Avoiding Unflattering Makeup Mistakes That Age Older Women

Understanding What Causes Older Women to Appear More Aged

As women grow older, changes in skin, bone structure, and hair can make it more difficult to apply makeup flawlessly. When makeupapplication techniques fail to adapt to aging skin, the result can inadvertently add years to a woman's appearance.

How Aging Skin Impacts Makeup Results

Skin becomes thinner, drier, and loses elasticity with age. Fine lines and wrinkles increase, oil glands shrink, and cell turnover slows down. Pigmentation like dark spots and redness develops. These natural changes make makeup application trickier. Products don't glide on as easily. Foundations can settle into fine lines or cling to dry patches. Dark circles, age spots, redness, and blemishes become more visible.

Typical Signs of Aging Skin

• Thinner skin texture
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Increased dryness
• Dullness and uneven tone
• Dark circles under eyes
• Broken capillaries/redness
• Dark spots/pigmentation
• Enlarged pores

Bone Structure Changes with Age

Facial bones also change with age, becoming less defined. You lose fat in some areas like the cheeks, and gain it in others like the jowls and neck. The tip of the nose elongates, eyebrows droop, and lips thin out. A lifetime of facial expressions leads to permanent grooves around the forehead, eyes, mouth and cheeks. These natural aging effects make people appear older.

Common Makeup Mistakes that Age Women

When women continue applying makeup just as they did in their 20s, without accounting for age-related changes, cosmetics can actually make them seem older. Things that worked before may now emphasize lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and other imperfections.

1. Choosing the Wrong Makeup Products

Heavier formulas, drying powders, and shimmery shadows suited for young skin tends to settle into fine lines on older faces. These products highlight imperfections and aging changes rather than smoothing or hydrating the skin. Always opt for makeup designed specifically for mature skin, which contains moisturizers and light-diffusing pigments.

2. Applying Too Much Makeup

Trying to heavily conceal every imperfection like pores, lines and spots often backfires. All that makeup sitting atop fine lines and wrinkles just draws more attention instead of minimizing flaws for a soft-focus effect. Take a targeted approach using lightweight concealers only where needed. Less is truly more when it comes to cosmetics and aging skin.

3. Choosing the Wrong Colors

Colors that complemented your complexion years ago may now clash, making skin look sallow. Skin's undertones change over time, sometimes requiring a switch to warmer, more golden based colors. The wrong shades can enhance redness in aging skin or interact with pigmentation. Getting professionally color matched can prevent unflattering makeup shades.

4. Neglecting Eye Makeup

Bare eyes devoid of any makeup actually make women appear older. Defining brows, curling lashes, adding subtle definition along the lash lines and highlighting the inner eyes helps balance facial features for a more youthful look. Use waterproof formulas to prevent creasing on hooded or lined eyelids.

5. Overlooking Lips

Thinning lips lose structure and fade to a similar color as skin with age. Failure to define lips with color washes out the face. Use a lip primer to prevent feathering. A tinted balm or sheer moisture-rich lipstick flatters aging lips. Always line and fill lips before applying lip color.

Tips to Apply Makeup for a More Youthful Appearance

Prep Skin Properly

Exfoliate skin to remove dull surface cells, then apply antioxidant serums, hydrating moisturizers and primer. Let sink in before applying foundation. These steps give makeup the smooth base it needs to glide onto aging skin, preventing visible makeup lines.

Use Lightweight Formulas

Heavier foundations and powders look obvious on lined or wrinkled skin. Sheer-to-medium coverage works best. Liquid foundations containing pigments and light diffusers optically blur lines. Set makeup with minimal powder only where needed. Spray facial spray between layers.

Multi-task Complexion Products

Use color correcting and tinted moisturizers to even skin tone with sheer coverage. Cushion compacts provide lightweight moisture and coverage in one. Cream blushes, highlighters and bronzers give a dewy effect that reflects light beautifully.

Play Up Your Eyes

Open up tired looking eyes by curling lashes and applying lighter colors on lids. Use brownish liner and mascara instead of black. Never line lower inner rims. Fill brows for more framing. Avoid dark smoky eyes or heavy shadow.

Define Lips

Line and fill in lips before applying color. Neutral, pinky and rose shades flatter aging skin best. Use creamy or sheer formulas to prevent settling into lines around mouth. Apply gloss or balm to finish for a hydrated pout.

Beyond Makeup: Lifestyle Approaches to Slow Skin Aging

While makeup can help women look more youthful and radiant, caring for your skin is most important. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits slows intrinsic and extrinsic aging processes for a naturally younger appearance.

Protect Skin from Sun Damage

Chronic sun exposure is the #1 cause of skin aging. UV rays damage collagen and elastin fibers while spurring pigment formation. Always apply broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen. Wear wide-brimmed hats and UV blocking clothing for added protection when outdoors.

Don't Smoke

Smoking dramatically accelerates aging of facial skin because the mouth is in constant motion, causing repetitive facial expressions. Toxins in smoke also destroy collagen and elastin while restricting blood flow to the skin. This starves skin of nutrients and oxygen necessary for renewal.

Sleep at Least 7 Hours Nightly

Not getting enough sleep worsens dark under eye circles, inflammation and inhibits cell repair processes. Sleep deprivation leads to increased cortisol and oxidative stress - both extremely damaging to the skin.

Stay Hydrated

Dehydrated skin looks dull, emphasizing fine lines and wrinkles. Proper water intake plumps up skin cells and boosts circulation to nourish skin tissue. Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily and consider adding supplement like hyaluronic acid.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.