How I Apply Makeup On Mature Skin

JoAnn Fowler, celebrity makeup artist and natural makeup brand founder, gazing while in front of red flower painting

JoAnn Fowler, SAPPHO Founder & Emmy-nominated Makeup Artist

If we are fortunate, we grow old, but that is not to say there are not challenges on the way.

Skin reacts to the elements, to nutrition, to genetics and to how we care for it and so although genetics is a tough one to negotiate, the rest we have some degree of control over.

Our skin changes with age. It becomes thinner, loses fat, and no longer looks as plump and smooth as it once did. Veins and bones can be seen more easily, wrinkles appear and deepen, and gravity prevails.  

For me, the difference of how I feel looking out into the world and who I see in the mirror can sometimes be startling! I forget my age and that is a good thing but also, I know that to go out into the world as a professional I need some tricks to somehow bridge that gap between how I feel inside and my outside appearance.

Open primer for dry skin with swatch and box on white table

I have never been one to feel as though I have to wear makeup, even now, I am a ‘less is more’ person I realize. However, as I get older, starting with a makeup primer for dry skin is essential even after using my day moisturizer, helping to extend the wear of the best clean foundation for mature skin available – my Essential Foundation. Using a buildable base with moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, aloe vera juice and jojoba oil to hold in that moisture, can make a world of difference.

SAPPHO’s green foundation formulation is perfect for aging skin, chock-full of phytonutrients and ingredients that are designed to help with redness, the appearance of large pores and also the appearance of fine wrinkles. Our lightly textured but incredibly pigmented concealer can make those skin irregularities vanish with just a touch of product.

Organic concealer open with swatch, cap and box on pink background

I use the SAPPHO Cream Concealer under my eyes to camouflage dark circles and to cover age spots, first with a concealer brush then tapping gently with my ring finger. I typically need to apply very little concealer, however, as I find the Essential Foundation does most of the work.

What has become an absolute must, even if I don’t wear foundation, are eyebrows! As we age, our hair can get lighter and sparser; using our Brow Pomade and Mascara give form to the eyes and a finished look to the makeup.  If you have very sparse hair you can use an eyeliner brush to simulate little hairs, or an angle brush is great to define nice sharp lines for an overall clean makeup look. Using a little left-over mascara on your brush, on medium to dark brows, is a trick my friend and celebrity makeup artist Norma Patton-Lowin does – it’s fantastic for adding extra texture to brows. (She showed us how in our recent virtual masterclass a few weeks ago, watch it here!)

Buffer Brush with foundation side view and shadow

I use our Buffer Brush to apply my foundation, and without looking "made up," with my age spots covered and my skin tone more even, I feel like I look like me again and I appreciate that my skin is looking like MY best skin and not greasy or mask like. I also apply our vegan skin illuminator in shade Light to highlight the top of my cheeks for a natural glow, and Hazey is my favourite lip gloss tone. I can often be found putting it on my cheeks too, for a little extra glow and colour!

Now when I apply make-up, I feel like I am pampering myself a little, and I also know that I am helping to protect myself from the elements.

I am one to embrace my age, but when I have spent a little time to care for my skin and to do those brows, I always feel a little better.

Makeup DO’s for Aging Skin:

  • Exfoliate once a week with a gentle exfoliator
  • Use a good organic moisturizer
  • Start your makeup with a primer
  • Apply the base with a buffer brush, layering in areas where you may have discolouration
  • Use just a little concealer, gently patting it in with a fingertip. (I like to apply my concealer after my foundation now as it requires less makeup)
  • Add skin luminizer after foundation instead of before, as you don’t want to build makeup on older skin – use it on your cheek bones, middle of forehead, a dab on your chin and a touch on the bow of your lip
  • I love to use our lip gloss on both my lips and cheeks – any tone depending on my eye makeup
  • Fill in your brows, it will make a world of difference
  • Wear mascara to pop those eyes

Watch my Youtube tutorial for more tips!

 

Feel free to write us if you have any specific questions or need personalized advice at hello@mysappho.com.

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