I think we can all agree that 2020 has not been our most fantastic year. It’s not left many of us feeling particularly thrilled, nor hopeful for what 2021 will bring. However, what it has done is get a lot more people into self-care. Skincare and makeup are not just for the ‘young-uns’ and Instagrammers; there are hundreds of fabulous products for those mature folks amongst us too. Here are my recommended winter cosmetics for 2020.
Discover the best beauty brands, products, and essentials that will keep you looking your best no matter what.
Skincare
Let’s start at the beginning (the perfect place to start!). Before any makeup, it is essential to keep your skin in good condition. As we get older, our skin gets thinner and more delicate, so the right skincare regime is vital to prevent damage. Here’s what I recommend:
Cleanser
No one wants to be putting makeup on top of dirty skin. Even if you think it’s clean and it looks clean, those pores could be clogged. Using a good cleanser helps to clear your face up completely, ready for your artistry.
Recommended:
- Vitamin C Facial Cleanser by InstaNatural
- CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Toner
After cleansing, it is essential to realign the pH balance in your skin, and the toner will do just this.
Recommended:
- Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner
- Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner
- Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner
Face Massage Roller
A Face Massage Roller is the perfect tool to use to stimulate the blood flow in your face before applying any makeup. They can reduce swelling, redness, under-eye circles and any puffiness.
Recommended:
- Beauty Bay
- Space NK
- Cult Beauty
- Oliver Bonas
- The White Company
Makeup
Eye Primer
With age comes oil, particularly on the eyelids but adding more and more powder shadow to them will only make your eyes look heavy and tired. A good, hydrating eye primer first can help to hydrate and even out the eyelids to give a silky base for the shadow.
Recommended:
- Urban Decay Anti-Aging Eyeshadow Primer Potion
- Milani Eyeshadow Primer
- Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Bas
Foundation
As we mature, it doesn’t have to be about looking younger and reducing our wrinkles; it can just be about wanting to look like we’re glowing. An important thing to look out for in foundation as we mature isn’t the phrase ‘anti-ageing’ but the SPF factor. We need to protect our skin. Another thing to remember is as skin matures it gets paler. Therefore, using a foundation a little darker than your skin tone can be beneficial for that healthy glow.
Recommended:
- Bobbie Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF40
- Kevyn Aucoin Foundation Balm
- Revlon Youth FX Fill + Blur Foundation
- Boutique Serum Foundation
Concealer
Concealer is not always necessary, but if it is a step you wish to take, you don’t need to cake it on. Using a small brush, pat the concealer to the darkest parts of your under-eye (generally the inner corners). Alternatively, use a brightening concealer pen.
Recommended:
- Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away
- BECCA Under-Eye Brightening Corrector
- Revolution Brightening and Tightening Under-Eye Concealing Wand
Blusher
An added extra, not always needed and not always wanted. To keep it natural stay away from long mouth to ear brush strokes and instead apply in a small, gentle circle on the apples of your cheeks.
Recommended:
- IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Blush
- Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Cream Blush
- Jane Aredale Pressed Blush
Highlighter
Highlighter is another extra luxury if wanted; however, this can be overused to everyone's detriment. No one wants to look like a disco ball, and so it is vital to apply highlighter softly and only to the parts of your face that will catch the light naturally.
Recommended:
- Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick
- Ouli’s Ointment
- Rituel de Fille Rare Light Creme Luminizer
Eyeshadow
It is a common mistake to always reach for a brown or beige eyeshadow as we think this is ‘natural.' However, it often makes our eyes look mucky, dark and tired. Light jewel tones or pinky nudes is a much safer, healthier option. Though matt shades look ultra-luxe, don’t be afraid of a shimmer shade either, a bit of a glimmer can be a lovely lift for older eyes.
Recommended:
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Luxury Palette
- Natasha Denona Gold Mini Palette 4G
- Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless Chilled Eyeshadow Palette
Eyelash Curler
Don’t rely on mascara to make your lashes pop. If your lashes are droopy or grow pointing downwards, they can make your eyes dark, heavy and tired. Use a good quality eyelash curler to pick them up and fluff them out.
Recommended:
- Beauty Bay
- Shiseido
- MUA
- Chanel
Mascara
The most important thing to remember is you don’t want anything near your eyes that will irritate them. A common thing to experience as we get older is our favourite eye products, particularly mascara, irritating our eyes. Mascaras that are lighter and aimed at older eyes are more beneficial for your lashes. Warning: always wash your mascara off properly with a cleanser and warm water.
Recommended:
- NYX Worth The Hype Mascara
- Neutrogena Healthy Lengths Mascara
- Maybelline Full ’n’ Soft Washable Mascara
Lipstick
Try something new! If you’re a loyal red rebel, switch it up for a pink. If you’ve been besties with a pink, try a nude. Rather than a solid matt colour, try going for a sheer lipstick to give your lips a youthful shine. Using a lipstick brush instead of applying straight from the stick as this can even out the colour and prevent colour bleeding.
Recommended:
- YSL Pur Couture
- Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips
- Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick
- Lanolips Tinted Balm
Age Times also spoke to award-winning beauty blogger and stylist Linda O Bella, who told us: "I couldn't agree more with this post, I would also like to add to this beautiful post about facial care, One of my most important steps is to exfoliate.
"I always try to exfoliate 3 times a week because I have oily skin, it keeps your skin looking bright, removes the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, and removing dead cells from the surface of the skin this prevents them from clogging pores (which often leads to pimples!) and promotes skin renewal, I make up my scrubs sometimes, I use brown sugar, manuka honey and a little drop of lemon for a brightening effect.
"I would also love to try the vitamin C facial cleanser by InstaNatural as mentioned in the article because I prefer to use vitamin C products, Not only does it wash away make-up and dirt, but it also helps get rid of the dead cells that can clog your pores.
"I tone my skin with homemade rose water mist, and it leaves my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated, this step is often missed but it is important because it picks up any dirt missed when cleansing and refreshes and calms the skin, maintains PH level and prepares it for your moisturising cream."
