The perfect makeup used to be easy and fun, right? Are there too many complications now? Uneven skin texture and tone, crepey eyelids, darkness under the eyes. If you are not satisfied with your makeup, keep reading…

The cosmetics industry is spending millions developing makeup products designed exclusively for women in their 50s and 60s and older. They have thought of everything. There are lighter-than-air foundations with more coverage, finely milled solid eyeshadows that don’t crease, creamier lipsticks that contain skin care agents and fillers.

Cosmetic companies have done their homework, but what about us?

We all want to look our best every day and especially on occasions when the spotlight is on us. Birthdays, anniversaries, reunions and big nights. We need to learn some basic makeup techniques to achieve natural looking daytime makeup that minimizes blemishes and a couple of magic spells to up the glam factor for evenings. In our 20s or 30s we didn’t need these techniques for perfect make-up, we just applied a pretty shadow on a smooth, even eyelid and traced lipstick on wet lips. Do you want to know how to do it today?

First we have to put your makeup in the best light.

• My most essential piece of equipment is a 10x magnifying mirror with suction cups that I attach to the window. Good eyesight or not, daylight allows you to see every lash and hair on your forehead and blend colors perfectly. No more guesswork.

Next, choose the best anti-aging cosmetic products.

• Primer to improve the texture of the skin and even out small wrinkles and smooth the driest areas.
• Anti-aging foundation in mousse or liquid form chosen to best suit your skin and coverage needs.
• The concealer comes in various shades and we can learn to combine them to completely erase any darkness.
• Solid eyeshadows that are easy to apply without getting color under the eyes. These in a variety of the softest shades with a dark chocolate or aubergine to accentuate the look at night.
• Lengthening and thickening mascara without strings to darken under eyes later in the day.
• Brow powder or pencil, sharp and in a shade that blends with the color of your brows.
• Anti-aging lipstick in soft complementary colors that avoid shades that make your teeth look yellow.
• Blush to add freshness and contour. Probably the makeup category surrounded by the most confusion.

The bottom line is that we must learn how to achieve the perfect makeup by using the right tools to apply these fantastic makeup products. But where? You can always ask the beautifully made up girl at the beauty counter, but let’s be real, who wants to do that? There are some great books out there and there are online beauty courses and beauty guides. The time invested will build your confidence and show you how to work makeup magic. It is possible to cover and minimize imperfections, highlight your best features and achieve a soft and natural makeup at the same time.

Make up in the best light. Learn to use the right tools and choose the best products. Invest a little time and show the world a younger and more confident appearance!