by There are too many products out there aimed at creating glowing, radiant skin. The kind of complex that meets health, happiness and outdoor recreation. It’s the Holy Grail of makeup for most of us, so it’s little wonder that, according to Pinterest, searches for ‘dewy, glowy makeup’ are up 185 percent. It’s not to be confused with the ‘glass-skinned’ look that Tik-Tok teenagers have had in recent years, which can look a bit overdone and too shiny compared to a more subtle and 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 pretty as the M&S broderie anglaise blouse and cropped jeans she wore at the start this summer. Sienna patted and spritzed on a series of six different skincare products (all Charlotte Tilbury) to get her straight back from the holiday glow.
Is it that easy? I asked A-list makeup artist Caroline Barnes for her tips on how to recreate Sienna’s glow on mid-life skin without going through a mountain of skincare products.
Here are the seven tips I’ve learned to create effortlessly beautiful makeup for 40 plus skin
1. Exfoliate
“Smooth skin is key,” says Barnes. “Rough skin doesn’t reflect 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 smooth surface. As we age, our cell turnover decreases, so using a gentle exfoliant such as Medik 8 Press and Glow Tonic can transform the appearance of smooth skin. It is formulated with PHA (polyhydroxy acid) which is gentler than AHA (alpha hydroxy acid). You swipe it on every morning with a cotton pad and it makes a beautiful, smooth base for makeup.”
Medik 8 Press and Glow Tonic, £9, spacenk.com
2. Do not overmoisturize
Barnes warns against using a moisturizer that’s too rich—because by the time you apply SPF on top, the effect can seem too rich. “I usually use SPF instead of a separate moisturizer to avoid looking too shiny on the face. You only want a sheen on the high points of your face like the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the temples, not all over,” she advises. “La Roche Posay Matte Oil Control Fluid SPF 50 is a matte makeup base – and you won’t have a shiny chin or a creamy lip.”
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La Roche Posay Mattifying Oil Control Fluid SPF 50, £20, boots.com
3. Use Primer
“Skin primers can be great for 40-plus skin,” says Barnes, “worn alone, in place of foundation, or as the first step before makeup. They even out redness, blur imperfections like pigmentation and give the skin a beautiful velvety quality.” Her favorite is Vita Liberata Beauty Blur Face, which has been around for years and provides a glow, but not a shine.
“It gives the skin a beautiful 10 denier finish. It neutralizes redness, so it’s good for people with rosacea and adds warmth. I like to apply it with my fingers (as I do with all tinted moisturizers) to avoid any waste, and then you can always buff with a brush when it is on the skin to achieve a velvety sheen. “
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Vita Liberata Beauty Blur Face, £33, vitalliberata.com
4. Try a light diffusion powder
Like fine tailoring, the right powder can make you look more polished – and make your make-up last a little longer too. Hands down, one of the best out there is Sweed Beauty Miracle Powder. It’s a mineral powder that comes in a great range of colors for all skin tones and can be used instead of foundation or on top to set your makeup.
Beauty editors use it all over the place, saying it gives the skin a soft focus effect. Make-up artist, and founder of Sweed Beauty, Gabriella Elio tells me it’s one of the best sellers in the range, not surprisingly. “Number three is the color to choose for that ‘golden hour’ effect you get from the holiday,” she says.
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Sweed Beauty Miracle Powder, £35, cultbeauty.com
5. Avoid shimmer
“After a certain age, it’s best to avoid anything glittery on the face,” says Barnes. “Glistening particles can settle into lines and sharpen them,” she explains, “so choose a matte balm like Makeup by Mario’s Softsculpt Transforming Skin Perfector. It has a buttery consistency and makes skin look flawless. The colors are warm caramels and are most beautiful at this time of year when our skin is a little warmer.”
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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 help to reduce puffiness, darkness or fine lines. hide Delilah’s Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector is a genius product. It is a serum with intelligent light diffusing particles that instantly improves the quality of the skin under the eye and makes you look more awake. Everyone I’ve used has loved it, from Kylie and Cat Deeley to Sheryl Crow.”
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Delilah’s Wake Up Radiant Eye Perfector, £28, delilahcosmetics.com
7. Try a Liquid Highlighter
When you can’t be bothered with powders, bronzers or primers, a liquid highlighter is hands down the easiest way to give your complexion some spectrum.
One of the best out there is Liquid Super Loaded Drops by Westman Atelier. Make-up artist Gucci Westman told the lab creating the product that she wanted a product that reflected the radiant look you get when you fall in love or have just been engaged. “The color comes from micro pearls, which gives a very delicate radiance. You can mix it with moisturizer and wear it all over without looking makeup-ey, giving the skin an ethereal finish,” she tells me.
I like to pat it on foundation or bare skin, on top of the cheekbones and the temples, creating the impression that you’ve only had ten hours of sleep and a shot of espresso. Apply lightly with fingers and massage in. That’s all it takes.
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Westman Atelier Super Liquid Foundation, £53, spacenk.com
