How to “Lift” Your Face with Makeup
One of the most frustrating things about getting older is how your skin sags and facial features droop due to the loss of collagen and the pull of gravity. Apart from these, fine lines and wrinkles contribute to a more tired appearance. Lastly, puffiness and darkness, especially around the eyes, complete the aging setback.
Because of these, applying makeup can prove to be quite tricky.
How do you prevent your foundation from settling into the enlarged pores and the fine lines around your face? Likewise, how do you prevent colour from emphasising the downward direction of your features?
Although makeup can be a problem for aging skin, it is also the solution. The right products and techniques can instantly give the face a tighter and more lifted appearance. Therefore, if your makeup application process has ceased to enhance your features because of your more mature skin, learn the professionals’ “facelift with makeup” secrets. Here are some of them:
1. Prep the skin with a silicone-based primer
Silicone not only makes makeup application easier because it creates a velvety soft canvas, but it also fills in pores and fine lines.
But silicone-based primers are not created the same. Choose a formulation for more mature skin such as Lancome’s La Base Pro Perfecting Makeup Primer and Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face.
It is worth noting that the right primer also provides added hydration to the skin and ensures the lovely longevity of the other products used on the face.
2. Apply a light formula concealer that has a brightening effect
This type of concealer does not cake up and easily settle into fine lines. Plus, certain formulations provide a cooling effect to help diminish the appearance of puffy eyes.
Just dab it with your ring finger to spread it evenly across the undereye area and to blur the edges. Do the same for other parts of the face where there are some broken capillaries, redness, and lines such as the sides of the nose and the mouth.
3. Use a foundation for your skin type and apply with a wet sponge
A wet makeup sponge is best to use if you want a poreless finish. Also, it will allow you to build up your foundation (as necessary) so much better. But when you build up to pack on coverage, do so slowly and pinpoint the areas that need it. It is always better to use less foundation on mature skin.
If your foundation still looks a bit thick, ditch the makeup sponge and use your clean middle or ring finger to sheer out the product and create a more natural skin-like finish.
A professional makeup artist for fashion magazines also advises bringing the foundation down to the neck. The uniformity of colour creates the illusion of tighter and younger-looking skin.
4. Draw a vertical line using a concealer from the forehead down to the outer edges of your eyebrows, eyes and jaw
Restricting your face products within the outer edge section of your face will create the optical illusion of a lifted face. No more blush on the apples of the cheeks – keep it to the sides and much higher on your cheekbones.
As for the highlighter, it is best to apply right above the cheekbones – preferably, from the outer corner of your eyes to the temples.
For the contour, brushing it lightly above the curve of the hollows of your cheeks and up to the top part of your ears can outwork the appearance of sagging lower cheeks and jaws.
If you want to make thinning hair or receding hairline less obvious with contour, use Kevyn Aucoin’s tip of applying bronzer a little heavier on the temples and going lighter as you reach your hairline. Follow the shape of a tilted triangle and you automatically get that lift and look of a “younger forehead.”
5. Lift hooded eyes by sweeping and blending contour shadow much higher
The trick most pros use to lift hooded eyes is by extending the outer V of the eyes with matte neutral eyeshadow (usually brown). Soften that shadow up by brushing the colour in a wiper motion and bringing the colour higher up the lid reaching the brow bone, and extending it to the end of the brow.
Another option is to use a complementing yet lighter eyeshadow hue to the contour colour and create a gradient effect that makes the eyes look more open.
Don’t forget to highlight underneath the eyebrow to clean up the eye makeup and accentuate the arch and height of the brows.
Look young with colour
Makeup truly is that transformative.
So, if you are not keen on getting some invasive procedure done just to treat the signs of ageing, turn to makeup. Proper application and the right products are all you need to restore a lovely and youthful appearance.
What’s more, makeup is not only more affordable, it is a pain-free solution as well.
Tia, and TipsfromTia.com is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.
AUTHOR BIO
Toni Malt is the Middle East’s leading international editorial makeup artist and the woman behind the highly anticipated Toni Malt Makeup Academy in the heart of Dubai, now training the next generation of key makeup artists. From minimalistic looks to freestyle artistic creations, Toni’s creative work has been published in top international fashion magazines around the world including VOGUE, ELLE, L’Officiel, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia and Cosmopolitan.