Smart Summer Make-up Solutions

The right makeup goes a long way toward skin that looks luminous decade after decade.

In your 20s

• Go easy on foundation
• Minimize shine by using a mattifing lotion that helps prevent combination-to-oily skin from looking greasy by midday.
• Don’t use mattifing lotion all over the face, just use it on the T zone where you are oiliest
• There is a real need for heavy base during this age period. Look for an oil-free, tinted moisturized with SPF
• Use concealer just on the areas that need a bit more coverage that will even out your complexion, but still lets your natural radiance show through.
• The eyes are the first to show signs of fatigue. Make them look more awake by using a cream shadow stick to sweep a wash of soft shimmer across your upper lids near the lash line.

In your 30s

• Wear a primer on make-up free skin. A primer helps minimize large pores and fine lines by coating the skin with light-deflecting particles. Look for one that also had SPF 20.
• The skin under the eyes starts to thin out in your 30s and years beyond these. This is what makes those dark circles under the eyes. To hide this you need to choose a concealer one shade lighter than the skin under your eyes
• Wear a bright lipstick. Since your natural lip color fades with age, wearing a glossy bright shade of pink, peach, or watermelon red makes you look more vibrant. Dark colors make the mouth look smaller and matte formulas show every fine line.

In your 40s+

• Skin usually starts to lose its natural glow in the early 40s. Help comes in the form of mixing a pea-size drop of illuminating lotion with a nickel-size dollop of your liquid foundation. Apply this to your face. These lotions usually contain pearlized pigments that give skin instant radiance.
• It is suggested at this time to use navy, gray or brown eyeliner. All of these colors are less harsh than black, which you want to stay away from in these years. Apply eyeliner just to top lash line and avoid the lower lid. Place the tip of the pencil almost into the base of your lashes so they look thicker.
• Soften skin around vertical lip lines with a lip-conditioning cream applied over and around the mouth. Prevent feathering with a clear liner. Circle the mouth and fill in lips before applying color.

Source: Buford A. 5 Sexy New Spa Tricks. Cosmopolitan [serial online]. August 2008;245(4):97. Available from: MAS Ultra - School Edition, Ipswich, MA. Accessed August 1, 2008. vbb