Midlife Makeup Finds For Summer And Beyond!

In today’s post, I’m sharing a few makeup products I have picked up, lately, to achieve that natural summer glow.  These are products which improved the look of my midlife skins texture.  I was going to include an update on the  CO2 Ablative Laser Treatment I had, in 2022, along with the reasons why I had it done.  But the post became too lengthy, so that will follow shortly.

I find life changes affect what we wear on our bodies and faces. And, as I have always been a fan of the pared-back makeup look, this fits right in with me, right now – a touch of something or other to improve things a little more, if the occasion calls for it. Of course, hydrated skin is key for any makeup look. The new craze of the au naturale “no makeup, makeup”, in reality, takes more time to achieve than a normal application.

My older skin is better when I do this:

• Cleanse and moisturise thoroughly every day and night.

• Drink lots of water along with a restful sleep – stress can also show on my face in the form of dark circles under my eyes, puffiness and dry skin.

• I often add a few drops of self-tan to my moisturiser for that sun-kissed look. This boosts my pasty white skin. A few dabs of concealer and I’m usually “ready to go”. On most days, there’s no need for anything else.

• Keep lips hydrated with either a good old vaseline or a lip balm, preferably one with an added SPF for sun protection.

• When moisturising, don’t forget, ears, neck and chest – I have to keep reminding myself.

• Importantly, use a daily SPF50, even if it’s cloudy. My go-to favourite for the last five years is Nivea SPF50. Nivea do lots of versions of this, such as one for shine control and sensitive skin. And, they have now added ingredients such as Q10 for extra hydration. My reason for returning to this product, time and again, is the creamy texture which hydrates well and is easily absorbed. It also sits well under a light makeup and there’s no white residue. Oh, and it’s easy on the purse strings……what’s not to love!

Nivea SPF50 Facial Suncream

Makeup

I’ll begin with….

The Face

My favourite foundation, for years, has been the Chanel No. 1 De Chanel, which promises to illuminate, hydrate and protect. But, at £60.00, it is a little on the pricey side. Lately, I have found a perfect dupe, which is the e.l.f Soft Glam satin foundation £9.00. I like the texture and wearability of this foundation and, honestly, can’t see any difference between the two. It’s very lightweight and I will be re-stocking.

How I Apply

I dab a small amount on the back of my hand with equal measures of moisturiser and highlighter. I then blend together with my fingers, applying in light strokes to my face using, scarcely, area around my mouth and chin because I find the product doesn’t look good, here. I use my fingers to blend, waiting a few minutes for it to absorb. To finish, I dab my face with a makeup brush. Another favourite is the  IT Cosmetics – Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50.  It gives a sheer, lighter look which I find evens out my skin tone.

Regarding highlighters, I like a small amount added to my makeup. It seems to bring my older skin to life. I’m still using the ones I discussed in a previous post. Click here if you would like to check it out.

Bronzers & Blushers….

The two B’s can make all the difference to a light look – real pick-me-ups, complexion-wise, especially if the shade is right and applied, correctly. Less is usually more, with both.

Bronzer

I have tried various powder bronzers, not always achieving the right outcome. I am fair-skinned so I only need a subtle hint of radiance to warm things up. To the rescue came the Pro Artist Soft Glow Cream Bronzer by No 7 (Shade is Light Glow). I have read this is the perfect dupe for Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup. This creamy bronzer has a subtle tone which blends well with my colouring. I apply a light touch to my hairline, from the ear to the nose, along my cheeks and on the bridge of my nose, dabbing with a sturdy brush which works the product in well.

