The make-up routine for a glowing look over 40
There are an inordinate amount of products out there devoted to creating glowing, radiant skin. The kind of complexion that smacks of health, happiness and outdoorsy pursuits. It’s the makeup holy grail for most of us, so it’s little wonder that, according to Pinterest, searches for ‘dewy, glowy makeup’ are up by 185 per cent. It’s not to be confused with the ‘glass-skin’ look favoured by Tik-Tok teens in recent years, which can look a bit overdone and too shiny as opposed to a more subtle, expensive sheen.
Sienna Miller, the poster girl for the underdone, lit-from-within glow, recently shared her skincare routine on Instagram, making her radiant skin look as covetable as the M&S broderie anglaise blouse and cropped jeans she wore at the beginning of this summer. Sienna patted and spritzed on a series of six different skincare products (all Charlotte Tilbury) to achieve her just got back from holiday glow.
Is it as easy as that? I asked A-list makeup artist Caroline Barnes for her tips on how to recreate the Sienna glow on midlife skin without having to wade through a mountain of skincare products.
Here are the seven tips I learnt to create beautiful, effortless glowy makeup for 40-plus skin
1.Exfoliate
“Smooth skin is key,” says Barnes. “Rough skin doesn’t reflect the light, so gentle exfoliation, ideally daily, means your skin will look more radiant. A smooth surface catches the light and bounces it off more than a dull surface. As we age, our cell turnover slows down, so using a gentle exfoliant like Medik 8 Press and Glow Tonic can really change the look of dull skin. It’s formulated with PHA (polyhydroxy acid) which is more gentle than AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). You swipe it on every morning with a cotton pad and it makes a lovely smooth base for makeup.”
Medik 8 Press and Glow Tonic, ￡9, spacenk.com
2. Don’t over moisturise
Barnes warns against using a moisturiser that is too rich – as by the time you apply SPF on top, the effect can look too shiny. “I usually use an SPF in place of a separate moisturiser to avoid making the face look too shiny. You only want sheen on the high points of the face like cheekbones, bridge of the nose and the temples, not all over,” she advises. “La Roche Posay’s mattifying Oil Control Fluid SPF 50 is a flattering makeup base – and you won’t end up with a shiny chin or upper lip.”
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La Roche Posay’s mattifying Oil Control Fluid SPF 50, ￡20, boots.com
3. Use a Primer
“Skin Primers can be brilliant for 40-plus skin,” says Barnes, “worn either on their own, in place of foundation, or as the first step before makeup. They even out redness, blur imperfections like pigmentation and give the skin a lovely velvety quality.” Her favourite is Vita Liberata Beauty Blur Face, which has been around for years and provides a glow, but not a shine.
“It gives skin a beautiful, 10 denier finish. It neutralises redness, so it’s good for people with rosacea and adds warmth. I like to apply it with my fingertips (as I do with all tinted moisturisers) to avoid any waste, and then you can always buff it with a brush once it’s on the skin to achieve a velvety sheen.”
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Vita Liberata Beauty Blur Face, ￡33, vitaliberata.com
4. Try a light diffusing powder
Like exquisite tailoring, the right powder can make you look more polished – and your makeup will last a bit longer too. Hands down, one of the best out there is Sweed Beauty Miracle Powder. It’s a mineral powder which comes in an excellent range of colours for all skin tones and can be used instead of foundation or on top to set your makeup.
Beauty editors in the know all use it, saying it gives the skin a soft focus effect. Makeup artist, and Sweed Beauty founder, Gabriella Elio tells me it is, unsurprisingly, one of the best sellers in the range. “Number three is the colour to choose for that ‘golden hour’ effect you get from holiday,” she confides.
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Sweed Beauty Miracle Powder, ￡35, cultbeauty.com
5. Avoid shimmer
“After a certain age, it’s best to avoid anything shimmery on the face,” says Barnes. “Glittery particles can settle in lines and accentuate them,” she explains, “so choose a matte balm such as Makeup by Mario’s Softsculpt Transforming Skin Perfector. It has a buttery consistency and makes skin look flawless. The colours are warm caramels and are lovely at this time of year when our skin has a bit of warmth to it.”
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Makeup by Mario’s Softsculpt Transforming Skin Perfector, ￡35, sephora.co.uk
6. Don’t forget the eyes
“Eye makeup should be kept to a minimum for this natural look,” says Barnes, “but most of us over 40 will need some help to mask either some puffiness, darkness or fine lines. Delilah’s Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector is a genius product. It’s a serum with clever light diffusing particles which instantly improves the quality of the skin under the eye and makes you look more awake. Everyone I’ve used it on, from Kylie and Cat Deeley to Sheryl Crow has loved it.”
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Delilah’s Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector, ￡28, delilahcosmetics.com
7. Try a Liquid Highlighter
When you simply can’t be bothered with powders, bronzers or primers, a liquid highlighter is hands down the easiest way to bring some radiance to your complexion.
One of the best ones out there is Westman Atelier’s Liquid Super Loaded Drops. Makeup artist Gucci Westman told the laboratory creating the product that she wanted a product that mimicked the radiant look you get when you fall in love or have just gotten engaged. “The colour comes from micro pearls, which give a very delicate radiance. You can mix it with moisturiser and wear it all over without it looking makeup-ey, giving an ethereal finish to the skin,” she tells me.
I like to tap it on top of foundation or bare skin, on top of cheek bones and the temples, creating the impression you’ve just had ten hours sleep and a shot of espresso. Apply lightly with fingers and massage in. That’s all it takes.
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Westman Atelier’s Liquid Super Loaded Drops, ￡53, spacenk.com
