Beauty: Make-up

This post is part of the Gorgeous 50’s series inspired by a book given to me by one of my sisters on my 50th birthday – ‘Grown up and Gorgeous in your 50’s’ by Pamela Robson.  I will be sharing some of Pamela’s words and my own thoughts along the way.  To see all posts published as part of this series, go here.

Pamela says:

As we age, our faces demand different make-up and application techniques.  Heavy products can make us look a decade older than we really are.  Repeat every morning as you face the mirror:  I will be pretty and fresh, not severe and old.  The goal is to look natural – just as you are, but better.

Pamela says that this is what makes The Perfect Make-up Kit:

• A light-reflecting foundation
• Concealer
• Mascara
• Eyeshadow (neutral, natural light, medium and dark shades)
• Lip gloss
• Lipstick
• Blush and bronzer

Pamela’s Note on Blush and Bronzer …

Don’t underestimate what a dash of colour can do for your looks!  Not just for the under 30s, well-placed blush will make you look pretty, youthful, and give you that just-exercised glow (to choose the hue, pick one that most closely matches your natural post-workout flush).  Powder blushes are easiest to work with, while cream blush adds a dewy touch.  Approach bronzer in a similar manner:  for a sun-kissed glow, swirl a little onto the apples of your cheeks, and where the sun would naturally tan your face (a dash across your brow bone, nose, chin and your collarbones).  Avoid orange-toned, frosted formulas and pick brown-based bronzers in a shade that’s only slightly darker than your complexion.

My thoughts:

I’m pretty much in agreement with Pamela’s ‘Perfect Make-Up Kit’ and I agree with her ‘less is more’ sentiments.  I’m not entirely sure what she means by a ‘light-reflecting foundation’ but I think she means a light dewy look works better rather than a pasty matte look.  I think that when it comes to foundation, it’s very important to get the colour right.  It needs to be as close as possible to your skin tone and that can change from summer to winter!  I’m very happy with the foundation I use which happens to be Arbonne Perfecting Liquid Foundation SPF 15 (Honey Beige).  Often for my daytime casual routine I choose to use my Garnier BB Creme Nude Effect instead and it is also all kinds of fabulous!

I’m no expert on applying make-up but for myself I keep things pretty simple.  This is my general routine:

Daytime Casual

• When at home for the day I generally go make-up free to give my skin a break
• When I do apply makeup for a casual daytime look, it’s pretty basic and includes the following:
  • Foundation
  • Basic cover stick concealer (for any blotches or red spots)
  • Mascara
  • Eyebrow Pencil (only if going out)
  • Lip gloss or Lipstick

Daytime Dressy

• If I’m going somewhere a little bit special I’ll take my routine a step further:
  • Foundation
  • Basic cover stick concealer
  • Mascara
  • Eyebrow Pencil
  • Eyeliner – always use the pencil ones. I’ve never used liquid eyeliner.  Colours options I stick to are:  Grey/Silver, Brown, Green (matches my eyes)
  • Lipstick
  • Blush

Evening Casual and Evening Dressy

• Same as Daytime Casual and Daytime Dressy, except I might go a little heavier on the eye make up for Evening Dressy!

NOTES:

1. Notice that I don’t include eye shadow anywhere?  I dropped that from my routine a long time ago.  I don’t have a huge eyelid area and I don’t see that it adds anything to how I look.  I also believe less is more, so I don’t bother.  
2. An eyebrow pencil was never part of my routine when I was younger.  It’s been added in recent years because I’ve found that as I’ve got older my eyebrows are more sparse and there are the odd grey ones popping up here and there.  An eyebrow pencil helps to make them look thicker and darker (and of course hides any rogue greys!).

What do you think of Pamela’s Perfect Make Up Kit?  Care to share your routine? 

Ciao for now

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