Blusher

e.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush in the shade Coral Crush £7.oo

I have a few products from the brand, e.l.f., which seems to be producing good-quality makeup at an affordable price. I was looking for a peachy colour for a change. The tone I chose has a lot of pigment so, if you purchase, use the tiniest amount. Its creamy texture means it is easy to blend. I apply with fingers and blend out onto my cheeks. I find that, if I give it time to absorb, the brightness of the shade subsides to a lovely peachy glow. I like this a lot.

e.l.f Monochromatic Multi Stick in the shade dazzling pheony £5.00

This is a lightweight, creamy blush, perfect for no makeup days when I just want to add a touch of see-through colour – I also use it as a lipstick. It contains shea butter and vitamin E, which explains the sheer texture. Would I purchase this, again? Yes, I think so….. – my one negative is, it’s tiny and not a lot of product, hence, I’m coming to the last dab. I read in the reviews that the other colours differed in texture and pigment. So, if you purchase, try before you buy.

No7 Pro Artist Luxe Liquid Blush £19.95

Description on the Boots website

“A Highly Pigmented Formula: Delivers a long-lasting, soft focus colour”.

I found this to be true. This is very similar to the e.l.f. Blusher.

I chose pink. And, again, as this blusher has a strong pigment, I apply a few sparse dots to my cheeks with my fingers until I have achieved a healthy glow. This is another winner, for the colour, quality, and wearability

Bronzer and Blushers

Eyes

Our eyes change shape as we age. Mine are hooded, some sagginess…….you get my drift?

First, I apply the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. This smooths out my lids of any redness. It also keeps makeup in place for hours, which is why I like it so much.

I then apply a soft application of my favourite Bobbi Brown eyeshadow over my eyelids, followed by an eyeliner (always brown) swept along my top lashes. To finish, I dab  eyeshadow over the eyeliner for a softer look.

For mascara, I have used the Rimmel Extra Super Lash Lengthening Mascara for such a long time – I have sensitive eyes and I get no irritation, and it doesn’t smudge (no clogginess). It does the job on my short, stumpy lashes, no more, no less. Not amazing results – but it does the job.

Eye Products

Eyebrows

I over-plucked my eyebrows when I was fourteen, when the thin eyebrow look was the thing. Afterwards, everyone from teachers to my mum were horrified because it made me look completely different in a not-so-good way. I learnt a big lesson and, unfortunately, they were never quite the same, again.

Our eyebrows frame our face and give us character. My eyebrows are now even more sparse due to the menopause; a thyroid condition; and age. I had them microbladed a few years ago, but this has since faded. So, I’ll be booking in for a top-up at the end of the year. And, yes, my hubby sees me every day without my brows – unlike David, who never sees Mrs Beckham (Victoria) without her  “perfectly groomed” brows.

Like most of us, I have tried a lot of brow products, everything from serums to powders and pomades – the list goes on. However, I have recently found a pencil which suits my eyebrow colour and looks natural. It is the Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in the shade 4.5. I wanted to get the shade right, so I visited the Benefit counter and had a mini consultation.

I was a little surprised when this shade was chosen, thinking it would be too dark. But, it is perfect. The pencil nib is very fine. I apply it in small strokes which resemble fine eyebrow hair. I then sweep through with the attached brush. It stays on all day and looks as natural as I’m capable of making my brows look.

Lipstick

I have a few favourites. For a nude lip, it is the shade Bare by Bobbi Brown. For a red lip, I’ve been using the shade Paprika by No 7. But, like all favourites, this is now discontinued. The final lipstick and my newest addition is called, “Gloss Me Up” by Collection. I first noticed this on Caroline Barnes’s YouTube channel. I was interested because I like to wear lip gloss.

I find this product to be hydrating, non sticky and easy to wear. It lives up to its reputation. Collection states that this product adapts to our pH (see explanation), resulting in a unique colour. Since my purchase of only £3.99, it has gone everywhere with me and I like the soft, pinky tone it creates.  They do a nude version which I will be purchasing.

 

Thank you for reading my post which is not sponsored. All products are my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through to the products, there is no cost to you. If you purchase anything, the small commission I receive will contribute to the running of my blog.

I hope this post has given you a few makeup ideas – I will be back, shortly.  If you have any comments or questions, please let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

Take care

Alison xx

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