Getting older might come with its challenges, but looking good shouldn't be one of them. We've been on a quest to discover the secret to flawless makeup when you're over 50 because, as our skin changes with the years, so too do our beauty needs. With the help of professionals Jane Cunningham (British Beauty Blogger) and Tricia Cusden (Look Fabulous Forever) - and, of course, the wisdom of some glamorous gransnetters - we've compiled the best tips for perfecting your makeup, no matter your age.
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Favourites among gransnetters are Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (John Lewis, £22.52, currently on offer) and Smooth Like Silk Face Prime (Look Fabulous Forever, £24).
"I use Clarins Instant Smooth primer which works a treat, smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines and makes a good base for the foundation."
"If you are over 55, I would recommend Look Fabulous Forever Face Primer. They recommend mixing it with their foundation with a brush on the back of the hand and then applying (one squirt of each). It goes a long way and is so smooth on the skin. I have been using it for over a year now and wouldn't ever change."
Once you've primed your skin, you can move on to applying your foundation. A lightweight foundation, BB cream or CC cream will give a more natural look. That said, if you're battling with menopausal sweats, you might want to choose a foundation that will stay put all day.
If you're confused by the difference between them then you're not alone; here's what each product does and how to best use them.
These contain several products in one, such as concealer and SPF, and are great for those who need next to no coverage, as they are primarily for prevention and maintenance. They hydrate and firm skin, protect it from environmental damage and lightly cover blemishes.
CC creams, or 'colour correcting' creams, are a lighter version of foundation while still having more coverage than BB creams. They prime and even out your skin tone, and often have hydrating benefits, making them ideal for mature skin and those concerned with age spots.
Now you're in the know, your next job is to find the right BB and CC cream for you.
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Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream | Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme CC Cream |
As recommended by Jane, this BB |
Nourish and revitalize your skin's appearance with CC cream, specially formulated to reduce the signs of ageing. |
Buy: Look Fantastic, £49 |
Foundations are thicker than BB or CC creams and offer more coverage. They cover small imperfections, even skin tone and add a slight warmth to the skin. They also come in a larger variety of shades.
The heavier your foundation, the more pigment it contains, which is essentially powder. This will make mature skin feel and look dry, whereas a lightweight or moisturising formula will make it look hydrated and dewy.
Invest in a decent sponge blender or foundation brush so you can get a photo finish. Sponges are easier to control but applying with a brush helps your foundation to last longer. Application techniques and tools can make all the difference, so it's essential that you have the products to get that base just right. Apply your foundation to the centre of your face and work outwards to blend with your jawline.
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The Ordinary Coverage Foundation | Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation |
A lightweight, affordable foundation that gives good coverage and glides over fine lines and wrinkles. |
A favourite among gransnetters for its stay-put power, SPF and suitability to all skin types. |
If you have blemishes or dark circles under your eyes that you would rather not be on show, then pop a bit of concealer on after you've applied your foundation, BB or CC cream. Here are our top tips for applying concealer:
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer, £25 is an excellent choice for mature skin and has a large range of shades available, while Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer, £8.99 targets dark circles and fine lines, resulting in a fresher look.
Unless you suffer with oily skin (and possibly even if you do), you should try to avoid using a powder. In the past we were taught not to shine, but these days, shine is 'glow'.
Powder can seep into the lines and creases of mature faces so, if you really feel the need to wear it, keep it to an absolute minimum and only apply around the t-zone area where oil can settle.
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e.l.f High Definition Powder | Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder |
This soft focus effect powder masks |
This powder is fine and light enough to blot away shine without settling into lines. |
Buy: John Lewis, £30 |
Crème blush is the friend of mature skin, as opposed to powdered which can stick to dry patches or get folded into creases. It's as simple as smiling, dabbing a dot onto your smile lines and blending over those apples!
Word to the wise though - don't whip it up to your ears; you're aiming for a healthy looking flush, not a Sable Colby lookalike.
If you want to go a step further and fake high cheekbones - or draw attention to your god-given ones (lucky you!) - lightly apply a highlighter pen over your cheeks, where your face naturally catches the light. This will give skin a healthy glow and a subtly luminous finish. A highlighter stick works well as it is easy to apply and blend.
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Stila Convertible Colour Dual Lip & Cheek Cream | NARS Cosmetics The Multiple |
A good quality option that allows you to build colour up gradually and can be |
This multifunctional stick blends to create a healthy glow with a subtle touch of shimmer. |
Buy: M&S, £18 |
Buy: Look Fantastic, £30 |
Nothing says 'child of the 60s' quite like an over-plucked brow. To add insult to injury, eyebrows become sparser as you get older.
Fixing thin eyebrows can be a bit of a challenge depending on the kind of treatment you need, but, in the meantime, a little brow pencil can do just the trick.
The key is to keep your brows tidy (snip if you have to) and look for a brow pencil with a brush at the other end so that any obvious pencil lines are brushed out.
