Sponsored by Vintage Vixen Cosmetics

It was November 11, 2017, the morning of my daughter’s wedding. As the mother of the bride, I had fulfilled a lot a roles for this big day, including that of the wedding coordinator / day director.  In fact, I had just enough time after decorating, speaking with the caterer, picking up the cake, assisting the bride (and groom), etc. to rush into my dress and freshen up my makeup. It was then that I noticed the fine lines around my eyes and the creasing of my foundation in my smile lines. Yep! At the age of 48, the moment had finally arrived: my usual makeup products and routine no longer served me. We had come to the end of our road together. The perimenopausal skin changes had started to occur.

In perimenopause, estrogen depletion begins causing the reduction of collagen and elastin, the very natural ‘scaffolding’ needed to plump up your skin and keep it youthful and firm. You start to notice thinner and drier skin and, with the onset of menopause itself, crow’s feet, smile lines, wrinkles, age spots, rashes, sagging jowls, and sensitivity, etc. You will also find yourself at a loss for how to correctly apply your makeup on your newly changed canvas now that you’ve entered your mature skin stage. So, as a fellow member of the “Fine Sisterhood” of women who are blessed with ‘The Gift of Longevity’, I am going to share 20 makeup tips to help you to continue looking your gorgeous, beautiful selves.

Flawless Makeup Begins with a Clean Canvas

1. Cleanse your skin with a creamy cleanser that hydrates. This will nourish your skin and replenish the lost natural oils and moisture.
2. Tone with a non-alcoholic toner that contains gentle botanical ingredients such as rose water and antioxidants such as elderberry. Micellar water works wonders as well.
3. Soften your complexion by exfoliating dead skin cells. Using sugar scrubs, enzyme peels, mild microdermabrasion, or other exfoliants to encourage cellular turnover keeps skin’s texture polished and smooth. This is recommended 1-2 times weekly.
4. Hydrate with a non-greasy, light-weight serum containing hyaluronic acid to give your skin a moisture boost and quench its thirst. Hyaluronic acid holds a thousand times its weight in water giving the skin a smooth, supple, luminesce finish. Vitamin C serums are also beneficial for mature skin. They help lighten dark spots and discolorations while also brightening the skin’s complexion.
5. Moisturize with a cream containing peptides, ceramides, squalene, retinol, collagen or other plumping, nourishing ingredients.
6. Don’t forget that eye cream! The eyes are the first to show age due to their lack of natural oil glands. So replenishing moisture and hydration in this delicate area will soften crow’s feet and wrinkling. Again, use serums or moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide (to increase circulation and perk up tired eyes), retinol (Vitamin A), Vitamins C and E as well as other firming ingredients.
7. No matter your skin tone, apply your sunscreen! The FDA recommends protecting your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 or higher. Dermatologists recommend SPF 30+, especially for thin, mature skin. This will provide a protective barrier against free-radicals and harmful UVA-UVB rays.

Now That Your Skin is Prepped It’s Time to Get Your Glam On!

