3 min read
Pause Well-Aging | March 02 , 2019
As your skin changes, so should your makeup techniques. Makeup artist Amanda Thesen tells us how.
As our skin changes, what we need from makeup does, too. Fine lines, enlarged pores and way drier skin are all part of making it past 40, and often the gut reaction can be to put on even more makeup to cover it all up. But turns out the opposite is true: More makeup only creates more of a mask-like look. Below, makeup artist Amanda Thessen breaks down the key tweaks to make as our skin and features change with time.
Be Kind to Your Face
“Older skin tends to be drier, so you need to properly prep it before even a drop of makeup goes on,” advises Amanda. “Definitely don’t apply foundation straight to a dry face.”
Instead, she recommends starting with a trio of Pause products to plump up skin and give makeup a smooth a surface to lay on. “I like to spritz the Cooling Mist onto clean skin, then layer the Collagen Boosting Moisturizer over it for maximum hydration.” (Tip: Close your eyes when using the Spray on your face – there are powerful cooling ingredients in there!)
"I’ll finish with a quick facial massage with the Fascia Stimulating Tool to boost blood flow and elasticity.”
When it comes to the actual foundation application, a light touch is crucial. “A good rule of thumb is to cover what needs to be covered, for example, the areas around the nose, mouth, under the eyes that tend to have more discoloration.” More makeup will simply crease into fine lines, causing the mask-like effect mentioned.
Go easy on highlighter, too. While it’s a huge makeup trend, too much – and too sparkly a formula – becomes a microscope for lines and wrinkles. Just a little bit on the cheekbones and bridge of the nose will add dimension to the face and add dewiness. An alternative would be a few drops of facial oil in the same places, which is also great for dry skin .
Eyes: Crow's Feet and Crepey Skin
Under eye discoloration and crow’s feet are probably the two most common changes, so here are two key adjustments to make: Focus concealer toward the inner corners of the eye, where discoloration with be darkest, and don’t take it up to the waterline. Product tends to crease there and in the crow’s feet, so this is how to avoid it.
With eye makeup, there’s no to give up a look you’ve loved for years. It’s just about making minor swaps, like a smudgy kohl pencil that plays nicer on older skin than a liquid liner or applying cream shadows in thinner layers.
How To Get Feather-Free Lip Color
“I definitely avoid gloss,” says Amanda. “A little bit in the center of the lip works, but otherwise it has a tendency to slide into the lines around the mouth.”
This will begin happening with lipsticks, too, so now’s a great time to introduce a lip pencil, to keep color from feathering. While she recommends a hydrating, satin-finish lip color, mattes don’t have to be ruled out, if that’s your thing. “Just don’t go for the super-drying ultra-long lasting liquid lip colors. A stick version is much kinder.”
And One More Thing...
“Invest in a magnifying mirror,” urges Amanda. If you’ve ever tried putting on makeup with readers in the way, this is probably a wise piece of advice. “Trust me,” she says, “It’ll make all the difference.”
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