The Pro’s Verdict: This Makeup Mistake Is Ruining Your Complexion After 50

Regardless of your age, applying makeup doesn’t necessarily have to feel like a burden or a means to hide. In truth, you might decide not to use it at all. Nonetheless, should you opt to apply makeup, experts advise steering clear of it since they caution that it can cause more damage than benefit to your complexion.

This small act that spoils it all

This tip might be something you have come across previously:
Hide your wrinkles; it will make you appear more youthful.
Spoiler alert: this statement is incorrect. Actually, it’s the complete reverse. As per experienced makeup artists, people often have an instinctive reaction—to apply heavy coverage foundation believing it will smoothen and cover imperfections. However, in truth, it tends to settle into lines, lock facial expressions in place, making one appear severe, or even more exhausted than they actually are.

Charlotte Tilbury
, the renowned British makeup artist, asserts:
The sturdier the base, the more it reveals the marks of time.
It’s not about age; it’s about the condition of your skin and respecting what it has been through. A wrinkle isn’t a defect—it’s a story, an experience etched into your face. Why remove it when it holds so much meaning?

Sure, if you wish, feel free to correct me without hiding anything.

Rose-Marie Swift
The founder of the RMS Beauty brand has a straightforward philosophy: your skin is vibrant, and it warrants more than being covered with thick makeup.
If you wish, correct but do not hide.
She suggests utilizing your fingertip for gentle tapping, particularly in dimly lit spots. Avoid using a trowel, skip the mask, and steer clear of anything too heavy.

Looking to improve your skin’s appearance? Focus on moisturizing, nurturing, and massaging it. This will provide a solid, pleasant base for your skin. Most importantly, keep in mind: you aren’t obligated to do anything. Applying makeup ought to be an option, something enjoyable rather than a social mandate to meet unyielding and impractical youthful ideals.

Foundations? True, but about hydration… or completely skip it.

Laura Geller, another authority on makeup for older skin, insists firmly:
“Thick textures are over.”
If you desire them, what you require is fluidity, ease, and luminosity. Opt for creams with a powdery finish that have a slight sheen, ensuring they’re gentle on your skin and allow it to stay breathable. Alternatively, consider using a lightweight BB cream along with a touch of strategically applied concealer—that should be all you need.

What if you just chose not to wear anything at all? To embrace your natural skin, unfiltered and bare? This isn’t a sign of carelessness; it’s a gesture of liberation.

The strength of subtle (or bold) hues

The classic line?
Post-50, steer clear of very vibrant hues.
So, why not? If you have a penchant for colors such as fuchsia or electric blue, embrace them fully. However, if you prefer achieving a subtle, naturally radiant look, softer tones like powder pink, golden beige, and warm browns can enhance your appearance effortlessly. When applied using your fingers, cream eyeshadows meld onto your lids gently, almost like a whisper.

Remember this: it’s perfectly fine to sport vibrant lipstick whether you’re 20 or 70. Your eyelids being “too saggy” for eyeliner is also a myth. These are guidelines that should be discarded!

As makeup artists evolve, societal progress can lag behind. We frequently encounter notions of ‘deception’ related to aging, and ideas around ‘concealing’ lines and creases, as though our aim should be to mask who we truly are. Yet, your skin thrives, reacts, expresses joy, forms patterns, and radiates light; it does not require subjugation. Therefore, apply cosmetics if they bring you pleasure, yet refrain from doing so with the intent to appear more youthful. Use them to celebrate yourself, or opt out entirely.