The best way to approach midlife make-up is to make the most of the way we look now, to look our best selves, rather than trying in vain to reverse the signs of time and ultimately making ourselves feel worse in the process. It’s about boosting hydration, radiance and glow, while brightening and lifting features through clever techniques and opting for the right make-up formulations.
To give you a helping hand with some insider tips and techniques, we asked top make-up artist Mira Parmar @miramakeup to share her advice for looking your midlife best. Mira has worked with celebrities from Joanna Lumley to Cara Delevingne, her work has appeared in Vogue and Elle and her clients include BBC and Sony.
Mira talks us through getting the basics right with midlife make-up.
Prep the skin
Getting your make-up to look the best it can begins before you even open your make-up bag, with skincare.
“The best way to prep mature skin is to use a moisturiser with hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate,” advises Mira. “You can then use a primer on any areas that need it. When looking for a hydrating moisturiser, the key is nothing too heavy on the skin as that will prevent the make-up from sitting flawlessly.”
Willowberry Nutrient Boost Day Cream combines hyaluronic acid with the innovative antioxidant Fireweed, along with rosehip, chia seed and vitamin E. It is nourishing yet easily absorbed, making it an ideal base for make-up.
For extra nourishment, Willowberry Nutrient Boost Face Oil and Sensitive Face Oil are both ultra-light and packed full of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins. A favourite of top make-up artists, our oils work really well as a base for make-up. Used over make-up, they act as a flattering highlighter, adding a radiant glow to the complexion.
Of course, as Mira reminds us, “Always use SPF as the last step in your skincare routine”. Use an SPF of at least 30 to protect your face from sun damage, then wait a few minutes before applying make-up so that the SPF has a chance to settle on the skin.
The best base
These days, foundations come with all sorts of added skincare benefits and many brands offer formulations specifically for mature skin.
“When considering foundations for mature skin, it’s really important to remember that as we get older our skin gets thinner, we get more wrinkles, skin needs more hydration and at times skin can be prone to redness. So look for foundations with added skin hydrating ingredients in them; again, hyaluronic acid is a great one that gives a plumping effect and locks moisture into the skin.”
As we get older it’s often a case of less is more. “Avoid using a full coverage base on mature skins, something light to medium works much better and sits on the skin like a second skin.” If you have areas of redness or pigmentation that you wish to cover, you can then build up the foundation where it’s needed on targeted areas, rather than blanket coverage over the whole face.
Opt for cream formulations
“When it comes to eyeshadows and blushers, use cream textures.” Powders tend to cake and can gather in lines and wrinkles, whereas cream formulations glide and sit on the skin more seamlessly.
How to conceal shadows under eyes
“Shadows under the eyes come either from tiredness or they can be hereditary, but it’s nothing that a good concealer can’t fix! Look for something with moisturising and hydrating properties, something that’s creamy and easy to blend.”
How to look less tired
“Brighten the face with an illuminating moisturiser and opt for a lightweight concealer under the eyes to sculpt and lift; it’s all about lifting features as we get older. Find a great spritz that you can use throughout the day which will not only hydrate and plump the skin, it will also give you a glow.”
Willowberry is nutritious natural skincare for grown-ups, for your best skin.
A favourite with top make-up artists, Willowberry's luxurious award-winning products protect skin’s natural barrier function, to nourish and revive grown-up skin without telling women to be 'anti-ageing'.
As seen in Vogue, Independent, The Telegraph, This Morning and more.