Today I’m sharing makeup tips for aging skin in collaboration with Walgreens and Shopstyle.  Since entering my 30’s I have noticed a lot of changes in my skin.  The following is what I have changed in my make-up routine to keep things as flattering as possible.  As a disclaimer – I realize I am only 35 and things will only get worse.  I am not a makeup artist or skincare expert, and I recognize 35 is young relative to some.   If you disagree with my opinions or have better makeup tips for aging skin to share – please drop a comment at the end of the post.

Makeup Tips for Aging Skin

If you ever watch YouTube make-up tutorials you’ll see the NYX cosmetic brand is well loved by many of the best beauty bloggers.  The brand is touted as high end make-up at drug store prices.   Last month was my first time trying NYX and I can see why people love it.   I don’t think it’s hard to find good mascara at Walgreens, but it had been quite awhile since I wore drug store foundation, concealer, or powder.

Age Related Skin Changes

While I embrace my age I still want to put my best foot forward and some make-up products I used 10 years ago are no longer flattering.   By “embrace my age” I really mean I can laugh about it.   I’m pretty comfortable in my own skin but that doesn’t mean I want close up shots of my jowls or undereye area without makeup. My skin is MUCH dryer than it used to be so a huge thing I’ve had to change is moisturizing at least twice a day. Some of the main areas I’ve noticed changing over the last few years:

• increasing pore size – especially over the cheeks
• sagging jowls
• deepening laugh lines
• fine lines around the eyes and mouth
• decreasing lip pigment
• thinning brows and lashes

Makeup Tips for Aging Skin – How To Combat the Problem Areas

Enlarging Pores:

To combat enlarging pores opt for a primer that will help minimize them.  This NYX Pore Filler Primer is a great base to help minimize the appearance of large pores.   It goes on smooth and hasn’t caused my any breakouts in the few weeks I’ve been using it.  I one time heard a beauty blogger say “not to prime is a crime”.  Those one liners always stick with me :).

Sagging Jowls:

Contouring is the best (non surgical) way to chisel your sagging jaw line.  Where things might be sagging just continue a straight line of darker pigment as if the sag didn’t exist.   The darker makeup will give the illusion of a shadow and a more chiseled neckline.

Deepening Laugh Lines:

Highlight (or add a lighter shade) of skin coverage in your laugh lines. I love the NYX Wonder Pencil (in shade light) for this.   It’s the last step of my make-up routine before I use a setting spray (I also used highlighter from the highlight/contour palette in this area).   Speaking of setting spray – it’s a much better option than powder to set your make-up if you have a lot of fine lines.   Powder settles into lines – setting spray gives a more dewy, moisturized look that is hard to come by as you age.

Fine Lines:

Make-up can really accentuate fine lines around the eyes and mouth that really creep up on most women in their 30’s.    In my early 20’s I used powder to decrease the shine on my face, but now I need all the moisture I can get.   I ONLY use a tiny amount of brightening powder right in my inner under-eye area.   I tend to rub my eyes often (tired mama) so this helps keep concealer in place.   In general I think pot concealers contain wax and aren’t the best option for aging eyes.   I tried this concealer (can’t beat the price!!) and it gave great coverage, but it did crease a bit under my eyes. I plan to try this concealer in the future because I was impressed by the brand overall. As far as fine lines around the lips – a dry/matte lip liner is likely to bleed into the lines and make them appear dry and more obvious.   I love this Butter Gloss (in shade Angel Food Cake), it is super moisturizing and a very subtle shade.  This lip liner, however, is glossy so it’s one that does need to be reapplied after eating/drinking.

Decreasing Lip Pigment:

Speaking of lips have you noticed your lips are paler?  Mine are losing color and volume.  Personally I avoid a bright lip as I feel it ages me and generally just isn’t my style.  I’ll probably add a bit of color for the holidays,  but my everyday Fall make-up includes nude lips.  As I said above the Butter Gloss is super moisturizing.   I find a matte lip accentuates the texture of my lips and that’s sort of crinkly and dry (especially in the Winter) so it’s not particularly flattering on me.

