If you are aged 40 or older and you choose the wrong makeup it can make you look older and draw attention to the imperfections that you would rather conceal. Makeup should enhance your features rather than cover them up. Makeup that is formulated for younger women does not work for older women due to their heavy textures, saturated colors and shiny particles that only emphasize lines, creases, wrinkles and pores. Mature women need makeup products that are lightweight, sheer and shimmer-free. There are many elements of face makeup that influence how it will look on your face including:

• Makeup texture

• Makeup color, shade or tint+ Formula composition:

• Powder, cream or liquid

• Oily, drying, moisturizing, skin balancing etc.

• Makeup finish – matte or shimmer

Lauren Hutton, longtime model and actress, developed her own line of signature brand cosmetics, "Good Stuff" at a time when there were few makeup products on the market that worked well for her as a mature, older woman. Lauren’s makeup is formulated for mature women with no mica, pearl or filler, all of which falls into lines and wrinkles making them more apparent. The powder formulations also have less pigment than standard make up because as women age, their color begins to fade so highly pigmented make up can give a clownish appearance.

The secret to skin that looks even in tone and nearly free of fine lines and pores is applying foundation conservatively (a nickel-sized dollop for the whole face) and using the sheerest formula you can get away with, says Tim Quinn, celebrity makeup artist. The heavier you apply your makeup, the more apt it is to sink into and emphasize any irregularities in texture.

Another option that works great is using Lauren Hutton’s AquaPress facial skin treatment. It reduces lines and wrinkles and with daily use has residual benefits of improved skin tone and texture. As with all makeup you need to start with your skin at its best – clean and moisturized so your foundation with go on with the smoothest finish. Hydration is a health benefit as well as a beauty tip, since beauty is more than skin deep. Tim Quinn lists hydration as his number one makeup tip for women over forty, as follows:

Tim Quinn’s Makeup Tips for Women Over 40:

• Stay hydrated At any age it is important to drink plenty of water. When we are well hydrated our skin is less dry. Moist skin and lips always give a more youthful appearance. Dewy skin is naturally luminous.
• Wear a foundation that matches your skin tone Before buying a foundation, test this face makeup where it belongs – on facial skin and not the back of your hand which often is not the same tone.
• Don’t create a visible line around your lips, avoid brighter and deeper colors and choose more neutral shades. Darker colors tend to bring your overall appearance down, a more neutral and natural shade will bring your look up and brighten your whole face.
• Prevent under-eye cover-up creasing; don’t wear cakey concealer. To prevent under-eye cover-up creasing, apply a rich eye cream both before and after your concealer. The moisturizing ingredients in an eye cream refresh the makeup and keep it from growing cakey. Quinn recommends keeping your eye cream in your makeup bag, then lightly tapping it on over your makeup throughout the day.

Recommended Makeup Accessories

• For powder makeup use good quality makeup brushes
• For liquid makeup use makeup sponges

All the experts agree; the right products are only half the equation; good makeup application techniques and using the right makeup accessories are just as important. For the easiest way to get started with a new face makeup beauty regimen, Lauren Hutton Good Stuff makeup comes with an instruction booklet and free video that tells you where the makeup needs to go along with other beauty secrets and makeup tips that Lauren has learned from the greatest makeup artists for over four decades. It’s helped keep her looking good and working in front of the camera to this day.