So. This is 40.
Maybe you find it inspiring to see these ridiculously gorgeous celebrities – everything just gets better and better with age! – or maybe you just want to know who their plastics guy and cosmetic derm is. I personally find it exhilarating to compare pics like these…
Seriously.
Or here…
Or…
One could argue I am looking at these images with the biased lens of preferring today’s styles and fashions. But then…
Yeah, no. They’re getting hotter as they get older….for sure.
Yes, genetics and spectacular bone structure help, as do A-List doctors, trainers and stylists. But also, it is definitely the higher technology of our beauty products today, and these are available to normal, everyday, run of the mill girls like you and me.
Ann, the talented makeup artist over at WOO SKINCARE AND COSMETICS in Myers Park would agree with me…Â There are now SO many ways to love the way you look in your 40s.
And its not about covering stuff up;Â it’s about creating “a good canvas”, as Laura Mercier says.
Ann explains to me,
“Investing in a good skincare routine is ESSENTIAL but it doesn’t have to involve a ton of steps. Finding something that targets your unique concerns and needs is very important. All good brands have this common philosophy that, when it comes to looking young and fresh, if your skin looks like skin, you’re well on your way!”
PRIMING THE SKIN:
To make sure you cover all the bases of preventing, correcting and protecting from future damage to the skin cuticles – including advanced pigment correctors, physical fusion, and UV Defense of SPF 50 or higher – it is really a good idea to get some help with a whole system of skincare, as opposed to a new product here or there.
Ann highly recommends Laura Mercier’s Flawless Skin system:
… as well as Bobbi Brown’s:
FOUNDATION:
As far as foundation goes, the less it looks like you are wearing, the younger you appear. This is CRITICAL learning ladies. As is matching your foundation to your skin tone on your face, neck and decolletage (keeping in mind, this has probably changed in the last 20 years). Many of us get into trouble here, and it really helps to have a professional guide your choices.
Once you have ensured your match is correct, there are some tips for application that will help it go on smoothly.
TIP: Apply foundation on a freshly moisturized face. Use a sponge… first get the sponge wet, then squeeze it out til its just damp, then use to apply the makeup.
COLOR:
For color, neutrals and earthy nudes are no longer as flattering for you as they once were. Bright, peach hues are a better choice. Be sure to apply to the apples of your cheeks, to create that youthful, rounded glow.
EYES:
Ann tells me that a lot of people tend to want to forget the eye and lip area:
 “Some clients ask me, ‘Why do I need a special eye cream?’… Eye cream is targeted for the delicate eye area. All the quality eye creams are hydrating, preventative, and brightening.”
With 40, the fine lines really start to kick in. It’s so important to treat that skin with special care!
These are some of the top picks for Eye Creams, all of which you can get at Woo:
Ann also raves about the Clarisonic “Opal”… “It is one of my favorite products for the eye and lip area!” This little miracle worker ensures you get the max from your eye serums and creams, making sure just a pat of these pricey products go the extra mile.
TIP: When you apply these creams, you want to only use your pinky or ring finger… the other fingers tend to be rougher and inadvertently apply more pressure.
CONCEALERS:
Age spots, tired circles, puffy bags… what don’t we want concealer for?!
By this point, most of us know that if the concealer looks too heavy, it’s already failed at its job. So – how to conceal the trouble spots (thanks-much, college run-in with the tanning bed) while concealing the concealer?
Ann to the rescue!
“There are PLENTY of light weight options for those who are nervous that concealing will look to heavy. Typically, concealer these days is very user friendly. Natura BissÄ“ the cure sheer eye is a true tinted eye cream – it is an instant brightener and concealer that is also quite lightweight. Trish McEvoy Instant Eyelift is another best-seller because it really does what it says! Now for ladies like me who need full coverage concealing under the eye, the best trick is Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector and Creamy Concealer. Bobbi’s secret weapon was creating a Corrector for effectively erasing darkness, and pairing it with a Concealer that comes back in and gives the eye a brighter, lifted look.”
LASHES:
Years of wearing mascara can really do a number on your lashes. But again, technology for the win… Ann tells me that there are several products to help with lash growth – the sure-fire way to brighten the eye. Think of it as the Crest Whitestrip of Eyes.
“My two favorites are Neu Lash – a nightly serum that stimulates the lash to grow longer and thicker – and Faux Cils Longest Lash Mascara from Chantecaille. It has a lash growth peptide that fortifies the lashes, helping them grow longer and thicker.”
The final touch to those bright, awake, larger looking eyes? The gentle clamp of a decent lash curler. This is the least expensive investment in eye make up you will ever make, and one of the most effective.
Ann recommends the one by Trish McEvoy ~ and will happily show you how to use it.
So there you have it. How to put your best face forward in your 40s or at any age. Elle MacPherson, who is almost 50, says:
 “I’m almost 50, so I obviously don’t have the same body that I had when I was 20.
But I also don’t have the same mindset either, when I was wracked with self-consciousness and insecurity.
Now I really appreciate my maturity as a woman,
my depth of spirit and soul
and my understanding of who I am and what’s important to me.”
After seeing these Then and Now pics, I believe her. And after talking to Ann about the latest technology in Skin Care and makeup… you know what? Â I believe we can have that too.
