15 Common Hair and Makeup Mistakes that Can Make You Look Much Older
Those captivating looks created by young makeup artists on Twitter and Instagram can be hard to resist. We all want sculpted brows, extra long lashes, rosy cheeks and sparkling eye shadow, but those stunning colors and heavy application methods aren't always flattering to aging skin. Brace yourself for a look at the most common hair and makeup mistakes that can add ten years to your appearance.
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1. Kill the black eyeliner and choose brown or cinnamon smudge proof eyeliner
A harsh contrast between skin color and eyeliner works for many young women who desire an edgy look, but as we begin to acquire wrinkles, those black rimmed eyes can leave us looking like Alice Cooper. Experiment with various shades of brown to find the perfect color for your skin. Be sure to choose a waterproof and smudge proof formula! Those little streaks and stains from bleeding eyeliner can boost the appearance of dark circles to the tenth power!
Suggestion: Try Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Espresso or Cinnabar. The long wearing formula doesn't fade or smudge easily, but it still blends nicely. If your hair is red or auburn, Cinnabar will match better than espresso or chocolate.
2. Try golden blonde or copper blonde instead of platinum or white blonde
As aging hair becomes more dry and brittle, frequent bleaching can leave it looking like straw. Ultra light colors have a tendency to look as white as the grey hair older women seek to avoid. If blonde is your shade of choice, try golden tones of honey or amber. Dark blonde strands are far less likely to look fuzzy than white blonde strands.
Suggestions: Loreal Feria in Golden Sunset or Schwarzkopf Color Cream in Light Copper
Suggestions: Loreal Feria in Golden Sunset or Schwarzkopf Color Cream in Light Copper
3. Cancel frosted pigments in favor of matte or cream eye shadows. No glitter!
Those tiny sparkles can settle into crevices and dramatically accentuate wrinkles. For proof, take a hand mirror outside and look at your skin in broad daylight. You'll see that matte eye shadows and blushers are far less likely to bring out fine lines than sparkly shades.
Matte Powder Shadow Suggestion: This palette by Maybelline includes contrasting shades of tan, mauve, peach and brown.
Matte Powder Shadow Suggestion: This palette by Maybelline includes contrasting shades of tan, mauve, peach and brown.
Creme Shadow Suggestion: Look into candlelight, pink posey or garnet from Senegence.
Blush Suggestion: This glitter free palette by Almay features natural shades of mauve, peach and dusty rose.
4. Trade your old school foundation for a plumping formula
5. Choose a face powder that's both moisturizing and full coverage
Typical face powders are known to promote dryness and settle into fine lines and cracks, which can greatly accentuate wrinkled skin. Try a powdered "foundation" that's designed for more dense coverage. It works great over liquid foundation or as a stand alone product for those who like one step powdered foundations. If you're familiar with Maybelline Purestay Powdered foundation that went off the market years ago, you'll be happy to know Foundation Celebration by "It Cosmestics" delivers the same great coverage without accentuating lines and cracks.
Suggestion: It Cosmetics Celebration Foundation Medium
Light Shade ^
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Medium Shade ^
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6. Choose a moisturizing liquid concealer that's designed to minimize fine lines
If you're frustrated by the way that most under eye concealers accentuate fine lines and cracks, check out the number one bestselling concealer at stores like Ulta and Sephora. The iconic Tarte Tape concealer brand is also available on Amazon.
7. Avoid pairing black hair with pale skin
That goth look may be sexy on the girl next door, but as we age, a deep contrast between hair and skin can leave light complected women looking like malnourished zombies. Try auburn, chestnut or golden brown instead. If your hair is very dark, you may wish to try a chocolate brown before moving down to another level. Gradual change will allow the opportunity to ponder and evaluate. Stop when you feel comfortable.
Suggestions: Try Loreal Preference in Chic Autumn Brown or Iced Golden Brown.
Suggestions: Try Loreal Preference in Chic Autumn Brown or Iced Golden Brown.
8. Opt against super bright lipstick and choose a nice moisturizing formula
The standard rule of thumb is that your lipstick shade should match the inside of your bottom lip. That means light to medium shades of mauve and rose tend to look great on older people. It's okay to veer from this formula. Ginger, peach and champagne look wonderful on women of all ages! Just don't push the envelope too far. Bright oranges, ruby reds and passionate purples can leave you looking harsh and overdone, especially during daylight hours. Evening lips are a different matter. When spending time in dark environments like nightclubs and theaters, brighter shades are often necessary. If you're naturally dark complected, you may be able to get away with bright or dark lip colors at any age. Experiment to find your happy place and throw out the rules if necessary!
