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?

Definitely quit the black! Both mascara and liner need to be softer - brown probably.

I'm 66 and wear Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, blusher and tinted lip balm or lipstick.

I have problem eyes and don't wear any eye make up at all, but I am blessed with dark lashes and brows anyway and don't need extra help there.

@NotOldYeti can highly recommend cerave moisturiser. It’s not fancy but it really is super hydrating but also sinks in and doesn’t leave any greasy feeling. It’s pretty affordable as well and a lot lasts ages.
what’s the rest of your skincare like?

I’ve never really been sure who the target is for foundation other than people with skin insecurities who want to cover imperfections.
Young people ‘don’t need it’ as IN GENERAL they have the natural youthful skin and then the older you get the drier your skin gets and then it tends to cake and settle where you don’t want it to!
I don’t bother with foundation, too faffy for me. I’m not skilful in my application and it’s always looked like I have makeup on when I’ve tried in the past and I hate the actual ‘look’ of having base makeup on! I stick on a swipe of bronzer or blusher when I feel like it (a couple of times a year 😂) and love lipstick but other than that I’m bare faced 99% of the time!
Im not intending to start a debate on foundation, ive just always been a bit confused as to who it’s marketed to. It’s meant to match the colour your skin already is? I didn’t even buy makeup until I was in my mid 30’s and I’m now 40 so never really got into it, wasn’t interested as a teen at all, so it’s still quite new to me but I do a lot of skincare for self care pampering purposes.
Do you tone every night? What kind of toner are you using? I don’t tone every night, it can dry your skin out if you overdo it with a strong acid/toner.

Cream blusher and blush tints….. don’t these rub off the tinted moisturiser or foundation underneath?

Have you tried colour correcting products they help with my undereye circles

Exactly. I've gone through the phase of being afraid to age hence piling on the makeup, but as you can guess it was counterintuitive. Less is more - focus on sun protection and skincare. Hydrating but sheer products are great. Some blush, light eyebrows. Exercise etc x

Less is more I think as you get older.

If you can go to one of these department stores like John Lewis or Selfridges where you can get advice on products at the counter and get a free little makeover :).

I am a bit older than you with pale/freckled skin and all I wear is peach blush, nude lipstick or lip gloss and brow pencil to fill in my brows a bit during the day.

If I have a social occasion I might add brown eyeliner and mascara.

I never wear foundation or powder. Just a good moisturiser with sun protection.

I stopped wearing foundation at around 42/43 as I found it no longer sat right and made me look drier and older. I now use tinted moisturiser which is lighter and gives me a more glowy look and doesn’t settle into creases. It’s really pricey, but after trying several the best one for me was Chantacaille Just Skin. A tube lasts me about 4 - 6 months as you need so little of it.

If you can get to a Space NK, they will give you a few tiny pots so you can try a few out for 2/3 days each. That way you can see how they look in different lights and how they hold up over the day. I tried the Laura Mercier and the Nars one too. Both good and cheaper than Chantacaille, but not as good for me so I ended up (annoyingly!) going for the most expensive one.

If you really want to wear foundation, then you need a glowy, moisturising one. The Kevyn Aucoin is very good for older skin. But I’m sure there are cheaper alternatives.

Several years ago, when my make up was looking ‘off’, I did a kind of make up exclusion diet - gave up wearing it altogether for a month and then reintroduced it one item at a time so that I could see what was causing the problem. The culprit turned out to be my foundation, which surprised me as it was Bobbi Brown so not cheap and I’d thought it was pretty natural looking.

I don’t wear any foundation now. In fact I rarely wear any make, other than lipstick, as the process also got me used to going without and I decided I preferred it. (Plus I’m lazy and liked those extra few minutes to myself every day.)

I have very dark circles too, always have. To stop the cakiness/settling I now use the Bobbi Brown eye primer, then colour corrector, then concealer. Expensive but it works and makes me feel as well as look better.

I have problem eyes and don't wear any eye make up at all, but I am blessed with dark lashes and brows anyway and don't need extra help there.

I have short light brown eyelashes and dislike wearing mascara, but I wear eyeliner (no tightlining for me).

One positive benefit of not being blessed with long lashes is that I'm not hairy in general.

What are false eyelashes like to wear? I don't like the weight of mascara so imagine them to be strange.

100% bin the base and concentrate on skin care.

Nothing is more aging than foundation settling in creases, and it's rare to see a face done well after a certain age - despite all the promises on packages.

I'm pleased to hear the recommendations to lose the foundation. I've never enjoyed it and don't wear it day fo day anyway.
I'll be testing out different tinted moisturisers and hoping it's not an expensive one I like best!

I experienced a very similar thing.

I shifted my skincare a bit first - introducing vitamin C and retinol to give me a brigher appearance and it had helpe dwith the sort of plumpness of my skin.

You have to ditch powders. All the instagram influencers I follow who are offering tips for more mature skin basically say you have to move to creams not powders!

Also ditch the eyeliner and consider a different eye shadow routine. I kept seeing people talk about "hooded eyes" and I had no idea what that was. And now I have figured out that my non-hooded eyes are, sadly, a little bit hooded having got older! If I want to use eyeliner I actually use a dark eyeshadow - I haven't used actual eye liner in years now. But I've also shifted the colours I use. eg I used to use a ligher eye shadow as abase but have realised that doens't work anymoer (thanks Erika Taylor)!

I'm also starting to use "glow" products under my foundation and highlighters a little - still experimenting. But it definitely gives me an additional glow which I simply didn't need before.

Foundation wise, I love the Trinny BFF one. It's medium coverage but feels very light and sheer.

This is an excellent video on looking 10 years younger. Simple tweaks to make up prep and application can make a big difference.

I think I’m in the same boat. I have worn black eyeliner for ever but it has really started to look awful. I’m going to try brown or copper as I have blue eyes and stick with it on the top rather than the waterline. I use the Estée Lauder re nutriv foundation now, its hideously expensive but lasts ages

This is a good reminder for me: I'm 50 early next year and HAD pared back make-up but it's crept up again! Definitely too much foundation. Though I'd recently stopped wearing eyeliner (again!) and use a neutral eyeshadow palette and mascara (good tip re: brown or olive). I'm loathe to spend more atm as I've just started a Skin + Me Tret subscription so I'm wondering if just diluting my foundation down with either my moisturiser or spf would work?

N.B I have to say, in the vid above I think she looked younger BEFORE applying all the make-up 😬, though she's a very attractive woman either way.

Absolutely first post. Less is most definitely more. Maybe book an appointment with a professional for advice?

I'm going to wander over to John Lewis on my lunchbreak, on the hunt for a tinted moisturiser. Annoying that I never seem to get the £15 off beauty on their app anymore.
Totally out of my comfort zone, usually I know exactly what I'm looking for and head straight there!

Any go to brand recommendations that won't break the bank?

I saw a great tip online about using a brush to spread tinted moisturiser out further, sort of feathering it across the skin. I use a really tiny amount now, the aim is definitely not to cover your whole face with an even coating, that gives a wrinkly mask look. I focus on a strip down the centre of my face and probably don't take it wider than the middle of each eye.

Garnier BB cream is a good price.

L'Oréal do a tinted serum which is lovely. They also do a great BB Cream

You pat them rather than rub if that makes sense

So much here resonates for me (now hurtling towards 50). I don’t wear foundation anymore. I do a bit of colour correcting under my eyes and a bit of concealer near nose and sides of mouth. But I don’t think the colour I have is quite right.

I’ve stayed true to black mascara but reading this thread has made me wonder if I need to rethink.

thanks for starting the thread OP and for everyone’s helpful insight so far.