Like most women, I got in the habit of a certain make-up style that was my "signature" look. It is like a certain make-up becomes part of the way we look or the way others see us look, rather. One day after trying to take a few "selfies" and then looking in the mirror. I didn't recognize myself. The make-up I had always worn and the style suddenly looked horrible and I didn't like the tired made up face staring back at me in the mirror. I had resisted change in so many ways. My skin was changing, my hair was changing, my body was changing and I was still try to "pull off" the same make-up look I had used since college. It wasn't working! There are no absolutes on "who should wear what" or style based on age. It really should be a matter of what we feel comfortable in and what enhances our look the most. One thing though is that we choose our make up based on what works with our skin the best. Young or old we are not cookie cutters. One young woman may look fabulous in a deep "cat eye" look, while another one based on her skin tone, eye shape etc. may look like she's wearing a Halloween mask. One middle-aged or older woman may pull of a ruby red lipstick while another one may look like your high school elderly school teacher who is still trying to relate to her kids by looking like them. It never works!
For me I've realized that trying to "cover up" my age only reveals it more! So I had to find make-up that was kind to my skin, eye shadows that didn't seep into the new wrinkles around my eyes and lipstick that didn't cause so much attention to the not so flattering skin around my mouth and down my chin and neck! I am not a "no make up" kind of girl and have rarely gone out without my "face" on, so finding something that was flattering and comfortable as well as healthy for my skin was so important to me. When I took the courageous leap to change my make-up style a bit, I was shocked. I looked ten years or more younger! I had always looked young for my age, until the wrinkles started catching up with me, so finding new make-up tricks and secrets were a true life line. The important thing for each of us is to find what makes us feel beautiful. One piece of advice that is given to middle-age and older women is the thought that "less is more." We want to cover up certain flaws, but too much cover up ends up seeping into the very places and accentuating the very flaws we want to distract from! Below are some pictures that show visual arguments for "less is more" both for older women and younger women. What's important is to be authentic in what you choose and to feel beautiful in those choices. Are you like I was? Do you need a make-up intervention? Share your thoughts and secrets!!!!!