Suggestions: Try Loreal Color Riche Lipstick in Power Petal or Daring Blush. The extra moisturizing formula won't leave your lips looking dry or cracked. Avoid long wearing lip stains. They'll leave your lips looking parched if you don't commit to applying a moisturizing gloss to refresh them throughout the day.
Suggestions: Try Loreal Color Riche Lipstick in Power Petal or Daring Blush. The extra moisturizing formula won't leave your lips looking dry or cracked. Avoid long wearing lip stains. They'll leave your lips looking parched if you don't commit to applying a moisturizing gloss to refresh them throughout the day.
9. Don't settle for thinning eyelashes. Today's lash growth serums REALLY DO WORK.
This famous lash growth serum has a cult following on Amazon!
Reviews: 16,518 Average Rating: 4.4 Stars Price: $29.99 Details: Remember when prescription eyelash growth formulas first became popular and blue eyed women began complaining that it changed their eye color to brown? Thus began a new era of botanical eyelash growth serums that don't cause irritation or change eye color. This blockbuster hypoallergenic formula penetrates hair follicles to fortify lashes and stimulate growth. It dramatically boosts the length and thickness of eyelashes and eyebrows and imparts a nice luster. No more false lashes needed! Experience drastic results in as little as 60 days or the company will refund your money. |
10. Avoid salon lash extensions and choose a fiber building mascara instead
Professionally applied lash extensions look great at first, but over time they'll begin to rip out your real lashes. In just one or two applications, you may find that your chronically weak eyelashes are more sparse than ever.
Today's fiber based mascaras are truly effective in building much longer and more visible lashes without ripping intricate hairs from the root. The following brand has attracted a cult following on Amazon. Reviews: 6,072 and Rising Average Rating: 4 Stars Price: $19.96 Details: Imagine a waterproof, smudge-proof formula that uses natural fibers to build your lashes up to 300 times in five minutes! The soft, green tea fibers are hypoallergenic and won’t irritate your or eyes. This product is easy to apply and lasts all day. |
11. Don't overexpose the forehead. Use bangs or layers to hide wrinkles and soften angles.
Bangs will help conceal a wrinkled forehead. Face framing layers will help streamline chubby cheeks and draw attention away from less-than-perfect skin. If you're used to hair that's all one length, visit a wig store to try different layered looks. You might be nicely surprised!
12. Don't skip the hair glossing serum. Aging hair is more coarse and brittle.
Hair conditioner simply isn't enough to tame that wild post menopause chick fuzz. Remember that hair is just dead matter. Unlike the scalp, it can't absorb fancy ingredients like vitamins or botanical extracts. Conditioner will minimize tangles and leave a coating that tames frizz, but it won't make your hair "more healthy." Frequent trims are the best way to maintain healthy looking locks. Cut off those brittle ends before hair begins to split all the way up the shaft. One trim every six weeks should do the trick.
Suggestion: Silicone based hair serums leave a shiny coating on each strand, eliminating frizz and providing a nice barrier against humidity. Just be sure not to apply too much at once. Rub a pea-sized amount into your hands and work it through dry hair. If you need more, do a second application. Try Biosilk hair therapy. You should see a noticeable difference in seconds. |
13. Don't ignore thinning hair caused by DHT buildup. It will only get worse.
If your hair seems a little more thin and fragile than it used to, the time to get control of the situation is NOW. Bald spots are a very real problem afflicting women in their 60s and 70s. Before real problems arise, you can break the cycle of DHT buildup with a reputable, high quality shampoo designed to regrow thinning hair. Details: This maximum strength hair loss prevention and treatment shampoo contains biotin, provitamin B5 zinc, coconut oil, Tea Tree, Jojoba and Argan oil. This blend works to remove DHT buildup and clean the scalp and hair of dandruff flakes and scales. This stimulates hair follicles and promotes circulation to encourage healthy hair growth. Thousands of people have stopped to provide glowing reviews and many delivered pictures of miraculous results!
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14. Avoid curling irons and hair straightening devices that can burn and break aging hair.
There's no need to fry your hair between metal or ceramic plates. Tall, oversized heated rollers are perfect for folks who are used to working with the long shaft of a curling iron. For shorter hair styles, choose traditional sized electric rollers covered in felt. Either way, heated rollers will smooth the cuticle and refine the look of damaged ends. Young hair can take a certain amount of abuse from traditional styling appliances, but aging hair is particularly fragile. Worse yet, it doesn't grow back as fast. Electric rollers are much kinder.
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15. Failure to stay moisturized is a serious skin mistake. Choose your wrinkle cream wisely.
