We all want to look our best — and by "best" we mean the most youthful version of
ourselves. There are many ways to slow down the aging process; wearing sunscreen religiously, eating lots of fruits and veggies, drinking boatloads of water,
having an exercise routine and using quality skin care can all help keep you young.
But for those of you who might have missed the anti-aging memo, we hate to break it to you, but once the crow's feet and sun spots have set in, there aren't many ways to make them disappear short of spending tons of cash or getting cosmetic surgery. So your next best option is to fake it. And how can you fake it, you ask? With makeup, of course.
But if you're not careful with your application, makeup can actually make you look even older, so you've got to make sure you have the right products and know-how. That's why we called on the expertise of Taylor Chang-Babaian, author of Beauty Rewind.
She gives us the scoop on which types of lip, face and eye makeup to use in order to look younger in minutes.
Image via Imaxtree
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Concealer to Disguise Crow's Feet
"Usually crow's feet have a brown undertone," says Chang-Babaian. To cancel out the color, she recommends a concealer with a pink or pinkish-beige tone to cancel out the color. For medium to olive skin tones, look for peachy or ocher undertones in your concealer. Since crow's feet tend to angle down, apply concealer in an upward motion.
The anti-aging skin care routine you apply to your face should extend to your lips. The skin on your lips is actually thinner than the skin on the rest of your face (not to mention, your lips don't contain oil glands to keep them hydrated), which causes them to shrivel and shrink as you age, says Chang-Babaian. For long-term protection, use a lip balm with sunscreen and keep them moisturized at night, she says.
In the short term, choose lipsticks in shades of mauve and pink -- these help define your lips and add a youthful rosiness without drawing attention to the fact that they're thinning (like, say, a deep red or a plum would).
Try:Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick, $6.99, in Ravishing Rose or Darling Kiss. This drugstore buy is surprisingly luxe. The shea butter-infused lipstick glides on oh-so-smoothly, and stays put nearly all day long (just a slight touch-up after lunch, and you're good to go).
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The Secret to Wider, More Youthful Eyes
As your skin loses elasticity, your eyelids begin to droop. To fake lifted eyes, Chang-Babaian says you need a good lash curler. "The curl almost acts like cupping," she explains. "It holds your lashes up and then you want to freeze them into place with a drier mascara." Opt for one that's waterproof or water-resistant for optimal results. Just be sure to be gentle when you remove your makeup at night -- we're fans of micellar water for getting the job done efficiently and without tugging.
Try: Chang-Babaian prefers Shiseido's Eyelash Curler, $19, for most eye shapes and Kevyn Aucoin's The Eyelash Curler, $21, for deep-set eyes. She says you shouldn't skimp on the price of your lash curler -- the ones from the drugstore simply don't curl as well, because the spring isn't strong enough.
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A Great Blush Gives a Radiant Glow
As you age, your skin produces less oil, making you more prone to dryness, says Chang-Babaian (that's why you now suddenly love the thick, creamy moisturizers you wouldn't have let near your face in your 20s). She recommends a cream blush for dry skin -- just be sure to smile and apply it only to the apples of your cheeks. If you feel the need to thin out your face, do it with a contour product, not your your blush a la the '80s (you know, applying it from under your cheekbones to your temple?).
Try:Ciate London Blush Pop Creme Blush, $19. This superblendable blush gives skin a rosy, healthy glow. Use your fingertips to layer it until you reach your desired intensity -- the first layer goes on incredibly sheer, so you don't have to worry about overdoing it.
We all want to look our best — and by "best" we mean the most youthful version of
ourselves. There are many ways to slow down the aging process; wearing sunscreen religiously, eating lots of fruits and veggies, drinking boatloads of water,
having an exercise routine and using quality skin care can all help keep you young.
But for those of you who might have missed the anti-aging memo, we hate to break it to you, but once the crow's feet and sun spots have set in, there aren't many ways to make them disappear short of spending tons of cash or getting cosmetic surgery. So your next best option is to fake it. And how can you fake it, you ask? With makeup, of course.
But if you're not careful with your application, makeup can actually make you look even older, so you've got to make sure you have the right products and know-how. That's why we called on the expertise of Taylor Chang-Babaian, author of Beauty Rewind.
She gives us the scoop on which types of lip, face and eye makeup to use in order to look younger in minutes.
