I can't understand why it doesn't work anymore.

I cleanse/tone/moisture every day.
Full make up for me would be:

Benefit porefessional primer
Benefit concealer under my eyes and around my nose (I have allergies and nose gets red)
Light foundation powder (I've tried many foundations but never got on with them)
Minimal bronzer on cheekbones
Eyeshadow (pink/beige/light brown depending on what I feel like)
Black eyeliner
Mascara

That would be heavy/night out make up for me. For every day I'd stop at the bronzer, or maybe the foundation powder.

But even that is aging me now. I've also lost weight, but it was aging me before the weight loss. I don't look older/gaunt with the weight loss either, although I am noticeably slimmer in the face and neck.

I think make up ages most people - that's often why the young wear it. But, applied well, it makes most people look "better" by enhancing your best features and playing down your worst. Maybe the trade off between better v aging reaches a tipping point in your 40s so it needs a much lighter touch. I know it was probably in my 40s that I switched from foundation to tinted moisturiser. And lately, I've started replacing the tinted moisturiser with a tinted balm instead.

I forgot, I also have a brow brush (again, Benefit - my go to brand). This is a fairly new addition and I think the only thing that is working for me, as long as I keep it light.

My make up isn't far off what you described as your full face but I couldn't do without a blusher. I'm fair too and can easily look pretty ill. Bronzer is good as long as it's not too muddy but it's no substitute for a pink or peach blusher, placed well. Also maybe a tinted lip balm?

I think part of the issue is that young people now often wear very little make up so you can end up feeling a bit too done up, and the other thing that's important is blending. I also agree on skin quality, make up can so easily sit in fine lines and visible pores. I find over the course of a month I have good and bad skin days.

I would ditch the primer, powder foundation, the under eye concealer and eyeliner, add a cheek stain and a bit of cream highlight.

Swap the black eyeliner for grey or brown

I've started using brown eyeliner (top lashes only) and brown mascara instead of black recently, and it does look better/less harsh

Less is more here too. I wear concealer applied lightly with a brush, a bit of powder foundation and blusher. Lip liner and lip stain in a natural colour. Mascara and a bit of brown eyeliner smudged on top lid.

I've never been a full face make up person and foundation is not good on my face now.

What moisturiser do you use? My favourites are weleda skin food and embryolisse as they really hydrate and plump the skin. I also exfoliate 2 or 3 times a week and wear spf 50 every day.

Ditch the powder foundation for either a skin tint or something like elf halo glow. If it’s benefit boi-ing concealer then ditch that for something less heavy, like maybelline age rewind. Dewy cream blush is a must. Ditch the eyeshadow and eyeliner all together. Basically, you want to look fresh and glowy so avoid anything that won’t help you achieve that.

I think this happens to some more than others. I have always loved makeup and quite suddenly in my late thirties, it just looked…crap.
The more tired or hormonal I was, the worse it made me look. Every time I would spend ages putting it on and end up looking into my makeup bag thinking Why have you forsaken me now just when I need you most?
I tried paring it back and just had to keep going. In my forties now and I can’t do eyeliner at all anymore, no matter what colour. Or concealer.
What works for me now is a heavy duty moisturiser, a skin tint (a couple of shades darker than I used to use), pink tinted lip balm, olive green mascara and a golden highlighter. I find the shades matter more than the type of product.
Sometimes you really have to go back to the drawing board entirely.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

It seems I'm relying to heavily on benefit, and I have no real idea why. I'm off to Google all the products suggested.

I've been using benefit smooth sip moisturiser, which I love as its so light and non oily, but it's expensive at £35 for 50ml so I'd been hoping to change it. Or maybe it's not expensive and I'm in for a shock! 😆

I'd never thought of another colour mascara - going to investigate the brown/olive green suggested.