Forget crepey foundation and dehydrated skin, with the right anti-ageing products and makeup, you can take years off the clock. We asked professional makeup artists for their top tips on the best makeup for your 50s.
Looking younger is skin deep
First things first, it’s time to update your skincare regime. Look no further than the Best Anti-Ageing products as voted for by beauty experts in the 2017 woman&home Best in Beauty Awards:
In your prime
Look at investing in priming products as they smooth out the appearance of lines.
Jacqui Trinder of Accentuate Hair and Makeup explains: “A face primer will not only prepare your skin for the application of your foundation and make it last longer, it will also make your skin look much smoother.”
w&h recommends: The smooth-as-silk product that got our judges’ vote for Best Primer in our 2017 Best in Beauty Awards:
Elizabeth Arden Flawless Start Instant Perfecting Primer, R365 for 30ml.
Which foundation to choose?
Face powder is the enemy in your 50s. A lightweight moisturising foundation is ideal at this age as heavy makeup instantly ages you, advises Claudette Lingenfelder from Beauty Beyond.
Enhance your natural beauty and stay away from highlighting and contouring. Instead of defining your features, it will only serve to highlight fine lines and wrinkles.
w&h recommends: Voted the best All-Day Foundation in the woman&home 2017 Best in Beauty Awards, this foundation offers sheer finish and really good coverage that lasts:
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, R525 for 30ml
Avoid a lipstick leak
Prevent lipstick from bleeding into the fine lines around the lips by applying a lip primer to the edges of the lip line, advises makeup artist Jacqui.
Jacqui recommends: MAC Prep + Prime Lip, R290
Makeup artists advise that the most flattering shade for older skin is to go one shade darker than your natural lip colour. Avoid bright or very dark colours and go for more natural, earthy tones, says Claudette.
w&h recommends: Our Best Easy Wear Product for Lips – as voted for by makeup artists in the woman&home Best in Beauty Awards:
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 43, R99,95
It’s all about the eyes
As we get older, our eye shape can change and things like hooded eyelids and wrinkles can make applying eye makeup a challenge. Try out these makeup artist-approved tips.
To improve the appearance of bags under your eyes, opt for MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, suggests makeup artist Deoni Strydom from Deoni Makeup.
MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, R420, www.maccosmetics.co.za
- Prime your eyelids to stop eyeshadow filling in any wrinkles or creases
- Avoid heavy, dark eyeshadow. Choose lighter, natural colours to enhance your eyes and make them look bigger.
- When using eyeliner, stay away from intense black. Opt for a less obvious sapphire blue, dark brown or deep purple.
- Apply more eyeliner to your top lash line than below the eye as this will make your eyes look bigger.
- If your top eyelids are wrinkled, stay away from liquid liner as it could bleed into the wrinkles, adds Claudette.
w&h recommends: Try the Best Eye Primer, as voted for in our 2017 woman&home Best in Beauty Awards:
Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer, R385.
How to apply eyeshadow
Deoni gives us her top tips on how to make your eye makeup work for you in your 50s:
- Start with a hint of a different colour, like a light purple or mauve colour on brown eyes
- Blend, blend, blend
- Experiment with different light matte colours
- Keep darker colours to the outer corners of your eyes.
TIP: Avoid shimmer eyeshadow as it sits in the creases and instantly ages you.
Lashes
Curl your lashes at the tips to open up the eyes and use a dark brown or black mascara which will make the whites of your eyes appear whiter and more youthful.
If your lashes are thinning, invest in some false individual lashes to give your lashes a thicker appearance.
WATCH VIDEO: Apply false lashes at home like a pro
Brows
A full brow can take years off. Fill and shape your brows and always remember to brush them through to blend out any colour so it doesn’t look to harsh. This is important because brows tend to become finer and lighter as we age.
WATCH VIDEO: Our Beauty Ed shows you how to fill in your brows
Cheeks
Use pink toned cream or liquid blushers that are not too bright and apply on the apple of the cheeks. Avoid blusher with glitter as it can sit in your fine lines and emphasise them, says Tracey Kroukamp, woman&home Beauty Editor and makeup artist.
w&h recommends: For a natural flush, try the Best Blusher, as voted for readers in our 2017 Best in Beauty Awards:
Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Blush, R219,95
Disclaimer: The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice.
