Makeup Application for the Mature Client

As we age, unfortunately, our skin tells all! We really start to understand the meaning of gravity. As a cosmetologist and makeup artist for twenty years, I have experimented with different types of makeup applications for aging faces. Including my own! Some or all of the following information may help you to please your aging clientele. Let’s face it, everyone wants to look younger.

The first thing to do is lighten up. Dark makeup on an aging face only accentuates wrinkles and draws attention where it’s not wanted. Following a good skin care program that does NOT include smoking or alcoholic beverages is always a good idea, but some people wait too long to realize this. If that is the case, they are limited in their options. These are three of the most important things you can do to prevent premature aging:

1. Do not smoke.  2. Try to avoid drinking alcohol.  3.) Limit your time in the sun.

Some people use facial exercises to keep the face muscles toned. I personally use these exercises and would recommend them. The facial exercises are not difficult, and can even be done in your car on the way to work, so no excuses about not having time! You might get some funny looks from passing cars, but after all, it’s not really their looks you are concerned with.

Other popular options are hemorrhoid creams to reduce puffy eyes and promote the shrinking of the skin. As funny as it sounds, it does work. Glycolic acid treatments are a wonderful way to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles from the face. As a cosmetologist, we can buy 30% strength, and doctors can buy 40% strength. I personally use 30% once a month to prevent aging. This treatment will leave your skin tender for 24 hours, and I would not recommend being in sunlight or tanning beds within 24 hours before or after this treatment.

Before going outside at any time, using sunblock is a great idea. You should also use a moisturizer; most moisturizers already contain a sunblock. If you like to use a tanning bed, try not to tan your face as often as your body. Try tanning your face every other time or every third time that you tan just use a little darker foundation to make up the difference. You will be thankful in years to come. Remember your face gets sun all year round not just in the summer months. The reflection off the snow is also damaging to the skin. Just think of how bright it is when the sunlight bounces off the snow in the winter we almost need our sunglasses more in the winter than in the summer and your skin needs protection then too. The skin on your face will age faster than the skin on the rest of your body because in certain areas it is thinner. On the following pages, you will find make up tips on how to make an aging face look younger. You will also find some facial exercises you can tell your clients about, or try them yourself.