Victoria Beckham and I are both 44: I know the 7 reasons why she looks ‘just young enough’

In anticipation of her London Fashion Week debut this Saturday, everyone is talking about Victoria Beckham. Looking back at VB’s style journey, there is a lot to say; The little black dress, that Maria Grachvogel bustier phase, her kitsch LA chapter. Alas, there’s been even more column inches dedicated to her ever changing haircuts; The infamous Pob (Posh bob), her boyish wedding-day crop, those world cup WAG extensions.

Her makeup, however, has given us little to gossip about. Sure, she’s had a fake tan miss or two and perhaps she’s been a little over zealous with her highlighter on occasion. But on the whole, Victoria’s makeup formula has remained a shining example of what the Swedish refer to as lagom: Not too little, not too much, just right. Even as Posh Spice, her makeup has never been more than a tweak away from her signature look of smoky eyes, nude lips, bold brows and creamy sun-blushed skin. Some might say she’s stuck in a make- up rut. I disagree. She never appears a frayed-around-the-edges version of her younger self.

On the contrary, Victoria’s look has become even more refined and polished in the last decade since she transitioned from Posh Spice, the pop star, to Victoria Beckham, the fashion designer. It’s as if she has eased into herself, become more of herself. This is the benefit of being in your forties, a certain confidence that comes from knowing yourself; what suits you, what doesn’t, which features to play up and which ones to subtly distract from.

And, most importantly, knowing how to switch up your look just enough to be up-to-date without compromising your uniqueness. I, like Victoria, am 44. I can attest to the careful balancing act of youth-enhancing over youth-defying. The just-young-enough formula appears effortless, and it’s meant to. But anyone over 40 will know that ageing smartly takes some behind the scenes diligence.

As Victoria Beckham celebrates her label’s 10th anniversary, I spoke to Wendy Rowe, author of Eat Beautiful, who’s been at the designer’s side for the past five years, and is the makeup artist behind Burberry and Victoria Beckham’s 10th Anniversary campaign. Here, she reveals the 7 reasons why Victoria always gets it right.

1. She knows what suits her

‘Victoria’s makeup is minimalist but impeccably finished -it’s all about attention to detail; we change the odd element here and there but it isn’t obvious, and that’s why she always looks modern. It’s all about being comfortable with who you are. Victoria knows what works for her and then we tweak things from there.’

2. She works at having amazing skin

‘Victoria really looks after her skin. Make-up can only go so far, it’s the decoration on top of the cake. She is religious about her skincare regime and will never go to bed without taking her makeup off. Before I do her makeup, I give her a facial massage using Estee Lauder Take it Away Gentle Eye and Lip Makeup Remover, £21 to de- puff and boost circulation. Then, I apply Decleor Hyra Floral Moisturiser, £43 as it’s the perfect light consistency for under make-up. When she’s off-duty Victoria likes British skincare therapist, Sarah Chapman’s products and facials. Her Moisture Infusion Mask, £43 is one of her hero products.’

3. She ‘softly’ contours her features

‘On Victoria, I do some subtle contouring which pulls out the structure of the face without any hard lines. Using a contouring stick like Burberry Face Contour, £25, I apply it to the areas that I want to push back; below the cheekbones, sides of the nose, jawline, and under the chin, blending afterwards with a brush. This defines the structure of the face; The trick to it looking natural is to apply foundation after contouring, then blending all together with a flat brush for an ultra- natural finish. I always finish by buffing the base in with my hands at the end for a second-skin look. 

Finally, I highlight with a lighter shade of concealer on the areas I want to draw out, like the bridge of the nose, cupids bow and corner of eyes to brighten. If there’s any small blemishes that need concealing, I’ll apply a matching shade of concealer sparingly at the end.’

4. She puts the focus on her best feature: Eyes

‘Victoria’s favourite feature is her eyes. A classic smoky eye look is her signature, but we continually tweak the details depending on the occasion and the season, so she always looks current. Sometimes, we simply over emphasise her eyelashes with lots of coats of mascara. I always use a waterproof mascara so it stays looking fresh; Bobbi Brown No Smudge Mascara, £25 and Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara, £7.99 are the two I use on Victoria the most.

If we are going for a bolder, more precise smoky eye look, I will use brown kohl pencil around the base of the lashes on the top and bottom, blending in with a small brush. For evening, we might go a little bit bolder by adding a neutral eyeshadow - my favourite for Victoria is Kevin Aucoin’s Essential Eyeshadow Set, £46, which has a mix of brown and neutral tones. For a softer day look, I’ll use a wider contour stick in place of a pencil and apply it around the lashes and in the socket of the eyes to create soft definition. Brown mimics black from a distance, but it’s softer and more forgiving.’

5. She keeps her eyebrows strong but natural

‘Victoria is lucky to have strong eyebrows, but she’s clever not to over emphasise them. The trick is to take away the hairs at the bottom, without removing too much from the top so that you get a nice lift while following your natural shape and thickness. I prefer to brush brows upwards with a brow comb or gel first, then I very softly fill in with an angled pencil to finish, retaining a natural texture that never looks solid.’

6. She’s never goes wrong with a nude lip

‘Less makeup can often make you look younger. Because we emphasise her eyes, Victoria’s go-to lip colour is always a modern nude – it’s universally flattering and goes with everything. I outline her lips first then apply a lighter shade of lipstick in the middle and a darker one in the corners to give the illusion of fullness, blending in with a finger or brush. Burberry Lip Velvet Crush in Honey Nude, £24 is the perfect soft matte consistency. If we want to switch it up, we will stick with a neutral tone with a pop colour, like coral.’

7. She prioritises her health

‘These days it’s impossible to tell a woman’s age. I believe this is largely due to the fact that women are looking after their health more than ever before. When you feel fit and healthy, your skin glows and you radiate confidence and happiness. Victoria’s biggest beauty asset is her healthy lifestyle. She eats in a balanced nutritious way that’s good for her skin and energy levels and she prioritises exercise and sleep. Her skin glows even without makeup, so as her make-up artist, all I’m doing is bringing out her best features.