Keeping Age At Bay

As I have mentioned, my hairdresser is also a good friend of mine.  She is also all about beauty and takes every seminar she can to keep up with the latest trends.   And she's good.

The latest seminar she attended was about what can keep a client looking as young as possible yet still age appropriate.

Since she is in her mid-twenties and I am pushing 40, she was eager to experiment.  And damn if I didn't come out pretty well.

The most important element is to think soft.  Soft sheer natural colors.  My hair, which I have colored since Moses was in short pants, is now two shades lighter than my natural color and it not only hides the gray, it also looks softer overall.  Rule of thumb?  The more grey you have, the lighter you go without leaving your natural color group.  So a brunette ends up with a light brown.  Going darker ages you, going lighter is more subtle and flattering to your skin tone.

For makeup, think sheer and light.  If you wear black or dark brown eyeliner, toss it and go for a medium brown unless you have darker skin tones. I stopped using black eyeliner ten years ago because just thinking about it made me look ten years older.  Never wear colored eyeliner, like blue or green.  It overwhelms your natural eye color.  Always powder your upper and lower lids before you line to set the liner, then go over it with eye shadow in the same color.  It will make your eyeliner last much longer without feathering.  Oh, and Maybelline eyeliner is highly recommended by the pros, just melt it a few seconds first with a lighter.  (NOTE:  Let it cool a few seconds before applying it, or OUCH.)  Always wear eyeshadow, even if you normally don't.  It will bring out your natural eye color.  Colors to go for are neutral and subtle, such as pale rose, pink, light mauve or a sheer lavender.  The idea is your eyeshadow isn't supposed to compete with your eyes.  If you want to rev it up for evening, plums and browns look good on almost everyone.

Foundation.  Very important stuff.  The new water based foundations are wonderful.  Laura used one on me that was like $50 a tube but she told me to get the new Maybelline New York Pure formula, which is water based and it works great, if it does make me a bit shiny.  Since it's water based, it's ultra light and blends perfectly and doesn't cake.  To combat the shininess, a Clean And Clear tissue works wonders.  And the Clean And Clear Under Eye Brightener, can't live without it.

Laura did approve my everyday lipstick, which is Clinique Bamboo Pink.  A bit of gloss with not a lot of out at ya color is the thing.  She did make me toss my beloved Clinique Blue Moss that I wore at night, and yes, it did make me look old. 

Always wear some blush, applied with a gentle touch.  Again, a natural tone that blends with your skin.  I wear a Physician's Formula sheer berry color and it gives me a touch of extra color.

Natural is the goal, not looking made up.  Lighter makeup, not more.

Another important thing?  Wash your face and use a good toner and moisturizer.  Splash your face with cold water when you are done.

The little tips she gave me have really made a world of difference to me.  I think I look much more natural.

We won't even go into the lecture on tanning but she did grudgingly admit I don't have sun damage. 

That Mediterranean blood, I'm telling you.

Comments

[Nadine]

I'm glad you don't have any sun damage. I'm very fair, and burn easily, dang it.

[Linda]

Another fair-skinned one here. I don't tan, I beige. Lots of great tips though, especially as 40 is coming at me fast and furious. Thanks for sharing them! I'm glad to know that some of them are things I'm already doing. Yay!