Story by Cheri Woodsmall
Spring is here! Along with a wardrobe refresh, you need to toss out those old, boring shadows and liners of winter. From mistakes you’ve been making that might make you look older (YIKES!), to mascara hacks that will make you wonder what rock you’ve been living under (wait, maybe that’s just me!), these amazing tricks and trends will get you ready to jump into spring looking 10 years younger! Let’s go!
Don’t Have Your Grandmother’s Eyes
Yes, they are beautiful and twinkly, but you aren’t that old yet! You might be an old hand at applying your makeup, and if you’re not careful, you can end up looking older, too.
Tip #1: Toss That Heavy Liner
Heavy eyeliner on the bottom lid is aging for many reasons. It makes your eyes look smaller, it accentuates the fine lines surrounding the eyes, and it drags down your whole face. To keep things looking youthful, you want your eyes to appear brighter and more open. You can do this many different ways. First, would be to keep the bottom lash liner light.
Our friends at the Nordstrom MAC counter advised, “Use a deep brown eyeshadow and an angled brush instead of a hard black kohl pencil. Use it only on the top of your lids.” And they remind us that it’s O.K. to have black liner on the top lid and brown liner on the bottom. Simply blend the brown eyeshadow from the inner to the outer corner of the bottom lid. You can even wet the brush for a little more control. “Another great tip is to use white or nude liner on the bottom waterline. It brightens your eyes and creates a youthful glow. This is a perfect option for the no-makeup, makeup look.”
Tip #2: Stop All That Plucking
Yes, it’s true: our eyebrows naturally grow thinner as we age, which can be accelerated by over-plucking throughout the years. As we age, our brows naturally thin both in thickness and from the ends. And like everything else – gravity is not our friend when it comes to your brows. They also fall as part of the natural aging process, not sitting as high on the brow bone as they did when we were younger. For a more youthful-looking brow, think full and arched. Start by filling in with a brow powder. Powder can add lost fullness and is quick and easy to learn. You should also stay away from cream based products, as they tend to apply too harsh of a line.
Tip #3: Get Rid of the Baggage
Under eye bags cast shadows that make you look exhausted no matter how well-rested you are. First, cut out salt and alcohol, which lead to water retention and exacerbate swelling. Sleep on an extra pillow to drain the fluid that can accumulate around the eyes when you’re lying down, and if you still notice puffiness in the morning, try a cold compress. A quick fix – chill a teaspoon in ice water, then use it to firmly massage the fluid down and away from your under eye area. If the puffiness is present all the time, no matter what you do to reduce it, you are probably dealing with fat pads that protrude with age; unfortunately, they can only be removed by a plastic surgeon through a procedure called a lower blepharoplasty.
Tip #4: Give Those Lashes A Big Boost
Unfortunately, thinning eyelashes are part of the aging process. So, if your lashes don’t seem to have the same length and fullness they once did, don’t worry, in most cases, there’s no reason for alarm. Still, you should share any concerns with your health care provider. Eyelash growth has four stages: growth, resting, shedding and re-growth. Your lashes continuously cycle through these four stages. As we age, eyelash follicles (the openings in the skin through which the lash grows) can slow or stop producing new lashes altogether. But there is help out there! There are a number of options to help give the appearance of fuller, longer lashes. Many of them are temporary fixes, but they can help you feel better about your appearance. And let’s face it – aside from helping to protect our eyes from debris, wind and sunlight; long thick lashes have always been a sign of beauty. Try a lash boosting serum that is loaded with vitamins and hyaluronic acid to enhance your natural lashes.
WOW! What Colors
Going with the girls for a weekend getaway? The icy-blue, neon pinks and corals of the 80’s are back – with a splash! Have fun with these bright colors and play up those baby blues! Want to add some dazzle to that LBD? Try a daring silver sparkle across your eyelid. Date night just got a little sassy!
