7 Aging Makeup Mistakes Pros Want Women Over 40 To Stop Making Because They Make You Look Older—Plus, What To Do Instead: Avoid Sparkly Eyeshadow & More

Rules are made to be broken when it comes to beauty. Despite the old belief, there’s no reason you can’t have long hair after 40 or 50 if you keep it healthy, and there’s no limit on how much you can or should experiment with different makeup products and hairstyles. But if one of your goals is to appear fresher and more youthful — or your age but better — you probably want to avoid makeup looks that can be harsh and aging.

Sometimes the simplest choices with your eyeliner, eyeshadow, foundation, and even brows can make a world of difference, both for good and bad. You can choose a lighter eyeliner shade, for example, and find your eyes look brighter and more open than ever before. But the opposite can also happen: you can make makeup mistakes all too easily, and this can result in an aging appearance. Here are seven aging makeup mistakes pros want women over 40 to stop making — and what to do instead.

Mistake: Not Washing Makeup Brushes & Tools

When was the last time you washed your makeup brushes and other tools like sponges? If you can’t remember the date and these tools are filled with various creams and powders, you are opening yourself up to spreading germs and bacteria on your skin. On a less serious note, dirty tools could also be contributing to skin issues like acne.

Solution: Grab Some Baby Shampoo

Cleaning your makeup brushes isn’t as difficult as you may think. Grab some baby shampoo, fill a sink with warm water, add the shampoo and brushes, and let them soak for a bit before manually washing them and leaving them to dry.

Mistake: Applying Dark Eyeliner to Your Lower Waterline

When you apply a dark black or brown eyeliner to your lower waterline, it can “close” the eye and make it look smaller and more downward turned, which has an aging effect. Generally speaking, dark color at the bottom of the eye can do the opposite of giving your face a youthful life.

Solution: Line Your Upper Waterline Instead

Keep your beloved dark eyeliner pencil, but move the placement of it from your lower waterline to your upper waterline. This subtle trick makes your lashes look fuller and makes your eyes look brighter — but it won’t even look like you’re wearing eyeliner.

Mistake: Sparkly Eyeshadow

We don’t mean to spoil the party, but a lot of glitter and sparkle on your lids can highlight every single fine line and wrinkle and may not be the best choice if you’re trying to reboot your look for something more fresh.

Solution: Strategic Shimmer

That doesn’t mean you have to do without any shimmer at all — just keep it simple. A touch of shimmer shadow on the center of your eyelid can bring out your eye color and make eyes pop. Just be sure to make your base shadow something wearable and neutral. The glitter is an accent.

Mistake: You’re Not Filling In Your Brows

Full brows are a sign of youthfulness, so if you’re going for that fresh glow, don’t neglect them. That doesn’t mean overdoing it with a too-dark powder, either — a little goes a long way with eyebrows.

Solution: Fill In Sparse Areas

All it may take is filling in sparse areas with a brow pencil that’s in a shade similar to your natural brow color — but that small trick can really change your entire face. Use light, upward strokes to mimic natural brow hair, blend well with a spoolie, and set your brows with a brow gel if they tend to get unruly.

Mistake: Not Applying Primer Before Foundation

When you forget to apply primer before foundation and concealer, you apply makeup directly over bare skin, which makes it more likely to settle within fine lines, wrinkles, and pores.

Solution: Always Start With Primer

Consider primer the SPF of your makeup routine and don’t skip it. Find a primer that works for your skin type, apply it to the areas where you plan on applying makeup, and then watch in amazement as your foundation, concealer, and bronzer glides on more effortlessly and stays in place for hours.

Mistake: Applying Too Much Concealer

You may have been told a lie: that the more concealer you wear, the more perfect your skin will look. But nothing could be further from the truth! In fact, too much concealer can seep into pores and it will highlight things you don’t want to highlight, like fine lines.

Solution: Less Concealer And Add Color Corrector

To kick your concealer habit, invest in a color corrector palate and use its colors to mend issues like redness or discoloration. You may find that this alone leaves you with less to conceal. As for concealer itself: only add touches of it where needed and blend well.

Mistake: Not Matching Your Foundation To Your Skin Tone

It’s very possible you’ve been wearing makeup for years, but are still choosing the wrong foundation shade. Or, also common: you’re using the same shade you did when you were 20 and aren’t adapting your makeup to suit any changes in your skin. If this sounds like you, it may be time for a foundation reboot.

Solution: Have a Pro Help With Foundation Shades

Your best bet may be to ask a makeup professional to direct you toward a foundation that matches your skin tone and works with your skin type. Once you’re wearing the perfect shade for your skin, you’ll actually glow — it just hits differently!