If you have very thin brows, it's best to leave them alone entirely or go for a shade or two down - it's better to have a whisper of definition than an awkward-looking line. Another great product is brow gel, which you can use to set your brow pencil, feather your brows or add some colour to them.
And, best of all, you don't have to play by any rules - budget buys are often just as good as more expensive brands when it comes to brow products.
Gransnetters recommend Avon's True Colour Glimmerstick Brow Definer for its easy application and MAC's Eye Brows Big Boost Exclusive Fibre Gel which is long-lasting and waterproof, ensuring it won't drip down your face as the temperature rises.
"I lost both eyebrows due to thyroid problems. I have found that Avon Glimmerstick for brows is wonderful. I use light brown as I am blonde but there are other colours."
"I use MAC eyebrow gel. I think the trick with brows is to go a shade lighter than you think is right - they always seem to look darker on the skin - and apply with feathery strokes."
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Avon Glimmerstick Brow Definer | MAC Eye Brows Big Boost Fibre Gel |
Enriched with vitamins A and E to help it glide across your skin and achieve that perfect shape. |
Contains microfibres to add definition and volume for a fuller brow that's still natural looking. |
Buy: Avon, £3.50 |
This is often a problem area for older skin because of natural elasticity loss which can make lids creased and give you hooded eyes. If you want to achieve that smokey eye look, stick to these steps:
Because a smokey eye is such a good look at any age, it's almost foolproof. After all, it's not supposed to be precise.
WATCH: how to create a smokey eye look from Look Fabulous Forever
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No7 Stay Perfect Eye Shadow Palette |
Charlotte Tilbury's Rock 'N' Kohl Pencil |
The beauty of this palette is the |
Part liquid eyeliner, part kohl pencil, this is a wonder product, with intense pigment and the precision of a liquid eyeliner. |
Buy: Boots, £15 |
Buy: John Lewis, £19 |
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see our FacebookLive with Look Fabulous Forever founder and beauty vlogger, Tricia Cusden
The bottom line is that age is irrelevant when it comes to dark and defined lashes but there are some things to consider before choosing a mascara that's right for you.
"I've got thin, sparse lashes but I discovered Lancome Hypnose mascara a couple of years ago. The shape of the brush makes it much easier to catch those tiny lashes in the corners of the eye. It never clumps nor flakes and is easy to wash off at the end of the day. Wouldn't use any other now. Not the cheapest but I think it's worth every penny."
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Lancôme Hypnôse Volume-à-Porter Mascara | Tweezerman Eyelash Curler |
Recommended by gransnetters for long-lasting, intense volume without the clumps. |
These sleek lash curlers are great for added definition and volume - prepare for many compliments! |
Buy: Look Fantastic, £16 |
What can I do for thinning or uneven lashes?
Fear not as there are products that have been proven to condition and protect lashes, causing them to break less and grow in length and volume. Try Revitalash or RapidLash.
My eyes are sensitive - can I still wear mascara?
Sometimes, as we age, our eyes become more sensitive. If this is the case for you, you can opt for an all-natural mascara. For example, Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara offers weightless volume while being kind to eyes.
Ready for more makeup and fashion tips? Register here
The aim is to make mature lips look as full as possible, which means you'll want to have a gorgeous gloss or complementing lippy to hand.
Lip Liner
Go for a natural shade to line the outside of your lip and achieve a fuller look. Going for a shade that's too dark will leave you with a harsh outline if your lippy does start to wear off.
Lip gloss
Lip gloss is the ideal choice for making your lips look plumper, but beware of gloopy, extreme glosses and matte products - they can sometimes have the opposite effect.
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MAC lip liner | No7 High Shine Lipgloss |
MAC's famous lipliner comes in a variety of shades and glides on smoothly for easy application. |
Whether you want a bright, bold colour or a translucent gloss for a subtle shine, this product is perfect for special occasions. |
Buy: MAC, £15.50 |
Buy: No7, £9 |
Lipstick
If, however, you can't deny yourself the love of a good lipstick, choose a fairly neutral colour - think a couple of shades darker than your natural lip tone - as this can give mature lips a boost by making them appear fuller. Again, try to avoid matte lipsticks if you can, a cream finish will be more flattering.
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NARS Lipstick | Giorgio Armani Rouge Sheer Lipstick |
This lipstick contains a pigmented sheer formula which hydrates your lips and adds a gorgeous shine. |
This award-winning sheer lipstick moisturises as it goes, evening out lines and wrinkles. |
Buy: NARS, £22 |
Buy: Look Fantastic, £32 |
WATCH: how to apply perfect lipstick
Prices correct as of 09/03/21.
For more top beauty tips from an industry expert, watch our eye makeup tutorial below with beauty vlogger and founder of Look Fabulous Forever, Tricia Cusden. She gives us the low-down on the best makeup ideas for older women, plus reveals some invaluable tips and tricks!
Images: Shutterstock