As a woman’s body changes, so do her make-up needs. That glittery eye shadow she wore in her 20s now draws too much attention to creases and lines. Some women need camouflage for dark circles, sun damage and age spots. Others need to open up aging eyes.
Great make-up application for the over-40-and-fabulous crowd starts with good skin care, says Lisa Johnson, a Nashville-based make-up artist who has worked on a number of celebrity clients.
And the less makeup, the better, she says. “I’m 50, so I can tell you from experience; you don’t need a lot of make-up.”
She recommends that women over 40 use precision tools and the right colors. “Stay away from a lot of shimmery bronzers. I think peaches corals, some pink—if they’re not too pink—work well for women over 40 because we tend to lose our pigment, and I just think the warmer tones look best on most.”
For a more youthful look, pay close attention to your eyebrows and lips. “The thicker the brow, the more youthful the appearance,” Johnson says. The eyebrows, she says, define the shape of the face and anchor it.
As for the lips, she recommends applying a stain or pencil over the entire lips and then adding a touch of gloss. And you don’t have to purchase it at a department store. Any drug store brand will do, she says.
Wearing mascara or even false eyelashes will make a woman’s eyes look younger. “I love false lashes on older women. It takes 10 years off the eyes if done right.” Women have to experiment with them, but the good news, she says, is that you can also buy them from a drug store. She recommends putting them on while looking down and then blending the false lashes with your own.
And be careful with the eyeliner. Thick pencil liner is a no-no. It’s best to use an angular brush and dip it into dark eye shadow and run it along the lash line. That makes for a thick lash line that doesn’t look too harsh.
Middle-aged women also need to be mindful about the right shadows. “I use shimmer on everyone, but the eye shadows I use are really finely milled; they’re not glittery. Stay away from frost, whatever you do.”
She likes cream foundation on women because it looks dewy but not too wet. And she also recommends topping it with a translucent powder.
And if you haven’t updated your look lately, it’s time to go see a professional. It’s best, she says, to go to an independent make-up artist or a spa for a makeover, instead of a department store. Otherwise you could wind up buying a lot of products you don’t need. “They’re pushing sales in department stores,” she says. “That’s their job.”
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