10 Beauty Mistakes Women in their 30’s and 40’s make

As we get older, our skin and makeup routines need to change but, unfortunately, the biggest beauty mistakes women make, are to stick with the same routines they have been using for ten, maybe twenty, years. What worked when we were younger doesn’t work now. Would you wear the same clothing as you did in the 90’s or 2000’s? No? Well, your beauty or skin care shouldn’t be stuck back then either.

1. Foundation overload

Women mistakenly believe the more foundation they put on, the less obvious our flaws are (especially wrinkles). Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way, with the foundation actually highlighting the flaws instead of disguising them.  There is nothing worse than dry, thick, caked on, visible make up. The best thing you can do, is use a moisturising base, a primer or a BB/CC cream under your foundation (we love Cinch Cheat(er)). Apply your foundation with a damp sponge, like a Beauty Blender, for light coverage and blend ability.

2. Too much eyeliner 

We all know ladies in their late 30’s and 40’s who are holding onto the 90’s thick black eyeliner look during the day and honestly, they need to let it go. Nothing ages you quicker than a heavy-handed eyeliner on your lower lash line! All it does is make your eyes look smaller and draw attention to dark circles and lines. The only time you should wear heavy eyeliner is if you are going out at night and it is part of a dramatic eye look.

The queen of thick eyeliner was Pamela Anderson in the 90s and 00’s. Look at how much younger, and fresher, she looks now without wearing so much makeup. Stunning!

Stick to the upper lids—and make the line thicker toward the outer corners, where eyes have a tendency to droop as we age.

If you must wear eyeliner on your lower lash line during the day, apply a faint line along your lashes. Never, ever apply eyeliner to your lower inner eye rim.

3. Mascara on lower lashes

4. Dark, huge eyebrows

The Cara Delevingne eyebrow look does not suit the woman in her 30s and 40’s. Eyebrows should help frame your face, as they are the anchor to your whole look.  If the brow pencil or powder you’re using, is the same colour as your hair, it’s too dark. Too dark brows look very unnatural. Below we have a perfect example with Angelina Jolie:

4. Blush

Blush should highlight your natural colouring, so stick with rose or pale pink coloured blushes. Go for a matt blush, as shiny and bright blushes highlight skin sagging, wrinkles and redness.

5. Powder

Powder is fine for reducing shine on the nose and the chin, but on other parts of the face it exaggerates wrinkles and can make skin look too dry. It is best to avoid powder and stick to a dewy soft complexion.

6.Concealer

The skin under the eyes gets thinner as we age, making thick cover-up look like concrete. Keep it light and apply it with a brush, as it distributes the color more evenly. Make sure you blend it in with your foundation or you will end up like poor Eva (above).

7. Not using sun protection

Wrinkles, sagging skin, pigmentation and sun spots get worse as we get older. It is never too late to stop sun damage to your skin! We love BB creams as they protect, cover and smooth all at the same time but always remember to slip, slop, slap.

8. Dehydration

Just as our body needs water to replenish itself, so does our skin. Dehydration causes dry skin, wrinkles and premature ageing. Our rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water per hour while we are at work. There’s your eight glasses or two litres of water a day. So easy to do but also easy to forget and to reach for a coffee or soft drink instead.

If you check out this dentist in Lexington, they’ll also advise you that water is so much better than coffee or soda. The latter are acidic beverages and erode your teeth. On the other hand, water neutralizes the pH level in your mouth, lessening the time your teeth are exposed to acid.

9. Skipping the moisturiser

As we age our skin tends to be drier, so for smooth soft skin a moisturiser is essential. We recommend a good quality, rich moisturiser specifically for dry skin. Also, make sure your body wash and facial skin care products are for dry, mature skin or anti-ageing as well.

10. Lack of sleep

Lack of sleep causes not only physical problems but most people have experienced sallow skin and puffy eyes after a few nights of missed sleep. It turns out chronic sleep loss can lead to lackluster skin, fine lines, and dark circles under the eyes.

When you don’t get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In excess amounts, cortisol can break down skin collagen, the protein that keeps skin smooth and elastic. The optimal amount of sleep you should have is six to eight hours a night.

What do you think are the biggest beauty blunders women make?