How to look 20 years younger at 60 with makeup? Expert Guide

Mature skin loses natural radiance and elasticity with age, making makeup application a new challenge. By embracing modern techniques and prioritizing skin health, you can achieve a fresher, more vibrant look. This guide will show you exactly how to look 20 years younger at 60 with makeup by focusing on hydrating formulas and strategic application.

Quick Summary

Achieving a more youthful appearance involves prioritizing hydration and using lightweight, dewy makeup formulas. Strategic application, like lifting cheekbones and softening eye makeup, creates a refreshed, radiant look by enhancing your natural beauty rather than masking it.

Key Points

• Hydration is paramount: Begin every makeup routine with a quality, hydrating moisturizer to create a smooth, plump canvas, preventing products from settling into fine lines.

• Embrace lightweight formulas: Choose liquid or cream products over heavy powders, as they are less likely to settle into fine lines and wrinkles, providing a natural, dewy finish.

• Lift with strategic placement: Apply blush higher on the cheekbones and blend eye makeup upwards to create a natural lifting effect that counteracts the pull of gravity.

• Soften your eye look: Swap harsh black eyeliner for a softer brown pencil and smudge it gently along the lash line for a less severe, more youthful appearance that defines without overpowering.

• Prioritize brows: Fuller, softly defined eyebrows frame the face and provide an instant lift. Use a brow pencil and gel to fill them in naturally and add youthful structure.

• Avoid matte, heavy makeup: Thick, matte makeup and excessive powder can absorb moisture and accentuate texture and dryness, making skin appear older. Opt for radiant finishes instead.

The Foundation of Youthful Skin: Skin Prep

Before any makeup can perform its magic, the canvas must be perfectly prepped. As skin matures, it tends to become drier and less plump, which can cause makeup to settle into fine lines and wrinkles. The right skincare routine is not just a bonus—it's the most crucial step.

Cleansing and Moisturizing

• Start clean: Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser that doesn't strip the skin of its natural oils.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate: Apply a rich, nourishing moisturizer with ingredients like hyaluronic acid to plump the skin and create a smooth base for makeup.
• Sun protection: Never skip SPF. Sun damage is a primary contributor to aging, and protecting your skin is vital for maintaining a healthy, youthful appearance.

The Power of Primer

Primer is a non-negotiable step for mature skin. It acts as a barrier, blurring imperfections and creating a flawless surface. Look for a hydrating or blurring primer to fill in pores and fine lines, ensuring your makeup glides on smoothly and lasts all day.

Mastering Your Base

Say goodbye to heavy, cakey foundations that accentuate texture and hello to lightweight, radiant formulas.

Choosing the Right Foundation

• Liquid or serum formulas: Opt for a liquid or serum foundation with buildable coverage. These formulas hydrate the skin and provide a natural, dewy finish that reflects light, making skin look more luminous and vibrant.
• Avoid heavy mattes: Matte finishes can be drying and emphasize wrinkles. A radiant or satin finish is far more forgiving.
• Application is key: Apply foundation with a damp beauty sponge for a sheer, airbrushed finish. Focus on areas that need the most coverage and blend outwards with a light hand.

Concealing with Care

Concealer is for brightening, not for concealing everything. Excessive concealer can look heavy and cakey, especially under the eyes.

• Spot correct: Use a creamy, hydrating concealer to spot-correct discoloration, dark spots, and redness after applying foundation.
• Brighten under-eyes: Choose a concealer one shade lighter than your foundation to brighten the under-eye area. Apply it in a V-shape, extending to the cheekbones, and blend gently with a damp sponge.

Eye-Opening Techniques

Eyes can appear more hooded or droopy with age. The goal is to lift and brighten the eye area.

Shadow and Liner

• Matte, neutral shadows: Stick to matte, neutral eyeshadows. Use a medium-toned shadow in the crease to add definition and a lighter, neutral shade on the lid to make eyes appear larger.
• Subtle liner: Ditch the harsh black liquid eyeliner. Instead, use a soft brown or gray pencil liner. Apply it close to the top lash line and smudge it gently to create a softer, more natural definition.
• Lifting effect: Create a small, subtle winged eyeliner by flicking the liner upwards at the outer corner of the eye. This provides an instant lifting effect.

