Ladies… sometimes the makeup we’ve been doing for years is actually aging us. Yep, that routine you’ve done for a decade or more? It could be adding years without you even realizing it.
After I got my facelift, I was feeling a lot more like myself. It was “age affirming surgery”- meaning – I felt I looked on the outside a lot closer to how I felt on the inside. That was, until I started getting critiques and comments under my IG posts and YouTubes by women telling me I was basically ruining the facelift by continuing to apply my makeup like I always had.
Rather than get defensive or angry, I listened. I turned to makeup over 40 tutorials and midlife beauty experts. And guess what? Everyone was right. I feel lucky to have a platform where people share the truth with me. So now it's time for me to pay it forward to you.
If you’re a woman over 40, 50, or 60, don't make the same mistake I did. If you're clinging to your 10th grade lip liner like it’s your morning coffee on Monday, it's time for an update. You don’t need a bunch of new products. Just a few small tweaks and updated techniques will make your features pop and lift.
Common Over 40 Makeup Mistakes
1. Heavy, Cakey Foundation
I’ve always been a full-coverage girl — freckles, sun spots, the works. I thought more foundation = younger-looking skin. Wrong.
Instead, go for cream-based, sheer, or tinted serums that let your skin shine through. I use Danessa Myricks tinted serum. Apply with your fingers or a makeup brush and build only what you need, and let your natural skin color peek through. Hydrate first… a good moisturizer or One Skin SPF keeps your foundation from sinking into lines.
Result? Even tone, natural glow, and way less cake.
2. Overdoing Eye Makeup
Heavy shadows, thick liners, cutting the crease — all of that steals real estate from your eyes. The trick? Brighten, lift, and open up:
- Start with a primer (Urban Decay Eden is my fave)
- Use natural-toned shadows and a fluffy brush, and smush, don’t line over wrinkles
- Keep everything light and blend upwards and outwards.
Your eyes will look more awake, youthful, and like you actually slept… even if you didn’t.
3. Flat, Sparse Brows
Thin brows from the ‘90s? Been there.
Bring them in, fluff them up, and draw individual hairs if you can. Even just shaping and filling lightly creates lift and frames your face. Use warm hands to blend — no harsh lines. Brows up and slightly out = instant age-reversal. I LOVE Anastasia Beverly Hills.
4. Overdoing Under-Eye Concealer
We all want to hide the bags and wrinkles, but too much product = cakey, creased disaster.
- Use a tiny amount with a light brush.
- Tap lightly on temples and under the eyes — avoid just plopping it directly under.
- Keep it soft and blend.
Bonus: Switch your eyeliner to brown and skip the waterline. Opens up the eyes instantly. Here's my fav concealer (and it lasts forever).
5. Contour & Blush in the Wrong Place
Going low drags your face down. Instead:
- Apply blush and contour higher on your cheeks.
- Blend up, up, up — even carry a little into your forehead.
- Nose contour? Light and forgiving, blend blend blend.
Stay lifted. Stay natural. Here's a brush set that won't break the bank and works as well as pricey ones.
6. Lips That Age You
Dark liner, overlining, harsh colors? Not today.
- Start with a matte blur like CoverGirl Clean & Fresh.
- Create a tiny shadow under the lip for volume.
- Finish with a soft, flattering color. Instant plump, without filler.
You see the pattern? Less is more, lift up, blend, and let your skin show. Small tweaks… huge difference.
Girl, don’t blame yourself for this. No one told us! Not even your BFF had the guts to say, “Hey, maybe your makeup routine needs a refresh.” We all get stuck in a rut. But here’s the deal…a few small tweaks, a little lift, a softer touch… and suddenly your face looks brighter, your eyes pop, and you feel like yourself again.
And honestly? It’s kind of fun to see yourself in a whole new way… like, wow, this is me… but better. You get to play around, experiment, and actually enjoy your reflection again. No one’s coming to fix it for you. But the good news? You don’t need them to.
You can find all of the products I used in the video here. Chalene.com/makeup.
Love you, mean it!
Chalene
P.S. Some of my links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you use them.
