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Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The six biggest make-up mistakes that are making women over 50 look older, according to top beauty experts
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more I have a big birthday looming – no, not that one, not quite yet - but the one that nudges me into my 50th year. And, somehow, this feels significant. Perhaps it's not that surprising - the Chinese Medicine practitioner Katie Brindle told me that, for women, the landmark birthday is not 50, but 49, because according to TCM we move through life in seven year cycles – and the start of the eighth marks the beginning of our 'second spring'. I'm not sure I'm quite ready for that yet, but when I look over pictures from the last year I can definitely see any wisdom I may have accumulated thus far in life showing up far more than it ever did before. I've never had Botox, fillers and the rest and I haven't yet decided if I will, but like most of us, I wouldn't mind slowing the progress of time on my face. And I know that make-up can work magic – if it's done well. So, I decided to ask the experts about the most ageing make-up mistakes they see women making – and their fixes. Read on to learn how to roll back the years with a flick of your mascara wand… NEVER OVER-POWDER Frances Prescott, Make-up artist and founder of Tri Balm and Maeva Rae A common mistake is to over powder. Don't! For a gorgeous dewy finish, use a hybrid product combining make-up and skincare ingredients, like Katherine Daniels Pure Pigment Foundation Drops (£42 / 20ml which has a supple texture that doesn't cake. Or look for tinted moisturisers instead. Pure Pigment Foundation Drops £42 / 20ml Shop GET CLEVER WITH CONCEALER Sascha Jackson, lead make-up artist Stila One of the most common ageing mistakes is using concealer that's too light and applying too much of it. The key is to choose a shade close to your foundation—no more than half a shade lighter. If you're dealing with dark circles, apply a peach-toned corrector first to neutralise purple tones, then follow with a small amount of concealer to brighten. Use a soft, fluffy brush to apply concealer gently—especially under the eyes, where too much product can settle into fine lines. Gabriella Elio, Make-up artist and founder of Sweed Beauty Women who are peri or menopausal, don't need to be afraid of blusher, but they (i)do(i) need to use it differently. Ignore the apples of your cheeks and apply to the top of your cheekbone instead, then blend down. Then put a flick of highlighter on top – you're focusing on lighting up your face at eye level. Blusher, like the Sweed Air Blush Cream (£28, used at the top of your cheeks replicates the fullness of lost fat pads. As we age, we all lose structure and fat – a swirl of blush creates the illusion of fullness, and youth! SOFTEN YOUR GO-TO SHADES Suzy Griffin Dunne, Make-up artist, founder of Hildun Beauty As we age, we need to reconsider not just the placement of make-up but also the textures of the products we are using. Generally, we need more hydration and creamier textures that are going to move with our faces instead of getting stuck in lines. Another important factor to consider when is that the colours we used to wear may be a little harsh, and we might need to soften those shades, perhaps changing our traditional black eyeliner to a brown. We have found this approach very popular with lots of our customers. In fact, we now have three shades in our ultra creamy brown eyeliner with a fourth launching later this year (£16, Award Winning Silk to Set Kajal Liner £16 Shop PLUMP UP LIPS LIKE A PRO Vincent Ford, Global Make-up artist When you apply your lip pencil or lipstick avoid taking the product all the way to the corners of the mouth. This pulls the mouth down and ages you. Instead only apply the lip colour to the centre of the lips and blend outwards, softly diffusing the colour. It will give the appearance of a fuller, more youthful mouth. Easy! OPEN EYES WITH A TOP LASHES TRICK Caroline Barnes, celebrity make-up artist Applying mascara to your top lashes only can really lift your eyes, especially if you use a mascara that dumps a lot of the product at the root of the lash because this creates a lovely invisible line that doesn't weigh the lid down. Try Elf Extender (£6.94, which has a really thin barrel that deposits the mascara very close to the lash, or Sweed mascara (£24, which deposits the mascara right to the roots of your lashes. Obviously you could open out your eyes by having mascara on the top and bottom lashes, but making it a little bit top heavy really does create a beautiful lift. Cosmetic Craving Eyeam Magnesium Butter, £25 for a 60g pot ( This brand is the brainchild of the Organic Pharmacy's Margo and her daughter Roxy, so I had high hopes – and I wasn't disappointed. After applying a good dollop to the soles of my feet I had a super deep sleep…Not surprising given that 5ML contains 200mg of magnesium. I felt so good afterwards that I've passed my pot on to a friend who has had trouble getting enough rest recently. I'll report back, but, at the very least, I know their feet will soon be sandal-ready. @katherine_spenley MAGNESIUM GLYMPHATIC SLEEPY BUTTER £25 Shop
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The real reason your skincare stops working when you're over 50
