As older women, we have a pretty good idea how to apply our makeup. Well, at least we think we do! In a recent video, I discovered that I was making a number of small mistakes when it came to my makeup application.

The Number 1 Mistake When it Comes to Makeup for Older Women is…

Basically, I was still applying my makeup like I did as a young woman. As a result, I was actually making myself look older, while drawing attention to the wrong places on my face.

In this video, my guest, Ariane Poole, shows us how to avoid the number one mistake that older women make when applying their makeup. Then, she shows me a number of new tricks to get the look that I want.

Margaret:

This video isn’t about anti-aging. It’s about positive aging.

As you can see, I look normal. I put my makeup on this morning, to look good for you. Today, Ariane is going to talk to us about how women over 60 tend to use techniques that we learned when we were younger.

This is true. I put on my makeup this morning as I have for years. Most of it is intuitive. So, I’m going to ask Ariane to take a look at what I’ve done and make some suggestions.

Ariane:

You all know Margaret and she looks fantastic. Now, I have a few techniques that I want to show you. These techniques are going to make you look even better.

I’m saying this because most women our age learned to do our makeup in our teens and 20s. At the time, we wanted to look older. We wanted to look grown up. Maybe we wanted to get into places that we weren’t allowed into. We wanted to be taken seriously.

So, you give yourself this grown-up look. You could be aging yourself by about 5 years.

At our age, we don’t need to look any older. Nature has already done that.

Margaret:

I know that I have makeup in my makeup bag that I have had for years.

Ariane:

You also have some really good stuff in your bag. The products that you use are actually good. But, I’m going to tweak the techniques that you use a bit.

First, I’m going to take off the makeup that you have on this side. I’m only going to make up one side of Margaret, so, that you can see the difference.

Margaret:

You have absolutely no idea how terrifying this is. I’m in front of all these people.

Ariane:

I can understand. So, I’m taking off your makeup. I really want to show the difference that a few small changes can make. Especially if you are using modern products, you don’t need to use old techniques.

Margaret:

I know one thing you will point out, for sure. I’ve been using a cream foundation. I use this because I want to cover my age spots.

Ariane:

I always tell ladies to decide what area they want to focus on. If you want to cover your age spots, you need to invest in a good foundation. If you want to make your eyes look bigger and brighter, you need the right eye-products. You don’t need to spend tons of money on everything.

Let me look at your foundation. I’m going to start you off with a primer. Primers keep your light-weight foundation on. I’m going to use a little bit of this on your age spots. But, I’m not going to cover your entire face.

I’m going to use a primer first. I want to do this so that I can use a lighter-weight foundation. They just look better on your skin.

Even if you use a primer with your existing foundation, it would probably still be too heavy.

I’m going to use a Bobby Brown foundation.

I’m going to apply the foundation with a brush. This is going to help me to get a much sheerer coverage. It will still be pigment rich, but, it will look fresher on your skin. I’m going to take this right underneath your eyes.

Margaret:

You do this with much more grace than I do.

Ariane:

Try with this brush. See how it feels.

It covers better than if you apply with your fingers. It also covers well without being too heavy.

If you notice, I’m going right underneath your eyes with this brush. It’s a great shape for going underneath the eyes.

Margaret:

I wouldn’t have done that. I would have used concealer first.

Ariane:

I always put on concealer on after the foundation. When you put the foundation on over the concealer, you wipe off the concealer.

If you think back to when we were in our teens and 20s, concealer was really thick. It was almost like putty.

Let me look. Ok, well that it looking really good, I think. Your skin is looking really fresh.

Now, we’ll go on to concealer.

Most people put on a concealer that is too light for their skin tone. This is also what you have done.

Many people have been taught to apply their makeup this way. It’s not your fault. If someone tells you to put a chicken in the oven for 10 hours at 500 degrees, you will blame the technique, not yourself. Makeup for older women is just different.

I’m going to get you to put your chin down. Now look up. I’m also going to put it a little bit lower than you usually do. I’m putting it on your cheek bones. When I blend this up, it will make your dark circles disappear.

Margaret:

Now, that is something that I wouldn’t have thought to do. I would have usually put the concealer right around my eyes.

Ariane:

Light reflects back up. That’s why this is such a good highlighting technique.

Margaret:

So, lighter primer and a lighter-weight foundation. Got it!

Ariane:

Also, you should use a slightly darker foundation.

I’m going to use a slightly lighter shade for your brows.

Margaret:

I actually have had trouble finding a lighter one. This is not actually my natural color.

Ariane:

Really? I’m in shock!

