I was recently interviewed by Leann Sabato, of Cosmetiholic.com, regarding makeup for the mature woman.
It was an honor to be a part of her makeup artist Monday blog!
"Aging isn't easy and makeup can either make you look older, or turn back the years. Award-winning, celebrity makeup artist Patty Bell gives us the low down on how makeup can help or hurt, and how to take 10 years off in an instant.
What are the makeup rules for aging skin?
As women mature, the "less is more" rule, really applies here! All those years of sun worshipping really does catch up to you eventually, so this is the time to: add a night cream to your skin care routine; stop smoking; stay out of the sun; eat healthy; exercise drink lots of water; and ease up on the foundation,powder and heavy eyeshadows!
How can women avoid crepy skin, caused by foundation and powder?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Some foundations and powders can actually make the skin look older by settling in the fine lines. You want to look for a light, moisturizing foundation with sunscreen, and skip the powder altogether.
For daytime, I would suggest a tinted moisturizer. I have found that some of the mineral foundations look chalky and shiny on mature skin, so I never recommend them to my older clients, and avoid heavily frosted eyeshadows and bronzers as they will only draw attention to the crepiness. And never, ever use pancake makeup - save that for the morticians!
What makeup changes should a woman make when she begins to notice fine lines?
When you first start to notice fine lines, I would suggest using a Retin A cream at night, drink lots of H2O, exfoliate your skin and look for any moisturizers with Hyaluronic acid in it, which plumps up the skin by attracting water And most importantly, wear sunscreen!
Be conscientious as to where your lines are occuring: Sometimes women get lines on their upper forehead from applying mascara, sometimes they are from smiling (which is okay & completely natural) and sometimes the lines are from sleeping on your side. Many times the lines around the mouth & lips, may be from smoking. But remember that aging is a natural process and It's best to just own those lines...you earned them!
What makeup tips/trends make women look older?
Too much makeup instantly makes a woman look older. Very dark lips, tons of mascara, pancake makeup, black eyeliner, blue eyeshadow, and frosty pink lipstick can instantly age and date you. Today's makeup should be fresh & clean...regardless of your age! One should never hide behind their makeup, like a mask.
What makeup tips/trends make women look younger?
Sometimes the subtlest changes can make all the difference in a woman's face, and take off 5-10 years without surgery. As we age, our eyes tend to droop, our lashes and lips become thinner, our skin loses elasticity, our eyes lose their vibrancy & our teeth fade...but have no fear, makeup can cure everything!
A little concealer such as YSL Touche Eclat ($40, ysl.com can instantly brighten and lift the under eye circles.
An eyelash curler such as Shu Uemura's can instantly open up the eyes.
A touch of Visine, and some navy mascara will brighten your eyes and instantly refresh you.
Cream blush like Stila's convertible colors are a great way to add a pop of color to your face, without looking heavy.
Individual eyelashes such as Ardell's can add a touch of glamour to your look and are very inexpensive way to take off 10 years!
Finally...look into teeth whitening. Who wants to look at yellow, stained teeth?
These tips can work for all ages, and they are a lot cheaper than a face lift!
What is your favorite foundation for mature skin?
Airbrushing really looks beautiful on mature skin, but that's not always an option for the every day woman.My all time favorite foundation for mature skin is Visiora. This foundation seems to melt right into the skin & blend perfectly. It is used on a lot of films by every top makeup artist in Hollywood & is virtually undetectable on those big close ups, and it just leaves flawless looking skin. I am also a big fan of Laura Mercier and Chanel foundations."
...thank you Leann!
