(And Why They Work)
If you spent some time talking to as many women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond as I have about their beauty routines, you’d be surprised with the patterns that start to show up. Most of them will talk about how their makeup routine became simpler and simpler over time instead of the opposite, becoming more focused on a handful of specific things and doing them differently than they did at 30.
And the reason for that is pretty easy to understand. Our skin is just not the same as it once was and the habits that work now are the ones that accept that change instead of fighting it. So with that in mind, here are some habits that women over the age of forty maintain and why they work.
Stop Chasing Full Coverage
One of the first things women over 40 learn when it comes to makeup is to let go of trying to achieve flawless coverage. That heavy foundation that might have worked at 30 now settles into every line in your face, making them more obvious than before. Not only that, but your skin is also drier, so you need to pay even more attention to hydrating it.
In practice that means switching to a light to medium buildable foundation, preferably serum-based formulas so you get that hydration along with the color. Also keep in mind cream products beat powder almost every time.
In the end, you want to see your actual skin through your makeup; trying to cover everything up will only make it more noticeable, so build the coverage only where you need it.
Giving Skincare Time to Absorb
Patience is another great habit to develop here. You should be waiting a full five minutes after skincare before adding foundation.
Foundation on properly hydrated skin acts completely different from foundation on skin that’s still tacky. If your skincare hasn’t been fully absorbed, there’s a chance the foundation will peel, separate or look patchy. So wait until your skin is ready, so that it melts in and stays put all day.
Do your skincare first, then use those five minutes to get dressed or make coffee, whichever works best for you.
Being Smart About the Concealer
One simple change that prevents you from getting that cakey look under your eyes is to apply concealer after foundation instead of before.
When you put concealer on first, you layer foundation over it, which is too much product in an area that already shows lines very easily. The better way to do it is skip foundation under your eyes completely, or at least use color corrector on dark circles, then concealer only where you need it.
Another clever strategy many women do is to warm the concealer between their fingers first, or put it on the back of their hand before picking it up with a brush. That way you get way more control.
Using Brushes and Sponges
Fingers work great for some things, like cream blush, but for foundation, not so much. Brushes help foundation melt into your skin instead of sitting on top or dragging across dry spots while a damp sponge presses the product in without disturbing what’s underneath.
The problem with using your fingers is that it warms up the product and moves it around too much. You can end up with a streaky application and more product than you meant to use.
So match the tool to the job. Foundation gets a brush. Concealers can go either way. Cream blush works beautifully with fingertips.
Spending Time Where It Counts
Complicated techniques might look fancy, but more often than not, you can get the same or even a better effect with less. It’s better to get a good tone for your base and apply it in 20 minutes than to spend an hour contouring.
Knowing where to spend your time gives you room to spend more of it where it matters. The time you save with eye makeup can be better spent on skincare and brows. You can skip a lot of extra steps and still come out with a good result, but never skip moisturizer and brow gel.
Checking Your Work in Natural Light
Bathroom lighting lies. Your makeup can look perfect under warm vanity bulbs and completely different in daylight.
In order to consistently get your makeup right either do it near a window or check it in natural light before leaving. That way you catch problems fast; if the foundation doesn’t match, or the concealer’s too light, and correct it.
It takes five seconds and saves you from that bathroom mirror shock that comes later when you realize your makeup looks nothing like you thought.
What Actually Matters
All of these habits work with mature skin instead of trying to force it to act like a younger version of itself and don’t really take more discipline or more time. In the end maturing means learning to do more with less. Your routine after 40 doesn’t need to be bigger. It needs to be smarter. You just do the right things, in the right order, with realistic expectations about what makeup can do.
About the Author: Dawn Pfingsten is a beauty content creator specializing in affordable makeup and skincare for women over 50. She tests drugstore products and shares honest reviews at Just Doing My Best and on YouTube.
