Best Makeup Tips for Women Over 40 You Haven’t Heard Before
Something shifts around our 40s where suddenly doing our makeup routine isn’t as…fun. Fine lines creep up, eyes become hooded, and our foundation clings to every dry patch.
It’s so easy to feel discouraged and uninspired.
All the advice for aging skin seems to be about the same: “moisturize before,” “don’t apply heavy foundation,” and “skip the powder.” Yawn – all the same stuff we’ve heard over and over.
I wanted some real, specific tips.
I searched the internet for the best tips, followed celebrity makeup artists, and embarked on some serious trial and error.
Here are some of the best makeup and top makeup techniques for those of us over 40 that actually made a difference in how my makeup looked.
This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you purchase a product through my link at no extra cost to you. All items are carefully curated by me and reflect my honest opinion.
First: Understanding Skin Changes Over 40
It all starts with skin. When our skin is good, we can use less makeup. Unfortunately, after 40, collagen production, which gives skin its elasticity, decreases by approximately 1% each year. This reduction impacts how tight and firm the skin looks.
Hormonal shifts also affect the skin after 40 with the decline in estrogen.
Here are some common skin changes you may notice:
- Reduced elasticity: Skin may appear less firm and more prone to fine lines.
- Dry Skin: Natural oils decrease, leaving skin less hydrated.
- Thin skin: Epidermal thinning may make the skin appear more translucent.
If you’ve noticed these changes, you’re not alone.
If you’re noticing your makeup looks different or isn’t as fun to do, it may be due to the natural aging of the skin, which influences how your makeup looks.
We are going for youthful, glowy, and hydrated and specifically targeting those signs of aging.
Prep the Skin with Hyaluronic Acid
We know moisturizing and skin prep is key before applying makeup.
A hack to get super-plump skin is to mist water over the face first and then immediately hyaluronic acid-based serum.
Hyaluronic acid’s unique molecular structure allows it to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, but it needs some moisture to activate.
Let this sink in for a few minutes before doing the rest of your skincare and makeup, and you’ll have a youthful, plump canvas to work from.
Favorite hyaluronic acid serums:
Color Correct Before Applying Foundation
Dark circles, redness, and discoloration are oh-so-common as we age.
Instead of layering on the foundation, try color correcting to neutralize imperfections first.
Peach or orange-toned correctors help cover dark circles, while green correctors counteract redness.
The key here is choosing a lightweight corrector you can layer. The key to successful color correction lies in the lightness of the application; a little goes a long way.
“When I apply to clients, I start by doing a normal skincare routine, priming, and then color correction. This way, I find I end up using less concealer or coverage because I’ve already addressed the concerns with color correction.” – Charlie Riddle, Celebrity Makeup Artist
Favorite Color Correctors:
- Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Eye Treatment
- L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer, Peach Corrector
- Erborian Women’s CC Red Correct
Don’t Mix Silicone and Water Formulas
Does your makeup ever get patchy? It may be because you’ve combined a silicone-based product with a water-based product.
The silicone creates a barrier that water-based products can’t penetrate, leading to an uneven finish.
Mixing the two can cause separation or pilling, which can make mature skin look even older.
Check the ingredients of your products. If they list water (aqua) or silicone (commonly ending in -cone or -siloxane) as the first ingredient, this is usually a good indicator of the formula’s base.
Sheer Out Foundation With Your Favorite SPF, Moisturizer, Primer, or Illuminator
Even the best foundations can look cakey on older skin – especially those with a matte finish.
Opt for a hydrating formula, preferably a liquid foundation, for a natural look. Then, mix your foundation with your favorite sunscreen, moisturizer, primer, or illuminator to achieve a natural and dewy finish.
Mixing something into traditional foundation sheers out the coverage and adds an extra boost of hydration and a healthy glow to your skin.
A tinted moisturizer is also a great option, but I always get better results by customizing and mixing products.
Favorite Products to Sheer Out Foundation:
- L’Oreal Lumi Glotion
- Lancôme La Base Pro Makeup Primer
- Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 – Glowy Sunscreen Primer
Skip the Brushes – Instead, Press Foundation Into The Skin
For a flawless complexion, use your hands!
“A lot of makeup artists will first put foundation on their hands, rub it together, and then press it into the skin, rather than applying it with a brush. I think it gives a nicer, more natural glow to the skin.” – Haley Bieber
Alternatively, a damp beauty blender is amazing at pushing foundation into the skin.
Sometimes, I will use my hands and fingers to press the product into my skin, and then once everything is set, I bounce a damp beauty blender on top to blend everything in.
Conceal Undereyes The Right Way
Concealer on more mature skin tends to crease and show fine lines.
