Why cream works so well on mature skin
Powder sits on the surface, so it tends to gather in fine lines and look dusty by midday. A thin layer of cream melts into the skin and moves with your face, so it reads as skin, not as makeup. You also need less of it, because cream colors carry rich pigment.
Color is your best friend
Most of what makes a face look tired is losing color, not lines. A warm flush in the right place does more than any amount of foundation.
- Blush goes up, not down. Place your Lip + Cheek on the top of the cheekbone and blend up toward the temple. Placing it low on the apple pulls the face down.
- Go a touch brighter on the lips. Lips lose color over time. A rose or berry one shade brighter than your natural lip wakes up the whole face.
- Line with a color close to your lip so lip color stays where you put it.
Shape softly, and higher than you think
- A soft shadow under the cheekbone, blended up, gives lift. A hard line low on the cheek does the opposite.
- Light pulls forward. A lighter shade on the top of the cheekbone and under the arch of the brow opens the face without any shimmer.
- Matte on the lids, with a touch of shine only in the center if you like it. All-over shimmer shows texture.
Base: less, and only where you want it
Moisturize and wait two minutes first. Then use a thin layer of base only where you want evening out, usually around the nose and chin, and leave the rest of your skin showing. Skip heavy powder, or press a tiny bit only where you shine.
Your shade may have changed
Many women find their skin looks a little less pink, or a little more golden, than it did ten years ago. If your old foundation suddenly looks off, it may be time for a new match. The quiz shows four women of different ages at every level, so you can see your shade on a face like yours.
A five-minute routine
- Moisturize, then wait two minutes.
- Lip + Cheek high on the cheekbones, blended up; a tap on the lips.
- A soft contour just under the cheekbone, blended upward.
- A light highlight on the top of the cheekbone and under the brow arch.
- Base only where you want it. Done.