A. Here's why you can believe the hype surrounding Olay products
Back in 2007, Olay made headlines for beating ultra expensive creams in tests by Consumer Reports Magazine, a publication that doesn't accept advertising dollars. When it comes to affordable drugstore brands, Olay still gives those ulra expensive department store creams a run for their money. For a nice daytime moisturizer that works well under makeup, go for Olay's lightweight fragrance free serum. For an extra moisturizing nighttime formula, turn to the micro sculpting cream in the red jar. Whenever possible, choose the fragrance free Regenerist over the scented alternative. Fragrance is totally unnecessary. It can cause skin reactions in sensitive people, especially if you're burdened by common menopausal skin problems such as Rosacea.
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B. Retinol is still the number one anti aging ingredient recommended by dermatologists
If Retinol creams are more your style, choose an ultra pure formula that's not loaded with unnecessary chemicals. This Retinol cream scored more than 5,000 excellent reviews on Amazon, making it a product with a genuine cult following. Retinol works by stimulating collagen, a vital protein that forms a scaffold to provide strength and structure. It also stimulates the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin color. Additional benefits include the fading of age spots and softening of rough patches.
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C. This wrinkle serum uses vitamin C to boost collagen and combines it with hyaluronic acid.
If immediate plumping and firming sounds good to you, this lightweight serum truly shines.
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D. Aloe Vera is a wildly popular treatment for wrinkles, acne, sunburns and bacterial or fungal skin issues
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Failure to wear sunscreen to the beach is the worst mistake of all
Nothing ages the skin more dramatically than frequent sun exposure. Regular sunscreens designed for the body can be too oily for sensitive facial skin. To avoid breakouts, choose a high SPF products that are made specifically for the face. Go for an SPF factor of at least 80. The higher the better. Neutrogena's oil-free sunscreen has an SPF factor of 110.
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Don't forget to check the back of your hair for thin spots
For more than three years, I told my mother that her hair was looking progressively thin at the back of her head. She shrugged off my advice to begin using fill-in powders and fibers. One day, I gave her a hand mirror and forced her to stand in front of the bathroom mirror. Her mouth dropped wide open as tears filled her eyes. When she saw that her scalp was clearly visible between strands of tousled hair, she began brushing her hair after each nap to ensure that the thinning strands covered the back of her head evenly. Don't be like my mom. Check the back of your hair often, and begin using DHT removing shampoos before problems get out of hand. Look into filler products designed to conceal bald spots.
These hair fibers are sprayed directly onto the scalp to conceal bald spots. Choose from a variety of colors!
This wonderful powder is applied directly to the scalp to conceal bald spots
These stylish hair pieces deliver instant fullness. Just clip and go!
Avoid bulky, oversized clothing. The cut of this blouse is pure slimming magic.
Excessively baggy or bulky clothes can add many pounds and many YEARS to your appearance. Remember these classic rules for dressing slimmer: 1.) Look for tops with an hourglass shape to create a waistline. 2.) Choose three quarter sleeves to hide arm flab. 3.) Pin stripes are known to elongate the body and create a slimmer illusion. 4.) Dark colors hide lumps much better than light colors.
Don't stop being sexy! It's possible to show a little skin at any age.
This alluring bare shoulder top is cut to slim the waist, conceal upper arms and hide a thick abdomen.
Don't be afraid of color. Vibrancy equals youth!
It's great to dress in solid colors to create a uniform silhouette, but those plain outfits need strategic punches of color!
Embrace your femininity
Afraid of lace and refinement? It's the cut of the blouse that determines whether a garment is hot or not!
Tie scarves down the front to create a slimming and elongating illusion
Look for ROUNDED hemlines to slim the body minimize that boxy look
Trade your boxy T-shirt collection for neat and stylish jerseys
Here's your chance to look neat and stylish every single day of your life. Simply trade those faded, boxy sleep T-shirts for slenderizing baseball jerseys with rounded hems. Never get caught at the store looking haggard again!
Choose a poncho that's streamlined to lengthen the torso without adding bulk
Add a bit of whimsy with youthful accessories
Leg warmers are back in style! Rediscover what you loved about them in the 80s.
Don't be afraid of a good dress!
If you think your figure just wasn't made for dresses, think again. Thousands of women stopped to deliver glowing comments about this super slimming streamlined dress that doesn't cling to lumps and bumps.
These famous office trousers are extra slimming and comfortable
Dress up solid color outfits with colorful handbags
If you tend to dress in solid colors to create a more slim and uniform silhouette, colorful handbags can add a dash of spice!