I’m sure we all have our go-to makeup products. That beloved blush, the lipstick shade we’ve worn for years and of course the trusty foundation we can’t get enough of because once upon a time someone told us it made our skin look fabulous (and for a long time, it probably did!) But makeup formulations have evolved, ingredients are smarter and more importantly, our skin changes as we age. What worked beautifully at 30 can subtly start working against you at 40, 50 and beyond and by way of working against you I mean it could be adding years to your face instead of that fresh, youthful glow we all so desire!

The good news? You don’t need a completely new makeup bag! A few simple updates to your products and application can make a surprisingly big difference. Keep reading for 8 signs your makeup might be ageing you and the simple changes that can instantly refresh your look!

1. You’re skipping on skin prep

Makeup can only sit as well as the skin underneath! That’s why prepping your skin before applying makeup is essential.  Dehydrated, rough, or sensitised skin can make even expensive products look patchy, heavy or uneven!

Commit to a simple, consistent skincare routine with gentle cleansing, hydrating serums and barrier-supporting moisture. Exfoliating a few times a week is a good way to keep texture smooth and consider using a good primer. Primers hydrate and smooth texture, preventing foundation from settling into fine lines and keeping your youthful, dewy glow locked in all day.

2. Your foundation is too heavy

Full-coverage foundations were once the go-to for creating a flawless finish. But heavier formulas can sometimes sit on top of the skin, emphasising texture, fine lines and enlarged pores.

Instead, consider switching to lighter, more flexible formulas like skin tints, hydrating foundations or serum bases. These allow your natural skin to show through while still evening out tone and softening imperfections. 

3. You’re overloading on foundation powder

If you’re not one for liquid or stick foundations you’ve probably been using your faithful powder compact for a while.

Face powder, when used correctly and frugally can be a fantastic makeup staple (I have been I’m in love with the ELES Mineral Powder Foundation for years!) however, no matter your skin type, too much face powder can actually age you! That’s right, it can highlight fine lines and wrinkles instead of helping to conceal them!

Now I’m not saying you have to totally forgo your trusty powder foundation compact, but it’s best to use powder sparingly (on your t-zone, or for quick touch-up’s), or better still make sure you opt for a mineral powder! it offers lightweight, breathable coverage that does not settle into fine lines or wrinkles (avoiding that cakey, ageing appearance) instead it provides a soft-focus, radiant finish that blurs imperfections, while its non-comedogenic formula won't irritate skin that becomes more sensitive with age.

4. You’re using the wrong tone of foundation

Many foundations come in both warm and cool tones but remember for many of us cool tones can exacerbate signs of age! This is because they often have blue, pink, or ashy undertones, which can accentuate fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture. As skin ages, it tends to lose its natural warmth and radiance, so using a foundation with cool tones can make the complexion appear dull, flat, or even greyish too! Which in turn can also highlight dark circles or any sallowness in the skin.

All you need to do is check the colour of your foundation and try to find one with a warmer tone that matches your complexion. This will help counteract complexion pinkness that comes with thinning of the skin and exposure of fine capillaries. Warmer tones also conceal shadows better which means you need less concealer.

5. Using the wrong concealer or concealer shade

As we mature and our face loses its youthful “plumpness”, shadow start to really appear under our eyes, around the nose, and at the corners of our mouth. It’s tempting to reach for a heavy duty, ultra-light shade concealer to hide these dark areas. The problem is that they can make the dark shadows look grey as opposed to concealing them or worse still settle into fine lines, especially under the eyes, accentuating them!

Instead look for peachy toned, lightweight concealers that won’t cake on the skin and counteract the blue in the shadows.

We recommend ELES Dual Action Concealer, it acts like 8 hours of sleep in a tube! We love it!

6. Your eyebrows are too harsh

Brows have the ability to frame our eyes and lift our face! But overly dark or sharply defined brows can look heavy and ageing! (what were we thinking in the 80’s when we over-tweezed only to find that our brows never grew back!)

Simply make sure you are using a softer brow pencil (taupe colour brow products can be better instead of warm browns) and use lighter strokes to create the illusion of real hair. The goal is to create natural looking thicker brows (like the ones we used to have!) Just be sure you don’t overfill the front part of your brow though! This area should have soft hair that graduates into more density.

We recommend using the ELES Precision Brow Pencil. The soft, fine pencil allows you to perfectly line and fill your brows and the formula lasts for us to 10 hours! It’s amazing.

7. Your blush is pulling your face down

Placing blush too low on the cheeks can drag your face down visually and emphasise loss of volume! Eek.

If you are guilty of this just make sure you apply blush slightly higher on the cheek, blending upwards towards the temples for lift.

Also choose cream or baked blushes as power blush can be too heavy and opt for shades like soft peaches, rose or coral over the brown hues.

Remember well-placed colour can instantly make the face look more lifted and alive!

 

8. Your eye makeup is all wrong

Solid black liner all the way around the eyes, thick lower-lash liner, or very shimmery shadow in the crease can make eyes look smaller, more tired and older.

I love a good eyeliner so I’m not saying don’t use it! But consider swapping your black liner for deep brown, plum or charcoal for softer definition.

Focus your liner on the upper lash line, with a subtle flick for lift (it really does work!) try using a waterliner and apply to the inner rim of your lower lash line. By doing so it’ll immediately open up your eyes as well as make the whites of your eyes look whiter. It works a treat! And use mostly matte or satin shadows for structure (in neutral shades), keeping shimmer purely to the lid or inner corner. Remember you want to frame the eyes, not close them in.

If you have hooded or droopy eyes here are some top tips to improve them naturally.

9. You are continuing to use that cold frosted lipstick you love

As we age, similar to our skin, our lips start to lose volume and in turn fine lines start to form! Unfortunately, that frosted lip colour that we once loved (and looked good) no longer does! This is because frosted lip colours enhance these lines making your lips age you even more!

Instead of that frosted favourite, opt for a cream or satin lipstick that will make your lips look fuller and smoother. Many of these contain moisturising molecules that plump the lips and keep them hydrated longer.

10. Going to bed with makeup on

Well here's one you've heard many a time before! Right? From a few too many wines to being just plain old exhausted, sometimes it hard to peel yourself off your bed to go and remove your makeup but remove your makeup you must!

Cleansing your face especially at night to remove not only your makeup but any remnants of the days sweat, dirt and grime is imperative for healthy skin. Not removing your makeup means your skin is unable to regenerate effectively while you sleep, pores clog, blemishes form and fatigue (ageing!) signs start to appear. Makeup can also trap dirt and pollution, which leads to oxidative stress damaging your skin and breaking down collagen, the protein that keeps your skin firm and smooth!

So, no matter how tired you are, make cleansing a non-negotiable part of your nighttime routine. Use a gentle cleanser or micellar water to remove makeup and grime, giving your skin a chance to breathe and repair while you sleep.

For a fantastic makeup remover which effectively melts away makeup and grime with minimum effort try Phytomer's Doux Contour Eye and Lip Waterproof Makeup Remover. Combining the effectiveness of an oil (a trio of oils in fact) and the gentleness of a lotion, this ultra-hydrating makeup remover, eradicates even the most stubborn of lips and eye makeup fast!

To read more about sleeping in makeup and what it really does to our skin click here.

Remember makeup shouldn’t mask your skin, it should enhance it! And today’s best formulas focus on hydration, light-reflecting textures and breathable coverage that move naturally with the skin. When your makeup routine evolves with your complexion, the result is skin that looks fresh, radiant and beautifully effortless!

So if your makeup suddenly feels like it isn’t working quite the way it used to, don’t panic. It may simply be time for a few small updates.