- How To Put Your Best Face Forward
Let’s face it, we wear makeup to make us look and feel fresher, hotter and perhaps even more confident, but the wrong kind of makeup can do just the opposite! These makeup moves can add years to your look, and no one wants that! With age comes wisdom, but also fine lines, dark circles under your eyes, droopy or saggy eyelids and crows feet. These are signs of the years you have been blessed with, so celebrate and put your best face forward. As you age gracefully, remember to avoid these blunders!
FOUNDATIONÂ OVERKILL
We all want flawless complexions but packing on loads of foundation on mature skin will age you, period! Thick layers of foundation will eventually sit in your fine lines and emphasise them instead of hiding them. So how can you wear foundation? Apply a moderate amount using a wet sponge. Take care to avoid over concentration of product on one spot. Just one pump can cover a huge part of your face. I know some people argue that a sponge soaks up way too much product and so their products finish too fast. If you are of that mindset, here’s what to do. Apply your foundation with a brush first, and then use a damp sponge to further blend in into the skin.
Using a good moisturiser with double digit SPF would not only help prevent your foundation from looking patchy, but will keep your skin hydrated!
CONCEALERÂ OVERDOSE
The skin around your eyes is so delicate, with dark circles and wrinkles making stronger appearances as time goes by. Like foundation, concealer settles into the creases of the skin. So, less is definitely more. Brighten the area up by choosing a concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin tone, is easy to blend, and isn’t heavy.
Avoid concealers in pots or sticks. No doubt they will give you awesome coverage under your eyes but will most certainly emphasise your fine lines too. Try using liquid concealers instead.
Sometimes, the things which cause the skin to wrinkle are gestures we don’t even notice. For example, I know that at some point, you may have been advised to pull the outer corner of your eyes when lining your lid, to get a steady application. As you get older, you may want to stop that as it simply intensifies the lines around your eyes.
MELODRAMATIC POWDER
Too much powder doesn’t make you look flawless. It makes you look too “caked” and hides that youthfulness you so adore! Use powder to set the foundation and concealer only. Using a fluffy, round brush, gently pat on (not rub) your powder sparingly. While powder helps take the shine away, keeping it a bit dewy can make your skin look youthful. “So what about looking oily?”, I hear you ask. Start investing in a primer and oil blotting sheets. These are better ways to control your oils, instead of reapplying powder through out the day. The latter can make you super caked!
TOO MUCH EYESHADOW
Too much of a good thing can be bad. Of course eyeshadows can make your eyes pop, but overdoing it can make you look clownish. Avoid using shimmer near wrinkles as this will only highlight them. Instead, place your shimmer in the centre of your lid and watch your eyes dazzle! Matte and silky textures are great for maturing eyes. This need for different textures to suit different women led me to create our own eyeshadow palette. Invest in one and you’ll be good to go!
IGNORING MASCARA AND EYELINER
Different artists will have their own views on this. Forgetting to use mascara and eyeliner can leave your eyes looking dull. I would suggest using mascara, especially on your top lashes, and perhaps even wearing lashes that are not too dramatic to make your eyes more beautiful.
Applying liner to your water line will also help you look more awake! My favourite liner is of course our ShoMya jet black eyeliner, but as with most things, the older you get, the greater the need to apply it in moderation. Just a thin application in your water line will be effective in bringing life to your eyes.
SHIMMER BY FORCE
In a world obsessed with “glow”, it is easy to go overboard with this. Most brands these days have highlighters on their menu that will give you a beautiful glow. Young ladies love to apply these to their cheeks, nose, eyes, shoulders, and just about anywhere they see space. Don’t get me wrong, I too love this…but in moderation! Do you know that shimmer can make your pores look bigger? Yikes! Don’t skip this, just be easy on the shimmer.
CARTOONISH EYEBROWS
First of all, do you use a pencil with a reddish undertone? Or just a red pencil in general on your brows? Please STOP!! Your eyebrows do not have to be exaggerated to be beautiful. Keeping your brows too skinny will make you look odd. Keeping them to fat is also a no-no! Too dark or painted on is not allowed either! Naked or empty brows can also make you look funny. Simply put, your brows should not be disproportionate. I created an eyebrow pencil that works for most skin tones to help solve the problem of cartoonish brows. How dark your brows look will depend on how much pressure you apply when filling them in with our pencil. I generally prefer to use light strokes, so as to get a natural finish.
OUTRAGEOUS BLUSH
A little blush is good as it adds structure to the face and prevents it from looking flat. Let me even say that it gives you a little lift if done properly. Yes, the right direction to apply blush is from the apples of your cheeks towards the top of your ears, but if done in excess, can be a huge makeup mistake. Using a medium fluffy brush, apply blush to the fleshiest part of your cheeks (smile to find the fleshiest part) and blend towards your temple. Do not just swipe a line of colour across your cheek.
BLEEDING LIPS
The older we get, the more the lines in our lips show. It is essential to use a lip balm daily. Using matte lipstick on dry lips can age you if your lips aren’t prepped properly before hand. Alternatively, you can keep it fresh by using a glossy product instead. Watch out for “bleeding lips” too. As we age, the borders of our lips get softer. Packing on too much product can lead to it “bleeding” or spilling outside your lips. To prevent this, use a lip liner and apply the product in the centre first, before spreading it outwards to the corners. Remember to blend your lip liner so you don’t have any harsh lines, as that can age you too!
NOT SWITCHINGÂ IT UP
In my 9 years as a professional makeup artist, I can firmly say that the fastest route to a youthful look is by switching it up! Do something different! Don’t get stuck in a beauty rut! If you have had the same hair style for years, change it! If you always wear pink lipsticks, try a soft red. If you never wear makeup, visit a makeup studio! Bottom line is that the same look year in year out can become boring. If you are reading this now and thinking “that is me”, I hope you will amaze yourself and those around you by switching it up!
I would love to hear from you. Follow me on Instagram (@shomya_lag) and (@shomya_beauty) and tell me what you would like me to discuss next week! Until then, remember to stay glam!
