Welcome back to our mature beauty series! This week, over 40s makeup expert Amanda Ramsay shares her top foundation tips. Let’s get into it…
Ever feel like your foundation just doesn’t last? Or that it almost ‘highlights’ those crinkles and wrinkles? Maybe you’ve noticed your skin just doesn’t dig the foundation you’ve worn for years anymore and you’re struggling to find a new one for your mature skin…
Sound familiar? Then read on, sister. Here, I (Amanda Ramsay) share with you my top four foundation tips for mature skin, empowering you to make better choices that will flatter and enhance your gorgeousness at every age.
#1 Prep your skin with hydration
First things first, make sure your skin is really well prepped and hydrated before you even reach for that foundation. Thirsty, dehydrated skin will only soak up your product, which could be the reason why your foundation doesn’t last. Your skin “drinks up” the foundation because it’s thirsty ladies, so always hydrate first.
Top product pick: BOOST LAB 2D Hyaluronic Acid Hydro Boost Serum, $29.95 at Adore Beauty
#2 Make sure you’re wearing the right shade
Finding the right colour match for you is key. It’s the secret to leaving your skin looking seamless and like you’re not really wearing foundation at all — like you just have amazing, healthy-looking skin!
Many women aged 40 plus have copped a bit of sun over the years, and it tends to really show on your décolletage. Put bluntly, your chest is often a darker than your face, so when you match foundation to the skin on your face, it’s a totally different colour to your body and often too light. This means we end up walking around looking paler, and a little mask-like. As a simple tweak, always match your foundation to the skin on your décolletage and you’ll never buy the wrong shade again. Hello, seamless, fabulous-looking and even-toned skin.
Top product pick: Max Factor Miracle Second Skin, $18 at Amazon AU
#3 Choose a lightweight, light-reflecting formula
Heavy, matte finish foundation can “flatten” your complexion leaving it looking a little dull. Plus, the thicker the product, the more there is to settle into those fine lines, crinkles and wrinkles. Choosing a lightweight foundation with light-reflecting properties to blur and reflect light will deliver a more lit-from-within glow.
Top product pick: Maybelline FIT Me Dewy + Smooth Liquid Foundation, $24.99 at Chemist Warehouse
#4 Mix in a moisturiser to create your own BB cream
This is one of my personal favourite tips. Sometimes we’re just not in the mood for foundation, right? But we also know that a more even skin tone and knocking back a little redness will help us look fresh.
So have you ever tried mixing a blob of your favourite lightweight moisturiser into your favourite foundation? It creates your own delicious and moisturising BB cream! Go on, try it, and let us know what you think. Of course, you can also purchase a tinted moisturiser that’s ready-made for those off-duty days. They’re perfect for counteracting a little redness and bringing some radiance and colour to your skin.
Top product pick: Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Tinted Moisturiser, $76 at Adore Beauty
Final foundation tips
Changing up your foundation is one of the key ingredients to a more luminous, fresh, youthful, and healthy-looking complexion. Now that you’re armed with my top four foundation hacks for mature skin, you’ll have longer-lasting foundation, always know how to choose the right shade, and be able to embrace your well-earned gorgeous wrinkles with your own lightweight BB cream.
And remember, you’re perfect as you are. While makeup is a tool that can certainly give us a confidence boost, it should always be fun, playful and never too serious.
Love this series? You can connect with Amanda via Instagram @amandaramsaymakeup and read her first blog about eye bags here.
Did you enjoy Amanda’s tips? What topic would you love for her to cover next time?
I’m in my mid-thirties but have really dry skin so I try to use really hydrating products. Hyaluronic acid is a game changer. I loved the tip about creating your own BB cream – so handy!
I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older I prefer lighter coverage foundations. I’ll have to remember these tips though. Being late 30’s It’s only going to get harder to have nice looking makeup on my sagging skin. Love the look of the Max Factor foundation.
I’m in my 60s and have only just discovered the perfect foundation for my skin tone. It’s Doll 10 and although I bought a combo of concealer and foundation I’ve mainly used just the foundation. Not sure whether the brush is a major contributor but it’s the only one I don’t have to use powder with to correct the colour.
Good advice – thank you!