For best results, prep the under-eye area with a good eye cream beforehand.
Use two concealers: one in a shade that matches your skin tone to cover hollowness or other blemishes and one slightly brighter to lift and brighten the eyes.
To brighten and lift the eye area without looking overdone, add a dot of concealer in the corners of the eyes and also on the outer corner, blending upwards.
If you are prone to creasing, set the undereye with a light dusting of powder and press with a damp beauty blender.
Favorite Undereye Combo:
- Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer
- Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder
- BeautyBlender
Here’s a great video that explains how to stop concealer from creasing:
Splurge on a Cream Blush and Bronzer
Cream blushes and bronzer are your best friends when it comes to that youthful glow.
Unlike powder formulas, cream products blend seamlessly into the skin, giving you a natural wash of color.
The key is finding one that is blendable, seamless, and has the right undertones for your skin.
I’ve tried dozens of cream bronzers over the years, and I feel it’s worth splurging a bit to get a high-quality one. The last thing we want is a patchy bronzer or blush that doesn’t blend out.
Apply slightly above the cheekbone for a lifted look, and press into the skin for a seamless finish.
My favorite cream products are from Westman Atelier. They were a splurge, yes, but they were well worth it.
Angle the Brows Up & Add Warmth
Well-groomed eyebrows frame the face and can take years off your appearance.
As we age, two things happen: 1) eyebrows tend to thin out and lose shape, specifically around the tail and the front of the brows, and 2) Brow hair may turn grey if your natural hair color changes to grey.
To bring youthfulness to the entire face, fill in sparse areas with a thin brow pencil or powder using light, feathery strokes, specifically focusing on the sparse areas.
Aim for a natural-looking arch that doesn’t pull down at the tail (brush brows up).
If you notice your brows turning grey, bring in a little warmth. You don’t need a separate product for this—matte eyeshadow works just fine!
Favorite Brow Products:
Use Bronzer for Eyeshadow
With a fluffy shadow brush, add a wash of bronzer in place of eyeshadow. Using the same products gives a cohesive, bronzy look. I also love to buff the same bronzer on the lower eyelid with a pencil brush.
Super simple and always looks great.
Favorite Blendable Bronzers:
Add a Subtle Cat Eye For an Instant Eye Lift
A subtle cat eye can instantly lift and elongate the eyes, giving you a more youthful appearance.
Instead of a bold wing that can warp with hooded eyes, opt for a softer and more wearable version.
Use eyeliner liner or shadow to create a thin line along the upper lash line, extending it slightly at the outer corner. Clean up the angle shape with a concealer brush, and you’ll have a perfect cat eye every time!
Want an even easier hack? Use your eyebrow pencil to create a subtle wing at the very outer corner of your eye. Brow pencils tend to be lighter and slightly stiffer – they create the most subtle wing that lifts your eye without accepting droopy eyes
Favorite Cat Eye Products:
- NYX Brow Pencil (for a super-subtle cat eye just on the outer corner of the eye)
- Tom Ford Eyeliner
- MAC Gel Liner
Stick to Black Mascara Only
Brown mascara has been trending lately as the “less harsh” and clean-girl look. I bought a few this past year, but for some reason, it didn’t make my eyes pop. I always gravitated back towards black mascara.
Apparently, brown mascara can give a dull appearance – not what we’re going for.
“I’ll never make a brown mascara,” she says on a recent Zoom call introducing her brand-new eye-focused launches. “I’m a firm believer that when older women apply a brown mascara, it tends to make the eyes look red. As we age, we want to have that really healthy, white moon-beam from the eyes rather than looking a bit yellow or red.” Rose-Marie Swift, RMS Beauty Founder
Best black mascaras that separate, lift, and volumize:
- Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara
- L’Oréal Paris Makeup Lash Paradise Mascara
- CoverGirl Lash Blast Mascara
Skip the Longwear Lipsticks (Go for the Gloss)
Longwear lipsticks or matte formulas might be alright for longevity, but they’re not doing our lips any favors.
If your goal is soft, hydrated lips, lip gloss is where it’s at.
I still like a little definition of the lips, so my preferred combo is lip liner (in the color of my lips to provide a full look) + gloss.
To get a youthful lip, ever-so-slightly overline the top and bottom center portions of the lip but keep the rest of the lip liner along the natural lip line.
Slightly buff out the lip liner and top with a little gloss – perfect pouty lips every time.
Best Anti-Aging Lip Glosses:
- Maybelline Lifter Gloss, Hydrating Lip Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid
- LANEIGE Lip Glowy Balm
- Dior Lip Oil
