MAKEUP CAN ADDS YEARS TO WOMEN'S PERCEIVED AGE - TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID THIS
MAKEUP MISTAKES THAT CAN MAKE WOMEN LOOK OLDER
The way you apply makeup may be adding years to your "perceived" age, people perceiving you as being older than your "birth" age. Learn the pros' makeup tips and tricks so you can influence other people's perception of your appearance and put your best and most youthful face forward.
Make Over Your Makeup Routine
More often than not, makeup may make a woman look prettier but it more likely ages a woman. In general, the more makeup you wear, the older you're going to look. However, when used correctly, not only does makeup highlight the good and mask the not-so-good, it can make a woman look more youthful.
To help you put your best (and youngest) face forward, read this post to avoid common makeup mistakes and learn how to apply makeup for a more youthful look.
Putting makeup on top of skin that hasn't been primed only accentuates any age-related imperfections you may be trying to hide, such as dryness, flakiness, and large pores, etc.
In addition to a good skin care regimen that includes gentle exfoliation and moisturizing, you may need to use a primer. A thin layer of a silicone-based makeup primer can fill in lines and pores, allowing the makeup to look flawless,
In addition to a good skin care regimen that includes gentle exfoliation and moisturizing, you may need to use a primer. A thin layer of a silicone-based makeup primer can fill in lines and pores, allowing the makeup to look flawless,
Unless your skin is very oily, powder can make it look chalky and ashy, giving it an aged appearance. Easy as they may be to use, powder foundations change color on your skin and make it look dusty.
The wrong foundation can also settle into and highlight the very lines and creases you want to hide. If your skin tends to be dry, look for moisture-rich formulas with hydrators, such as glycerin, dimethicone, and sodium hyaluronate, or go with a tinted moisturizer that won't leave a cakey finish.
Step Away From the Tweezers
Overzealous plucking can also scar the hair follicles, which may not grow back. To avoid adding years, go for a professional brow shaping. Or keep the shape you have and tweeze only the strays under the brow bone.
Lighten Up Your Lower Lash Line
The bottom lash line is a no-go zone. The look is so dated and associated with older looking women. When eyeliner and mascara inevitably become smudged there, they accentuate the darkness — signs of fatigue, and shadows in wrinkles — in other parts of your face.
Mascara there can emphasize any dark undereye circles, and that makes you look tired and older. Restrict mascara and liner to the top lash line, which "opens up" the eyes and helps make you look more awake. For special occasions when you might want to create a smoky eye, go light on your lower lashes.
Stay Away From Dark, Matte Lip Colors
Deeply pigmented matte lip colors are hard to pull off as you age. It's so severe — there's no softness to it. Matte lipsticks also lack the emollients in creamier formulas and may dry in flaky patches on the lips. Also, if matte lipsticks are not applied meticulously with a lip brush, the pigment can bleed and feather outside the lip — a look that screams age.
The solution is to go softer. Use a lip liner or a stain in a dark color you like, then blend a balm over it or coat it with sheer gloss. Deep colors need something to balance the harshness. You can have the shade you want without looking goth. If you must use a matte lipstick, try to find a moisturizing formula, and prevent it from feathering by using a lip liner and a lip brush to carefully apply the color.
Never Wear Mauve!
Avoid mauve nail polish colors — they have a tendency to make hands look old-fashioned and boring and some people might associate them with older blue hair-rinsed women. Instead, go for 'greige' colors, which are twisted versions of mauve — they look absolutely fashion forward.
As for shape, forgo blunt, square-edged nails, which are outdated now. Cut and file nails into rounder shapes, which are more natural looking and classically feminine and sophisticated.
Find Neutrals With Warmth
Some neutral brown eye shadows and lipsticks may have too much gray in them, a color that may leave a tone characteristically known as "ashy" — a detectable cast or flatness that sits on top of your skin rather than blending in. These colors can look dirty, monochromatic, and lifeless. Browns should have warmth and a little red, like cocoa to be perceived as more youthful.
When shopping, make sure you buy the right color by dabbing samples on your hand and stepping out of the department store to see them in natural light. The lighting inside is unflattering, and you'll be able to see the difference between good and bad colors outside. And compare the browns offered by a variety of brands so you can see the differences in undertones.
Stop the Sparkle
A little iridescence, strategically placed in the right areas, can bring liveliness to your face, but sparkle all over can make women look tacky and produce the opposite effect. With shimmer creams, limit application to your brow bones and the top of your cheekbones, where light would naturally hit the face. Avoid anything that's heavily frosted or has large, glittery crystals.
