▶ Prep Your Skin The fundamental rule of makeup for any age is to make sure that your skin is in the best condition. For makeup to look good, your skin should be well-moisturized. Skin that is dry, scaly, clogged with dead cells and blackheads should first be taken care of. Before applying foundation, make sure that your skin is clean and properly moisturized. It is also essential that you use a primer before applying concealer or foundation. Primer provides a smooth surface for the makeup to be applied on, and covers enlarged pores. ▶ Choose the Right Foundation Choosing the right foundation is the key to creating a flawless look. Pick a light foundation that is not too thick, as a foundation that is too thick will settle on the fine lines, making you look much older. Liquid foundation that comes with light-diffusing pigments are best for mature skin. You can also opt for light-reflecting foundation, as it scatters light and helps reduce the visibility of wrinkles and brown spots on the skin. ▶ Apply Foundation Sparingly The biggest mistake that mature women make is covering every inch of their face with foundation. This kind of full-coverage makes a woman look unnatural. Apply foundation only in places where required. You can use a sponge or foundation brush to apply a thin layer. Always blend the foundation along the sides of your face or downwards. Make sure that you blend the foundation well along your hairline and jawline. ▶ Hide Imperfections with a Concealer Women of any age can have dark spots, blemishes, and dark circles. But as a woman ages, these blemishes and under-eye circles become more pronounced. Dabbing a foundation is not going to help. What you need is a good concealer which is liquid-based to camouflage these problematic areas. To conceal dark circles, dot concealer under your eyes. Next, blend from the inner corner of the eye towards the outer corner with a damp wedge sponge. Smooth-in any other imperfections like dark spots and redness by using a creamy concealer. ▶ Invest in a Translucent Powder Invest in good quality translucent powder to set your makeup and reduce shine. Once you have applied concealer and foundation, apply a light dusting of translucent powder. Concentrate on the T-zone - forehead, nose, chin - and cheeks when applying translucent powder. This will even out your complexion and prevent your skin from looking too shiny. ▶ Choose the Right Blush When choosing a blush, pick one that is muted in color and is cream-based, which blends easily. Smile and apply the blush on the highest point of your cheekbones, and blend towards your temples. Blush should appear as if your cheeks have a natural glow, and not end up making your face look gaunt. Apply cream blush instead of powder blush. Our skin becomes drier with age. A cream blush has moisturizing properties, and unlike powder blush, it does not settle on the fine lines of the face. ▶ Use Mascara and Pencil Eyeliners With age, you will find the shape of your eyes change. If your eyes appear smaller and sunken, you need to apply mascara to make your eyes stand out. Opt for volumizing mascara, as they make eyelashes appear more dense and lush. If your eyelashes are straight, you can curl your lashes with an eyelash curler before applying mascara. Apply a dark brown liner along your upper lash line. Begin from the inner corner and move towards the outer corner, smudging the line slightly to create a more natural look. ▶ Define Your Eyebrows With age, eyebrows become thin. Since eyebrows frame your face and thicker brows look more youthful, it is best to fill the brow area with an eyebrow pencil. However, steer clear of eyebrow pencils in very dark colors, like ebony or jet black. When you are filling in your eyebrows, choose a brow pencil in a color that is one or two shades lighter than your natural color. ▶ Apply an Eyeshadow Base An eyeshadow base is a blessing for mature women who have fine lines or wrinkles on their eyelids. Applying a good eyeshadow base ensures that your eyeshadow stays for a longer time. It also smoothens out fine lines and wrinkles. ▶ Opt for Soft Shimmery Eyeshadows Eyeshadows in soft colors, like dull rose, champagne, pewter, honey, and pomegranate, look classy and elegant. Opt for creamy eyeshadows instead of the powder ones, as they are moisturizing and stay on longer. A bit of shimmery eyeshadow applied on the corners of the eyes will also help to make the eyes appear brighter and larger. ▶ Choose Lipstick Colors with Care With age, the lips become thin and tend to look less plump. The best way to give the lips a luscious look is to opt for lipsticks and glosses in bright colors. Vibrant reds, peaches, and pinks give the lips a fuller look. Avoid using very dark lip colors as they tend to make the lips appear thin and narrow. If you simply can't do without a lip liner, choose one that is neutral or nude in tone, and apply it lightly and on the lip line, and not outside them. ▶ Contour Your Neck and Jawline Most mature women tend to have saggy skin under the chin or an undefined jawline. This can add years to your face. By contouring your face, you can camouflage these problems. Choose a bronzer that is two to three shades darker than your skin color, and sweep it with a brush under your chin and along your jawline.