Makeup Artists Reveal Age-Defying Beauty Secrets and Product Picks

Embracing Age with Evolving Beauty Routines

The natural evolution of your appearance as you age is something to be celebrated, yet it often necessitates adjustments in your makeup and skincare practices. Veteran makeup artist and department head Lindsay Garrison emphasizes that strategies effective in your 20s and 30s may no longer be optimal in your 40s and 50s. "[You should] learn new techniques and don’t be afraid to try new products. Our faces are changing, and so should the products we use on them," Garrison advises.

Makeup as a Confidence Tool

Whether you're noticing new wrinkles or a loss of volume in your cheeks, cosmetics instructor Natalie Setareh, who believes makeup is for everyone, views it as a powerful tool for boosting confidence. "I’m near 40 and I’m already using makeup to give me a more youthful appearance. It’s natural to want to do this," she shares. Setareh explains that makeup often manipulates light, using highlighting to accentuate favorite features while subtly minimizing areas of self-consciousness.

Expert Techniques and Product Recommendations

Discover how Setareh, Garrison, and other top artists achieve a radiant look, along with their favorite products and professional tricks.

Essential Skincare and Makeup Products

Credo Active Enzyme Exfoliator: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics artist-in-residence Carola Gonzalez stresses the importance of exfoliating mature skin about three times weekly. "When it comes to makeup application, mature skin needs to be polished to remove dead skin, dry patches, and increase skin cell turnover," she notes, adding that exfoliation ensures smoother foundation application. This product uses fruit enzymes and nourishing oils to gently exfoliate and hydrate. Price: $75 for 1.5 ounces at Credo.
Sephora Lightweight Setting Powder: Los Angeles-based makeup artist Susan Zeytuntsyan warns that setting powder can settle into fine lines. She recommends spot-powdering only in the T-zone with a finely milled powder like Hourglass, which contains reflective particles to maintain glow. Price: $52 at various retailers.
Amazon Rich Multi-Tasking Moisturizer: Zeytuntsyan highlights hydration as a critical makeup prep step to prevent patchiness and settling into lines. She favors Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre, a rich moisturizer that doubles as a primer with aloe and shea butter. Price: $19+ at multiple outlets.
Sephora "Glow from Within" Complexion Booster: Garrison's top pick for radiance is Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter, which hydrates, illuminates, and blurs imperfections. It can be mixed with foundation or applied to high points like cheekbones. Price: $50 at select stores.
Nordstrom Brown Eye Pencil with Shimmer: Celebrity makeup artist Brett Freedman suggests switching from black to brown eyeliner for a fresher look, letting mascara provide the darkest shade. He recommends Mac Cosmetics' Eye Kohl in Teddy for its deep brown hue and light-catching shimmer. Price: $24 at Nordstrom.
Revolve Skin Gel Foundation with Botanicals: Another Garrison favorite is Chantecaille Future Skin, an oil-free, water-based gel foundation that offers a natural finish and anti-aging benefits with ingredients like chaga mushroom extract. Price: $95 at various retailers.
Amazon Creamy Lip Liner: Setareh notes that lip melanin fades with age, making lips appear smaller. She advises over-lining with creamy liners like those from NYX to create fullness and avoid drying formulas. Price: $6 at Amazon.
Bobbi Brown Skin Corrector Stick: Gonzalez recommends using correctors to neutralize dark spots and under-eye circles. This Bobbi Brown stick glides on smoothly without caking and provides moisture. Price: $33 at Amazon.
Sephora Natural Airbrush Bronzer: Freedman points out that skin loses color with age, and adding a tawny bronzer like Charlotte Tilbury's Airbrush Flawless can impart warmth and glow. Its formula includes hyaluronic acid for hydration. Price: $42 at Nordstrom.
Amazon Highly Rated Lash Curler: Freedman asserts that curling lashes opens up the eyes effectively. He cautions against pumping and recommends holding for ten seconds. This stainless steel curler features silicone pads to prevent pinching and breakage. Price: $7 at Amazon.
Amazon Brightening Under-Eye Cream: Garrison emphasizes prepping the under-eye area with moisture, favoring iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex for its peptides and antioxidants that support collagen and reduce fine lines. Price: $125 at Amazon.
Ulta Cooling Eye Gels: For addressing puffiness before makeup, Garrison uses cooling eye gel patches that deliver actives to de-puff and brighten. Price: $22+ at Amazon.
Nordstrom Smoothing Lipstick Primer: Garrison advises using a lip primer to prevent lipstick from bleeding into fine lines around the lips. This primer smooths and prevents feathering. Price: $25 at Nordstrom.
Sephora Creamy and Radiant Concealer: Both Garrison and Setareh praise Nars' Radiant Creamy Concealer for blurring fine lines and brightening with light-diffusing minerals. Available in 28 shades. Price: $17+ at Nordstrom.
Sephora Cream and Blush Duo: Zeytuntsyan and Garrison recommend cream blush over powder for a natural, radiant flush. Placing blush higher on cheekbones can create a lifting effect. Zeytuntsyan loves the Patrick Ta duo for its blendable cream and non-drying powder. She also suggests applying highlighter to the brow bone and inner eye corners to brighten eyes. Price: $40 at Sephora.