The same rules apply for eye shadow. If you want to wear a shade with some sparkle, select golds or champagnes — earth tones with a hint of shimmer.
Blend Away Blush Streaks
Step Away From the Tweezers
Brows that are too skinny and over-tweezed can make your whole face look skeletal. The thinner your brows, the older you look, even if you're actually young.
Overzealous plucking can also scar the hair follicles, which may not grow back. To avoid adding years, go for a professional brow shaping. Or keep the shape you have and tweeze only the strays under the brow bone.
Lighten Up Your Lower Lash Line
The bottom lash line is a no-go zone. The look is so dated and associated with older looking women. When eyeliner and mascara inevitably become smudged there, they accentuate the darkness — signs of fatigue, and shadows in wrinkles — in other parts of your face.
Mascara there can emphasize any dark undereye circles, and that makes you look tired and older. Restrict mascara and liner to the top lash line, which "opens up" the eyes and helps make you look more awake. For special occasions when you might want to create a smoky eye, go light on your lower lashes.
Stay Away From Dark, Matte Lip Colors
Deeply pigmented matte lip colors are hard to pull off as you age. It's so severe — there's no softness to it. Matte lipsticks also lack the emollients in creamier formulas and may dry in flaky patches on the lips. Also, if matte lipsticks are not applied meticulously with a lip brush, the pigment can bleed and feather outside the lip — a look that screams age.
The solution is to go softer. Use a lip liner or a stain in a dark color you like, then blend a balm over it or coat it with sheer gloss. Deep colors need something to balance the harshness. You can have the shade you want without looking goth. If you must use a matte lipstick, try to find a moisturizing formula, and prevent it from feathering by using a lip liner and a lip brush to carefully apply the color.
Never Wear Mauve!
As for shape, forgo blunt, square-edged nails, which are outdated now. Cut and file nails into rounder shapes, which are more natural looking and classically feminine and sophisticated.
Find Neutrals With Warmth
Some neutral brown eye shadows and lipsticks may have too much gray in them, a color that may leave a tone characteristically known as "ashy" — a detectable cast or flatness that sits on top of your skin rather than blending in. These colors can look dirty, monochromatic, and lifeless. Browns should have warmth and a little red, like cocoa to be perceived as more youthful.
When shopping, make sure you buy the right color by dabbing samples on your hand and stepping out of the department store to see them in natural light. The lighting inside is unflattering, and you'll be able to see the difference between good and bad colors outside. And compare the browns offered by a variety of brands so you can see the differences in undertones.
Stop the Sparkle
A little iridescence, strategically placed in the right areas, can bring liveliness to your face, but sparkle all over can make women look tacky and produce the opposite effect. With shimmer creams, limit application to your brow bones and the top of your cheekbones, where light would naturally hit the face. Avoid anything that's heavily frosted or has large, glittery crystals.
The same rules apply for eye shadow. If you want to wear a shade with some sparkle, select golds or champagnes — earth tones with a hint of shimmer.
Blend Away Blush Streaks
Streaks of blush are instantly aging. Stripes of color are unnatural and draw harsh lines on your face. The secret to avoiding this is simply to blend color with a kabuki brush. "These are rounded and have tapered edges, and they help makeup novices blend well without leaving hard lines of demarcation. You can also try a cream blush or a cheek stain, which you may have more control over and can easily blend with your fingers.
Go for a Subtle Glow
No matter what happens on Jersey Shore, experts agree that overdoing bronzers and spray tanners gives people a garish and aged appearance. Making matters worse is that many bronzers include large particles of mica, which can be drying, so your skin can end up looking really parched, old, and cakey.
For faux tan results that don't add 10 years, apply a light dusting of powder bronzer on your temples and just along the sides of your face. Using a kabuki brush helps here too. The goal is to create a subtle glow — not a glaring announcement that you doused yourself in bronzer.
Go for a Subtle Glow
No matter what happens on Jersey Shore, experts agree that overdoing bronzers and spray tanners gives people a garish and aged appearance. Making matters worse is that many bronzers include large particles of mica, which can be drying, so your skin can end up looking really parched, old, and cakey.
For faux tan results that don't add 10 years, apply a light dusting of powder bronzer on your temples and just along the sides of your face. Using a kabuki brush helps here too. The goal is to create a subtle glow — not a glaring announcement that you doused yourself in bronzer.
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