Turning 40 brought some unexpected changes to my beauty routine. Foundation, once a great friend, became a foe.
It looks cakey in natural light, emphasizing textures and my newly acquired static wrinkles. This transformation led me on a makeup adventure, allowing me to experiment with new products and techniques to achieve a fresh, glowing look (cough, cough, that used to be more effortless).
This article is for you if you’re over 40 and struggling with the same issues. I’ll take you through my updated routine, featuring innovative products like brightening primers, hydrating skin tints, and targeted concealers, all applied in a new order to enhance maturing skin.
Start With A Glowy, Multipurpose Primer
Aging skin needs a primer that helps makeup last and imparts coverage and skin-loving benefits.
It’s time to be the Goldilocks of primers: mature skin needs a primer that blurs, softens, and provides a bit of coverage and glow.
How
Spread over the face after skincare and before any other makeup products.
Ish Mom Recommends
- RMS Beauty ReEvolve Radiance Locking Primers
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
- L’Oreal Paris Age Perfect Face Blurring Primer
- No7 Airbrush Away Primer
- e.l.f. SKIN Suntouchables Whoa Glow SPF 30 Sunscreen and Makeup Primer
Need More Glow?
Consider a radiance base. These products are wonderful for depositing glow without texture (in other words, they don’t get caught in fine lines and wrinkles).
How
This product can be used in lieu of, or in addition to, the multi-purpose primers listed above. Spread over your face with a complexion brush and pat in with a makeup sponge.
Blend well, or be sure to cover with skin tint or tinted moisturizer.
Ish Mom Recommends
- RMS Beauty Master Radiance Base
- L’Oreal Paris Makeup True Match Lumi Glotion
- iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Jelly Skin Kit
- Catrice Skin Glaze Hydrating Serum Primer
Underpainting
Let’s call this step proto-coverage, correcting some issues before a tinted moisturizer or foundation goes over everything.
How
Use a color corrector under your eyes, and a concealer pencil (very precisely) on spots, veins, broken capillaries, etc.
If you’re feeling fancy, do some light contouring (along your jawline, under cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, and in eye creases). Blend, but don’t go crazy, the final step will cover any mistakes.
Ish Mom Recommends
- Catrice Undereye Brightener
- e.l.f. Putty Color-Correcting Eye Brightener
- Embryolisse Radiant Eye Stick
- THESAEM Cover Perfection Concealer Pencil
- L’Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer
- NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Pencil
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Contour Beauty Wand
- SHEGLAM Sun Sculpt Cool Toned Liquid Contour Stick
- NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Face Shaping and Contouring Stick
Now, the Base
Foundation has looked too heavy on my aging skin; I’ve switched to skin tints and tinted moisturizers.
True, these products have slightly less coverage than traditional foundation. But we’re making up for that with the additional products (and the order in which they are applied).
How
Use a foundation brush or sponge to pat base makeup on the face, concentrating on areas that need the most coverage first.
Avoid the undereye area, if any more coverage is needed there, it’ll be addressed next.
Ish Mom Recommends
- RMS Beauty SunCoverup Super Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen
- Maybelline Super Stay Up To 24HR Skin Tint
- TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation
- wet n wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator
- Neutrogena Retinol Treatment and Tinted Facial Moisturizer
Spot Conceal
After blending the base, take a step back and assess your work.
Anything you don’t like (dark undereye circles, pimples, etc) still peeking through? Apply concealer just to those areas.
How
Warm up some concealer on your hand and use a small brush to blend a small amount (precisely).
Ish Mom Recommends
- RMS Beauty UnCoverup Concealer
- Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup
- e.l.f. Hydrating Camo Concealer
- Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Full Coverage Concealer
Cream (or Liquid!) Products
Now that your face is all one color (except for the areas that have been contoured), it’s time to bring some color to the party.
Every face makeup product exists in a cream or liquid formula. And middle age is the best time to get to know them all.
How
Use your fingertips or a brush to apply cream (or liquid!) blush, bronzer, and/or highlight. Tap with a sponge to make sure the products are thoroughly melded to skin.
Ish Mom Recommends
- RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek
- RMS Beauty Glow Quad Mini
- Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Bronzer
- e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi Stick
- Saie Dew Blush
Layer and Set
Applying a setting or finishing powder and finishing with setting spray can be the last steps for an amazing post-40 makeup look.
If makeup really needs to last, layer complimentary powder formulas of face makeup products as well.
How
Swirl a large brush into loose powder and pat over face.
If layering, apply powder blush, highlighter, etc, then mist setting spray over everything.
Ish Mom Recommends
- RMS Beauty UnPowder
- wet n wild Photofocus Loose Setting Powder
- L’Oreal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist
- Milani Make It Last Dewy Setting Spray
- Catrice Blush Affair Cream & Powder Palette
- L’Oreal Paris Infallible Bronzer
- Catrice Summer Obsession Bronzer, Blush, & Highlighter Palette
- L’Oreal Infallible Blush
Conclusion
Face makeup after age 40 is all about strategic product placement and multitasking. By using more products in smaller amounts, you can enhance your natural beauty without overwhelming maturing skin.
Remember, it’s not about working harder, but smarter—opt for makeup that doubles as skincare to nourish and protect while providing coverage.
Want More?
Check out these articles about makeup and skincare:
- Over 40 Eye Makeup Guide
- 13 Best at Home Anti-Aging Skincare Devices (2023 Guide)
- Bougie vs. Broke: Original Beautyblender vs. e.l.f. Makeup Sponge
- The Most Affordable Skin Care Routine for Your 30s
Happy Glowing!
Love,
