~Makeup At Any Age~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Evening My Stylish Sisters!

I decided it was high time for me to do an entry about makeup.  I have hesitated to blog much about makeup before now for a couple of reasons. 
#1) As Muslimahs it is recommended we don't wear makeup much outside of the home and
#2) I don't have as much experience in Makeup as I do in other aspects of fashion.

Don't get me wrong, I have a great admiration for makeup and for those ladies who are true artists of this medium.  I used to wear a fair amount of makeup, and especially had a passion for all of the amazing colors that MAC eyeshadows come in, but in more recent years have chosen to slowly cut back on using makeup, until now I wear only a bit of concealor, and khol and mascara. (if any)  On special occasions I do enjoy getting dolled up for my husband, though, and I feel that makeup can be a wonderful tool for ladies when worn appropriately.  Sometimes makeup can be true art, like in the amazing ads that always grace the MAC makeup counters of Nordstrom, or window ads in their stores.

One way makeup must be worn appropriately is according to your age.  I can think of few worse fashion faux pas than a forty or fifty-something year old woman wearing bright blue eyeshadow and fuschia lipstick.  (except maybe a forty or fifty-something year old woman wearing a leopard print miniskirt)

When choosing to wear makeup one of the first things you must consider is choosing the appropriate colors for your skin tone, your hair and eye color, and your personal style.  I am not a big fan of the whole "Autumn, Spring, Summer, Winter" color wheel, and instead believe that there are many different types of colors that look good on a woman, as long as they are worn appropriately and moderately. 

I came across a really helpful video on YouTube about color theory and how to choose the best makeup colors according to your natural pigmentation.  Some of it is pretty basic, but I think having a good understanding of colors in general and how they blend, is an important first step to choosing the most flattering colors of makeup.

How To Use A Color Wheel To Choose Your Makeup And Fashion

Once you have chosen the colors you feel best suit your skin tone, eye and hair color, and personal style, you must also consider your age and lifestyle when deciding upon the most appropriate makeup for you.  Here are some good, age-appropriate suggestions:

Twenty-Somethings:

At this age, oily skin and breakouts lingering from adolescence may be your primary skin concerns. So opting for a foundation or concealer with salicylic acid or other acne-healing properties is a good idea. When applying makeup, you want the look to be as sheer and natural as possible. Youthful skin is often already pretty rosy, so use a light hand when applying blush. That said, feel free to have fun with colors and shimmery accents. Go ahead and try that electric blue eyeliner, bubble-gum-pink lipstick, or glittery gold eye shadow — in your 20s, almost anything goes!

Thirty-Somethings:

Women in their 30s can still play with their makeup looks. This is a time when it’s acceptable to wear heavier makeup. Think cat eyes — à la Audrey Hepburn or the more dramatic version worn by Sophia Loren. To achieve the look, use liquid liner along the edge of your upper eyelids and extend the line just past the outer corner of your eyes.  Many people suggest experimenting with false eyelashes, but I personally am totally against this.  They usually appear fake, they are a hard habit to break once you have gotten used to using them, and they damage your natural eyelashes.  Take advantage of the fullness of your eyebrows; hair growth tends to slow in your 40s, so you don’t want to be left with skimpy brows years down the line. You may need to use a brightener to minimize undereye shadows and give your cheeks an extra stroke of color if you’ve lost that rosy glow. Add subtle color to your lips in the daytime with a tinted lip balm. At night, go for the glamour — experiment with reds, corals, and terracotta hues.  Many of us are moms by now, so if you are a sister who wears makeup outside of the house, try to experiment with different simple, yet flattering looks.  For those of us who choose to wear makeup only within our homes for our husbands, it is important not to let the exhaustion and stress of running a home (and working outside as well) get in the way of us putting on a beautiful face for our husband now and again.  No matter how loving and reassuring our husbands are, underneath it all they are still men and I can guarantee they appreciate us getting dolled up for them once in a while.

Forty-Somethings:When you hit 40, you may need to add more warmth to your skin tone. Tinted moisturizers and cream blushes will add a healthy glow. Choose products like Tarte Natural Beauty Cheek Stain, which give the appearance of color coming from within. If you’ve got fine lines, avoid heavy makeup, which tends to settle into creases. Since you may start seeing sun spots, it’ll be especially important to wear sunblock every day (if you’re not, start today!). Age also changes the shape of your eyes, so concentrate on defining them. Always use an eyelash curler and try a long-lasting liner in navy (this color makes any eye color pop). Opt for a natural lip color, and nix shimmery or frosted makeup, which will also settle into lines. To help bring out any shadows on your face, use illuminating concealers, such as Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen and Prescriptives Site Unseen Brightening Concealer SPF 15.

Fifty-Somethings:

At 50 the primary goal is to use color wisely. Have beautiful honey-colored skin? Use a tinted moisturizer with warm undertones to give it a nice overall glow. Stila and Laura Mercier have tinted moisturizers with just the right amount of shimmer (the key is to blend them into your regular moisturizer). If you’ve got great lips, accentuate them with a bright lip color. But if you have many wrinkles around your mouth, don’t go there — or else you’ll bring attention to those lines. Emphasize beautiful brows by filling them in with a brow pencil. Before applying foundation, fill in creases and smooth out skin with a serum base moisturizer or foundation primer. Use a slanted brush to contour spots that need extra attention, like the area along your cheekbones and jawline, with a product like Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sculpting Powder in Medium or Nars Pressed Powder in Heat. When you need a touch-up, use blotting papers instead of adding more powder to avoid a cakey appearance.

Sixty-Somethings And Beyond:
If you’re in this age bracket, you’ll want to use wrinkle fillers and plumping products as much as possible (look for makeup containing hyaluronic acid). Because your blood circulation changes later in life, you’ll need blush to help restore the flush you had when you were younger. Skin also gets drier as you age, so stick with creamier products. If your eyes need definition, use a long-lasting gel or liquid liner in a soft brown or gray (black is too harsh) at your lash line. Fill in sparse brows with a brow pencil in a taupe-y color. To reduce redness in and around the eyes, use an eye-brightening pencil, such as Three Custom Color Specialists Clarifier pencils, on the inner rim of the eye. Before adding color to your lips, use a lip-smoothing liner like Bare Escentuals Lip Rev-er Upper to give your lipstick staying power and prevent it from bleeding into fine lines.

Personally, I think wayyyy too much emphasis is placed on trying to remain as young as possible, for as long as possible.  I strongly feel it is important for us to embrace our maturity and to feel confident in our skin no matter what age we are.  I don't think there is anything wrong with us using a bit of makeup here and there to help us feel better about ourselves or to look our best for our husbands.  That being said, we should never use makeup as a way to look like someone other than who we are, or to hide our true selves from others.  We are all amazing Muslimahs, nurturing mothers, wonderful wives, and compassionate sisters.  If we choose to wear makeup, no matter where it is or who sees it, we must keep in mind that what really matters is the strength of our imaan, and not so much the color of our eyeshadow.

Ma'Salaama and Happy Blending!

Fashionably Yours,
The (Mascara-Wearing) Mujahada in Prada

P.S. I must give credit where credit is due: Age Appropriate Makeup