Lashes and Brows

• Curl your lashes: An eyelash curler is your best friend. Curling your lashes makes your eyes look more open and awake. Follow with a lengthening mascara.
• Fuller brows: As brows thin with age, filling them in can dramatically frame the face and provide a youthful lift. Use a fine-tipped brow pencil to draw hair-like strokes, following the natural shape of your brow. For inspiration on updating your brow game, check out expert techniques from beauty professionals here.

Lip Perfection

Lips tend to lose volume and definition over time. The right technique can make them appear fuller and more youthful.

Define and Plump

• Lip liner: Use a lip liner that closely matches your natural lip color to define the lip shape and prevent lipstick from feathering into fine lines.
• Hydrating lip color: Choose hydrating lipsticks with a satin or glossy finish. Avoid overly matte or dark shades, as they can make lips appear thinner. Rosy pinks, peachy nudes, and soft berry tones are universally flattering.
• Add gloss: A touch of gloss in the center of your lips adds dimension and the illusion of fullness.

Finishing Touches

Less is more when it comes to setting and adding dimension.

Blush and Highlight

• Cream blush: Cream blushes melt into the skin for a natural, healthy flush. Apply a rosy or peachy shade high on the cheekbones, blending upwards towards the temples for a lifting effect.
• Strategic highlight: Use a subtle, finely-milled highlighter on the high points of your face—the tops of cheekbones, brow bone, and cupid's bow. A dewy, liquid formula works best to avoid glitter and accentuate texture.

The Final Set

Instead of setting with heavy powder, which can look flat and dry, use a hydrating setting spray. This will lock your makeup in place while providing a fresh, luminous finish.

Product Comparison Table

Feature	Lightweight/Serum Foundation	Heavy/Matte Foundation
Finish	Radiant, dewy, or satin	Flat, matte
Look on Skin	Natural, luminous, and plump	Can look cakey and emphasize texture
Effect on Fine Lines	Blurs and smooths	Settles into and highlights wrinkles
Skin Feel	Hydrating, comfortable, and weightless	Drying, heavy, and can feel tight
Ideal For	Mature skin, dry skin	Oily skin, younger skin

The Confidence Conclusion

Rejuvenating your look with makeup is about embracing and enhancing your beauty, not hiding your age. By focusing on modern techniques and nourishing, hydrating products, you can learn how to look 20 years younger at 60 with makeup. The best cosmetic trick is not a product at all, but the confidence and happiness that shines from within. Experiment with these steps, find what works for you, and feel fabulous at every age.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can makeup help me look younger at 60?

By focusing on hydration, using lightweight luminous products, and applying makeup strategically to lift and brighten the face, you can create a more youthful appearance. The right techniques enhance your natural features without masking them.

What type of foundation is best for mature skin to look younger?

Opt for hydrating liquid or serum foundations with a dewy or radiant finish. These formulas blend seamlessly and add luminosity, unlike heavy, matte products that can settle into fine lines.

How should I apply blush for a more youthful look over 60?

Apply cream blush high on the cheekbones, blending upward towards the temples, rather than on the apples of the cheeks. This creates a natural lifting effect that counteracts any sagging.

Is black eyeliner too harsh for mature eyes?

Yes, black eyeliner can appear harsh and heavy on mature skin. A softer brown or gray pencil, applied close to the lash line and smudged, is a more flattering and youthful option that defines without being overpowering.

How do I prevent lipstick from feathering into lines around my mouth?

Use a lip liner close to your natural lip color to define the edges and create a barrier. Choose hydrating, satin-finish lipsticks instead of drying, matte formulas that can bleed.

What's the best way to define my eyebrows as they thin with age?

Use a fine-tipped brow pencil in a shade slightly lighter than your natural hair color and create light, hair-like strokes. Set with a clear or tinted brow gel for fullness and to keep hairs in place.

Should I use setting powder to make my makeup last longer?

A hydrating setting spray is preferable for mature skin, as heavy powders can accentuate texture and dryness. If you must use powder, apply a finely milled translucent one sparingly on oily areas with a light brush.