8. Applying primer not only prevents your makeup from settling into your fine lines and wrinkles but it gives makeup traction to adhere to. Using an illuminating primer with a blurring effect can often minimize large pores and conceal fine lines.
9. Concealers and Correctors play an important role in camouflaging discolorations and uneven skin tones. Try to avoid heavy, thick concealers that may settle into your skin’s texture. Correctors are usually applied prior to the application of your foundation. Concealers may be applied beneath or over your foundation, depending upon your preference. Apply in light, feathery strokes with a smooth rounded foundation brush or stippling manner with a beauty blender or wedge sponge (dampened with makeup setting spray) until well blended.
10. Select a foundation that is either liquid or mousse with a sheer light to medium coverage, preferably water based and non-comedogenic. Pre- and Post-Menopausal skin may be prone to acne and breakouts during hormonal changes. Having a buildable base will prevent overly applying a heavier, full-coverage foundation which creases into your fine lines and clogs your pores. Blend well following the same application as step #9.
11. Contouring adds definition and enhancement to your natural bone structure. Opting for contour creams instead of powders for normal-dry skin keeps your makeup looking more natural without harsh, sharp lines. They minimize large features and broadens smaller, narrower ones. Depending on your desired angles, contouring can give sagging skin the illusion of uplifted jowl and chin lines. Careful blending of contour creams also diminishes gauntness and adds fullness to cheekbones. Apply contour before highlighters, powders, and setting sprays.
12. Blushes brighten your skin and give it a youthful, healthy glow. If your skin is normal – dry, then a lush cream blush will enhance your texture. Powder blushes work best for normal – oily, acne prone skin. Both types, applied to the apples of your cheeks and blended well will add a rosy splendor that compliments any age.
13. While powders help to set your foundation, too much powder can settle into your smile lines and creases giving your makeup a cakey, dull, uneven finish. If using a pressed powder, apply this before your contour; if using loose powder, apply after your contour. Remember to tap off excess powders and use them lightly and sparingly.
14. Bronzers kiss mature skin with a natural glow. They add a subtle warmth, giving it an alluring vibrancy. These look amazing on ageing skin!
15. Highlighters are a wonderful accessory for mature skin! They give a healthy-looking radiance, illuminate dull complexions, accentuate cheekbones, and even give the lips a fuller appearance. Apply to the tops of your cheekbones to the outer brow bone, the bridge of your nose and across the top vermillion of your lips with a fan-shaped brush.
16. As a bold and vibrant 51-year-old woman with a bold and vibrant luxury cosmetic line I say this step is definitely a personal choice. I’ve read tons of beauty articles that have placed limitations on mature women when it comes to their choice of eyeshadows. They have advised mature women to stay within the neutral tones, avoid glitters, etc. I say, “Go for it!” Whatever makes you feel confident, secure in your skin and authentically you. Explore those satins, shimmers, mattes, duo chromes, and glitters. Yes! Even glitters! Today’s cosmetic formulations make glitters more blendable, softer and buildable without creasing garishly into the folds of your eyelids and without emphasizing ageing skin textures. Just remember to blend and layer.
17. Your eyebrows frame your face in a very dramatic way. They can help make an asymmetrical face appear more symmetrical. Choose the shape that best accentuates your natural features. Select softer colors for brows that correspond to your makeup application. Brow powders and tinted gels help define your eyes as well as keeps eyebrows in place. The best way to create your natural brow shape is:

• Take a pencil or eyebrow brush and place it from the outside corner of your nose straight up. This will be where your eyebrow should begin. Place a dot there.
• Then, take the pencil or eyebrow brush and place it from the outside of your iris straight up. This will be where your eyebrow arch should begin. Place a dot there.
• Next, place the pencil or eyebrow brush near the edge of your nostril and place it diagonally upward towards the outer corner of your eye, all the way to your hairline. This will be where your eyebrow should end. Place a dot there.
• Using your eyebrow pencil connect the dots on the bottom of your brow by drawing a curved line beneath your brow from the beginning to the end.
• Connect the dots on top and fill in your eyebrows with your desired eyebrow product.

18. Lush and flirty lashes are the icing on the cake! Use a mascara that’s enriching to your lashes and contains proteins and natural oils to nourish them. Choose a mascara that fits your style preference (volumizing, lengthening, etc,) and that won’t clump, flake or smudge. Be sure to curl your lashes first with a lash curler and for a more dramatic effect, apply a pair of faux lashes with a latex-free, cruelty-free and paraben-free gentle lash adhesive. Always trim them to better fit your individual eye size and shape.
19. Select your favorite lipstick or lip gloss shade and apply to exfoliated and moisturized lips. Cream lipsticks tend to be more hydrating than liquid lipsticks for mature skin. You may use a fine lip brush or apply directly from your tube. The choice to use a lip liner is up to you. If your lips tend to lean towards the thin side, select a lip liner that’s close to your lipstick shade and slightly draw outside your natural lip line to create a fuller looking lip. Using a slightly darker liner just inside the lip line will create the illusion of a smaller lip. Makeup should be fun to wear and the quickest way to add a pop of color to any makeup look, day or night, is your lipstick or lip gloss. Our lipstick botanical formulation helps to boost collagen production, maintain moisture, and provide UVA and UVB protection. I love giving lips a 3-D effect by layering a lighter color lipstick or gloss in the middle of the lower lip. This technique plumps and defines lips nicely.
20. Ageing skin always looks healthy and luminescent with setting sprays that hydrate and leave a dewy, satiny finish. Following the directions on your particular brand, spray your setting spray in a back and forth (or zig-zag) movement across your entire face, lightly misting and sealing your finished look.

About the Author

Jeri Guyette is the CEO and Founder of Vintage Vixen Cosmetics, LLC. She is a Paramedical Aesthetician, Master Cosmetologist, Certified Medical and Clinical Electrologist, Camouflage Make-up Artist, and Clinical Laboratory Technician with a Bachelor of Science degree major in Biology. She brings almost 35 years of experience in cosmetic and plastic surgery as well as the beauty and fashion industry. Visit vintagevixencosmetics.com to shop their paraben and cruelty-free lipsticks especially created for women ages 35 and “Finer” as well as learn more about the upcoming launch of their “The Little Black Purse” eyeshadow palette.