I’m going to go for an ash color. This is a Bobby Brown. It’s not as blond as this, but, it’s not as dark as that. So, here’s the technique. Brush your eyebrows down. Now fill in lightly with your pencil, along the top. Now you’re going to brush your eyebrows back up. Now fill in the little gap right here. I’m going to show you how to cover the grey ones in just a second.

To cover the grey ones, I’m going to use a brown mascara.

Can I get you to take a quick look? Just look at the difference?

Margaret:

Wow! That makes a really big difference!

Ariane:

It’s just slightly lighter. It still puts the emphasis on your eyes. But, it’s not too heavy.

Now, we’re going to move on to eye-shadow. I’m not going to change your eye-shadow colors. That said, I am going to apply them in a slightly different way.

You used a shimmery powder. I’m going to use this one because it’s long-lasting. I know you do long days.

Margaret:

This has always been a challenge for me. I don’t know how to make my makeup last.

Ariane:

I know that the powder ones can sometimes fade away. I’ve used an identical color. I’ve stopped slightly short of the end of your eye.

Most women do this, because it’s a comfortable movement.

Now, I’m going to use a pencil.

I actually quite like the color. That said, I’m going to add a bit more definition with this charcoal grey color. Once again, I’m going to stop just before the end of your lashes.

Margaret:

I know that I don’t use liner very well. That’s why I use a big brush.

Ariane:

We should do a whole video on how to do liner. Let’s cover a simple technique now though.

Look at yourself in the mirror. Now tilt your head back and look up your nostrils. From this position, you can get to your lashes.

So, that’s a really good technique.

Now, I’m going to take a different color and put it underneath. Let me get you to look up. I’m going to put a coppery color under your eyes. You have beautiful hazel eyes and I want to bring this out.

Margaret:

This color is very purple.

Ariane:

It’s a beautiful color.

The grey gives it a little bit more definition. It’s a strong definition, but, it also has a softness to it.

Margaret:

I’ve always known that liner is important. I’ve just never known how to use it.

Ariane:

You may think that creams always fade. They don’t. This is going to go beautifully with your eye-color.

To apply this, I want you to go “in and up.”

Don’t drag your eyes down! Lift them up.

At the end of a makeover, I like to use a little bit of concealer, like this. I do this with all of my celebrity clients. This helps to correct any tiny mistakes that I have made.

Margaret:

This is such a simple technique. Anyone can do this.

I love the fact that your tips are so simple.

Ariane:

I’m not going to make you look 10 years younger. But, I am going to make you look fabulous.

Now, I’m going to use a bit of mascara. The mascara that you use is really good. As you get a little older, you want to find a mascara that makes your eye-lashes look thicker. Avoid the ones that make your eye-lashes longer.

Now, I’m going to switch on the heated eyelash curler. Can I use your blush?

This is a really nice blush.

I’m going to apply this with a brush. First, I need you to smile. I know that this is a lot lower than you usually go. I’m applying it here to show off your beautiful eyes and cheeks. It will also emphasize your mouth.

When you apply it like you did as a teenager, it draws attention to the wrong places.

So, once again, we have an example here of a great product being applied in the wrong way.

Margaret:

I think that it’s so important to remember what is beautiful about your face. Just look in the mirror and say, “I have beautiful eyes.” It feels so good.

Ariane:

You can use this after you have applied your foundation. You shouldn’t apply this all over your face.

So, we’ve don’t blush. We’re going to keep this to the very end.

Next, we’re going to focus on your lips. Now, I know that you think your lips are think. Many women think this. In reality, most of these women don’t really have thin lips

I’m going to take the concealer and apply it right here.

This gives a little highlight here. It’s going to make your lips look a little bit puffier.

Now, I’m going to use a lip pencil. I’m going to apply this to the outer edge of your lips. This is going to feel a little strange. I promise that I’m not going to make you look like a clown. I promise that this is not over your lip line.

Take a look at the difference! Do you see?

Margaret:

That is my lip line.

Ariane:

Do you see how you’ve gone on the inside of your lip line on the other site?

Margaret:

Absolutely!

Ariane:

I want to use your gorgeous lip stick.

Do you see the difference? This side looks a lot more lifted. It looks brighter. We’ve used all of your usual colors. We’ve just tweaked them.

You usually put this all over your face. I’m not going to do it this way. We’re going to put this here, on the top of your cheek-bone.

Margaret:

This has been really informative. I love the subtle difference that you have made.

Ariane:

I’m only tweaking little things, but, these little things really make a difference.

Margaret:

Thanks so much! I hope that you found these makeup tips for older women helpful!

Have you tried any of these makeup tips for older women? Which ones did you find most useful? What questions do you have for Ariane? Please join the conversation and “like” and share this article to keep the discussion going.

If you are ready to take your look to the next level, please check out the exclusive makeup video series that Ariane and I produced earlier. We had so much fun!