Makeup Rules After 40?

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Every so often I see a "makeup rules for after 40" type of article, and I cringe. You've seen them: The lists of things that mature women should definitively do and avoid makeup-wise. I'm generally not a fan of those lists, and I think we would all be better served to just find what looks best on us and go with it. No two people are alike, and what looks great on me may look not so great on someone else for all sorts of reasons, many of which have nothing to do with age.

There are, however, some changes that I've made to my makeup routine products as I've aged. These are totally by choice and based on what I think works best on me, and I offer them here because I think there is value in thinking about how our tastes are refining as we age - rather than as a definitive list of things that nobody over 40 should do.

Here are four makeup products I'm either not using or using differently now that I'm a little older:

Glitter - I don't wear glittery eyeshadow or lip gloss anymore. Shimmers I can do, but as a general rule glitters just don't interest me anymore. (But if they did, I would totally be into Estee Lauder's new Crystal Lash Top Coat.)

Powder - When I was younger, my skin was oilier and I felt I needed to re-apply powder all the time to prevent shine. My skin is getting drier as I age, and I've found that more powder (i.e., after my initial application) just isn't the answer for me anymore. Blotting-yes, more powder-no.

Pencil eyeliner - These days, I'm usually opting for dark eyeshadow applied with an angled brush close to the lash line, which looks less harsh on me than a drawn pencil line.

Eyebrow Pencil - I'm preferring a more natural eyebrow to a heavy, drawn-on brow.  I like using a tinted eyebrow plumper, such as L'Oreal Brow Stylist Brow Plumper or Benefit's Gimme Brow and simply brush it through the eyebrows for a natural look.

How has your makeup routine changed as you've matured? Or has it? Either way, embrace it!

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