Over time, makeup techniques change, and if you are someone who likes to enhance your appearance through makeup, you should know the most common techniques and mistakes. Sandy Linder, a well-known makeup artist who has worked with figures like Christie Brinkley, advocates for an intelligent use of makeup, beyond just the quantity, especially for women over 50. According to her, there are five mistakes that are often repeated and, far from providing a natural and clean finish, can accentuate and harden the features of your face. She refers to eyebrow care, the need to blend products, choosing whether to highlight the eyes or lips, the importance of using a moisturizer before applying makeup, and the use of lip liners.
Use of makeup
Although the use of makeup shouldn’t be mandatory or expected for women, much of the information about it is directed toward them. There is especially talk about how to apply it after the age of 50, when makeup is supposed to become an ally for looking younger (according to whom?). Sandy Linter, a renowned makeup artist who has worked with icons like Christie Brinkley, argues that “aging faces don’t need more makeup, but rather an intelligent use of it”.
According to Linder, there are common mistakes when applying makeup that, far from providing a natural and clean finish, highlight facial features that could, according to her, make you look even older. Naturally and logically, as time passes and we age, both the texture and tone of the skin, as well as the shape of the eyes, change. That’s why makeup techniques that used to work now need to be reassessed. Linder refers to the five most common mistakes when applying makeup.
Eyebrow Care
For many years, fashion included wearing eyebrows that were extremely thin and arched, which is still the choice of many women. However, current trends favor thicker eyebrows, which some women can only achieve through microblading. According to Lin Tear, having very sparse or overly drawn eyebrows can age the face, creating a very strong contrast. I recommend using a fine-tip pencil or gel, tinted in a shade lighter than your natural color, maintaining a subtle arch and lifted ends to achieve a more open expression in the eyes.
Blending
One of the biggest mistakes made at any age when applying makeup is not giving enough importance to blending. Due to a lack of knowledge, it is often possible to see visible lines along the jaw, overly pronounced blush, or eyeshadow that is too compact. Remember the importance of blending the edges of each product so that the transitions on the skin are much smoother.
Eyes or lips?
According to Linter, you have to choose, because wearing smoky eyes at the same time as a bold lip color creates an imbalance that makes the face look harsh or heavy. He recommends that if you want to emphasize the eyes, opt for a lighter lip color, applying the same method in reverse: a bold lip color with neutral shades and soft eyeliners for the eyes.
Preliminary hydration
It is very common to skip the hydration step, which is essential for the makeup finish. It is important not to confuse primer with hydration: first apply a good moisturizing and nourishing cream, and then use the primer.
Lip Remodeling
According to Linter, trying to overdraw the edges of the lips can have a counterproductive effect, especially if using tones that have nothing to do with the natural color. That is why he recommends using lipsticks whose color resembles the natural tone.
Remember that all of this is advice, and that the use of makeup is entirely optional, and each person can apply it as they wish, without needing to follow trends or aiming to look younger.