As a professional makeup artist for over 25+ years — and someone who’s about to turn 48 in less than two weeks — I see up close how our skin, priorities, and relationship with makeup evolve over time. My clients I work with are primarily women over 40, 50, and 60+, and the goal is always the same: use makeup that enhances, softens, and supports aging skin with minimal settling into lines or calling attention to texture.
✨ What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
- The Products
- 1. Clarins Double Serum, $95
- 2. Tarte BB Blur Tinted Moisturizer, $42
- 3. Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $48
- 4. NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum , $11
- 5. Natasha Denona Shadow Palettes , varied pricing
- 6. Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping blush Veil , $34
- Final Makeup Artist Tip
- The Rest of My Look Details
Here are two truths I say out loud when I work with my older clients:
1. Be realistic about what your makeup can do. Makeup WILL MOVE around your face – around crows’ feet, smile lines, and forehead, eventually. There is no creamy makeup that won’t eventually crease a little over the course of the day – no matter how expensive it is. Our faces are mobile, which means products will travel, BUT you can minimize this traveling a bit with techniques and formulas.
2. Mature skin doesn’t need more makeup — it needs better formulas. I’m talking about globbing on thick layers of makeup, thinking you are “covering” your pores and lines. You are not; you’re probably making the texture more prominent. It’s all about smart light layers!
So here are the five products I reach for again and again on my clients (and myself) because they truly work with our skin, not against it…start your shopping list!
The Products
1. Clarins Double Serum,$95
Skin prep is of utmost importance if you’re really trying to make sure whatever makeup you apply doesn’t settle terribly. I’ve fully supported and promoted this iconic Clarins serum for years to my friends and clients.
Yes, it’s pricey, but once you’ve started using it, you will understand. What is it good for? For maximizing efficacy on firmness, wrinkles, radiance, and pores. With continued use, your skin will feel pillowy soft, where those products will bounce off instead of settling in!
How I use it: I apply it before moisturizer/spf AND I use it about every other evening before bed. I use a lot of it too!! I find applying with this skincare brush, $22, makes it apply even better in a circular motion. If you have super oily skin, they came out with a lighter texture version just for you.
2. Tarte BB Blur Tinted Moisturizer, $42
This is one of those products I’ve used for over 2 years now on myself, and it’s got some kinda magic in it. This bb tinted moisturizer mimics a light foundation that helps you to truly achieve an almost flawless base with a super airy formula that feels weightless. This flexible formula is built with all sorts of skincare goodies (and spf 30), and is very long-wear.
The lumi – matte finish is great for wrinkled/textured skin because it’s not mega glowy or shiny NOR is it very matte and dry looking. It’s truly a great middle ground for mature skin! I wear shade “light-medium.”
How I use it: I apply it with a buffing foundation brush using stippling motions. Less is more, start with a couple of dots of foundation first — you can always add a little extra where needed. And when I want to thin it out, I’ll just squirt a dot of this on the back of my hand and mix in a little extra of just my moisturizer and then rub it in!
3. Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $48
When clients tell me they’re afraid of powder, this is the one I introduce them to. It’s finely milled and softly blurring, not dry or cakey. I dislike the price point for the original size for an everyday gal that might not use as much as I do, being a makeup artist, so I am glad they make a mini size option if you’re just wanting to test the waters. (Promise tho, you’ll love it!)
How I use it: I lightly press into the skin, with these Amazon triangle puffs, only where shine appears — under the eyes, around the sides of the nose, the center of the forehead, and the center of the lower chin — avoiding the cheeks and top of the nose to keep skin looking fresh. I’m wearing the shade “rose” here.
4. NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum, $11
Okay, listen closely, friends. I’ve tried countless concealers over the years, searching for the perfect formula. This NYX serum/concealer is relatively new to me, BUT I’ve already bought every color of it for my kit! It rivals most of the expensive brands I carry. It brightens and covers so beautifully, you’ll just have to see for yourself. My only complaint is I wish it had a wand instead of the pump, but oh well, I’ll deal.
How I use it: You only need a tiny pin prick of this product to make an impact!! I tap a small amount under the inner corner of the eye and blend outward just where I see the hollows of the eye with a combo of a concealer brush , $7.50 and my finger. If needed, I set it very lightly with powder. I’m wearing the shade “vanilla” currently.
5. Natasha Denona Shadow Palettes, varied pricing
Eyeshadow should add softness, dimension, and velvety pigments – not harsh lines or barely there color. These ND palettes offer wearable mattes and gentle shimmers that blend beautifully on textured lids – and come in minis or larger sizes from neutrals to the most fun out there shades! So you do you when it comes to picking one, but her shadows are some of my favorites.
How I use it: A soft matte shade through the crease, a lighter ivory tone under the brow bone, a multi-chrome purple-ish shade in the center of my lid, and the darkest shade along the lash line. Using the mini eye sculpt palette, $27 for the matte shades and ivory brow shade (if you only want to wear matte neutral shadows, you need to go ahead and get yourself this mini), then I added some fun shades from her very popular “My Dream Palette,” $69.
6. Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping blush Veil, $34
Nothing brings life back to the face like blush — especially as we age. This cream blush seriously melts into the skin to help create a natural, youthful flush. It gives a luminous finish – but without any sparkle. Somehow, this formula actually makes your cheeks look fuller, and as we age, we know that our cheeks start to sink in! You can perfect the no makeup makeup look with this blush!
How I use it: Smiling when applying your blush so you can see where your eye crinkles happen is a great way to start! Then apply any blush directly under those bc they will amplify creases if that’s not your jam. I find a cream blush brush is a better delivery (shocker, right?!) and helps to push and spread out this formula of blush just right. I’m using the elf cosmetics putty blush brush, $6, and wearing shade “Berry Punch,” here.
Final Makeup Artist Tip
The biggest shift I see with maturing women is learning to trust lighter layers, creamier textures, and glow over coverage. Makeup should feel like a confidence boost — not a mask. If you want to further test out a complete look that is simple and easy, check out one of my more popular recent posts on 7 Simple Steps For A Polished Look.
The Rest of My Look Details
My Emilie Gem initial necklace, $168, that goes with whatever I am wearing – truly. A wonderful and worth investing in jewelry piece, and I am a big fan of Sequin Jewelry. // Morphe Glazed Drip glass gloss in shade “shatterproof mauve,” $13, is a beautifully comfortable gloss with squalane and vitamin E. // My lilac sweatshirt is old, but I love a comfy sweatshirt in a girly color for the winter! Here are similar ones – lilac fleece here, $20, Vineyard Vines quarter zip, $100, oversized Old Navy raglan, $25.
These six products are my tried-and-true favorites for creating smooth, radiant skin at any age — and the ones I’ll continue reaching for on my clients and myself. Do any of these speak to you, or do you already own them?
LEAVE A COMMENT