Makeup To Fit Your Age

Should Your Makeup Change As You Age?

I deal with this question on a regular basis as some of you begin to notice the mineral makeup shades you currently wear are looking odd. If not odd, the mineral shades simply are not as attractive as they once were. Since starting up Sterling Minerals, I too am aging, and now instead of coloring my hair, I have allowed all the natural gray to grow out. This of course completely changed the way my complexion looked.

I fought long and hard to keep my blonde shade for more than a decade. Loved my blonde hair when I was younger until it went mousy brownish blonde after I had my kids. Allowing my natural hair color to grow out was because I was tired of the maintenance it took. Plus I wanted to stop putting harsh and dubious chemicals on my scalp. 

I did seek help from my stylist to transition to gray by getting a whole new final color. This took away the demarcation of the grow out and replaced it with purple tones feathered into my hair. It did take me over a year with many haircuts to get rid of my old color.

Hair Color Dictates Mineral Makeup Shades

When I was younger, my mineral makeup shade had a yellow undertone, such as with Jennifer and Amara foundation. Then as I continued to age, I began using a mix of shades in Fiorella and Adonia which improved my complexion since these lean cool. 

Dealing with skin pigment and other changes to your skin begins the sometimes challenging hunt for new makeup choices. These changes can occur as early as age 40 as you tend to lose pigment in your face and lips. Your skin loses collagen, it thins, making your skin appear more translucent with your tone looking quite neutral. Your natural hair color plays a role also. Growing it out from platinum to darker or colored to gray, will contribute to needing a makeup shade change.

Shade Changes May Be Necessary To Your Makeup

I used to wear blush in pinkish peach, warm pink or apricot. My eye color shades leaned warm in tone such as gold, brown, and beige that were perfect for my complexion. I could sport lip colors that were peach, brick and some reds.  Even my wardrobe was in the same tones with little to no pastels unless it was warm green, red or yellow shades.

A whole new color palette intrigued me after I walked into my salon for a haircut. My stylist introduced me to some amazing new ideas. She quite bluntly told me my shades weren’t working for me now that I have a strong shade of bluish gray mixed in with my blonde hair. “Go all cool makeup shades girlfriend!”

I sort of sensed it before she said anything. Her critique of my coloring only confirmed what I suspected when looking in the mirror. My foundation blend was good because I had already adjusted my makeup to how my pigment changed in my complexion.

You may also need to assess how your skin is changing and if you need some tweaks to your color choices. When it comes to your foundation, less is more. Using a lighter touch when applying your minerals won’t emphasize your fine lines. By all means, moisturize and moisturize some more!

If you have olive skin tone then this change to makeup will be minimal in your foundation. But your lip, blush and eye color will probably need a checkup.

Examples Of Choosing Your Best Shade As You Age

Now that I have embraced my gray hair and I absolutely love it, I am able to go to cooler shades that look much better on me today. In clothing, I have eggplant, teal, burgundy, pink, rose and gray shades. Now if I try to wear my old “go to” warm shades, they age me and wash me out. Funny how that works!

My lip, blush and eye colors are now in rose and mauve tones with some soft pink blends. What has stunned and amazed me the most is how I am able to wear silvers, because I never could or would even think of it. Loving the new look though!

You may experience the same thing after checking how your complexion is changing as you mature. Cooler shades will become more attractive unless you continue to color your hair with warm tones or you are a redhead.

If you are like me and love your gray hair, picking shades that lean cool will create youth and beauty reflecting your new complexion and hair.

My Best Advice As You Get Started

One small tidbit for wearing eye makeup, you’ll want to avoid harsh lines and dark shades. After all you don’t want to deliberately enhance your age.

Now, I make sure to go more natural and well blended in my eye makeup and blush, keeping it very muted. Since lip pigment fades as you and I age, this is where I recommend placing the most pop of color. Still soft for the most part, but if I want more, I go for it with a stronger cool color for intensity.

Experiment with your old colors and try out some new ones in the opposite color tones and see if you don’t love the new look. It may very well remove the same question I had, “why is my makeup not looking it’s best anymore?”

Until next week. Have a lovely day!