5 beauty mistakes older women should avoid
Sandy Taylor is a make-up artist with more than 10 years of experience. Her website Foundation Fairy is a place where she shares her beauty and makeup tips.
As you grow older, your body experiences a lot of different physical changes. Although it isn't necessary to create a completely new beauty routine, it is highly recommended that you refresh your beauty regime from time to time. Your beauty routine should continuously adapt to your body changes because certain beauty mistakes could actually age you faster.
Here is a list of the top five beauty mistakes that many older women make:
1. Ignoring your brows
As you age, your hair will become thinner and lighter and that includes your eyebrow hairs. This can lead to sad, skimpy-looking eyebrows, especially if you pluck or wax heavily. To highlight your eyes and really give your face some oomph, fill them in! Using a brow pencil in one shade lighter than your hairs, fill in your brows with short, quick strokes. Soften the look by blending slightly with a brow brush, then set the look with eyebrow gel. You will be surprised by how big a difference a strong brow can make to your entire look, regardless of what other makeup you wear.
2. Using black eyeliner
Dark black eyeliner, especially when applied to the bottom lid, looks harsh on women of all ages. Once your eyelashes start to thin and lighten, black eyeliner looks extra out of place. Instead, line both your top and bottom lash lines with grey or brown. You will still get definition without giving your face a heavy, unnatural appearance.
3. Using too much (or the wrong colour) foundation
Foundation can make your skin look flawless and youthful when worn correctly. However, be sure to use the right shade and amount or it can instantly age you! If you apply too much foundation it can actually settle into the creases you are trying to cover. If the colour does not match the rest of your body, it can look waxy and unnatural. A shade too light will make skin appear flat and lifeless while too dark gives skin a dull, heavy look that adds years to your face. To fix this problem, check your shade every few years instead of just buying the same product you've always used. Also, only apply foundation where you really need it so you look as light and natural as possible.
4. Applying too-dark lipstick
Dark lipstick shades make lips look small and thin and can settle into the lines around your mouth, giving you an instant "grandma" look. To bring back that youthful, plump appearance to your lips, stick to lighter colors like pinks and mauves. The more sheer the formula, the fuller your lips will appear, so stains and tinted lip glosses are great lipstick alternatives. Some women feel that gloss looks too young, but a slightly shiny topcoat really defines your lip shape. If you just have to wear the plums and burgundies of autumn, at least avoid heavy matte formulas that give your lips a dull look.
5. Wearing lots of shimmer
Frosted and iridescent eye shadows and lipsticks have their place but it is not on a distinguished older woman. Not only do these products (especially when worn in bright colors) look adolescent, the shimmer literally highlights your age. Light-reflecting makeup products accentuate fine lines and wrinkles, which are especially prominent around the eye and mouth areas. Instead, apply matte eye shadows and matte or satin lip products in pretty neutral shades or rich colors like plum and navy. If you just can't live without your shimmer, pop a bit in your inner eye corners to give yourself a bright-eyed, awake look.