I think it was in my late 40s that my skin suddenly started behaving more sensitively, 'like a tricky racehorse' as my late mother-in-law used to say about anything high maintenance. Products I'd used for years suddenly caused redness and allergic reactions and my skin was much drier than it had ever been. The reason? Perimenopause. Kent and Harley Street-based aesthetic practitioner Dr Sophie Shotter explains: 'During perimenopause there is a big drop in collagen production. The skin's ability to produce its own hyaluronic acid [which keeps the skin cells looking nice and plump] also decreases. Added to this, the skin barrier [the protective outer layer which keeps water in and nasties out] doesn't function as well as it did in our 20s so this has a knock-on effect of making the skin much drier and more sensitive than before.' The good news is that it's not all doom and gloom. Now in my mid-50s, and after incorporating a few skincare switch-ups on the advice I've gleaned from the likes of Dr Sophie, I think my skin is in better shape than it's been for years. These are the five changes that I found most helpful. Top up moisture levels During the day, I tend not to wear a moisturiser as I use an SPF cream and I find another layer of face cream on top of SPF is a bit much, so instead I've made sure to use a good night cream that includes ceramides, which are helpful for an impaired skin barrier. I love Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler Night Cream, which a dermatologist recommended to me. A hyaluronic serum is also helpful. Every beauty editor I know swears by Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum, which is excellent (used both morning and night). Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a good, cost effective option. I've also adopted the French women's habit of doing a weekly hydrating mask. British skincare brand Katherine Daniels is new to me, and its award-winning Anti-Fatigue Mask, is lovely. It takes just two minutes while you brush your teeth to achieve more luminous, nourished-looking skin. I also found one of the many pluses of beginning HRT medication was better-looking skin and nails, but I know this isn't for everybody, in which case a good barrier repairing night cream and hyaluronic serum would be a great start to boost your skin. Avoid overly complex products We're bombarded with often very pricey skincare options with lots of so-called active ingredients to deal with midlife skin – usually the opposite of what we need at this age. If, like me, your skin is more sensitive than it used to be, going back to basics is a good plan. All dermatologists agree that you don't need to spend a fortune on cleanser, for example. One of my favourites is Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (£11.50, Boots), which has a lovely soothing texture and is a pleasure to use. Face massage and an extra pillow Since turning 50, I've definitely noticed my face is puffier, especially in the morning. Dr Shotter explains: 'Our lymphatics become more sluggish as we age, and when we've been horizontal all night, some people will notice this around their jawline and lower face.' Facialist Tine Hagelquist who I see when she is in London (she treats the Danish royals) is a specialist in lymphatic drainage and taught me a couple of massage tricks to do every morning to look a bit more defined. 'The first thing to do is to open the lymphatic portals by the collarbone which you do by pressing very lightly about 20 times,' she explains. 'Then keeping very light, almost feathery movements use your two fingers to make a V shape and drain out along the jawline to the earlobes and then down the neck. Move slowly up the face under the cheekbones and keep drawing the fingers towards the earlobes and down the neck.' I do this just after brushing my teeth and I notice a difference when I forget. I also think sleeping with an extra pillow helps too. Try a Retinol (or non-irritating equivalent) If lines bother you, you may want to try a product with retinol or retinal (vitamin A derivatives). Obviously wrinkle-relaxing toxin injections will soften (or erase if you wish) forehead wrinkles, but lots of people prefer a more natural approach (or a combination of both). To date retinols have more evidence-based results than any other skincare ingredient for boosting collagen production, helping smooth fine lines, evening out skin tone and keeping pores clear. In other words, they are the bee's knees for anti-ageing. 'There are many different forms and strengths available,' says Dr Shotter. 'In a nutshell, retinal products tend to be more sophisticated formulations and are often better tolerated than some retinol products. But it's a matter of trying one that's right for you.' Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 Night Serum, £49, John Lewis; Dose by VH Super Bakuchiol Serum, £18, Victoria Health Medik8 is a leader in the market and has created some brilliant retinals which even my sensitive skin responds well to and looks less lined and luminous when I use it. Its products are graded so you begin on a low dose and move up when you feel your skin looks like it needs some extra help. I love the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 Night Serum and have used it for several years. If you have tried retinoids and they don't agree with you, look for products containing bakuchiol which lots of people refer to as nature's retinol. It won't be as effective but does a good job. Dose by VH Super Bakuchiol Serum makes skin glow. Try a medical-strength product if needed Vichy Liftactiv B3 Dark Spot and Wrinkle Serum, £43, Boots If you have a particular concern, be it pigmentation, midlife acne or rosacea – which can all be exacerbated in midlife – then a visit to a dermatologist should be your first port of call. I have finally got rid of a lot of sun pigmentation marks on my face including hormonal melasma (which began 20 years ago when I had my children) and as a measure to keep it at bay, I now apply a medical-strength tranexamic acid serum which you can purchase from a dermatologist or aesthetic doctor. Tranexamic acid inhibits the pigment-producing process in our skin and has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect. It can also help restore a disrupted skin barrier so it's a really helpful ingredient for midlife skin. Lots of over-the-counter products contain it and a particularly effective one is Vichy Liftactiv B3 Dark Spot and Wrinkle Serum.
