It’s always challenging to know when it’s time to update your makeup products and change your application techniques. It seems that overnight products that have worked for years, no longer seem to get the job done. As we age our coloring changes and our skin texture loses elasticity. Here are some of my tried and true methods.

• “Less is more” doesn’t mean no makeup at all.
• Moisturize morning and night- some of the simplest products do the best job. I love Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion available at the grocery store.
• Use a retinol cream several times a week- you can use over the counter or get some from your dermatologist.
• Exfoliate daily. Nothing looks worse than dry flaky skin. You can use a prepared product or a wet, warm washcloth dipped in coconut or olive oil to scrub off the dry skin. Another way to exfoliate is to use the Twinkle blade that we sell at NPR.
• Always thoroughly remove your makeup each night. I use an alpha hydroxy product a couple of times a week and Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser on the other days.
• Never leave the house without sunscreen. My favorite is Elta MD Skincare SPF 50. This is available at your dermatologist or on Amazon
• Use CC (stands for color correcting) cream for brightening the area under your eyes. Then lightly apply amber concealer over the cream.
• Avoid heavy, thick foundations. I like our BB (Beauty Balm) cream as a primer. It has an SPF of 30, smoothes the skin and isn’t drying.
• I then apply a smidgen of foundation over the BB cream. NPR’s Mineral Liquid Powder foundation gets the job done. It brightens dull skin.
• Use cream products rather than powders for blush- provides a smoother and fresher look. I love our new stick blushes.
• Don’t forget your eyebrows- thin, sparse eyebrows age your face. Use a taupe pencil or gel to draw little hairs on in your brows. Be subtle- nothing harsh. I have also had good luck with neuBrow -a brow enhancing serum- available at Nordstrom’s or on Amazon. My eyebrows actually got thicker.
• Use a cream eye primer on the lids of your eyes. These products camouflage the redness that occurs when the skin on your eyelids thins. Lightening your eyelids opens your face. Avoid dark eye shadows.
• Use a soft pencil to line under your upper lashes or use a brown/gray shadow applied with a thin brush on upper lashes. Avoid drawing a line on upper lid- it can appear messy.
• Avoid eye shadows that have a red brown base- this color will make the whites of your eyes look red.
• If you have trouble with mascara smearing, squiggle just a little on the tips of your lashes. It won’t get messy and will open your eyes. Don’t forget the lash curler.
• Lipstick always saves the day! The right neutral shade will perk you up. A crazy way to check for your color is to use the color of your under-lip or gums as a guide. The right color will brighten your face.
• Line your lips. A good liner keeps your lipstick from bleeding and will help the color to last longer.
• Finish with a bronzer- a nice glow never hurts.