Article by: Donna Hay from www.makeupbulletin.com
Ok, so you’ve just turned 40! But as far as you’re concerned you’re 25, and you have no freaking clue how you got to the big 40, or where the years have gone to!
Well, you’re at a great age to look your super confident and sexy self. You’re mature, you know what you want and who you are, and you think you know what to do in order to look good…..Or do you? Check out these pointers and see if you agree!
First things first. Your skin! This is your key to looking your best. Exfoliate regularly, moisturize, and sunscreen. These 3 vital skin essentials should never be ignored by any self respecting lady who wants to look great! Only once you have a great canvas to work on, can you start with the pro make-up tips!
Skin
Skin-care advisor and esthetician at Marvel college, Sanja Dragicevic, recommends exfoliating regularly…Why? She says before skin can really suck up the moisture it so desperately needs, the dry, dead surface cells must be sloughed off first, and even more so as we age.
She says that the skin cells of a woman in her 20’s renew every 21 to 28 days, but by the time she reaches her 40’s. that process takes 40 or 50 days.
Dragicevic further advises to exfoliate skin using products with alpha-hydroxy acids (like glycolic or lactic acid) or Retin-A, and to start slowly so as to minimise skin irritation. Start with skin care products that contain lower concentrations of active ingredients, say 5 to 8 %, she recommends, and then work it up to a higher concentration.
Estheticians can work with products that contain a maximum of 30 %. Anything higher must be administered by a dermatologist. “If you don’t exfoliate properly, nothing penetrates deeply. It will just be sitting on the surface of the skin,” concludes Dragicevic.
Foundation and primer.
Older woman generally want to smooth skin tone and minimize pores and the appearance of texture, so for this a primer is perfect.
So what does a primer do?
Basically a primer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for a flawless skin. It can be worn alone, or under foundation to smooth skin, and it also boosts your foundations staying power.
Moisturiser comes first, then your primer, then your foundation.
We love MAC.’s primer as well as Smashboxes photo finish primer. They rock!
Foundation is a very important part of your make up routine, so don’t skimp on it. After all, your face is the first thing that people look at ( hopefully!) so it’s important!
A good thing for older ladies to remember is to stay away from powders. Powders dry the skin and accentuate fine lines. A very matte foundation likewise will make you look ‘pasty’ and will also make your skin look too dry.
Rather opt for liquid foundations with sheen to add radiance. Nathalie Bechard, a make-up artist for Sephora, is a big proponent of creating radiance with make-up to make skin look younger. Foundations with illuminating qualities or that have a bit of a pearlescent pigment in them will do the trick.
Alternatively, look out for an illuminating cream that can be used under your foundation. We love Elizabeth Arden Skin lights! It’s great for mature ladies, and it isn’t too shimmery, it just gives your skin a gorgeous glow.
Hot tip!! If your foundation is the old matte type, mix in a bit of your everyday moisturiser, and use it as a tinted moisturiser instead.!
Article by: www.makeupbulletin.com