So, you’re not 18 anymore. If you happen to be nearing, at or beyond your mid-20s, chances are you’re seeing signs of aging. And that’s OK! These are the things that give your face character, and quite frankly, there are some women in Hollywood who could use a bit of that in their faces. Having said that, you’re not trying to look older than you are, either.
But so many of us are making little mistakes that indeed fool people into thinking we’re several years older than we actually are. Read the list below and make sure you’re purging your makeup routine of these aging follies. And then enjoy the gorgeous transition from girlhood to womanhood — you’ve earned it.
You’re Skipping Moisturizer
Think moisturizing daily doesn’t need to be part of your makeup routine? Think again. While you should be doing this even if you’re going bare-faced, it’s absolutely essential to keeping your skin looking as plump, firm and fine-line-free as possible. And you don’t need fancy brands to get the job done. There are some really effective drugstore brands, like Roc and Neutrogena.
You’re Skipping Primer
Primer deposits a super fine, silky layer on top of your skin for makeup to rest on so it doesn’t settle into those fine lines or wrinkles. The older you get, the more primers you should consider using. Facial, eyeshadow and lip primers are all on the market now.
You’re Going for Heavy Black Liner
It’s a harsh reality, but heavy black eyeliner ages you, making your eyes look smaller and drawing attention to skin that’s less firm than it once was. What to do? Ditch it. Use brown liner and blend it for soft, ageless emphasis. Another option is to apply brown shadow to your lash line with a brush, ensuring you ditch the harsh line for good.
You Think Shimmer and Glitter Makes You Look Youthful
Depending on where you put it, shimmer makeup, frosty lipstick and even liquid highlighter can highlight the spots you don’t want to draw attention to. To be blunt, they highlight wrinkles really well and make you look older. So avoid putting them on any part of your face that creases, like lids, lips and corners. A touch of highlighter on your now prominent cheekbones is quite all right, though.
You’re Not Filling In Brows or Filling Them In Too Much
Brow hairs fall out as we age. So if you’re not filling them in, you could be aging yourself. Then again, if you’re using a heavy hand, you could end up looking like a Broadway star who hasn’t had a part in 10 years. Make sure you use a pencil or powder that’s lighter than your brow hair color. Go slow and use a light touch.
You’re Still Setting Makeup With an Old-School Compact
Nothing against those compacts, since they were part of our first makeup collections. But now that we’re older, powder can settle into our lines and make makeup look caked on. Use loose translucent powder instead and apply with a kabuki brush to widen dispersal.
You Don’t Do Touch-Ups
Makeup that bleeds shows our true age as it settles into those lines underneath our eyes or on the outside of our lips. Do a spot check at least once per day. Clean up excess mascara or lipstick that’s strayed from its original position.
Your Lip Color is Over-the-Top
Every so often, the vamp look for your lips is in. But that doesn’t mean it’s for you. Just know that the darker your lip color, the smaller your lips look. And since lips lose their volume with time, you might be giving the impression you’re aging faster than you are. Lip stains that add a touch of color without being harsh are a better daily bet as you approach your prime adult years.