Thinning Lashes:

As you age you might notice your lashes are becoming thinner and shorter.  In general it’s best to avoid heavy volumizing mascara that will weight your lashes down.   Isn’t enough stuff sagging if you’re reading this post 🙂 ?   Rather than add to it – opt for a lengthening mascara which won’t weigh your lashes down as much.    If you recall from this post I swear by an eyelash serum that has lengthened my lashes. Right now my lashes are one of the few areas on my face not showing their age.  I used NYX Double Stacked Mascara for this post but it’s not available online right now so check your local Walgreens.  It’s a mascara unlike any I’d ever tried before.  I thought the second (white) tube was a lash primer but it’s actually tiny fibers you use to build length and volume between coats of the darkening mascara (black tube). NYX has GREAT eyebrow products and tons to choose from.   I had VERY thick eyebrows in my younger days but they’re definitely thinning in the last 5 years.   Avoid over plucking your eyebrows if you’re in your 30’s.   Your brows will thin naturally so no need to speed up the process.   Keep them clean and neat and fill them in with any of the great eyebrow products from NYX.   Seriously, look at the reviews of the brow products.   They’re amazing and the reviews on all the products are super helpful.  I used this eyebrow marker because it’s super quick and easy and I just have a few stray patches that need to be filled in at the moment.  This is one of the few times I’m blessed to be a hairy gal 😉

My Personal Makeup Routine

This is a full face of makeup.   I don’t wear a full face everyday!  My main job is mothering and my kids could care less if I wear makeup.   I do wear makeup when I leave the house (concealer, lip, mascara) but I definitely don’t wear eyeshadow just to run errands. I start with NYX Pore Filler Primer and then use the HD Foundation (in shade 104 Sand Beige) with the foundation brush. It’s a medium coverage foundation but it goes on smooth and quick with the NYX foundation brush. If you plan to do eyeshadow it’s usually best to do that early in your routine and any fall off can be brushed away before you apply concealer.  I used this NYX “natural” eyeshadow palette and the colors were subdued enough for an everyday look.  Because I have hooded eyelids I have to use an eyelid primer when I wear eye makeup.  I’m going to be talking more about makeup for hooded eyelids later this month so stay tuned if you have the same! I don’t contour my face everyday but when I do I think creamy products blend well with a beauty sponge.   As I said above (but didn’t show up in this photo) I mostly focus on contouring my jowls and cheekbones when I make the effort.  I really like the shades that come in this NYX Conceal, Correct, Contour Palette (shade Light) for my light skin and thought it was easy to blend.  I also have a ride or die concealer (as mentioned in this post) that I don’t plan to divorce, but the NYX palette is great for highlighting the nose, cheeks and brows. For my everyday makeup I use a tinted lip balm and smear some on my cheeks as a blush but for this look I used the NYX Butter Gloss (in shade Angel Food Cake) and love the color and moisturizing feel.   As I said above, the Butter Gloss is one you would want to carry with you to reapply after eating. I used the NYX Double Stacked mascara that I bought in the actual Walgreens store to really amp up my lashes.  This mascara did not budge all day and washed off easily with soap and water.   This product is definitely a must try! To finish the look I love this NYX Wonder Pencil (in shade Light).   It’s something you would want in your make-up bag and in your purse.   It’s super easy to dab onto a small pimple without having to blend out a huge area around the blemish, and I use it to lighten the creases around my mouth.   You could also use this under your brows or for any quick touch-ups you might want along the way. I added some Born To Glow liquid illuminator onto my cheek and brow bones.   This is something I would do for a night out.   Since this is a liquid formula, you want to apply it sparingly so it won’t budge the other make-up below it. Because I feel powder ages my skin I set the look with this NYX finishing spray.   It mists on super light so it won’t smear your make-up but will increase it’s staying power. You can shop all the NYX makeup I tried below.   Here were my favorite anti-aging picks: I will tell you, since I purchased some of this online and some in store at Walgreens, that the discounts were better online.   I’m unsure if you can apply online sales in store and quite frankly didn’t want to hold up the line of customers standing behind me to try and figure it out. It was nice that in store at Walgreens, unlike some other drug stores, they had sample bottles of the NYX foundations and other palettes so you could try the shade on your own skin.

SHOP THE POST:

What are your favorite drug store beauty brands or products?   I’d love to add some must-try products to my list!  And PLEASE, if you have makeup tips for aging skin – DO SHARE in the comments below.

Thank you to Walgreens and ShopStyle for sponsoring this post!  All opinions are my own.