Makeover your makeup bag
We tend to be creatures of habit. That’s certainly true when it comes to makeup, but we walk a fine line between beauty routine and beauty rut. After all, style — not to mention skin texture — changes over time, and the cosmetics we use should reflect that. (In fact, if you own any product that’s more than two years old, toss it ASAP. Especially that tangerine lipliner from 1989.)
One of my worst beauty habits (besides a bizarre loyalty to pastel eyeshadow) is packing on face powder, which either ends up highlighting wrinkles and lines or making my skin appear flat and ghostly. Black eyeliner can start to look harsh on older skin and thick layers of “security blanket” foundation can unnecessarily age your look.
Technology and makeup formulations are constantly improving, so the old beauty rules don’t apply anymore. Shimmer, usually a deal-breaker for mature skin, can be used with a light touch to boost luminosity. “Shimmer on the face helps to create life and stops skin from looking dry,” says Toronto makeup artist Jackie Shawn, 45. “You don’t have to look like you’re going to Studio 54.”
Many of the new spins on products like blush and eyeshadow are worth trying. Cream versions come blended with silicone or similar ingredients that allow them to glide over the skin for easier blending. Tinted moisturizers offer lightweight, natural coverage that lets the real you shine through. You don’t have to do a complete beauty overhaul (who has the time?), but making a few edits to your makeup bag can be fun as well as functional. Here are a few things I think you might like.
1. Forgo the face powder and try M.A.C’s Blot Film ($15) to absorb oil and shine without altering your makeup.
2. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Tinted Moisturizer ($32) gives skin a hint of colour and contains a blend of botanicals and antioxidant vitamins A and E.
3. Nars’ The Multiple ($46) is a lightweight, multi-purpose cream stick that can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes for sheer, shimmering colour.
4. Olay’s Regenerist Touch of Foundation ($25) combines an anti-inflammatory moisturizer with a hint of foundation for natural coverage.
5. Eye Shadow in Cabernet ($21) from Smashbox warms brown eyes beautifully when used in the outer corners or as a liner.
6. Grey and brown eyeliner works wonders on blue- and green-eyed gals. Estée Lauder’s Artist’s Eye Pencil ($22) comes with a built-in smudge stick to keep the line soft.
7. In a hurry? Clinique’s Quick Eyes Cream Shadow ($20) is a long-wearing velvety liquid shadow that goes on with the touch of a finger.
Looking for more beauty picks? Check out the best new eye creams
For more beauty advice, check out Vanessa's beauty scoop
This article originally appeared in the September 2008 issue of More
